1. Autopilot Does Most of the Flying: On long-haul flights, the majority of the journey is controlled by the autopilot. Pilots are mainly there to manage takeoff, landing, and monitor systems during the flight.
2. Turbulence is Rarely Dangerous: While turbulence can be uncomfortable, it’s rarely dangerous. Modern aircraft are designed to handle significant turbulence, and pilots are trained to navigate through it safely.
3. Oxygen Masks Have Limited Supply: The oxygen masks that drop down in an emergency only provide about 12 to 15 minutes of oxygen. This is generally enough time for the pilot to descend to a safer altitude where you can breathe normally without the mask.
4. Pilots Don’t Eat the Same Food as Passengers: To minimize the risk of food poisoning affecting the crew, pilots are usually served different meals than the passengers, and even different meals from each other.
5. Flights are Often Shorter than Scheduled: Airlines often pad flight times to make it seem like flights arrive on time or early, even when there are delays. This “block time” is adjusted to account for potential issues like air traffic or weather conditions, so your flight might actually be shorter than you think.
