AIRLINE CRASH INVESTIGATION Troublesome In-Flight Reading

Posted: 06 Dec 2011 | 6:00 am

Let's file this one under the bad idea file.

Getting up in the pitch black for a dawn flight to Bali on AirAsia is never an easy task.

Clearly I need medical attention and a way to hook up my espresso machine to an IV. Imagine getting that one past the metal detectors in the airport.

It's a bit bumpy at take-off so I snatch the bright welcoming in flight magazine in the seatback in front of me.

I'm not sure if you are like me, but I always scan past those disaster shows like Air Crash Investigation or a number of others with the ominous voice over in a deep husky but wise voice saying "and little did the passengers know but they were doomed."

In a seemingly harmless section titled Pilot's Perspectives the list of actual questions (and answers) ranged from -

Will I be sucked out of the pane if someone opens the exit door during a flight?

What happens when a plane gets struck by lightning during a flight? (note this one has a graphically depicted plane flying in a storm, getting hit by bolts of white light and white heat)

Is turbulence dangerous and can it snap off the wings of a plane?

Or my personal favorite - What happens if an engine of a plane fails in the air?

According to the article a true and amazing fast is a United Boeing 777 once flew 3 hours and 33 minutes on a single engine.

There is no mention whether planes can fly on one wing, or if an engine actually falls off, nor the numerous other epic disasters playing in my head for the remainder of the trip.

Perhaps next trip I'll just bring my own magazine.

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