Ocean belly landing: Will an airliner survive the plunge? This question, although answered before, still arouses some interest on whether an airliner can survive a belly landing on the ocean. First, let’s us clarify this concept: a belly landing occurs when an aircraft lands without extending its landing gear, relying on its underside for the …
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Alaskan Airlines Embraer 175 Photo credit (https://tinyurl.com/22eaedpp) What could drive an off-duty pilot to sabotage the Alaskan Airlines plane’s engines? On October 22, 2023, a disturbing incident happened on an Embraer 175 flight from Everett to San Francisco. An off-duty pilot occupying the jump seat attempted to shutdown both its engines. This unusual incident …
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A Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-312(ER) Photo credit: byeangel (https://tinyurl.com/wusm83hv) How many airliners would have run out of fuel if it weren’t for the “final reserve fuel” as required by law? The fuel planning policies by airlines are there for ensuring the safety of each flight. It would include the fuel required for a specific journey, …
Cirrus Airframe Parachute System Image Source: NASA (https://tinyurl.com/3m2asxpp) Can we build an aircraft that is nearly crash-proof and stall-free? Many wonders if it’s possible to develop an aircraft that is entirely crash-proof and stall-free. Just like unsinkable ocean liners or uncrashable cars, the reality is that everything still carries some degree of risk. However, it …
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A China Southern Boeing 737-800 Xinjiang journey: Battling delays and tight security but leaving with cherished memories While some countries fret about flight delays in minutes, my recent journey to Urumqi tells a tale of hours! This narrative unfolds during my recent 11-day trip to Northern Xinjiang, when aboard a Chinese Airlines Boeing 737-800, the …
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GOL Boeing 737-800 Photo credit: Paul Hunter Alvarenga (http://tinyurl.com/adz8xujh) What caused the business jet to collide with the Boeing 737 in 2006? In 2006, a tragic collision occurred between a business jet and a Boeing 737. This event defied the typical conventions of air travel, where aircraft rarely collide head-on during cruise due to established …
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An Airbus A330 Image source: 123RF Why are airlines seeing an increase in unruly passenger behavior? With the ongoing recovery of air travel from the pandemic, the aviation industry has been grappling with bad behaviors by some airline passengers. While these incidents have yet to reach an alarming scale, the social media and instantaneous information …
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A British Airways Concorde in 1985 Photo Credit: Eduard Marmet (https://tinyurl.com/t626sac7) Is it safe for planes to take off with blown tires? This really depends on the type of aircraft, the speed when the blowout occurs and the consequential damages. While such incidents are rare, cases of planes successfully taking off and landing after blown …
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A Germanwings Airbus A320 Photo Credit: SEBASTIEN MORTIER (https://tinyurl.com/496nyy8r) Do pilots have to undergo any sort of mental check before flying? Yes, long before proceeding to fly any commercial planes, pilots indeed undergo mental health checks. A study of 809 Brazilian pilots generally revealed that between 6.7% and 12% had a common mental disorder. Just …
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A Cathay Pacific Boeing 777-300 Photo Credit: Aero Icarus What happens to passengers’ belongings when left in an aircraft after an emergency evacuation? This is an interesting question, and I hope the following answer will ease the minds of many passengers who are unfortunate enough to be involved in an emergency evacuation. The Federal Aviation …
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 …
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 …
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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An US Airways Airbus A320 Photo: 123RF What happens if a plane runs out of fuel during take-off or cruising at high altitude? It is highly unlikely for a plane to “run out” of fuel during take-off. This response is focused on commercial airplanes where their operations are tightly regulated. Before take-off, airliners carry a …
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A Malindo Air ATR 72-600 Turboprop plane Photo Credit: Teerawut Wongdee What happened to passenger planes with propeller engines? Are they all gone now? Many people believe that propeller planes are obsolete but the truth is that they are still very much alive and operating in many airlines around the world. They are generally flown …
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Photo credit: BobMil42 An Airbus Fuel Dumping in progress Have you ever wondered why pilots sometimes take longer to land even when there’s a technical problem? Recently, an unhappy passenger on an Airbus A320 flight from Guangzhou to Kuala Lumpur was left frustrated when the captain decided to fly for about three hours before …
Miracle on Qantas A380 Flight 32 Photo: Ramani What are some common parts that may fall off a plane and cause it to crash? Aircraft parts such as fasteners, hatch covers, cargo doors or engines falling off planes are very rare. On July 25, 2000, a metal strip did fall off from a Continental DC-10 …
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Mayday call of Qantas flight after an engine failure Photo: 123RF Mayday! Mayday! Mayday! What does this actually mean? ‘Mayday!’ when repeated 3 times with details and broadcasted over the radio is a cry for help in a life-threatening situation. In days gone by, radio communications could be bad and any distress call must …
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Bombardier Q400 operated by Colgan Air Photo Credit: Hawaiian717. How often do airline pilots fly the plane manually, rather than relying on autopilot and computers? This question seems to express concerns that some airline pilots are relying too much on automation such that a few have forgotten how to fly. Indeed, this has resulted in …
The last three British Airways Concordes in 2003. Credit: BAA Why did the Concorde stop flying, and is there any chance that it might return one day? There were many reasons that killed the Concorde. This plane was the most powerful commercial pure jet flying from 1976 to 2003. It flew faster than …
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