Uncover 40 Shocking Plane Secrets Airlines Don’t Want You to Know!
edit: words.
An instructor told me that he and his training buddy BOTH fell asleep for about 45 minutes at the same time, while gaining hours for licensing. The plane was in complete auto pilot mode, clear skies, zero turbulence. They both swore if they ever flew again they would “hand off” sleep like handing off the controls
EDIT (for further context): He told me that after both of them awoke, they were terrified. Neither had no idea what had happened, even *if* anything had happened. Luckily, it was over the Gulf of Mexico and at a low enough altitude where it wouldn’t impact commercial airliners. Their trim was set before “the nap”, so they only gained a couple hundred feet of altitude. But rest assured, each were not happy with themselves. They immediately contacted ATC, verified their position, and turned around to go back to the airport, white palming the yoke the entire way. Oh and this was at night too (they needed the night experience).
EDIT 2: They were in a Cessna 152. This wasn’t an oxygen issue. It was just two buddies not communicating with each other and both assuming the other was flying
EDIT 3: You’re right. C152s don’t have autopilot. By autopilot I meant trim, which would confuse people. They were also very lucky the trim was set to gain altitude, not lower. I was just speaking in layman terms for the non pilots to understand better. Like I said, they were definitely thoroughly freaked out and both admitted how badly they messed up.
-Prisoners are transported on commercial airline flights sometimes (law enforcement officers are escorting them)
-On days with low ceilings/visibility and overall bad weather, we may end up being within minutes of making the decision to divert due to fuel, especially if we end up having to hold. This isn’t to say we don’t have enough fuel. Legally, we must have enough fuel on board to shoot an approach to our destination, go around, fly to & land at our alternate airport if we have one, and even then, still have 45 minutes of fuel on board.
-Armed law enforcement officers on board sometimes (not escorting anyone)
-Flying faster to get there earlier if a crew member has a commute to catch home
-Chatting/joking with ATC (if frequency isn’t busy)
-Delta pilots reporting light chop
-Pilot making PA announcement over frequency rather than PA
-Yes, the meowing on guard, as well as other nonsense
-Asking ATC how the rides are only to be told they suck at all altitudes. We try to get away from the turbulence but it’s not always possible. And we can’t predict it, and can’t see it. Can only make educated guesses as to where it may be
-It’s hot back there (during the summer mostly), we know, we have it blowing as hard as it can and cold as it can, we’re sorry it ends up feeling like a baby’s breath. Meanwhile our air vents are keeping us cool (if we’re lucky)
-The iPad you may see us in the cockpit has all our manuals, approach plates, maps, checklists etc. Basically almost everything we need, it really is incredible. Just hope that they both don’t decide to brick themselves at the same time in the air
-Yes, there isn’t a single cloud in the sky where we are now, meanwhile our destination is encompassed by a massive thunderstorm. We don’t like being late either. But we’re paid to deliver living passengers. And we can’t collect that paycheck if we’re also dead
-There’s a chance your flight could be a pilot’s very first flight in an actual jet. He could be fresh out of training, out of the simulator, and actually flying that jet aircraft. Scary, right? Well that pilot could probably explain every single system of that aircraft in-depth. Guys that have been flying the line for years? Maybe not quite as in-depth. Oh and that brand new jet pilot is flying with a check airmen, who is there to further teach that new pilot about flying on the line.
-The autopilot can fly for a majority of the flight. We have to atleast take off and land (auto land isn’t used for everyday normal operation). Different airlines have different rules on autopilot use. We must have the autopilot on above FL200 (20000ft) unless it is inop. So we can hand-fly up to that altitude, and sometimes do. If we never go above that altitude, we can hand-fly the entire flight, never turning the autopilot on, which we also sometimes do, and is often encouraged to maintain piloting skills.
-you could be asleep in the back while the pilots are battling caution messages about some system that decided to throw a hissy fit
-Planes often have broken equipment onboard, it’s just the nature of the business and things break. Can’t always fix it, so there is an approved list of things that may be broken, and how long they may be broken before they must be fixed, could be something that doesn’t affect us much, like a brake temperature sensor isn’t working, or be something that requires some the crew to account for it, like a thrust reverser being inoperative, or navigation GPS inop. Not stuff that makes the flight unsafe, just maybe more work for the pilots. Also, the Captain can always reject an aircraft if he feels it is unsafe
Supa Ant 6x8ft. Welding Blanket Fireproof (Pack of 2) - Heavy Duty Weld Fire Blanket Tools - Welders Cover for Men Curtain with Gloves - Large Welding Gear for Welder Accessories
$59.96 (as of November 4, 2025 18:42 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
RIVER OF GOODS Coastal 52 Inch Wooden Bead LED Ceiling Fan, Cream
$198.00 (as of November 4, 2025 18:42 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
1MORE Triple Driver In-Ear Headphones - Silver - Wired - Adult - In Ear - 18 grams - 90 days limited warranty
$39.99 (as of November 4, 2025 18:42 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
KiddyCare Diaper Caddy Organizer Cart for Nursery Baby Basket Gift for Boy/Girl | Diaper Caddy for Changing Table Basket Organizer with Dividers | Caddy for Baby Stuff Breast Pump Caddy - Regular
$13.95 (as of November 4, 2025 18:42 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Post Comment