THINGS NOBODY EVER TOLD YOU ABOUT FLYING ON AN AIRPLANE

WHEN YOU ARE OUT OVER THE OCEAN, THERE IS NO

RADAR TRACKING YOUR PLANE. ONCE AN AIRCRAFT

IS MORE THAN 240KM (150 MILES) OUT TO SEA,

RADAR COVERAGE FADES AND AIR CREW KEEP

IN TOUCH WITH AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL VIA

HIGH-FREQUENCY RADIO

PEOPLE OFTEN FAKE NEEDING A WHEELCHAIR

TO GET BOARDING PRIORITY. SOMETIMES YOU'LL

HAVE 10 PEOPLE GETTING ON THE PLANE WITH

WHEELCHAIRS BUT ONLY 1 OF THEM ACTUALLY

NEEDS THE WHEELCHAIR TO GET OFF. PILOTS

AND FLIGHT ATTENDANTS CALL THESE

"MIRACLE FLIGHTS". FEDERAL LAW REQUIRES

WHEELCHAIRS TO BE GIVEN TO THOSE WHO

REQUEST THEM BUT AIRLINES GENERALLY DO

NOT ASK FOR PROOF OF A DISABILITY BEFORE

PROVIDING ONE

DOGS GET TERRIFIED BEFORE THEY EVEN GET ON THE

PLANE. THE HANDLERS CAN TRY TO CALM THE DOG

DOWN BUT IT HELPS IF THE DOG'S NAME IS ON

THE CAGE. CATS DON'T CARE

THERE IS A LONG LIST OF THINGS THAT CAN BE

EITHER MISSING OR BROKEN ON AN AIRCRAFT

WHILE IT IS STILL ALLOWED TO FLY. IT'S CALLED

THE MINIMUM EQUIPMENT LIST

LOCKS ON BAGS ARE USELESS. YOU CAN POP

THE ZIPPER WITH A PEN

THE AISLE ARMRESTS CAN ACTUALLY BE RAISED.

USUALLY THERE IS A SMALL DIVOT UNDERNEATH

IT THAT YOU NEED TO PUSH. THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT

MAY ASK YOU TO PUT IT BACK THOUGH

BOTH PILOTS ARE SERVED DIFFERENT MEALS AND

THEY CANNOT SHARE. THIS IS DONE TO PREVENT

FOOD POISONING

IT'S NOT UNCOMMON FOR AIRPLANES TO GET STRUCK

BY LIGHTNING. IN FACT, SOMETIMES THE PLANE

ITSELF TRIGGERS THE LIGHTNING BY FLYING

THROUGH CHARGED CLOUDS WHICH RESULTS IN

STATIC DISCHARGE OFF THE AIRCRAFT. THE

AVERAGE COMMERCIAL AIRLINER GETS HIT BY

LIGHTNING A LITTLE MORE THAN ONCE A YEAR.

FORTUNATELY, THEY ARE BUILT TO WITHSTAND IT

THERE IS A SMALL LATCH INSIDE THE LAVATORY SIGN

THAT WILL OPEN THE DOOR WHEN IT IS PULLED,

EVEN IF THE DOOR IS LOCKED