The most common myths about airplanes

Flight by plane - the experience of an unusual, almost mystical. Sit inside such a complex machine, in the vast ocean of air ... It is not surprising that around air travel has developed a set of myths:

1. Open the door of the aircraft during flight is extremely dangerous

In fact not.

An experienced pilot and blogger Patrick Smith explained that after taking off the doors of the aircraft are under great pressure. That is to say, to open a door, require the power of Superman. No man, even the world champion weight lifting, this task can not.

So if you are afraid that to some drunken passenger during the flight vzbrendit open the door and the passengers will fly over the side, you do not have to worry about anything. This is quite possible.

This myth is closely related to the following:

2. If a small gap is formed, then through it all passengers can "suck" in the aircraft skin overboard

The assurances Patrick Smith, rapid decompression and subsequent crash could cause an explosion or bomb material structural failure. A small hole in the fuselage - a very different case.

In 2006, when the breach, Smith had to make an emergency landing in the skin of the aircraft cabin MD-80 Alaskan airlines. The pressure was really fall, but since the leak spread evenly throughout the plane, nothing critical has happened and we are well have lasted to the nearest airport.

3. At high altitude people get drunk faster

This myth is refuted "MythBusters." The level of alcohol in the blood on the ground and in the plane, all other things being equal the same. However, since the air on board is usually less oxygen, a person can really feel drunk, even if not touched alcohol.

4. During the flight, the feces are thrown in the air

Stories of the fallen from the sky right on his head excrement - pure fiction. The pilot can not open the tank with sewage during the flight. If someone on the head dropped a suspicious substance, the blame for this is likely to have to flown by the bird.

5. If you click on the sink while sitting on the toilet in an airplane, you can get stuck

You can get stuck only in the event that your body forms a perfect air-tight stopper. It is rather difficult. 'MythBusters' Adam Savage tried to do the trick, but it's nothing he has not left. But still better to wash standing.

6. The constant circulation in the plane ode and the same portions of air leads to the spread of disease

This myth seems especially plausible. But Patrick Smith explained that he, too, is wrong:

Air moves around until it enters the lower compartment, where approximately half disappears overboard. The remaining half passes through the filters, it is mixed with the fresh air portion and the mix makes a new turn. Manufacturers Boeing's claim that thanks to this system, and filters from 94 to 99 percent of all bacteria in the air is neutralized, and that air renewal takes place once every two or three minutes - more frequently than in buildings.

Danger to pick up any infection, rather, can come from such surfaces, such as folding tables. So it makes sense to capture in flight disinfectant wipes.

7. The seat belt can reduce your chances of survival in the event of disaster

Here all is about the same as with the seat belt in the car. It is quite possible to imagine a situation when stuck fixing interfere quickly to get out of the plane, if something happen. But in general, benefit from it much more than harm.

the nonprofit Employee Safety Foundation Flight Kevin Hiatt told us about the crash landing of Boeing 777, which took place at the airport in San Francisco on July 6 of this year:

In such situations, a person can throw out of the chair, hit on the body or throw on another passenger. So it is better to spend a couple of seconds for it to detach than helplessly hanging in the air.

8. Pilots can control the air flow to keep passengers sleepy and save on fuel.

Patrick Smith called the idea stupid. The oxygen level determined by the air pressure.

9. Oxygen masks - a dummy designed to calm the passengers only

In fact, in the case of decompression and the crew and passengers will have to be content with air overboard, where the oxygen content is totally inadequate. And while the plane falls low enough, at least up to three thousand meters, will not do without oxygen masks.

10. The chances of survival are almost zero in a plane crash

At the time of the disaster the same Boeing 777 in San Francisco, rescued 304 of the 307 passengers. In addition, according to the US National Transportation Safety Board during the incidents during passenger flights of 1983 po2000 year survived 95 percent of the passengers of these flights. The term "incident" means all the cases that have led to major aircraft damage, death or injury of passengers.