Behind the scenes of air travel: 13 unusual facts

Air travel is a modern, affordable luxury allowing you to quickly overcome long distances. Aviation has its own laws and regulations, strange at first glance, but it is important to comply with them in order to ensure safety and comfort for all passengers. What do we mean by oddities?

1. Different meals for pilots

The first pilot and the co-pilot never eat the same food - this unspoken rule is aimed at safety: if one gets poisoned, the other will remain in the ranks. Therefore, pilots do not have a choice between chicken and fish!

2. Rare general cleaning

General cleaning of the aircraft is carried out 1-2 times a month, and not after each flight: between flights there is often not enough time for thorough cleaning, so folding tables may remain unwiped. It is recommended to stock up on wet wipes and wipe them yourself.

3. Reusing the earbuds

Headphones that remain sealed are often reused. Even used headphones are sometimes put in new bags after disinfection!

Blankets are also used several times and are not washed often, so it is better to cover yourself with your sweater or stole.

4. Throwing away food residues

Food left over from a flight is thrown away, even if it is sealed, the "reuse" of food is strictly prohibited.

5. Drunk passengers are not allowed on the flight

Passengers in a state of severe alcohol intoxication may not be allowed on board, even if they have a ticket. On board, the degree of intoxication is determined by the flight attendant, she can refuse alcohol even to business class passengers.

6. Payment to flight attendants

Flight attendants are paid only for the hours spent in flight, all the preparation of the aircraft and, say, its turnaround are not paid (although some airlines start paying from the moment the doors close).

7. Turning off the lights for safety

The light on takeoff and landing is turned off to prepare passengers for a possible evacuation, so that the eyes get used to the darkness in advance and just in case. Most accidents, according to statistics, occur at these moments, so this approach is important for safety.

8. Lack of life jackets

There may not be a life jacket under your seat, as some passengers take them away as a souvenir! It is better to check the presence of a vest before takeoff.

9. Limited operating time of the oxygen mask

An oxygen mask only provides you with air for 15 minutes – although this is usually enough to bring the plane down to a safe altitude, so don't worry.

10. Fuel capacity

The additional fuel supply allows the aircraft to fly for at least another 45 minutes to fly around storm clouds or make an emergency landing.

11. Ashtrays in the toilet

Despite the ban on smoking, ashtrays are installed in the toilets. This is provided for the safe extinguishing of cigarettes if someone decides to break the rules.

12. Cargo in the hold

The cargo hold can carry corpses, exotic animals, reptiles and organs for transplantation. Passengers are not informed about this.

By the way, planes with organs for transplantation receive priority routes.

13. Access to the toilet from the outside

The toilet door can technically be opened from the outside, so don't stay there too long!