2. When do you change airplane wheels?
The wheels are checked before landing. A tire is usually replaced when it reaches a condition of rubbing or when a tire loses air beyond a specified threshold.
3. Where is the sewage water discharged on the plane during the flight?
After the water is removed, the wastewater makes its way to the back of the plane through a system of pipes, to a storage tank located in the cargo area. The tank is emptied at the end of each flight.
4. Where is the fuel stored in the plane?
The fuel is in a tank in the center of the fuselage and in the wings. Its amount is calculated according to the balance required for the plane, and the weight of the plane. For this reason fuel consumption is done equally between the two wings.
5. Why do people clap on landing and do the pilots hear the clapping?
It turns out that for quite a few people, flying is a stressful experience and the act of clapping symbolizes the passengers’ sigh of relief that the flight passed safely. By the way, contrary to popular opinion – this is not an act that is reserved for Israeli passengers only. The applause reflects a social convention whereby passengers thank the pilots for bringing them safely to their destination. However, you may be disappointed to find that inside the cockpit you don’t hear the applause.
6. Why do planes leave a white trail in the sky?
The white streaks, known as condensation streaks, are created as a result of a physical phenomenon in which the jet engines emit carbon dioxide and water vapor. These exhaust gases are released into the air into a very cold environment and then instantly freeze and turn into ice crystals.
7. Why is the flight time shorter when flying towards the east?
At cruising altitude, jet winds blow that usually move from west to east. These winds help “push the plane” and therefore, when planning the flight path, the pilots take these winds into account and try to fly along them and thus shorten the duration of the flight.
8. Why are passengers asked to raise the window blinds before landing?
It is important to raise the window blinds before landing to allow the eyes to gradually adapt to the natural light outside the plane, but the main reason is to enable a safe and quick rescue of the passengers if necessary and to prevent glare and dizziness that could affect the function when getting off the plane and God forbid, in case an emergency evacuation is required.
9. Why are most planes painted white?
Most airlines leave the white base color and add their own colors to it, for several reasons:
- The white color stands out more at a distance and looks better in the dark.
- Flying is an action that produces and emits a lot of heat in the body of the plane as a result of the friction with the air. The white color reflects a large part of the sunlight and reduces the heating of the plane.
- Cracks are more noticeable on a white background, so it is easier to spot them during maintenance inspections.
- White is the basic color of the planes. Each additional layer of paint adds weight to the aircraft, which increases fuel consumption.
It is recommended to stay in the base color white | Photo: Moshe Shay, Flash/90
10. How long in advance do the air crews know where they are flying to?
The flight schedule is planned about six months in advance and is divided into a summer schedule and a winter schedule. The flight attendants receive the flight schedule several days in advance and accordingly are assigned to flights to the various destinations.
11. Where do the air crews rest on flights?
In wide-body planes, which go on long flights, there are private rest rooms for the crew. The location of the rest rooms varies from plane to plane. On flights to European destinations, which are mostly made in narrow-body planes, the flight attendants rest in the seats in the cabin.