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We scurry about the earth exploring, holidaying or visiting friends and relatives, perhaps on a business trip. Air travel for most of us has become pretty much routine. Few travellers give more than a passing thought to what goes on the flight deck. However, a little knowledge of what actually goes on in the aircrew’s minds might sex up your flight a little.
All pilots know the importance of fuel. The only time you have too much of it is when you are on fire. As an article of faith the co-pilot might remind his first pilot colleague that when one engine fails on a twin-engine aeroplane you always have enough power left to get you to the scene of the crash.
Pilots are a highly professional bunch or people. This is why air travel is the safest way of going about our business. Their motto could easily be; ‘Never trade luck for skill.’ If every car driver took that maxim on board then the likelihood of their being involved in an accident would be dramatically reduced.
Those control tower thingies are essential to the smooth running and landing of aircraft. Most pilots are aware that the difference between pilots and Air Traffic Control (ATC) is simple. If the pilot messes up the pilot dies. If Air Traffic Control messes up the pilot dies.
The more pragmatic aircrew know that flying the aircraft is far more important than radioing your plight to ATC. Air Traffic Control is incapable of understanding the difficulty from your point of view. There is little they can do about it except send the fire trucks, ambulances and hearses.
Most travellers have experienced the occasional bumpy ride as the plane’s wheels hit the landing strip. This means Captain Kangaroo has not been paying full attention. Perhaps it is a clear signal that the landing gear is still in the fuselage if the aircraft requires full power to get the aeroplane to the terminal. If such a landing occurs, the methods of alighting are twofold. Either you use the non-existent steps or you use the chute provided.
Pilots can be very self-effacing: they know that airspeed, altitude, and brains are essential for a safely completed flight. You need at least two of them.
Most people draw the line at helicopter rides; we feel more vulnerable in them. However, it is a myth that they plunge to the ground if something falls off. Helicopters can sort of whirly-gig glide to terra firma. This might explain the shoulder shrugging remark of those who pilot these contraptions: 'If something hasn't broken on your helicopter, it's about to.'
Are you nervous about travelling in a helicopter? It may comfort you to know that even pilots of fixed wing aircraft are wary of these flying machines. They have been heard to surmise, “If the wings are travelling faster than the fuselage it is probably a helicopter and therefore unsafe.”
The three expressions you least want to hear from your pilot are: “Why is he doing that?”, “Where are we?” and “Oh shit!” For complete peace of mind when flying, I suggest you remember the bottom line: “Mankind has a perfect record in aviation. It has never left one up there.” ©