Aircraft safety is a hotly debated topic, but a commercial pilot is out to set things right once and for all.
Speaking anonymously to DailyMail.com, the flight expert, who has been a pilot for 10 years and currently works for one of the world’s largest airlines, touches on some of the most hotly debated safety topics.
From the best kind of footwear to wear to which seat is the safest, the frequent flyer gives their verdict on a host of hot topics.
Float down to learn how to make your next plane trip less dangerous.
Wear shoes that allow you to move quickly
When choosing flight footwear, the pilot recommends selecting “something with the worst-case scenario in mind”
The majority of people will wear shoes that are comfortable, but some people may want to dress a little in heels or dress shoes. However, when choosing your flying shoes, I would recommend choosing something with the worst case scenario in mind. You want to wear comfortable shoes that allow you to move quickly and cover distances in an emergency. Aircraft floors are not always clean, so covered shoes are always better.
The brace position can save your life
While there are rumors that the brace position is designed to kill passengers faster, this is not true. As outlined by the US Federal Aviation Administration, this position is designed to limit the impact to your body in the event of a crash.
Knowing this as motor skills can save your life. It’s good to practice it if you can.
Seats at the back of the plane are the safest
When it comes to the safest place to sit on the plane, I’d choose a seat in the last two-thirds of the plane. This is because this area is the strongest part of the aircraft and therefore has a higher chance of surviving an impact.
ALWAYS fasten your belt during turbulence
You must fasten your seat belt during turbulence. Ideally, you fastened your seat belt before it started. I’ve seen videos of people not wearing seatbelts properly and banging their heads on the roofs of planes. The lights and air conditioning ports can be very painful! If the turbulence is more severe, it’s best to drop your hot drinks on the floor and stow all your loose items in the front seat pocket. Anything loose can become a missile and cause major injuries.
Seats in the last two-thirds of the plane are the safest, the pilot reveals
Just have a glass of water with any alcoholic drink, says the flight pro
Do not squeeze the bags into the bin as they may pop out
Keep everything loose in one bag. If you have duty-free items, such as bottles of alcohol, make sure they are placed securely under a bag in the overhead hold. It’s surprisingly common for people to break bones from clumsy bottles rolling out of lockers. Never even try squeezing bags into spaces as they will fly out when the box pops open and this sometimes happens on landing.
Drink a glass of water with every alcoholic drink
Due to the higher altitude while flying, you have a lower oxygen level in your blood. This means that you will find yourself getting drunk much more easily. Every alcoholic drink just comes with a glass of water. Dehydration will also speed up this process and a lack of humidity on the plane causes dehydration.
Beware of sharp edges in the toilet
Airplane washrooms are quite filthy, with pee often on the floor. They are just really unhygienic places so always proceed with caution! Even with slight turbulence, it is better not to go to the toilet at all. The cabins often have sharp corners, with worktops and shelves sticking out. If the plane moves up and down there is nothing to secure yourself and you could get a nasty bump.
The pilot says he saw videos of people not wearing properly fastened seatbelts and hitting their heads on the roofs of planes during turbulence
‘Never try to squeeze bags into spaces, they will fly out when the container pops open’
Avoid the galley as much as possible
Another place in the plane to steer clear of as much as possible is the galley. The cooking area is full of sharp objects, from knives to bottle openers, and if not properly secured, they are an instant hazard. Boiled water for hot drinks and hot meals poses another risk. In more severe cases of turbulence, I’ve also seen wine bottles break. It can get pretty messy.
Lightning is generally not a problem
While it may look scary to see flashes of light flashing across the sky from your airplane seat, 99.999999 percent lightning is not a problem. The aircraft will simply expel the lighting through its skin. It generally only requires a minor inspection on the ground after the event. Recently, however, some modern carbon fiber composites used to build airplanes have had serious problems with lightning strikes. There have been cases where lightning has caused the carbon to delaminate.