How to survive a plane crash on the ground. Aircraft depressurization: what to do to survive. Some models of modern aircraft have special compartments for people who die right during the flight.

Ever since man first took to the air, he has known the fall. Every year, flight technology has become more complex, more perfect and safer, but aircraft crashes still occur. The mass death of people in the crash of a passenger liner becomes not only grief for the inconsolable relatives of the victims, but also a national tragedy.

At the same time, people who survived after a plane crash become celebrities who are spoken and written about by the media in all countries of the world. This happens because there are very few of them.

Plane crash statistics

If we take statistics for the entire historical period of the development of passenger air transportation, we can conclude that they are extremely rare. The chance that the vehicle will crash during flight, takeoff or landing is 1/8 million. This means that it would take a person more than 20,000 years of daily flights on random flights to board that unlucky one.

If we take the statistics of the identified causes of the fall of equipment, then in percentage terms it will look like this:

• when the aircraft is being loaded, 5% of accidents occur (most often a fire);
• during takeoff - 17% of accidents;
• when climbing only 8% of cases;
• during the flight 6%;
• when the aircraft descends - 3%;
• approach is the cause of 7% of cases;
• aircraft landing - 51%.

The statistics of all recorded cases of airliner crashes show that the greatest risk is present during takeoff and fall. This is probably why passengers applaud the pilots after they complete this stage of the flight.

Survivors after a plane crash most often indicate that something “suddenly” became wrong with the plane. In fact, meticulous extras and workers responsible for flight safety note that the reasons for a sudden breakdown of instruments or ignited engines are flaws that have not been identified on the ground, which means that the reasons for the crash of the liners should first of all be looked for there.

Causes of plane crashes

No matter how you say it, but the main cause of all air crashes is the human factor. Machines do not spoil themselves and do not incapacitate. The lack of due attention during their assembly, during daily checks for malfunctions and the conscious work of pilots and dispatchers - all this most often leads to the crash of equipment.

Is it possible to survive in a plane crash if the specialists did their job poorly? And in this case, the answer will be yes, since today there are cases when more than 1 person remained alive.

Aircraft crash statistics as a percentage is as follows:

• pilot error is the cause of 50% of cases;
• errors of personnel serving during the flight were revealed in 7% of tragedies;
• the influence of weather conditions account for 12%;
• malfunction of instruments and the machine as a whole - 22% (what was not properly identified before the flight);
• terrorism and others (unidentified causes or collision in the air) - 9%.

Of these reasons, except for the weather, everything else is the activity of people. This suggests that the tragedy could have been avoided, and the cases of survivors of the plane crash were significantly higher. If we take the statistics of the largest crashes over the past 30 years, then their causes are:

• DC-8 crashed in Newfoundland in 1985 on takeoff due to loss of speed, killing 250 passengers;
• the crash of a Boeing 747 in 1985 in Japan was caused by poor repairs, resulting in 520 casualties;
• Il-76, following from Kazakhstan to Saudi Arabia crashed in India in 1996 from a mid-air collision with a Boeing, the result - 349 dead;
• Il-76 crashed in Iran in 2003 due to impact on the ground in poor visibility, killing 275 people;
• 224 people who did not survive the Kogalymavia plane crash in October 2015 added to the sad statistics: the reason is a possible terrorist attack.

That's not all major crashes, which happened from 1985 to 2015, but even they show that their cause is most often human inattention or dishonesty. The list of plane crash survivors would be much longer if flight safety professionals did their job well and passengers knew what to do to stay alive.

What to do in case of a plane crash

It turns out that there are rules that really help people stay alive when the liner crashes. The most basic instructions are given by flight attendants before the start of the flight. Unfortunately, most passengers do not listen to them, and even more so they cannot put them into practice. Among the simplest recommendations, it is considered mandatory:

• be fastened during takeoff and landing (ideally, it is better to be fastened during the entire flight);
• know where the life jackets are and how to use the oxygen mask;
• in an emergency, do not leave your seat, and even more so do not try to get into luggage compartment to save your belongings;
• concentrate and take the correct posture before the aircraft collides with the ground or water (bending your head to your knees, covering it with your hands).

In addition to these simple rules, there are several conclusions of emergency specialists that survivors of a plane crash applied intuitively and did not suffer.

Most of the passengers die after the plane crashes and catches fire, because they cannot get out of it in time. To prevent this from happening, you should know in advance:

• How are the seat belts unfastened?
• the exact direction to the exit (especially if there is smoke in the cabin);
• panic is 100% death.

For example, George Lamson, still a 17-year-old teenager in 1985, survived only because at the time of the collision of the plane in which he was flying with his father, his chair was thrown out of the cabin. If the boy had not been fastened and had not pressed his head to his knees, and after the fall he had not been able to quickly unfasten himself and run to a safe distance, he would have died, like the other 70 people.

As the cases of survivors of a plane crash show, if a person does not panic and knows what to do, then he has every chance of surviving. Examining examples of such tragedies, scientists have come to the conclusion that many passengers, instead of getting out of the plane, are waiting for someone's instructions or instructions. It is important to know that in such a situation everyone is responsible for their own safety.

High risk situations

Although it may seem that the survivors of a plane crash are just the lucky ones, in reality they are not. As the data of scientists from England, who studied more than 2,000 rescue cases in such an accident, showed, these people were helped not by a simple coincidence of circumstances, but by specific knowledge and actions, plus a bit of luck.

It turns out that there are high-risk zones and safer areas in airplanes, as evidenced by survival statistics:

• for example, those who sit in the first five rows in the nose of an aircraft have a 65% chance of survival;
• it is even higher for those who sit in these rows on the outer seats (67%), and not near the windows (58%);
• passengers at the rear of the aircraft have a 53% survival rate if they are also seated in the first five rows from the emergency exit;
• people who survived after a plane crash and sat in the middle of the cabin are extremely rare.

In addition to risk areas in the cabin, the aircraft itself also plays an important role. So, statistics say that 73% of all air crashes occur in small aircraft, designed up to 30 seats. Fatal outcome of a fall of a single-engine or small plane is 68%, which suggests that the chance to survive for passengers and pilots of such vehicles is tantamount to a miracle.

There is only one conclusion - you should fly big planes reliable companies. Hardly just right choice vehicle and the seats in it will save lives in an emergency, but its passengers will have more chances of survival, and rescuers in case of a crash big liner they don’t ask the question “are there any survivors of a plane crash”, but save them.

The most difficult situations

The most difficult and dangerous part of the disaster is the collision of the aircraft with the ground or water. After this happened, people only have 1.5-2 minutes to stay alive. It is at this time that it is necessary to meet in order to unfasten, find a way out and jump out as far as possible.

The biggest threat to life is a fire and carbon monoxide filling the cabin, which is confirmed by a woman who survived the plane crash. Larisa Savitskaya survived after the plane in which she was flying with her husband collided with a bomber. Having received burns from the fire that started, she managed to concentrate and take the correct position in the chair, which saved her life when she fell on it from a height of 5200 m for 8 minutes.

Her landing was “softened” by tree branches, but even after surviving such a fall, she had to endure a severe shock both from her injuries and from the fact that rescuers were in no hurry to search crashed plane sure no one survived.

“Are there people who survived the plane crash?” - this question should be in the first place for those who are engaged in similar situations. Larisa waited two days for help with a fracture of the cervical spine and a head injury. She is the only one who got into the Guinness book twice for the same event:

• first time as a survivor after falling from a height of more than 5 km;
• the second - as having received the most meager compensation for the damage received - only 75 rubles.

No less a threat to human life is a collision of an aircraft with a water surface, although most passengers naively believe that it can soften the fall. Such ignorance of the elementary laws of physics cost the lives of many people.

Fall into the ocean

When a plane crashes over the ocean, it's not uncommon, but the death toll remains shockingly high, although there are survivors of a plane crash on the water.

This happens for several reasons:

• firstly, people often cannot find and put on a life jacket because of panic;
• secondly, they put it into action too early, and when inflated, it prevents not only moving, but also swimming out of the cabin if water has entered there;
• thirdly, they do not know that the impact of an aircraft on the water is tantamount to a collision with a concrete surface, and they may not buckle up to take a rescue position.

Except when the pilot makes a forced landing on the water, falling into the ocean is just as dangerous as falling to the ground, as the only girl who survived the plane crash confirms.

Bakari was 12 years old when she and her mother flew from Paris to Yemen. For an unknown reason, the plane crashed into the ocean 14 km from the coast of Bolshiye Komory Island. From the impact on the water, he was torn to pieces, and the girl fell into the water. She was lucky that parts of the liner remained on her surface, on one of which she waited 14 hours until she was picked up by a nearby fishing boat.

The story of the girl went around the whole world, as this is one of those examples when, perhaps, there would have been more survivors if help had arrived in time. Hypothermia and life jackets not put on in time claimed the lives of other passengers.

This is not the last example where the sole survivor of a plane crash had to fight for her life due to the lack of help on the ground.

Fall in the jungle

Although there are examples when the fall of the plane was softened by tree branches, the number of passengers and crew members who survived did not increase. How a person behaves during a tragedy still plays a big role.

An example of this is the story of a German 17-year-old schoolgirl traveling with her mother from Lima to Pucallpa (Peru) before Christmas 1971. In fact, it was a small flight, which became tragic due to the fact that the plane got into turbulence during a thunderstorm.

From a lightning strike, the systems of the airship went out of order, a fire started in the cabin. Juliana Koepke is the only survivor of the plane crash during this flight. At an altitude of 6400 m aircraft both wings came off, after which the liner, which had gone into a tailspin, began to fall apart in parts.

The girl was saved by the fact that she was wearing a seatbelt and took a rescue position when a row of chairs, along with her seat, was “thrown” overboard. During the fall, it, along with the debris from the cabin, rotated strong wind, which led to a downward slope and fall into the dense thickets of the Amazon jungle.

The consequences of the “landing” were a broken collarbone, abrasions and bruises, but even greater trials awaited her. Located 500 km from Lima, in the thick of the jungle, without knowing the way, this young woman who survived a plane crash was forced to fight for her life in an unfamiliar area.

For 9 whole days she walked down the river, afraid to move far from it, so as not to lose the source of water. Eating fruits and plants that she recognized and could pick, the girl went to the parking lot of the fishermen, who took her to the hospital.

If Juliana had stayed to wait for help near the crashed plane, she would most likely have died. Based on these events, the Italian television company filmed the feature film “Miracles Still Happen”, which subsequently saved the life of a Soviet girl, Larisa Savitskaya, who had been waiting for two days for rescuers.

Surviving crew members

It is quite rare to hear that the crew members survived when the plane crashed. Perhaps they are busy rescuing passengers or are at this moment in the most “unfavorable” part of the aircraft, but this is a fact.

But there are examples when a flight attendant who survived a plane crash was the only one saved. Vesna Vulovic was only 22 years old in 1972 when a Yugoslav airline plane fell apart in the air as a result of a terrorist bomb during a regular flight from Copenhagen to Zagreb.

This case can be attributed to a "miracle", since Vesna was able to survive being in the middle of the aircraft cabin when falling from a height of more than 10 km. The fragment of the car she was in fell into the snow-covered trees, which greatly softened the blow.

The second "miracle" was that while she was unconscious, a farmer from a nearby village found her and took her to the hospital. The flight attendant, who survived a plane crash after falling from such a height, was in a coma for almost a month, and then struggled for another 16 months to be able to move around and live a normal life.

Vesna Vulovich became the Guinness book record holder as a person who made a parachute jump from a height of 10 kilometers. There is hardly a daredevil who, of his own free will, decides to surpass her result.

Russian plane crash in Egypt

One of the hottest topics in autumn 2015 was the plane crash in Egypt. Today, “are there any survivors” is no longer the most important question in this tragedy. If at first there were rumors that not all of the 224 people died, now this is a sad fact.

Today, the public is interested in the cause of the death of the airliner, and the guarantee that this will no longer happen to Russian aircraft.

Completely different versions of what happened are presented by Russian and foreign media. The airliner, which took off without delay, 23 minutes after takeoff, disappeared from the controllers' radars for unknown reasons.

One of the versions why the survivors of the plane crash in Egypt have not been found is the explosion of the bomb on board. The plane exploded in the sky, so the passengers had practically no chance.

Egyptian authorities claim that the presence of the bomb was not found in the wreckage. These data were published by them after experts from the USA, England and Russia came to a different conclusion.

The only reason for the inconsistency of the experts' conclusions is Egypt's unwillingness to lose potential customers in tourist season and pay compensation to the Kogalymavia company for the plane crash in its airspace. If there were survivors, they would also receive compensation for the damage.

It is to be expected what agreement both sides will come to, but, looking back at the history of aeronautics, we can say that planes do not just fall apart in the air and do not disappear from the radar. There are no final conclusions yet, but the world community understands what caused the plane crash in Egypt today. Are there any survivors, the answer to this question is unequivocal - “no”.

positive statistics

Knowing the meticulousness of scientists in their desire to calculate and measure everything, there is no doubt that they also studied the question of why people do not survive in a plane crash.

The reason is actually the most banal - all the same human factor. If we take the statistics of changes in the causes of aircraft crashes since 1908, then it will look like this:

• at the dawn of aircraft construction from 1908 to 1929. 50% of crashes were due to technical problems, 30% to weather, 10% is fire and 10% is pilot error;
• by the second half of the 20th century air fleet came up with different statistics - 24% are related to technology, 25% - the weather is to blame, pilot error - 37%, fire - 7%, and terrorist attacks occupy only 5%;
• in the 21st century, statistics have completely changed - 45% - the culprit is the human factor, 13% - the weather, 32% - technical problems, fire - 3%, and terrorist attacks occupy 4% of cases.

This is how the causes of air disasters in the air have changed in 100 years. Nevertheless, today it is the safest form of transportation, because crashes occur with a probability of 0.00001%. In addition, more and more facts are appearing when not 1 person survives a plane crash, but a significant part of the passengers.

For example, 4 people survived in a plane crash that occurred in Japan in 1985. 12 minutes after takeoff, the aircraft suffered a depressurization in the tail compartment. The pilots managed to keep the car in the air for 32 minutes, after which the board crashed 100 km from the capital of Japan. As the survivors said, there could have been more rescued, as people asked for help, but by the time the rescuers arrived, who were in no hurry at all, 520 people were dead. They were killed by hypothermia and wounds received during the fall.

Unfortunately, information about the saved does not always correspond to the truth. So it was when it was reported that 4 people had survived a plane crash over Egypt. In this case, one can only sympathize with people who found hope for a miracle, but then lost it again.

IN Russian history Aviation also has examples when passengers survived the crash of the liner. So, the people who survived the Kogalymavia plane crash in 2011, when the plane caught fire, which was just taxiing to the runway, received only three people from 116 passengers and 6 crew members, while the Tu-154 completely burned down.

Flying for the first time, worried? Do you know why they ask you to fasten your seat belts and forbid taking pictures on the plane?

In this article, I will tell you in detail about the basic rules of conduct on board an aircraft, explain what certain requirements of flight attendants are connected with and why it is so important to comply with them, and also answer the question “What can / cannot be done on an airplane?” .

On any plane civil aviation the first and most important person is aircraft captain/commander(abbreviated - FAC). The PIC is personally responsible for everything that happens on board: for flight safety, for making decisions about landing, takeoff, fuel draining in flight, baggage drop, forced landing etc.

According to the legislation of the Russian Federation, and also of other countries, the PIC has the right to give orders to any person on board the aircraft, passenger or crew member, as well as to demand their execution. For disobeying orders, you are in for big trouble with the police on the ground. Second pilot assists the commander in piloting the aircraft.

In the cabin of the aircraft, a team of stewards, flight attendants, led by senior flight attendant. The chief flight attendant is the deputy PIC in the cabin of the aircraft (aircraft).

Some passengers have an erroneous opinion about the role of flight attendants, who consider them to be something between waitresses and, excuse me, girls of easy virtue. Dear friends, flight attendants are really responsible for the service, your comfort during the flight and perform passenger service work.

But, Firstly, these are the people who monitor flight safety, they are always ready to help in case of an emergency on board, and in case emergency, save your life. They have a difficult job with big amount stress, remember this, and please treat them with respect and a smile.

Takeoff and landing of the aircraft. What should the passenger do?

According to the statistics of all aviation accidents, overwhelming majority accidents for aircraft takeoff and landing. All this is connected with proximity to the earth and lack of time to make some important decisions.

Moreover, if during takeoff the plane picks up speed, accelerates and moves away from the surface, and the farther and higher, the safer, then during landing, the plane approaches the ground, the speed drops and this is a very crucial moment.

What should the passenger do at this time?

It's simple - follow the standard flight attendant command:

Ladies and gentlemen, we are preparing for takeoff and we ask you to turn off all electronic devices, remove the folding table, return the seat to an upright position, open the window shade and fasten your seat belts tightly!

Now I will tell you in detail why all this is needed and why it is VERY IMPORTANT to fulfill this request.

• shutdown mobile phones in airplane

Imagine a situation when an airplane takes off, say 1 km from the ground, when 300 phones simultaneously start looking for a network where it simply does not exist. It can really turn out some kind of porridge from the magnetic field. And if so far there have been no precedents, this does not mean that there is no likelihood of their occurrence. Therefore, be responsible, turn off your phones or put them in Airplane mode. Don't take risks.

• seat backs in upright position

In the event of an emergency, the lowered back of your seat may block the passage of passengers sitting behind you.

• fasten the belt, assemble the table

In the event of an emergency braking, hard landing or aborted takeoff, you may lose your seat and fly forward through the cabin or hit your head on a disassembled table. Also, it is desirable that during takeoff and landing you do not have heavy objects in your hands. Do not hold it and this thing will fly like a brick, forward over the heads of passengers. Related to this is the ban on photography and video filming during these phases of the flight.

• open window blinds

First of all, this is due to the difference in lighting outside the aircraft and inside the cabin. If twilight reigns in the cabin, and the sun shines brightly outside, then during an emergency evacuation, blinding for a few precious seconds is guaranteed. The same is true if there is a bright light in the cabin and it is night outside. Therefore, on night flights, the lights are dimmed during landing so that the eyes adapt.

Secondly, in the event of an emergency, such as an engine fire, the passenger can see this and inform the flight attendant.

• It is not recommended to listen to loud music with headphones

If you are using the aircraft entertainment system, it will turn off during takeoff and landing, this is due to the fact that the passenger may be distracted and not hear important message and flight attendant teams.

Climb and descent. Turbulence and air pockets

During climb and descent, an aircraft passes through the first layer of our atmosphere, the troposphere. This is such an environment where air turbulent flows are highly developed, clouds of various types arise, cyclones and anticyclones develop. It is during this phase of the flight that aircraft"turbulence" is felt most strongly. What does this mean and what to do?

This means that getting into the eddy turbulent currents, the aircraft can shake and "talk" up and down, left and right. In pilots' slang, "turbulence" is just "chatter".

Sometimes such shaking can be very strong and prolonged, especially when the flight takes place in difficult weather conditions: thunderstorms, fog, heavy clouds, wind, etc. In this case, the PIC or the Chief Flight Attendant announces that the aircraft has entered a zone of severe turbulence and asks everyone to take their seats and fasten their seat belts.

You should not panic in this situation, even when it shakes very strongly, and looking out the window, it seems that the wings will just fall off from the vibration. This is a common practice that, to one degree or another, all face. aircraft. You just have to take your seat, buckle up and wait out the chatter. The larger the aircraft, the less turbulence and vice versa.

As for the feeling that the wings are about to fall off (I often come across this question) - do not worry, in the entire history of aviation, there have never been such cases on production aircraft. Wings are tested at much higher loads, and the swaying of the wing indicates its correct and normal operation, under conditions of variable loads and diverse pressures.

Level flight

When the aircraft has gained altitude, taken its level and flies in a horizontal plane, this is the most calm and pleasant time of flight. Modern passenger liners they fly in the lower layer of the stratosphere, at an altitude of 10-12 km, high above the clouds, where almost no weather conditions are felt, there are no birds, they don’t block their ears and don’t bother at all. You can get up from your seat, stretch your stiff limbs and do whatever you want on the plane: sleep, eat, work, watch movies, listen to music, play on your laptop, read. In general, relax and enjoy the flight.

Although sometimes turbulence is felt in level flight, especially when flying over the Atlantic.

If you have a long flight ahead, take a book or tablet with you, you can use the in-flight entertainment system, the latest long-haul liners are equipped with a personal screen for each passenger with a wide selection of movies, music files and so on.

Landing. Braking. Taxiing

An airplane is the safest means of transport. However, unforeseen incidents do happen. A clear sequence of actions for each emergency will help minimize damage or avoid it altogether.

The captain of the aircraft monitors all events that occur on board the aircraft and is responsible for them. The 2nd pilot helps him manage the transport, and the flight attendants (led by the senior flight attendant) work in the cabin. If you have any questions, then you can safely ask them to the stewards. Our website will help you choose cheap tickets to any destination.

Basic Rules

First of all, you need to be vigilant at the beginning and at the end of the flight. Most accidents happen at this time. Keep calm and keep an eye on what's going on. If you are planning a long flight, then in no case do not take off your shoes on the plane. This will prevent rapid collection and hasty exit of the aircraft in case of accidents or fires.

Practice unbuckling your seat belt beforehand. During an emergency, it can be easy to panic and forget how to do it. It is best to think over the evacuation plan in advance and land as close to the exits as possible. Carefully study the memo to the passenger and the mechanism for opening emergency hatches.

An emergency situation can throw even an experienced aircraft crew into confusion. In this case, do not expect help and instructions. Try not to panic and get out of the plane as quickly as possible. In the event of a fire, smoke must also not be inhaled. Never try to take your things. The most valuable thing you have is your life.

If the captain of the aircraft is forced to make an emergency landing, take a safe position. The seat must be set in a vertical position, put your head and chest on your legs and clasp your knees. The feet should be located further under the seat than the knees and firmly pressed to the floor. Always wear comfortable clothing in which you will feel comfortable moving around the cabin.

Other emergencies

Significant discomfort during flight can cause entry into turbulence zones and air pockets. Air flows of different temperatures shift and the aircraft can rise or fall sharply. During turbulence, things on board fly up and fall on passengers. The following rules will help you avoid injury:

• do not sit next to sharp or heavy objects and luggage that has not been secured;
• always buckle up;
• follow the instructions in the memo to the passenger;
• do not take small items with you, it is better to pack them in suitcases (a pen in your pocket can also hurt).

Decompression often frightens passengers, although this is not a cause for serious panic. It is accompanied by noise, air escaping from the aircraft cabin and dustiness. In this case, you need:

• do not panic;
• put on immediately oxygen mask;
• wait for the crew to eliminate the consequences of decompression;
• calmly endure an emergency landing.

In unforeseen situations, the aircraft can be landed on the water. It can stay afloat for approximately 40 minutes. All planes are prepared for such a situation, so absolutely all passengers will have time to leave it. Stewarts will help launch inflatable rafts and evacuate people.

The main thing in all emergency situations is to keep calm. If you are subject to a panic state and do not have time to perform the necessary actions, then even a minor nuisance will cause great harm and injury.

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It is easier to believe in magic than to understand how a person manages to lift a multi-ton iron bird into the sky. Ignorance breeds fear of the unknown. Therefore, many pilots and other airline employees are happy to tell what is really worth fearing and why airplanes are wonderful!

website chose 16 understandable answers to the most exciting and difficult questions that interest everyone who has seen an airplane at least once in their life.

16. How to get to the pilots if their door is locked from the inside?

There is a special code that the flight attendant dials to get into the cockpit. This is necessary for cases when, for example, both pilots have lost consciousness. The commander before the flight learns the code and informs the crew of it. After entering the code, the door will open within a minute, but only if the pilots take no action. If the pilot sees through a video camera that a non-crew member is standing at the door, then he completely blocks the door, and the attacker cannot get inside.

15. Are pilots allowed to wear bushy mustaches or piercings?

The beard, bushy mustache, piercings, and any other decorations and "growths" on the face prevent the pilot from using an oxygen mask, which must fit snugly over the face. Therefore, the pilot's face is always clean, sometimes slightly unshaven is allowed. Otherwise, a situation is created that endangers the lives of passengers.

14. What happens if all engines fail?

During each flight, the aircraft switches to a mode in which . If in a car with a manual transmission to shift the lever to neutral, going down the hill, it will be the same. Complete engine failure is extremely rare, and in this case there is a special instruction for restarting them.

But also without engines, the plane can land on a gliding descent. Most famous case happened to a Boeing 747 over Java in 1982, when the plane was caught in a cloud of dust from an erupting volcano and all 4 engines failed. The crew managed to land the plane at the nearest airport, and none of the 263 people was injured.

13. How long do oxygen masks last?

The oxygen level and pressure inside the aircraft are maintained artificially. If cabin depressurization occurs on high altitude, a person develops hypoxia: he loses consciousness and can die without an oxygen mask.

Oxygen. This time is enough for the pilot to lower the plane to a height where you can breathe normally. The pilot has his own stationary oxygen mask, designed for more time- to lower and even land the plane without losing concentration. Before each flight, pilots check the performance of their masks.

12. Do pilots sleep at the controls?

Approximately 56% of pilots accidentally fall asleep during the flight, although it is better to say they can doze off. Fortunately, modern aircraft almost all the time they work in autopilot mode, and controllers require constant feedback from pilots.

On long-haul flights, two crews or three pilots can work at once, replacing each other with a break for rest. The pilot, having worked his shift, sleeps in a special cabin. It is important that the crew is constantly in touch with the controllers and that at least one pilot controls the flight.

11. Why does the plane go around?

This . An aircraft may go-around for various reasons, such as runway some object or animal, a strong side wind is blowing, or the airport is temporarily closed for an urgent landing of a special aircraft.

Passengers are worried because the plane suddenly gains altitude before the long-awaited landing, but in fact everything is under control - this is the standard way of go-around.

10. What nationality does a child born on an airplane get?

Exists . This will be the passport.

• the country where the airline of the aircraft on which the birth took place is registered;
• the country over which he was born;
• country where the aircraft landed.

In most cases, in practice, the first option is obtained, but the decision is made by the airline, taking into account the current legislation. Some airlines give kids a bonus as a gift: the opportunity to fly free of charge on their planes anywhere in the world for life.

9. Can an airplane land on autopilot?

In modern aircraft, control systems guide the aircraft along the route from a height of 300 meters and almost to a full landing on runway. During landing, auto landing can be used, but the pilot needs to activate this mode and monitor it by setting certain landing configurations.

Already before a direct landing on the runway, the aircraft is directed by the course-glide path system: the airport radio beacon guides the aircraft, correcting its path. This system works even if the aircraft is completely de-energized.

8. Hard landing on water or on land - which is safer?

7. How do pilots eat during the flight?

For pilots, a separate menu is prepared with several dishes to choose from: if the commander wants chicken, then the co-pilot will get fish or meat for lunch. This The best way avoid poisoning with the same products. Pilots take turns eating, some right behind the wheel at special tables.

But there are airlines where this rule is not respected and pilots can get the same portion of food as passengers.

6. Why do pilots sometimes fly in the cabin with passengers?

Sometimes, as part of their work, pilots fly with passengers from one airport to another. If they are on board in uniform, then with passengers they will sleep, eat or watch movies with headphones. The sight of a pilot in uniform during such activities can be misleading and lead to panic among passengers. But more often, uniformed pilots fly in spare seats in the cockpit or in first class.

5. What is more terrible - crashing into a bird, getting hit by hail or getting struck by lightning?

Lightning often hits the plane, but the passengers do not even notice it. In extremely rare cases, this can lead to a blackout of the aircraft. In this case, the pilots have several instructions that literally reset the electronics on board, and the flight continues as usual.

Birds represent great danger than it seems. Entry into a fan or turbine can result in engine destruction, failure, and even fire. Not every windshield will survive

Many people who have panic attacks hate flying. By the way, although I don’t have panic attacks, I still can’t stand airplanes.

So, this article will be useful to a lot of people. Well, except for the pilots themselves or flight attendants, who are specially trained on how to behave in emergency situations. We read and remember.

The aircraft is considered one of the most safe view transport, however, and in it passengers are in danger. What are they and what to do in order to minimize the damage.

Fight on board

Fights on board the aircraft have become a common occurrence, both among our compatriots and among foreign tourists. This is explained, as a rule, by the fact that many people get drunk at the airport in order to allay the fear of flying or simply reduce the waiting time. Once in a confined space, someone just falls asleep, while someone begins to look for reasons for conflict.

The most dangerous thing on board is a group of fans who strive to get the maximum adrenaline and, along with fights, arrange a “pitching”, that is, they rush from one side to another. If there are less than 30 people, it is not dangerous, otherwise the balance of the aircraft may be disturbed.

• Having witnessed a fight on board, first of all, you need to remain calm.
• All foreign airlines have so-called "marshals" in their crews - large stewards who are much better at pacifying violent passengers than serving sandwiches.
• But in domestic companies there is no such position, so men should be ready to help the flight attendant if necessary.

Turbulence zone and air pockets

Turbulence refers to the mixing of several air streams with different temperatures and density, as a result of which the aircraft can instantly descend or rise by several tens of meters.

Most often, this happens at an altitude of more than six thousand meters, during a flight over the city, sandy beach or a lake, the surface of which is heated unevenly.

When an aircraft crashes into a large air pocket, all items in the cabin and not properly secured, soar up sharply and then fall on those sitting. In addition, if you do not buckle up, you can get bruised or even fractured by hitting during the shaking that usually happens when passing through a turbulence zone.

• When boarding a plane, make sure that there are no heavy or sharp objects, loose luggage nearby.
• Even a pen in a jacket pocket can become dangerous, so it's best to pack it in a bag.
• In addition, be sure to buckle up, and if you get into a turbulence zone, group yourself as indicated in the passenger memo.

Airplane fire

It is not uncommon for passengers themselves to be responsible for a fire on an airplane, carelessly handling fire or smoking on board. True, a fire can occur during takeoff or landing, and then the passenger has no more than three minutes to get out of the plane.

• First of all, remember that the plane is a huge flying fuel truck, and it is strictly forbidden to use lighters or smoke on board.
• If a fire while on runway has already begun, try to leave the cabin as soon as possible.
• To do this, when landing, remember where the emergency exits, count how many rows of seats from you to the exit, in order to navigate even by touch.
• Don't inhale the smoke, walk bent over or on all fours, put on a coat or jacket, and get rid of synthetics in your clothes (including tights), because when melted, they cause the most severe burns.
• You should not take off your shoes, except for stilettos when entering the inflatable ladder, and even those should be held in your hands so that you can immediately put on shoes on the ground and not step on broken glass or plastic.

Decompression

Decompression, unlike most air accidents, happens very quickly and, although it seems frightening, is not a cause for panic. The loud noise that accompanies the release of air from the cabin can scare, but this is not the most dangerous. The plane quickly fills with fog and dust, it becomes difficult to breathe, there is ringing in the ears. At this point, the most important thing is not to panic, but to put on an oxygen mask and securely fasten it so that it does not fall off, even with a possible pitching or loss of consciousness. Know that the crew will immediately begin to correct the situation, and the aircraft will descend sharply until the pressure in the cabin and outside equalize, and then an emergency landing will be made at the nearest airport.

• At the first sign of decompression, put on your oxygen mask and then help those around you.
• Even if there is a child nearby, take care of yourself first, otherwise you may pass out and leave him without help.

Takeoff and landing accidents

It is not for nothing that flight attendants ask passengers to fasten their seat belts and raise their seat backs during takeoff and landing. The most unexpected accidents occur during these periods of flight.

• First of all, you should not rely only on the instructions of the crew.
• If you notice that the flight is going wrong (the plane is descending sharply, one of the engines has died down, or there is smoke in the cabin), buckle up, group up and get ready for emergency landing, during which strong overloads are inevitable.
• As soon as the plane stops, passengers will be evacuated. At this point, you should not succumb to panic, but you need to do everything as quickly as possible.

Hijacking

Cases of aircraft hijacking are extremely rare, however, they quickly become known to the whole world. And although the chance that the Moscow-Antalya flight will be hijacked is negligible, it is still better to know the basic rules of behavior and survival in such situations.

• Do not stand out among other passengers, fulfill all the requirements of the criminals, and then the release groups.
• Perform any action (going to the toilet, opening luggage) only after receiving permission.
• During the assault, try to sit or lie down on the floor or hide behind the back of a chair, do not express your attitude towards the invaders and do not try to deal with them yourself.
• After your release, be prepared for the fact that for the next few hours you will have to continuously answer questions from the police and law enforcement agencies.

Water landing

IN emergency cases the plane can land on the water, but this does not mean that casualties are inevitable, since all aircraft are prepared for this. The ship can stay afloat for up to 40 minutes, and during this time everyone has time to leave it. In addition, modern aircraft are equipped with life jackets and life rafts that self-inflate in one minute.

• Before departure, find out in what position the aircraft is kept afloat - horizontally, with the tail lowered into the water or the bow. Based on this, plan which exit you will need to move to.
• After landing, start with the help of the stewards to launch self-inflating rafts. If the raft does not start to inflate by itself, pull the handle of the air supply system located on the side of the raft.

P.S. And so that you don’t feel completely scared, let me defuse the situation a little:

Crew, prepare to land! Flight mechanic, report the situation!
— No left landing gear!
— Emergency landing! Stewardess! Is there still a supply of alcohol on board?
- Yes!
- Give it to the passengers, so as not to worry!
- You already issued it once after takeoff, they are now rolling some kind of wheel along the aisle ...