Month: June 2023

Do pilots ever allow friends or family members to sit in the cockpit during take-off or landing?

An Aeroflot Airbus A310 Photo Credit: Yevgeny Pashnin  Do pilots ever allow friends or family members to sit in the cockpit during take-off or landing? This practice was permitted in the past, prior to the tragic events of the September 11 attacks in New York in 2001. It was possible for passengers, friends and family …

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Why is it crucial for pilots to know the weight and balance of a loaded plane before take-off?

An Australian GAF Nomad Photo credit: Bidgee Why is it crucial for pilots to know the weight and balance of a loaded plane before take-off? Ensuring that an aircraft stays within its weight and balance limits is of utmost importance for pilots before commencing a flight. If there is too much weight towards the back …

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Can you open an emergency door mid-flight? If not, why not?

An Asiana Airbus A321 from Seoul Incheon. Photo credit: N509FZ Can you open an emergency door mid-flight? If not, why not? This is a common question from air travelers. The simple answer is no, you certainly cannot open the door at mid-flight. However, there have been rare instances where doors were opened at lower altitudes. …

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