All the Reasons Why

Airlines follow specific procedures primarily for the safety of passengers, crew, and the aircraft itself.

How much do you really know about what happens during your flight? If you’re more focused on the view outside the window or thinking about what you’re going to do when you reach your destination, you’re not alone. Many of us fly often enough for the journey to be routine, even mundane. We all know that airlines follow specific procedures for a combination of crucial reasons related to safety, efficiency and consistency. But, if you’ve ever wondered specifically about the lines of authority, or why certain procedures and routines are followed on board, here are some interesting facts that may help to explain the reasons why.

The Pilot in Command is the final authority on all matters pertaining to aircraft operation and safety.

In addition to the very important job of flying the plane, the pilot has extraordinary powers while the aircraft is in flight. Pilot in Command (PIC) responsibilities and authority begin during the pre-flight checks and end at the conclusion of the post-flight procedures. The PIC's responsibilities include ensuring compliance with regulations, making critical decisions and handling emergencies. The captain has the authority to offload a passenger who is deemed to be a threat to the safety of others on board. If someone is inebriated, abusive or disruptive, for instance, the crew is trained in de-escalation techniques. But, the PIC might choose to restrain them as a last resort while they seek clearance from air traffic control to make an unscheduled landing. They can also request that police or other officials meet the flight once it’s on the ground. I recall traveling on a United Airlines flight once from Chicago to Tokyo where a disruptive passenger seated directly behind me was offloaded during an unscheduled stop in Anchorage where FBI agents met our flight and removed him. In addition to his facing Federal charges for interfering with a flight crew, he also faced fines and reimbursement costs to the airline for the fuel dumped prior to our landing.

A small but unobtrusive catch on the restroom door can be opened or locked by cabin crew.

Here’s another rather offbeat fact, but one that's actually related to safety. The onboard lavatory can be unlocked by cabin crew. Let’s face it, no one wants to face the embarrassment of being interrupted while using the restroom, which is why they’re fitted with locks. But, what happens in the event of an emergency? Perhaps a small child has managed to lock themselves inside, or a passenger is unexpectedly taken ill and needs urgent medical attention, or the smoke alarm’s been triggered. In such cases, the cabin crew are authorized to use their judgment and unlock the door from the outside. There’s a concealed catch on the outside of the door, often hidden beneath the lavatory sign, which can be accessed if they deem it necessary. This is also how cabin crew lock the doors during take-off and landing or in the event of turbulence.

A jet airliner cruising at 30,000 feet may glide as far as 100 miles if all engines were to fail during flight.

Planes of all sizes are also designed to glide if the aircraft’s engines fail. The good news is that a forced landing under these circumstances is highly unlikely, but can still can be safe, as demonstrated by the 2009 “Miracle on the Hudson” and the actions of Captain Chesley “Sullly" Sullenberger. Depending on factors such as the altitude, speed and wind conditions, a plane can probably glide for up to 100 miles. Pilots are trained to find what’s known as best glide speed. This is the speed at which the aircraft glides the farthest with the least loss of altitude. Calculating the minimum sink speed is also crucial as this is how the plane will be kept in the air for the longest time. All of the aforementioned will enable the PIC to figure out where the plane can be safely landed, which in Sully’s case was New York’s Hudson River, with no loss of life and few serious injuries.

The twinkling lights on Emirates aircraft are intended to enhance the overall experience.

Dimming the lights for a night flight takeoff or landing is pretty important. By matching the dark cabin with conditions outside, passengers wouldn’t have to wait for their eyes to adjust in the event of an emergency evacuation. Keeping the window blinds up also helps cabin crew to keep tabs on what’s happening outside the plane should that become important. Mood lighting is also increasingly popular. Old-fashioned fluorescent lighting wasn’t good for beating the effects of jet lag. However now, flight attendants can adjust LED lighting on newer planes such as the Airbus A350 and the Boeing 787 Dreamliner to mimic sunset and sunrise, helping our bodies to better cope with the changing time zones on long haul flights. Several airlines have take lighting to the next level. Emirates aircraft, particularly the Airbus A380, features a “starlight ceiling” on the cabin roof which is a fiber-optic lighting system that mimics a night sky. One Icelandair Boeing 757 even features LED cabin lighting that simulates the aurora borealis, providing passengers with an immersive in-flight encounter. 

Aircraft oxygen masks are vital for passenger and crew safety in the event of cabin depressurization.

Few of us have ever experienced it, but we know that in the event of a loss of cabin pressure, oxygen masks will deploy. The masks that drop are literally a life-saver. Without sufficient oxygen, passengers will begin to feel light-headed and confused and eventually lose consciousness. The cabin of an aircraft is designed to prevent that from happening. In the event of an emergency, you typically have about 30 seconds to fit an oxygen mask before you start to feel the effects of the thin air, so the instructions to fit your own mask first is to ensure that you don’t become incapacitated. Federal law states that the oxygen supply must last a minimum of 10 minutes, which is enough time for the plane to descend to a safer altitude where the atmosphere contains more oxygen and the masks will no longer be necessary.

t's important to note that the meaning of chimes can vary slightly between airlines and aircraft.

What do those chimes we often hear after take off indicate? Airplane chimes are a form of coded communication between flight crew members and sometimes with passengers. A single chime often indicates a passenger has pressed their call button for assistance, or that the flight deck is requesting a flight attendant to call on the intercom. A high-low, two-toned chime typically signals that the aircraft is approaching 10,000 feet or that a flight attendant is being called by the flight deck or another member of the crew. Multiple chimes (three or more) can indicate a more urgent situation, such as upcoming turbulence or a serious issue requiring immediate attention from the flight crew. 

This post has shown there to be credible explanations for the intricacies of flight that need not be a mystery. I hope it's been helpful in clearing up a few or answered any questions you might have wondered about.

Until next time...safe travels.