10 popular myths about airplanes

Despite all the efforts of the designers of passenger aircraft, flying even in the most comfortable and expensive places continues to be a serious test for both health and the human psyche. Therefore, it is not surprising that a lot of stuff is told about flights.

Accidentally opened during the flight, the door is a deadly danger.

Actually, this is absolutely true. An open door will cause depressurization of the interior with all the ensuing consequences. But only Superman can open the door during the flight. Therefore, if one of the inadequate passengers suddenly tries to open the door, then everyone else has nothing to worry about. The only consequences of this stupid trick will be the noise and fuss associated with the pacification of the brawler. And the tightness of the door will not be affected at all.

Passengers can be "sucked" overboard even through the slightest gap in the body of the aircraft.

For rapid decompression, which can be followed by significant destruction of the aircraft body, it will be necessary to detonate a bomb in the cabin or open fire. Small cracks can cause slow decompression, and the crew has time to take the necessary measures to save the aircraft and its passengers.

Intoxication at a high altitude occurs faster.

The team of the American popular science program "Destroyers of Legends" specially staged an "experiment" to get the data, as they say, "first-hand". As expected, the level of alcohol in the blood when drinking on the ground and at altitude was the same. But in the conditions of a small hypoxia, to which a person flying in an airplane is exposed, it is really possible to get drunk faster. Sometimes people who are unaccustomed to flying can feel something like an unpleasant intoxication, even if they have not drunk any alcoholic beverages.

The contents of the toilets are thrown directly into the air.

These are perfect inventions. Modern aircraft clean the on-board toilets only on the ground.

If you press the drain while sitting on the toilet, you can get stuck there.

This is also fiction. Even a very fat person is not able to create such a tight plug with his body that the necessary pressure difference occurs. However, it is absolutely not recommended to do this, but only for hygienic reasons. Micro-splashes that will inevitably fall on the surface of the body will not bring any benefit.

The air circulation in the sealed cabin of the aircraft leads to the spread of infectious diseases.

The cabin of the aircraft, of course, is reliably sealed. But still, an airplane is not a submarine, and the air in it is constantly replenished with fresh portions. Before entering a new circle, the air is necessarily passed through a whole system of filters. Aircraft manufacturers claim that these filters are able to neutralize up to 99% of the bacteria in the air. Unfortunately, diseases are caused not only by bacteria, but also by viruses that easily pass through any filters. In addition, pathogenic microorganisms can be found on any surfaces of seats, tables, walls, etc. Serious and expensive disinfection of the cabin after each flight, of course, is simply impossible to carry out. In a word, the enclosed space of the salon, packed with a variety of people, is not a spa resort for you.

A seat belt can interfere with survival in a disaster.

Of course, there is a non-zero probability that a person will not be able to get rid of the belt in order to quickly leave the plane. But at the same time, the probability that a person will remain alive thanks to the belt is disproportionately greater. The design of this protective device is constantly being improved, and many tests are carried out to confirm its effectiveness, so it is pure madness to neglect a seat belt on an airplane.

Pilots can reduce the oxygen content in the cabin to put passengers into a sleepy state.

All the pilots who were asked such a question, unanimously called this idea complete stupidity.

Oxygen masks are dummies designed to prevent panic.

This is not true. In fact, as soon as an oxygen mask appeared in front of the face, you need to put it on immediately, without hesitation. Oxygen starvation develops very quickly and leads to a strong slowdown of all reactions. Therefore, if you look at the mask and think about the expediency of its use, you can lose precious moments and no longer have time to use it.

It is almost impossible to survive during a plane crash.

Disaster to disaster is discord. Today, there are very often reports about miraculous rescues from absolutely hopeless situations, and about the death of aircraft, when, it would seem, nothing foreshadowed a tragedy. Statistics from the US National Transportation Safety Board states that 95% of passengers survived incidents that occurred during passenger flights from 1983 to 2000. I would like to believe it. After all, as British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli said, there are " lies, blatant lies and statistics."