The aircraft is one machine equipped with a lot of safety features. Sometimes, even the smallest details which you did not even notice matters a lot. Here are some hidden features in an airplane and aircraft cabin I am sure you did not know existed or what their purpose were for.
There is a concealed handrail.
I’m sure you despise it when people grab your seat on their way to the lavatory. When it’s your turn to walk down the aisle, you realize you have no choice but to follow—or do you? When flight attendants walk, they don’t just lightly touch the ceiling; the bottom of the overhead compartment has a scalloped area that provides a better grip when walking down a moving airplane.
Hooks on the wings
If you look out the window at the wing of an Airbus, you’ll notice yellow bumps with holes in the middle on an otherwise smooth, white surface. If an emergency water landing occurs, the wings will be extremely slippery for passengers attempting to reach the inflatable slide that will have deployed. These plane features allow the cabin crew to slip a rope through one hook and fasten it to the next to help passengers get off without falling. Passengers on the wing could hold on to the rope and safely exit the plane.
Above the window, there is a triangle.
Scan the plane’s wall for a black triangle above four windows. They denote the best vantage point of the wing. Flight attendants will know exactly where to go for the best view of the airplane’s slats or flaps—the moving parts on a wing. If you’re getting motion sickness on a plane, see if you can switch to a seat between the triangles. Because the wings are the plane’s center of gravity, sitting between them will provide the smoothest ride.
Little hole in the window.
If you look closely at an airplane window, you’ll notice something odd: a small hole in the bottom. Closer inspection reveals that, unlike other windows, this one is made of three panes, with the hole in the middle one. The quirk exists to protect against the pressure drop that occurs when flying high into the atmosphere. The pressure outside a plane drops dramatically as it ascends, but the cabin is designed to maintain a comfortable pressure. This results in a significant difference in pressure between inside and outside the plane. The outside window absorbs the majority of the pressure, and the hole in the middle pane compensates for the pressure difference. The inner window serves only to shield the middle one.
The crew rest above the cabin.
A long-haul flight is difficult enough for passengers, but imagine being a pilot or flight attendant working a 14-hour shift. Some planes, such as the Boeing 777 and 787, Airbus A380 and A350, have secret quarters that allow crew to get some shut-eye. These are usually located at the top of the passenger cabin, complete with bunks.
The outside toilet locks
The lavatory isn’t as private as it appears. Even though you lock the door from the inside, there is a button located outside the bathroom door beneath the “lavatory” sign. In the event of an emergency, this button will allow flight attendants to unlock the door from the outside.
So next time you ride an airplane, try to notice some of these hidden features. At least now you know.
First love never dies. I fell in love with airplanes and aviation when I was a kid. My dream was to become a pilot, but destiny led me to another path: to be an aviation digital media content creator and a small business owner. My passion for aviation inspires me to bring you quality content through my website and social accounts. Aviation is indeed in my blood and blog!
