AN EX PILOT has exposed some of the most common myths about flight safety, and why you shouldn’t worry about flying.
André Viljoen, former commercial airline pilot and logistics manager at component supply specialistArtemis AerospaceHe knows more about flight safety than anyone.
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By dispelling some of the most widespread myths, he has shown why passengers can be a bit more relaxed about air travel.
A plane can crash due to turbulenceFalse
Turbulence, a frequent occurrence in air travel, is something every pilot and passenger will face at some time.
Although turbulence can cause nerve-wracking reactions and even be downright unpleasant at times, it is very unlikely that an aircraft will be brought down by it.
Aircraft are built to withstand extreme conditions like strong winds or lightning strikes.
The most likely situation in the event of aircraft turbulence is passengers experiencing a minor injury because they weren’t seated or strapped in at the time of the incident.
It is important that passengers do not sit down without their seatbelts.
A plane can crash if its engine is damaged.False
No passenger wants the bad news about an engine failure.
Commercial airlines use twin-engine aircraft, which can take-off, land and fly safely on one engine.
If an engine does fail, pilots will be able to return to their nearest airport immediately.
Doors can be opened during flightFalse
It is impossible to open an aircraft door during flight. This is because cabins in aircraft are under pressure.
At a typical altitude of cruising, upwards of 3.5kg of pressure pushes against every square inch.
This is more than 500 kg in total, far more than anyone could ever bear.
Meanwhile, this pilot used jelly to explain why turbulence isn’t that scary.
And this is how to use a pen and paper to keep calm during a bumpy flight.
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