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3 answers
Why are pilots deemed unfit to fly after emergency ejection?
There are many instances where pilots need to eject out of the cockpit due to emergency situations, and after such an ejection from some modern aircraft, pilots are deemed unfit to fly airplanes for some years. Why is this done? What is the minimum…
Victor Juliet
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39
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2 answers
Where do I land if I fly from KLAX with a constant east heading, crossing the US and the Atlantic ocean?
Los Angeles KLAX and Casablanca GMMN (Morocco) are at the same latitude.
If the aircraft follows a magnetic 090° heading, the initial true heading will be 102° due to the declination.
(source University of Alabama.)
That means the path will…
mins
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39
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4 answers
Why do gases in the combustion chamber only flow one direction to the gas turbine in a jet engine?
As far as I know from the working principle of jets engines, compressed air in the combustion chamber (or combustion canister) is mixed with fuel. The ignited mixture expands backwards to turn the turbine rotors and perpetuates the work cycle.…
albin
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38
votes
6 answers
How do pilots foresee turbulence?
During a normal flight at cruise speed and altitude, amid the delicious airline meal and the enjoying a latest movie, all of a sudden the seat belt sign turns on.
Then a few seconds later we enter turbulence, grab a hold of that half-finished soda…
Farhan
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38
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2 answers
What do jet pilots say during the takeoff as they are speeding down the runway?
I was watching a documentary on youtube and the pilots always say something that sounds like "B1E" when they have enough speed to take off. What exactly are they saying, and why do they say it?
cowboysaif
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38
votes
12 answers
Can a passenger jet be towed to safety if it breaks down in midair?
A car can be towed by a tow truck to the repair shop when it breaks down on the highway. Is it possible for a passenger plane to be towed by an emergency tow plane along the air corridor to the next nearest airport assuming it cannot reach there on…
Question Overflow
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38
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1 answer
Why was there a rattling noise coming from the left engine of A319?
I recently flew on an Airbus A319. When boarding the aircraft from the front entrance we passed in front of the left engine. The fan blades were spinning and there was a rattling noise (like when a chain is being rolled up) coming from the…
Fabrizio Mazzoni
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38
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9 answers
"Airplane mode" does not disable GPS... is it safe to use GPS in flight?
I noticed that even when my phone is in "airplane mode", I can still use the GPS.
Theoretically a GPS receiver just receives data, so I guess it would not jam anything.
On the contrary, on the iPhone airplane mode disables GPS, so it means that at…
Nicolas Raoul
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38
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3 answers
Are fighter jets designed to be so inherently unstable that a human can't fly one unassisted?
I'm told that in order to be more maneuverable fighter jets are designed in a way that makes them impossible for a human to control without the help of a flight computer. Is this actually true? Would a modern fighter (like an F-22 or Su-35) crash…
Jae Carr
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38
votes
4 answers
Why is the air inside airliners so dry (low humidity)?
The air inside an airliner is very dry which causes all sorts of passenger discomfort such as dry eyes, dry skin and in some cases headaches.
Why is the air so dry and what do or can modern designs do to improve the air humidty on board an airliner?
Brilsmurfffje
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38
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7 answers
Why does the SR-71 Blackbird sometimes have dents in the nose?
On many pictures (maybe on most of the pictures) part of nose looks hammered or slightly smashed, or bent.
Please note these 2 symmetric dents just behind nose spike:
source
source
On other pictures these dents are missing:
source
Why? Is this a…
nonamer
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38
votes
3 answers
Why can't an Airbus A330 dump fuel in an emergency?
It was reported recently that the Swiss flight LX18 from Zurich to New York had detected an engine issue shortly after take-off and decided to land back in Zurich.
Apparently, the Airbus A330-343 cannot just dump the fuel and, fully tanked, was too…
Quora Feans
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38
votes
1 answer
What is a "cross check"?
Shortly before take-off, and again before landing, the cockpit (no way to tell whether it was the Captain or First Officer) came on over the speakers, stating:
Flight Attendant's, prepare for take-off/landing and cross-check
What is a cross-check?
CGCampbell
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38
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2 answers
Why don't El Al 747's stay at the gates at JFK?
I was recently travelling through JFK in New York City and saw the El Al 747, presumably arrived as ELY1 and departing as ELY4, sitting on the apron near terminal 4. What I saw was similar to as shown in the video capture below. The fellow…
user28387
38
votes
2 answers
Can a flight attendant have only one eye?
I have only had one eye for many years and was a flight attendant before it happened now have received a one on one interview with airline. I just wonder if my eye will be a problem.
user23206
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