Flight Emergency: What are the pilot’s actions when an engine fails in flight?

Emergencies, Flying / By

A Delta Airlines Boeing 777-200ER at Tokyo Narita Airport. Photo Credit: Konstantin Von Wedelstaedt (http://tinyurl.com/4e5fbkxp) Flight Emergency: What are the pilot’s actions when an engine fails in flight? An engine failure on a twin-engine plane is very rare, yet it remains one of the most extensively trained and tested exercises in a pilot’s career. Engine …

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Why the unruly American passenger bit flight attendant’s arm on a Japan’s ANA flight?

Air Travel, Legal Articles, Safety / By

Air Nippon Airways B787 at Haneda Airport Photo credit: Masahiro TAKAGI (http://tinyurl.com/39s473xc) On January 17, 2024, a distressing incident happened aboard a Boeing 787 en route from Tokyo to Seattle as a 55-year-old American passenger displayed unruly behavior, biting a flight attendant’s arm. The disruptive conduct prompted the captain to make the unusual decision to …

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How fortunate were the passengers and crew of Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 that the door blew out at a lower altitude rather than during cruising!

Emergencies, Safety / By

A Gaping Hole on Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 Photo credit: RickyCourtney (http://tinyurl.com/5623bj22) How fortunate were the passengers and crew of Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 that the door blew out at a lower altitude rather than during cruising! It was indeed lucky that the Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 was still climbing at around 16,000 …

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Learning from the Japan Airlines Flight 516 Crash

Emergencies, Safety / By

Japan Airlines Flight 516 wreckage at Haneda Airport Photo Credit: Makochan12.9 (http://tinyurl.com/mry28x6h) Learning from the Japan Airlines Flight 516 Crash The recent crash involving Japan Airlines Flight 516 at Haneda Airport serves as a lesson not all agrees in the past, that one should leave all belongings behind during an emergency evacuation. On that fateful …

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How long do airliners typically last? Are they ever declared ‘too old’?

FAQs, Planes, Safety / By

Boeing 737-200 Aloha Flight 243 showing significant structural failure. Image source: ResearchGate (http://tinyurl.com/mrys9sna) How long do airliners typically last? Are they ever declared ‘too old’? Commercial airliners typically have a lifespan ranging from 20 to 30 years. In reality, a plane’s age isn’t measured in years but rather in pressurization cycles. The pressurization process, essential …

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Ocean belly landing: Will an airliner survive the plunge?

FAQs, Flying / By

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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What could drive an off-duty pilot to sabotage the Alaskan Airlines plane’s engines?

FAQs, Safety / By

  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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How many airliners would have run out of fuel if it weren’t for the “final reserve fuel” as required by law?

FAQs, Flying / By

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, …

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Can we build an aircraft that is nearly crash-proof and stall-free?

Air Travel, FAQs / By

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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Xinjiang journey: Battling delays and tight security but leaving with cherished memories

Air Travel / By

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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What caused the business jet to collide with the Boeing 737 in 2006?

FAQs, Flying / By

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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Why are airlines seeing an increase in unruly passenger behavior?

Air Travel, FAQs, Safety / By

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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Is it safe for planes to take off with blown tires?

Emergencies, FAQs, Flying / By

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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Do pilots have to undergo any sort of mental check before flying?

Air Travel, FAQs / By

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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What happens to passengers’ belongings when left in an aircraft after an emergency evacuation?

Air Travel, Emergencies / By

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 …

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

Air Travel, Flying / By

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?

Flying, Safety / By

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?

Air Travel, Emergencies / By

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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What happens if a plane runs out of fuel during take-off or cruising at high altitude?

Flying / By

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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