#2 – The recirculated air inside the plane is full of germs
Makes perfect sense to passengers right? I have often developed a cold shortly after flying and blamed it on the stale air in the cabin. However, it turns out most commercial planes are equipped with either sophisticated air cleansing systems, or mechanisms that draw in fresh air from the outside to keep the cabin air pleasant. Some planes even use both systems. I found reports of studies that have shown only a 1 or 2% difference in the occurrence of colds in passengers who flew on planes with air cleansing systems, and passengers on older planes with no such system. However, those studies also found that people who fly are far more likely to develop colds than those who do not fly. That leaves the experts to speculate that the real culprit of your cold is the transfer of germs from the surfaces you touch which rarely get cleaned (ie: the plastic bin at security, the escalator handrail, the handles and rails in the people movers, armrests on your seat, the tray table, the door of the overhead bin, and your own luggage for crying out loud! When was the last time you washed a suitcase handle!!)
#3 – All electronics must be fully turned off and safely stowed when the plane is below 10,000 feet.
The myth on this one, which the airlines and the FAA would like everyone to believe, is that your personal electronics give off just enough signal that they could interfere with the electronics which help the pilots fly and navigate the plane. Numerous studies have failed to prove this point with any kind of conclusive evidence. The real risk is subtly alluded to in the reference to “safely stow” those devices. As with many rules on an airplane, the reasoning begins with, “If this plane was going to crash land…” In an emergency, the plane can move erratically and by keeping devices in bags and overheads, they hope to limit the number of passengers who get pelted with flying iPhone’s and Kindles which have become projectiles after being dropped.
#4 – Place airmasks on yourself before assisting others.
As a parent who has flown with my young son numerous times, I always go through an internal debate when I hear this one. I know my natural instinct would be to immediately help my child. But here is the part they don’t tell you. For a plane flying at an altitude above 30,000 feet, if there is a rapid loss of cabin air pressure, tests have shown that passengers may have less than 5 seconds to get that mask on before they start losing consciousness. Most commercial planes cruise at an altitude much higher than the very top of Mt. Everest and the climbers who reach the top of that mountain usually need the assistance of oxygen tanks well before they get to the top.
Finally, we want to acknowledge that flying commercial is not all doom and gloom. Delta Airlines has recognized the absurdity of some of the rules they are bound to follow and they are now showing a safety video on some flights which I have found very funny and informative. Watch this video and see if you can spot Abe Lincoln.
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