Fourth reason will shock you
Why are cabin lights dimmed after take-off? What are those tiny windows on the windows? Where are the oxygen tanks on the plane? If questions like these has ever crossed your mind, read on.
If the plane has to have a water landing, you grab hold of those hooks, secure yourself with a rope, and make your daring escape across the wing. It's like something straight out of an adventure flick!
Ever noticed the lights dimming during takeoff and landing at night? It's not just mood lighting; it's a practical measure to help your eyes adjust to the darkness outside. Because let's face it, stumbling around in the dark during an evacuation is nobody's idea of a good time. Your eyes get adjusted to darkness, also the guide path lights are better apprehended for quick escapes.
Despite smoking being banned on most flights, you might still spot ashtrays in the bathrooms. Why? Well, it's all about safety first! In the unlikely event that someone decides to light up onboard, the last thing you want is a rogue cigarette butt causing a fire hazard. So, next time you see an ashtray, remember, it's not for smoking – it's for safety.
When the oxygen masks drop from the ceiling during a sudden pressure loss, ever noticed you're supposed to tug them towards you? That's not just for dramatic effect. Turns out, there are no hefty oxygen tanks hidden away on the plane. Instead, there's a canister that you tug at. The canister holds three chemicals: sodium chlorate, barium peroxide, and a bit of potassium perchlorate. When these mix, they create a very hot reaction that releases oxygen.
They are not for your best view, but for the flight crew offering prime views of the wings for any mid-flight shenanigans. Whether it's checking for ice buildup or scanning for gremlins a la William Shatner, these windows are the lookout points for all things wing-related.
That tiny hole in your window might seem like a design flaw, but it's actually a clever safety feature. It's there to prevent your window from blowing out when there's a pressure imbalance between the cabin and the outside world. Think of it as the window's way of letting off steam, so to speak, without causing a mid-air catastrophe.
Turns out, those bathroom doors aren't as private as you might think. Behind that innocuous "LAVATORY" sign lies a secret latch that crew members can use to access the bathroom in case of an emergency. So, unless you're up for a surprise visit from the flight attendants, it's probably best to keep your mile-high antics grounded.
During long flights, cabin crew can have very long workdays, sometimes up to 18 hours. To help them deal with tiredness, certain planes like the Boeing 777 and 787 Dreamliners have small bedrooms where the crew can take short naps. These bedrooms are usually reached by a hidden staircase and have around six to ten beds, a bathroom, and sometimes even in-flight entertainment.
