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There are many myths about aviation that had blown into ridiculous proportions that you may start to wonder if these things are indeed true. Now if you heard about a popular myth about flying airplanes then you better check where you got your resources, it might not be true at all! Keep in mind that people will always make stuff up as they spread these rumors but it is always important to take a keen look at the myth itself. Here are some popular myths about aviation that you need to understand better.
The Myths:
Thunder can blast an aircraft into pieces
This is not entirely true but it is true that pilots avoid thunder clouds. Pilots are trained flyers and if they see a thunder cloud, they generally see a potential thunder strike as a normal event. The aircrafts on the other hand are designed to absorb thunder bolts so even if there are thunder clouds ahead, it cannot really cause damage to the aircraft itself. Sure it could be a horrible thing to fly through into these thunder clouds but it does not pose as a risk to an aircraft. Thunder claps may cause temporary blindness to the pilots but the craft is capable of absorbing the entire energy of the bolt blasted by thunder. These bolts then flow through the fuselage of the plane and is discarded through the tail plane.
Flying at night is more dangerous
It is believed that flying at night means low visibility and a tired pilot may cause the plane to crash at night. That is why taking a flight at night is more dangerous compared to daytime. However this is not true as pilots are equipped with the needed skills to fly an aircraft even at night or in any situation. Not to mention that modern board system that helps them navigate their flight during night is an added point to safely navigate a plane even in the darkest night. And as for the ‘fatigued pilot’ flying the airplane? There is a rule that allows them to have at least 10 uninterrupted rests each day before they take flight so there’s no need to panic if you are flying at night. Trust that your pilot has all the knowledge and rest he needs to fly an aircraft.
An airplane can land automatically even without any pilot
No matter how new or advanced an aircraft is, it is not designed to land on its own. Don’t get me wrong, it is very possible for an aircraft to land automatically but it might take time and loads of study to perfect this mechanism. However pilots will not risk the safety of their passengers into a computer system. Things can go wrong if it is not properly executed so manual landing is always the best way to do this.
The biggest Airbus 380 is the biggest model ever
No this is not true, the biggest is the Antonov An-225 which was made by the Soviet Union. This aircraft is driven by six engines and is capable of lifting space shuttle. However in terms of airbus, the Airbus 380 is the biggest passenger carrying airplane that can carry about 850 passengers.
Pilots can sleep whenever there’s auto-pilot on
Truth is they one of the pilots can rest while the other monitors the whole flight. Two pilots must be in the cockpit at all times. This will prevent any accidents or airplane troubles that they might encounter even when the aircraft is on auto pilot.
So regardless of the myths you have heard about aircrafts while traveling, it is always best to check information first. Now that’s a smart move!
