Questions tagged [safety]

Safety includes all aspects of protecting aircraft, passengers and crew from accidents, mistakes and other potentially dangerous situations.

Filter by
Sorted by
Tagged with
12 votes
2 answers
4k views

What about hours flown solo without a student pilot certificate?

My instructor has ruined my training. 2.5 months ago when I started private pilot training (FAR61) I had zero knowledge about aviation. After 1.5 months he signed me off for solo and I finished all ...
Aug's user avatar
  • 229
12 votes
3 answers
3k views

Can a Boeing 747 take off fully loaded on 3 engines?

Recently a Boeing 747 aborted a take off while still on the ground due to the failure of one engine. Can a Boeing 747 take off fully loaded on 3 engines?
philip's user avatar
  • 121
12 votes
5 answers
6k views

Why are safety demonstrations done while taxiing?

In airliners, safety demonstrations are performed when the aircraft is leaving the gate. I understand it cannot be done latter as an aircraft incident including an evacuation may occur at take off ...
Manu H's user avatar
  • 16.5k
12 votes
1 answer
837 views

Are there any studies on the safety of glass versus steam instruments?

Has anyone come across any academic study on the effects of information provided by "glass" instrumentation that affects, favorably or unfavorably, situational awareness, skill and performance, and ...
David Espina's user avatar
12 votes
1 answer
5k views

When did inflight smoking become (widely) prohibited?

Currently in my mid-'30s, I can still clearly remember the time when half of the plane's passengers were smoking throughout a long-haul flight. I know commercial flights became non-smoking sometime in ...
abey's user avatar
  • 2,140
12 votes
1 answer
4k views

Is there a minimum separation between a landing aircraft and another crossing its runway?

I have just seen this video of what has been called a runway incursion at LEBL (my hometown airport). A russian jet initiates a go-around after seeing an argentinian plane crossing runway 02: https://...
orique's user avatar
  • 1,550
11 votes
3 answers
4k views

Where are the microphones for the black box located in the cockpit?

All modern commercial airliners have a CVR (Cockpit Voice Recorder) on-board to record what the pilots are saying during the duration for a flight. I feel that the location of the microphones is ...
shortstheory's user avatar
  • 3,996
11 votes
2 answers
2k views

What can happen if a bird strikes the engine during landing?

I am not sure what can happen if a bird strikes an engine during landing. To narrow it down: commercial airliner (B787/A380 etc.) hitting a large bird so engine out is likely.
L.Halfpenny's user avatar
  • 1,707
11 votes
3 answers
3k views

Why did this 737 not take off on first attempt?

This video shows a 737 'near miss' takeoff. I'm curious as to why the aircraft did not take off as expected, i.e. is there anything obvious from the video? I'm ...
Cloud's user avatar
  • 13.3k
11 votes
1 answer
1k views

Are there any incidents caused by rudder failure in Military jets?

Based on this question about the rudder position of the F/A-18 Fighter Jet. Quote from the user Rhino Driver: The logic has its limits though and if the pilot exceeds 14 AoA in a landing mode (...
jklingler's user avatar
  • 3,817
11 votes
3 answers
4k views

What is the requirement of a higher glidepath/approach angle and is this a flight safety issue?

To reduce noise in the London urban area, Heathrow airport has announced plans to trial a steeper approach for aircraft landing - changing from 3 to 3.2 degrees. If this is successful, they will ...
Him's user avatar
  • 5,288
11 votes
1 answer
8k views

Can a dual-engine aircraft take off with only one engine?

When a dual-engine aircraft (such as the B737, A320, A330, B777 or B787) has reached the point where it is too late to abort a take off, can it take off if one engine fails?
Monnides's user avatar
  • 113
11 votes
1 answer
8k views

Why are rules regarding the use of oxygen masks by commercial pilots often ignored?

I was reading an article recently on the effects of rapid depressurization when I came across this tidbit: According to FAR 135.89.2, aircrews of part charter craft flying pressurized aircraft above ...
Jae Carr's user avatar
  • 24.1k
10 votes
2 answers
2k views

What was the first commercial aircraft to have a 'built-in' oxygen system?

(Source) Boeing 307 of TWA, the 307 was the first pressurized passenger aircraft. The 307 (c. 1938) flew as high as 23,300 ft, lower than the jets of nowadays, and did not have a built-in oxygen ...
user avatar
10 votes
2 answers
2k views

Can the safety of the Boeing 777 be extended to other models?

It is becoming accepted that the Boeing 777 is the world's safest aircraft. There must be a reason for this of course, and aircraft designers should know it. So my question is, can't we take all the ...
hat's user avatar
  • 889
10 votes
3 answers
2k views

Is all jet fuel the same? [duplicate]

I'm a Chemistry student preparing an in-class lab demonstration that involves the combustion properties of jet fuel used in typical US based airliners. Is all jet fuel the same, or do I need to ...
wposeyjr's user avatar
  • 219
10 votes
2 answers
4k views

Can you go around with LAHSO in effect?

Some larger airports in the US use land-and-hold-short (LAHSO) operations, meaning you're cleared to land, but only if you're able to do so without going beyond specific point (usually an intersecting ...
falstro's user avatar
  • 11.8k
10 votes
3 answers
2k views

Single engine failure in a light twin after lift-off: what to do?

In a previous question the case about if a turnback would be feasible, specifically for a single engine aircraft, has been analysed. But given a twin-engine general aviation aircraft and a single ...
Federico's user avatar
  • 32.6k
10 votes
2 answers
13k views

What are the risks involved when doing a classic zero-g maneuver?

I suspect most pilots have done it at least once: briefly experience zero g when flying a parabolic path. It's quite an experience (if your stomach can handle it). Question is: are there any risks ...
Philippe Leybaert's user avatar
10 votes
2 answers
6k views

Why couldn't Air Moorea Flight 1121 use pitch trim to land safely?

On August 9th, 2007 an Air Moorea Twin Otter crashed into the ocean. The cause of the crash was determined to be loss of pitch control after an elevator cable snapped. In my world (Cessna 152), if an ...
OneChillDude's user avatar
  • 2,160
10 votes
2 answers
3k views

Does the Airbus A350 have an Automatic Emergency Descent System?

In 2009 Airbus went public with a new feature in the Airbus A350, an Automatic Emergency Descent (AED) System. The system would detect a rapid depressurization and, after a defined waiting time, ...
Stefan's user avatar
  • 4,692
10 votes
1 answer
2k views

What is the maximum acceptable gap between the jet bridge and airplane door?

I noticed on an American Airline flight a gap of about 4 inches between the floor of the bridge and the airplane. Wide enough that if the passenger is not paying attention to the floor the foot may ...
Juan Garcia's user avatar
10 votes
2 answers
8k views

Are four-engined airplanes subject to ETOPS equivalent rules?

I've heard of ETOPS, which permits the maximum duration for which a two-engined airplane can fly on one engine to the nearest airport. Are 4-engined planes such as the Boeing 747 and Airbus A380 ...
shortstheory's user avatar
  • 3,996
9 votes
1 answer
2k views

Are the vortex generators on the Cessna Caravan necessary and sufficient for safety of flight?

I've been doing some reading about the C208B (Cessna Caravan) in prep for my new job flying cargo; I came across this article which (as far as I can tell) is a transcription of litigation surrounding ...
David DeVine's user avatar
9 votes
2 answers
3k views

Are VFR pilots required to avoid an isolated cumulus cloud like any other cloud?

When flying VFR, pilots are to stay free of clouds, which includes a minimum of 3 miles visibility, and 2,000 feet laterally. Yet, I've seen some youtube videos where it appears the pilot gets too ...
abelenky's user avatar
  • 30.7k
9 votes
1 answer
9k views

In what circumstances do passengers or flight attendants have to take their shoes off?

Three shoes-related facts: A passenger and a flight attendant in this Аэрофлот/Aeroflot aircraft have their shoes off or are ready to take them off: It's suggested that shoes are taken off for ...
mins's user avatar
  • 72.4k
9 votes
3 answers
4k views

Is there any electrical component on an aircraft which can never be turned off by a pilot?

Am I correct to assume that every electrical system on an aircraft can be manually switched OFF/ON by the Pilot OR is there indeed any system, on which the Pilot does not have the ability to switch ...
E.P.D.I's user avatar
  • 375
9 votes
4 answers
4k views

Is it safe to fly on airplane with lithium batteries in cargo hold?

Lithium-ion batteries have the tendency to go on fire. I checked baggage policy of European low cost carriers (easyJet, Ryanair, WizzAir), and while spare batteries are banned from cargo hold, it ...
infrequent flyer's user avatar
9 votes
1 answer
2k views

Why would flares be fired into the air after a flight lands?

On Monday 23rd September at about 14:30 BST my plane landed at London Stansted. Soon after landing, while the plane was at the end of its deceleration, I noticed what appeared to be two flares or ...
binaryfunt's user avatar
8 votes
2 answers
4k views

What is the spacing of obstacle lights on towers?

Radio antennas and other tall buildings have lights so pilots don't fly into them, especially at night. Is there a fixed spacing so you can determine the height of the tower by counting the lights?
FreeMan's user avatar
  • 16.2k
8 votes
3 answers
2k views

Why is the take off speed and distance reduced by head winds?

A headwind of 20 knots and a true airspeed for the take-off safety speed being 120 knots, the ground speed is only 100 knots. Getting to a true ground speed of only 100 knots will require less ...
walid naceri's user avatar
8 votes
4 answers
3k views

During a takeoff emergency, is it safer to abort or continue the takeoff if either can be done within the available runway?

In a multi-engine airplane, if an engine failure occurs at the exact moment that a decision needs to be made to reject or continue the takeoff, and there is plenty of runway available to do either, ...
Lnafziger's user avatar
  • 58.9k
8 votes
6 answers
2k views

What system is there in the UK to prevent collisions between small aircraft?

I met someone the other day who owns a small plane and he was going to fly from Cambridge to the Isle of Wight. I asked him whether he had to file a flight plan and he said no. Just wondering ...
mike rodent's user avatar
8 votes
2 answers
2k views

Will dual-learning in a glider make my airplane learning safer?

This question got me thinking, would attending gliding lessons at the same time as my airplane training make me safer in a small plane or microlight?
Cloud's user avatar
  • 13.3k
8 votes
4 answers
3k views

Are pilot YouTubers breaking any rules?

Recently, I've been watching a few YouTubers (mostly FOs) who make great videos like this: Then I realized... They must spend a lot of time setting up cameras, ...
Cloud's user avatar
  • 13.3k
8 votes
1 answer
922 views

Would discharging a firearm in-flight cause an explosive decompression?

I was reading a BBC FAQ about Federal Air Marshals, which has this chilling quote in it: A gunfight on a passenger airliner is seen as an option only of last resort. Presuming an air marshal has ...
Danny Beckett's user avatar
8 votes
3 answers
2k views

Why do aircraft stall warning systems use angle-of-attack vanes rather than detecting airflow separation directly?

Stall warning and protection systems on essentially all aircraft work by using several hinged vanes on the side of the fuselage (usually at least three, and preferably more), which align themselves ...
Vikki's user avatar
  • 28.3k
7 votes
1 answer
455 views

What's with this non-exit Exit sign on Delta CRJs?

I have the pleasure of frequently flying Delta (i.e. Delta Connection) flights on CRJ-700 and CRJ-900 aircraft. All of them have a bogus EXIT sign between First Class and the main cabin: This is ...
Steve Smith's user avatar
7 votes
1 answer
647 views

How are emergencies handled during In-Seat Rest?

Consider a Boeing 737 cruising over the Atlantic when an engine flames out. The procedure here is clear: the pilot flying should continue flying the plane, while the pilot not flying should pull out ...
raptortech97's user avatar
  • 5,118
7 votes
1 answer
848 views

Is it normal for a Boeing 757 engine to bounce under its fairing?

Earlier this week I was on a 757 flight from SFO to JFK and the right engine was bouncing under the fairing under mild turbulence, and really moving 2+ cm under moderate turbulence. Is that in any way ...
Andrew's user avatar
  • 73
7 votes
2 answers
11k views

Why can't pilots drink alcohol after a flight?

Why are pilots told not to drink alcoholic drinks even after landing, even when their next flight is more than 24 hours later? Is this some kind of precautionary rule?
ysts2's user avatar
  • 89
7 votes
2 answers
3k views

Is flying at 14,000 MSL safe for children without supplemental oxygen?

FAR 91.211(a) requires supplemental oxygen for all passengers above 15,000 feet. Are there any health implications of a 5 hour flight at around 14,000 feet on children without any supplemental oxygen?...
Peter's user avatar
  • 707
7 votes
2 answers
4k views

Is TCAS II required in the US?

I would like to know if, in addition to any MEL requirements, there is any regulation or requirement about having an operational TCAS II while operating in US airspace?
Mao's user avatar
  • 71
7 votes
4 answers
5k views

Why don't flight attendants wear pants instead of skirts?

After watching this video and noticing these Super Jet Airline flight attendants are wearing pants, I asked myself why not all airlines have their flight attendants wear pants instead of dress/skirts ...
Gabe's user avatar
  • 1,827
7 votes
2 answers
5k views

When is flotation gear legally required for pilots and passengers on a non-commercial flight in a small airplane over water?

If I'm renting an airplane to fly myself and some friends over water beyond gliding distance, but within 50 nautical miles from the nearest shore, am I legally required to have any flotation devices ...
Devil07's user avatar
  • 8,544
7 votes
3 answers
607 views

What procedures are followed for a planned landing in a field?

If an aircraft was making a planned landing in a field/sports ground/other large flat area what landing procedures would be followed? My thoughts are that it would be very similar to a non-towered ...
Notts90's user avatar
  • 3,559
7 votes
1 answer
844 views

Do flight attendants do pinch-hitter training?

I was watching a Captain Joe video (Can a PASSENGER land a PLANE?) and he mentioned that he left out the 20 minutes it took the person to even figure out how to communicate with ATC. It seems to me ...
Jeff B's user avatar
  • 1,755
7 votes
2 answers
9k views

How likely could there be a loss of cabin pressure?

You often on commercial aircraft (whilst on the ground to the runway) hear on the safety video: in the event of a loss of cabin pressure, oxygen marks will be released from the panel .... What ...
cmp's user avatar
  • 821
7 votes
2 answers
4k views

How can air travel be so safe if the aircraft skin is only 1-2 mm thick?

Aircraft skin is not very thick at all, yet air travel is the safest form of travel. All aviation professionals know why, but most occupants of an airliner are not professionals. How can it be ...
Koyovis's user avatar
  • 61.7k
7 votes
1 answer
4k views

Does the "west evens / east odds" rule apply when flying without a specific destination (sightseeing, etc)?

I understand about the rule about odd / even (+500ft) separation at altitudes above 3,000ft AGL, but what about when you're flying without a definitive destination such as sightseeing where your track ...
Ryan Griffith's user avatar

1
4 5
6
7 8