Pilots and flight attendants hiding their own secrets from passengers?

Whoopie cushions left on the seats in economy class?

Well maybe not that, but what other mysteries are you unaware of each time you step onboard?

Heh, more than you’d think!...

1.

Flight attendants assess you as you're boarding the plane.

It has nothing to do with being judgmental - just a part of their job.

For one thing, cabin crew members have to figure out if you're going to be a safety

concern on the flight.

Next, they need to understand whether you might be a valuable resource in case of an

emergency.

(Spoiler: if you're physically fit and reasonably dressed, you are.)

2.

An extra seat behind the pilot and the co-pilot in the cockpit isn't reserved for special

VIP passengers.

It's for flight attendants during take-off or landing and for inspectors who monitor

the flight.

By the way, this seat is called a jump seat because when you get up from it, it immediately

folds (or “jumps”) back up.

3.

The cockpit is typically off-limits not only for passengers but also for flight attendants

during the flight (unless pilots request something).

But most crews would go the extra mile to help passengers have the best flying experience.

That's why some kids and extremely nervous flyers sometimes get a sneak peek inside the

cockpit to either quench their curiosity or calm down their nerves.

4.

Airplanes can safely operate with one engine, even during take-off and landing!

The situation when both engines fail at the same time is almost unheard of, but even if

something like that did happen, a plane wouldn't drop from the sky like a rock.

If all engines stopped working at a high altitude, pilots would still have at least 20 minutes

to find a suitable place to land.

5.

Planes can also land when their wheels are broken!

It may sound terrifying, but if the landing gear gets stuck, pilots just skid the plane's

belly down on the runway.

If everything's done correctly, such landings are quite safe.

6.

Are you still hungry after your meal?

Ask for an extra portion, and if it's available, no one will frown upon it (provided you ask

politely, that is).

The sad truth is that all leftovers must be discarded after the flight.

And if your stomach begs for more... well, less food wasted!

7.

Modern planes have special systems that detect other aircraft, mountains, and unexpected

solid objects in their path.

These systems' main purpose is to inform pilots about any nearby obstacles.

Ten miles away from another plane - and a voice starts saying "traffic, traffic, traffic..."

That could get on your nerves.

Five miles closer, and the same voice begins to direct pilots where to go.

And the voice now sounds like the pilot’s mother.

No I made that one up.

8.

Pilots often work long, long hours.

No wonder that during particularly tedious and uneventful flights (which are the flights

we passengers love the best), they may feel sleepy and start to nod off in their seats.

It'd seem that reading a good exciting book would help fend off the drowsiness.

Unfortunately, books aren't allowed in the cockpit - they're considered a distraction.

9.

Ever experienced such a hard landing that you jump in your seat and go white?

Unlike what most travelers believe, it's not necessarily a sign of an inexperienced pilot.

There are some conditions when a gentle touchdown is outright dangerous.

The most common situation when a plane must touch down firmly is when the runway is wet.

Then the machine has to break the water surface to avoid hydroplaning.

A hard touchdown is also necessary if a runway is too short - in this case, it helps increase

the plane's braking capability.

10.

Flight attendants aren't there just to serve food - they're highly trained professionals.

They know how to deliver a baby, are skilled in hand-to-hand combat, know how to survive

in extreme conditions, and can extinguish a fire 30,000 ft in the air.

11.

Airlines are going to address the dreaded middle-seat problem pretty soon.

A new design has already been developed, and new chairs will be available shortly.

These improved middle seats will be a bit lower to the ground than the aisle and window

ones, and they'll have 3 more inches of additional space!

12.

Most passengers have a misconception that co-pilots are just sidekicks or understudy

characters who know little about flying.

This belief can't be further from the truth.

Co-pilots are totally capable of flying a plane, and they do it regularly!

It's a typical situation when the captain flies the plane to the destination, and the

co-pilot operates it on the way back.

13.

Flight attendants have the same problems with jet lag as you do.

Imagine flying all the way across the globe on a regular basis, AND dealing with the dimming

of cabin lights during daylight!

Their bodies get confused, and it doesn't pass with time or work experience!

14.

Airplane manufacturers use a special trick to make the cabin look bigger and more spacious.

For example, the walls have a particular structure that reflects light.

That, and they’re painted white, which always visually expands a space.

The illumination between the ceiling and overhead bins makes the ceiling look higher.

It helps people with claustrophobia to deal with being in an enclosed space for hours.

15.

Passengers are also happier when their airplane has a wider entrance, and its lighting is

brighter.

Research shows that in this case, people are sure that their meals taste better and their

seats are wider, while the only different thing is their surroundings!

16.

Pilots recommend nervous flyers to pick seats in the middle of the cabin.

When turbulence occurs, it affects the front and rear parts of the cabin the most.

The middle, over-the-wings section doesn't get shaken that much.

Imagine it like a seesaw!

17.

Deploying an emergency slide when there's no emergency is a very bad idea.

It can cause hour-long delays and costs airlines thousands of dollars to pack the undamaged

slide back into its container.

Why would someone do it?

Apparently, to "get off the plane faster."

Well, just keep in mind that it doesn't work this way.

18.

If you want to be a pilot, be prepared for endless tests and examinations.

Pilots have their skills checked every 6 to 8 months.

They have to go into simulators and practice all kinds of emergency situations.

After that, examiners assess them.

Safety and technical testing and medical examination are also regular and crucial.

19.

Some airplanes have secret bedrooms for those crew members who need to catch some shut-eye.

"Crew Rest Compartments" are located either at the back of the plane or behind the cockpit.

20.

Pilots are very careful with what they say and how they deliver it.

You'll never hear them announcing anything dramatic, like "fail" or "malfunction."

They downplay any existing problem by replacing "zero visibility" with "some fog," or "something's

broken" with "some technical problems."

It's called "positive scripting," and flight attendants follow it as well.

But passengers perceive pilots' announcements as more important and, statistically, listen

to them more attentively.

But if there's a really serious problem you need to be prepared for, don't worry, you'll

be informed!

21.

Some airlines skip particular row numbers because they’re considered unlucky in certain

cultures.

Number 13 is the one most commonly avoided by airlines and manufacturers.

Another row number you might not find on your flight is 17 – it’s unlucky in some parts

of the world too!

22.

If you’re in a window seat, you can notice the way the airplane wings flex.

Sometimes they flap so much that you get worried they'll fall off!

What you might not know is that the wings are supposed to flex and are specially designed

this way.

If they were stiff, they’d snap off as soon as the lightest turbulence hit the plane.

23.

The way the cabin is pressurized has a big effect on your taste buds: you lose up to

30% of your ability to taste sweet and salty things.

In other words, it's not that airplane food isn't tasty - you just can't feel its full

flavor.

That's also the main reason why airline catering companies add extra salt and spices to the

dishes they cook.

24.

The first airline to offer its customers online check-in was Alaska Airlines, and it happened

in 1999!

The system was available to a limited number of passengers and worked only for selected

flights.

Well…look how far we’ve come!

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