The rules of conduct on an airplane are the best known, the strictest and the most frequently violated of all the rules in transport.

Everyone knows that you cannot drink (except for alcohol purchased on board) or smoke, talk on the phone, or joke about bombs on board the ship. But at least half of the passengers do not turn off the phone on the plane: out of forgetfulness or out of spite. Others get drunk before departure and on board, smoke in the toilets and have a cheeky game. The latest incident: a drunken couple was kicked off the Irkutsk-Bangkok flight because of jokes about a “bomb.”

As a rule, people simply do not understand why there is all this strictness on board. Let's try to figure out who came up with the rules and why we are obliged to follow them.

1 Last call

Why do you need to turn off your phone and other gadgets during takeoff and landing?

The ban on the use of electronic devices was introduced in the early 90s. Due to the fear that cell phones will interfere with on-board electronics. There are still rumors about disasters, which were allegedly caused by text messages and conversations on cell phones of passengers. As an example: death passenger plane Saab 340 in Switzerland in 2000 (12 victims).

There is also an international study: summarizing the flight statistics of 125 airlines over seven years, 75 cases of exposure to passenger gadgets were identified. Altitude and GPS positioning sensors are especially vulnerable.

True, in the first case we're talking about not about the official conclusion of the commission, but only about one of the versions of the death of the Saab 340. There is no evidence. There is also no reason to say that all 75 incidents with interference were caused by passengers' gadgets.

This year the European Agency aviation security(EASA) has finally announced that passenger devices do not pose a threat to modern airliners. Therefore, today everything is decided by the specific air carrier.

Russian airlines are still showing conservatism: our phones still need to be turned off or switched to “Flight” mode. It is significant that the American flight attendants union also demands that the ban on the use of gadgets be maintained. True, for a different reason: stewards and flight attendants say that a person with a gadget in his hand simply does not hear any announcements during the flight.

Moreover, in a situation of severe turbulence, a smartphone or laptop flying out of your hands can injure someone.

In general, once on board, simply follow the instructions of the cabin crew. They ask you to turn it off - turn it off, if they don’t ask - use it for your health.

2 Come on, put your suitcase away

Why raise the seat back, remove the table during takeoff and landing, and place luggage under the seat?

Quite an annoying situation. The passenger is woken up at the end of the flight and forced to sit in his seat for about 40 minutes, instead of being able to take a sweet nap while reclining. But if an accident occurs, then, as practice shows, the chances of survival increase with the fastest possible evacuation. There have been cases where passengers survived an emergency landing and died from fire and smoke already on the ground - only because they remained on board too long. In such cases, seconds count. But you can quickly leave the plane provided that the back of the seat of the passenger in front does not press against your chest, and someone’s trunks are not scattered under your feet.

In addition, an uncleaned table increases the likelihood of injury when landing under heavy braking. This happens not only during an emergency. Some pilots deliberately land hard when landing on a wet runway. Explaining that if the landing gear did not “squeeze” gently, that is, the plane touched the ground and the landing gear abruptly took on its weight, then the braking is more effective. The author of these lines recently experienced such a landing himself: we were literally hanging from our seat belts. But it's better than rolling out of a wet lane.

3 Light in the window

Why do they turn off the lights during takeoff and landing?

The window shades are always open during takeoff and landing, so passengers' eyes are adapted to the natural light outside. If something unexpected happens, it will be better if we maintain visual acuity. For example, when leaving a plane quickly.

It is also believed that the polymer curtains on the windows may collapse in the event of an accident and injure passengers.

Through the windows, flight attendants and stewards can also visually assess the condition of the aircraft, for example, see an engine fire. However, on new planes this problem disappears: the windows are made automatically dimmable. It is not the passenger who controls the dimming, but the crew or flight attendants. You can close (up to 99% dimming) and open electronic curtains in a minute, both simultaneously and selectively.

4 I see everything

Why are portholes round and not square?

Once upon a time, passenger planes had square windows. But in 1953, the British jet Comet crashed after takeoff. They found out that microcracks appeared in the corners of its windows and the aircraft body was destroyed.

After that, portholes began to be made round or oval. It is believed that the round shape is optimal in terms of strength. But there were even triangular planes - for example, the French Caravels.

And the porthole of the modern “Dreamliner” would be hard to call round. This is a large rectangle with rounded corners. This form allows, in engineering parlance, to bypass areas of fatigue stress concentration. God saves man, who save himself.

There are projects passenger aircraft and no portholes at all. Instead, huge flexible screens with panoramic images of the surrounding space will be installed.

Windowless technologies will first be tested on business jets. If the experiment turns out to be positive, then they will begin to introduce them on regular airliners.

5 It flies but doesn't flap its wings

How dangerous are situations when the plane shakes and falls through?

One of the reasons for aerophobia lies in the dysfunction of our vestibular apparatus,” says Alexey Gervash, pilot and creator of the “Fly Without Fear” center. - By transmitting false data to the brain about the “sinking”, “falling” or “turning over” of the plane, the vestibular system provokes the release of adrenaline.

Here is a typical passenger complaint: “The plane took off from the ground, and then there was a feeling that it seemed to be falling through, we were thrown towards the ceiling. Is this an air pocket?”

No, it’s just the plane that has reached its design speed,” Gervash continues. - The impression that you are being pressed against the back of the chair is what it really is. When a certain speed is reached, the aircraft “releases the gas” and the flaps begin to retract. The human body moves further by inertia, but the plane has already “stopped” at the speed it needs. A slight negative overload occurs, creating the illusion of failure.

Everything is fine with the plane, all the problems are with us. Aerophobias are treated in special centers, for example, at the same Gervash.

Although I myself do it simpler: in stressful situations during the flight, I watch the flight attendants. The plane is jumping through the “pits”, everyone around is green with fear, and they are so rosy-cheeked and not at all scared. You look at the flight attendant and believe: this one will definitely fly. And at the same time you and her.

By the way

http://letaem-bez-straha.ru - they treat aerophobia here.

Taking off and landing on the runway are the two most dangerous moments in the entire flight. It is during takeoff and landing that most aircraft accidents occur. A plane rarely crashes when it loses control. high altitude or being caught in a turbulent area - these are usually “no big deal” for pilots. What is really responsible and difficult is to take off and land.

It is for this reason that special attention is paid to environmental factors during takeoff and landing. Namely:

1) Passengers must be wearing seat belts and cannot leave their seats during this period of time

2) The window shades must be raised

3) The light must be turned off

We will look at the first two points briefly, and then we will look at Why do the lights on airplanes turn off during takeoff and landing?.

So, on the first point. Passengers should sit in their seats and not stand up, as jolts are possible during emergency braking, which can result in injury if safety rules are not followed.

Attention!

Respect the work of the stewards! When you are sitting without wearing a seatbelt or trying to get up to get things from hand luggage, to the toilet or just to walk around - you violate safety regulations and force the stewards to come up to you to ask you to sit down and buckle up. Thus, the stewards risk their health by walking around the cabin at full height while braking.

Regarding the curtains, they are then raised so that passengers from the inside can assess the situation outside, and from the outside, the situation inside. If, in the event of an accident during sudden braking, something happens to the interior, it will be easier for rescuers to look inside and determine what to do.

Why do the lights turn off on an airplane during takeoff and landing?

The fact is that the entire aircraft consumes electricity from only one source - the generator. Two consequences follow.

Since the generator withstands enormous loads during takeoff and landing, it is very important that nothing unnecessary consumes energy at this moment. A few seconds during takeoff and a few during landing are nothing compared to the energy saved for operating the hydraulic cylinders.

Every additional power consumption during takeoff and landing is a possibility of a short circuit or even a fire. Therefore, out of harm’s way, it’s better not to work for a couple of seconds.

So, now you know all the secrets of an airplane during takeoff and landing.

We will try right now to give you the knowledge with which you will be looked at as a Great Guru! We decided to start with the most mysterious area: air travel. It is so overgrown with all sorts of questions, myths and guesses that it is time to give answers to the most pressing questions of passengers.

– Why do they ask you to turn off electronic devices (including cameras) and not use them during takeoff/landing, and also take off your headphones?

This ban serves several purposes:
1. It is believed (theoretically) that an electronic device may interfere with aircraft systems that are or may be used during takeoff and landing. For example, “beacon drive”, radar, etc. These systems operate at other frequencies, are noise-proof, but are on the safe side just in case. However, even the paralysis of the aircraft’s radio broadcast (with several phones turned on, actively searching for a network signal, it is possible to drown it out with interference), through which the captain can notify about an emergency situation, is undesirable.
2. An electronic device (phone, tablet, laptop, camera, etc.) most often has some noticeable weight. In the event of an emergency, they may begin to “fly” around the cabin and cause injury. Since the vast majority of emergency situations occur during takeoff/landing, when all systems of the aircraft and pilots are under heavy load, no ban is introduced during the flight.
3. A passenger listening to something through headphones may not hear a notification from the crew about an emergency situation, and may not understand that something abnormal is happening. Therefore, this requirement is not directly related to electronics. You will be asked to remove regular earplugs from your ears, as well as remove eyecups. Well, they’ll wake you up, of course.

– Why can’t you put things under your feet and put a jacket, bag, etc. on the seat next to you?

Again, there are several reasons:
1. Loose objects, as we have found out, can pose a considerable danger to passengers in an accident. A suitcase that flew out from under your feet and began to fly around the cabin or a jacket with hooks and zippers are not the best “gifts.” Therefore, the entire crew has a persistent “phobia” of any loose objects around you during takeoff and landing. And God forbid you open the baggage compartment on takeoff or landing, giving a mass of loose items free access to the cabin - the flight attendants will stuff you into this compartment personally.
2. Things in the aisle between the seats can make it difficult for you, passengers in the seats adjacent to you to evacuate, and if your bag is pushed into the central aisle during an accident, then for everyone. Therefore, on airplanes, things can only be stored in lockable overhead bins or pushed into an enclosed (note) space under the seat in front. At emergency exits, where the passages between seats are used for evacuation, of course, something like this is strictly prohibited. Passengers sitting in these seats have one place of storage - the upper shelves.

– Why do they ask you to close the folding tables and bring the seat backs to a vertical position during takeoff and landing?

This position of the seat back ensures the maximum possible free passage between the seats (for evacuation). The table, naturally, will also interfere with evacuation - so it needs to be closed. In addition, you will not be injured in an accident by being slammed into a folded tabletop.

- Why do they turn off the lights during takeoff and landing?

1. As we have already said, during takeoff and landing, the aircraft systems are loaded to the maximum. Electricity is necessary for the operation of various electric motors (landing gear extension, flap control, etc., braking systems, pressure injection/bleeding pumps in the cabin). In order to reduce energy consumption for unimportant processes and give all the power to the necessary ones, the overhead lights in the cabin are turned off. Passengers turn on individual lighting extremely rarely at this moment (no more than 5-6 light bulbs for the entire cabin), so they are allowed to use it.
2. In the event of an emergency, with the overhead light on in the cabin, it is more difficult for passengers to assess what is happening overboard through the windows. Especially in low light conditions (twilight, rain, etc.). A car driver experiences a similar problem at night if he inadvertently turns on the full light in the cabin. He is practically going blind. And the engine blazing outside the window (more precisely, the porthole) is better visible without the overhead light.
3. In low light conditions, in the event of an accident, the overhead lighting of the aircraft may suddenly turn off. While the eye adapts to the darkness, a person remains practically “blind.” And when literally seconds count, you can’t waste them on adaptation. Therefore, the lights are turned off in advance so that the passengers' eyes are ready.

– Why do they ask you to open the curtains on the windows during takeoff and landing?

If we spent so much effort turning off the lights in the cabin in order to correctly assess the situation outside, then, of course, we will not close the windows with curtains after that. In the event of a crash, there will be no time to run around the entire cabin, raising the curtains to see if there is a fire raging overboard or if the water is rising.

- Why are they asked not to inflate a life jacket on the plane?

The life jacket inflates quickly and automatically - just pull the red straps at the bottom of the vest. If you do this in a salon, you will turn into a fat bun that will not be able to squeeze between the seats and through the door emergency exit. Therefore, you need to pull the vest's straps after exiting the plane before jumping onto the emergency ramp or into the water.

– Why do you need to put the oxygen mask on yourself first, and then on the child?

This is the first safety rule when helping a person in trouble. “Ensure your own safety first!” Because otherwise there will be two corpses. If you do not put the oxygen mask on yourself first, you may lose consciousness from suffocation and a) you will not be able/will not have time to put the mask on your child b) the child will not be able to put it on you c) the child will take it off without your control. Therefore, you first provide help to yourself so that you can provide it to others.

- Why is there a rubber band on the oxygen mask?

In case of lack of oxygen, injuries, shaking, etc. the mask may slip out of weak hands, so do not press the mask to your face with your hands, but be sure to secure it on your head with an elastic band (including for children).

You can add a few more to this requirement: raise the window shades, bring the chairs to an upright position and turn off the overhead lamp.

The reasons are as follows:

1. The likelihood that the engine under the wing will catch fire is highest during takeoff and landing. We, the passengers, play an important role here - the pilots rely on our eyes, ears and what we will report if we notice signs of fire (after all, passengers will see them first). The lights in the cabin are turned off to make it easier to see.

2. Of course, your eyes need to get used to the bright light (or darkness) outside in the event of an emergency landing. In addition, the illumination of the path to the emergency exit will be better visible.

3. The curtains must be raised so that the condition of the aircraft can be assessed. In this case, passengers will be visible from the outside. This is important if a plane is suspected of being hijacked - it is important for rescue services to see what is happening inside the cabin.

4. The curtains should be raised during takeoff also in case the plane flies into a closed air space. Then a military plane can fly up and see what's going on inside. There was once a case in Europe where a passenger plane was found in a restricted area. Then the interceptor plane was able to see that the passengers in the cabin and the pilot were sleeping. That plane eventually crashed, but thanks to the raised curtains, it was clear that the cause of the disaster was a problem with the oxygen supply (it is unknown why), and not hijacking or pilot error.

5. The seats are brought to a vertical position so as not to lose valuable seconds in an emergency.

These rules have evolved over the years of development of commercial aviation and are observed almost throughout the world.

If you've flown on an airplane, you know that during takeoff and landing, the lights in the cabin go out. Have you ever wondered why this is needed?

Of course, this has nothing to do with increasing the drama of such important moments as takeoff or landing. Chris Cook, a long-time pilot, explains that this is for safety reasons. Temporarily turning off the lights allows passengers' eyes to adjust to the darkness in case of an emergency.

It is known that the periods of landing and takeoff are the most dangerous, and it is at these moments that plane crashes most often occur. In case passengers need emergency evacuation, passengers who are previously accustomed to the darkness will be able to orient themselves faster.

On average, a person needs about 10 minutes of time for his eyes to adjust to the dark. Therefore, this security measure saves valuable time. In addition, the darkness on board is not pitch black. When the lights are turned off, emergency entrances and exits, as well as escape routes, continue to be illuminated. This gives passengers time to look around and, in the event of an emergency, quickly find their bearings.

By the way, for the same reason, during landing, the window curtains are opened so that in case of an emergency, daylight can illuminate the interior.

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