Can pilots text on a plane?

Even if personal electronic devices are banned during flight, pilots often use text-based systems to communicate with controllers on the ground. The difference is in situational awareness.

Are pilots allowed to talk to passengers?

In the airlines and in much of corporate aviation, the pilot rarely talks directly to the passengers during flight. In fact, there is a “sterile cockpit” rule that says that there shall be no communication with anyone other than the flight crew and ATC below 10,000 feet indicated altitude.

Can you use your phone while flying a plane?

It's safer to have it on your phone when you fly, experts say. It's safer for everyone if you put your phone in airplane mode when you're flying. Cell phone signals can interfere with some of an airplane's crucial systems. 5G technology is less risky and will start to be usable on commercial flights soon.

Will the plane crash if I don't turn on airplane mode?

Don't worry. If you ever forget to put your phone in flight mode, the plane won't crash right away. In the worst case scenario, the pilot could hear jamming noises. This could then lead to the pilot no longer being able to correctly understand radio signals that are important to him or her.

What happens if you don t put your phone on airplane mode when on a plane?

According to Smarter Travel, by not turning your phone onto airplane mode, your phone will attempt to make connections with the cell towers around it. Forbes reported, “If you don't put your phone on airplane mode during a flight, your phone will probably annoy a few pilots and air traffic controllers.”

How Do Pilots Pass The Time On Long Flights?

Can pilots fly their friends for free?

Family members may fly free when space is available or at discounted rates. Flying stand-by is a common benefit, but it can be challenging when there is a group. Some airlines provide “buddy passes” to pilots to share with friends and families.

Do pilots like it when passengers clap?

Answer: It always caused me to smile. The appreciation of executing a challenging approach and landing is a compliment. Often, pilots feel that we are just doing our jobs when faced with a challenging approach and landing.

What is the 10000 feet rule?

Commonly known as the "sterile cockpit rule," these regulations specifically prohibit crew member performance of non-essential duties or activities while the aircraft is involved in taxi, takeoff, landing, and all other flight operations conducted below 10,000 feet MSL, except cruise flight.

What is the 60% landing rule?

A typical Part 135 operator must plan to land on a maximum of 60 percent of the most likely runway, which means the weather, available approach and runway conditions at the time of departure must reasonably be expected so that the aircraft will come to a full stop within 60 percent of the available runway.

What is the 500ft rule in aviation?

Except with the written permission of the CAA, an aircraft shall not be flown closer than 500 feet to any person, vessel, vehicle or structure.

Can you breathe on 10k feet?

Now, from sea level to about 10,000 feet there is sufficient partial pressure of oxygen (still 21 percent of the atmospheric pressure at that altitude) to force oxygen into our blood and keep us alive and conscious.

Why can't you recline during takeoff?

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) set the upright seat rule for two main reasons: it makes it easier to evacuate the plane in the case of an emergency and it can help limit injuries.

What do pilots see when they fly?

Pilots have a unique viewpoint while flying private or commercial aircraft. They get an unobstructed view of stunning natural sights, such as pink lakes and rectangular-shaped icebergs. Some have reported seeing UFOs, while others have flown over swirling hurricanes.

Do pilots feel the speed?

Yes, though to a very limited extent. Pilots almost never do the in-flight equivalent of slamming on the gas pedal. Each commercial jet has a Flight Management System (FMS) that calculates its most efficient air speed given certain variables such as the number of passengers aboard and the cruising altitude.

Do pilots carry guns?

Yes, some airline pilots do carry guns in the cockpit but carry a gun lawfully they must belong to a special program called the Federal Flight Deck Officers (FFDOs). This program requires special training and pilots who enroll have strict limitations on when they can use the firearm.

Can pilots wives travel with them?

Yes, the airlines know they have married couples in their cockpits and they're okay with it. I'm sure there are a handful flying together at each of the majors. No one else wastes time thinking about it. There is no glass ceiling; pilot pay is transparent and based solely on seniority.

Do pilots get their hotels paid for?

The airline handles and pays for accommodations for crewmembers when they are on a trip. Many pilots do not live where they are based and choose to commute. Generally, if pilots need to travel and stay away from home when they are not on a trip, they are responsible for their own accommodations.

Do pilots see anything at night?

The answer is quite simple, no, they don't actually see anything at night. Before takeoff, pilots scan the sky to avoid hazards and prevent compromising the entire flight.

How do pilots know where to go at night?

The pilot will use an instrument called an “automatic direction finder” or simply “ADF” to interpret the signals. This simple instrument looks a little like a compass, but instead of pointing north, it will point towards the NDB.

What happens if I sleep during takeoff?

If you're asleep, you cannot do anything to reduce or equalize the air pressure in your ears. Your ears stay blocked, and you potentially face health issues like dizziness, ear infections, eardrum damage, and at worst, nosebleeds and hearing loss.

Why can't you use the bathroom during takeoff?

There aren't any safety features in the lavatory (like a seatbelt) that would keep a passenger in place, however there are many potentially painful sharp edges. In the event of an emergency evacuation, a passenger could also become trapped in the restroom and unable to escape.

Why do planes turn off lights during takeoff?

The lights are dimmed in order to reduce electrical load. At takeoff, you want all the power possible in order to shorten the takeoff roll and the more electrical load, the more engine power is sapped off to generate electricity.

What is the highest point a human can breathe?

An elevation of about 20,000 feet above sea level is the maximum height at which sufficient oxygen exists in the air to sustain us. By comparison, the summit of Mount Everest (the Earth's highest mountain) lies at 29,141 feet.

What altitude can you not breathe?

Death zone

It refers to altitudes above a certain point where the amount of oxygen is insufficient to sustain human life for an extended time span. This point is generally tagged as 8,000 m (26,000 ft, less than 356 millibars of atmospheric pressure).