Ask the Captain: No, this is not real gold in the engines of the Trump campaign.

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Question: If a tire explodes on the track, what is the normal course of action? Answer: Most modern airplanes have more than one single tire in an undercarriage. The tires are designed to withstand the load if the tire is compromised. If the riders know that a tire has failed during takeoff at low speed, they will abort the takeoff. At high speed, they go forward and take off, then return to the ground for a safety inspection. If the tire fails during landing, a normal landing is performed.

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Question: Are planes more likely to experience more turbulence during one season than another? Answer: Every season has challenges: summer has thunderstorms and tropical storms. Autumn has late tropical storms (usually the quieter season). Winter has higher winds, snowstorms and lighter air turbulence. Spring has fast fronts and strong winds, causing severe lines of instability. Each of these events can cause turbulence. It depends on the whims of the weather of the year, which season is worse or has more frequent turbulence.

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Question: What do you miss the most about being an airline pilot? Answer: I miss the camaraderie of many of my fellow pilots; the challenge of accurately maneuvering an airplane, particularly a jet, from one place to another in strict time with safety; the beauty of the sights that only pilots can see (for example, St. Elmo's fire, thunder lines at night with lightening rays and sunrise over mountains and oceans from cruising altitude).

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Question: Why are some lanes not perfectly flat and is this a problem during landings and takeoffs? Answer: Some slopes are more challenging due to slope and bends. Inclination is included in takeoff and landing performance calculations as it may affect acceleration and deceleration. The rebounds can cause "firm" landings if the pilots are not aware of them or if they misjudge the landing point. The slopes are rarely the same elevation at each end, so in many cases the issue is the amount of slope. There is also a need to keep the taxiways on a reasonable slope, and there may be differences in elevation on a different axis. Airport designers must compromise efficiency and cost.

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Question: Can pilots change their route to get a better view of an eclipse? Answer: A captain always has the final decision about the flight route and how the airplane is flying. Air traffic control is responsible for ensuring proper separation between aircraft in instrument flight plans. Pilots will usually follow the routing of their flight plan (with ATC approval); if it coincides with the eclipse, making a PA to advise passengers would be routine. Executive aviation or private pilots may request special routing to view the eclipse from the cruising altitude and if the ATC can accommodate the request.

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Question: Why have modern airplanes not been built with extensive video surveillance on the outside of the aircraft so that pilots can observe all parts, especially if something goes wrong? Answer: Some large airplanes have cameras installed in strategic locations. They provide valuable information for taxiing and can be used in flight if needed. The instruments give the riders a good indication of problems or system malfunction. The direct answer to your question is that manufacturers have not determined that the benefit justifies the cost.

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Question: How and why is fuel dumped from a flight? Answer: Some airplanes, usually large intercontinental jets, have the ability to dump fuel in flight. This is done by means of valves at the wing tips that allow the fuel to be pumped and vaporized. The purpose of discharging fuel is to reduce the weight of the airplane. Most airplanes have a maximum takeoff weight greater than the maximum landing weight. If a problem develops right after takeoff, the weight may be above the maximum landing weight and the discarded fuel allows the weight to be reduced rapidly.

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Question: What is the highest altitude that an airplane can fly? Answer: The highest commercial airplane altitude was 60,000 feet per Concorde. The highest-powered military air breathing engine was the SR-71 – about 90,000 feet. The largest passenger plane flying today reaches 45,000 feet. The tallest executive jet flying today reaches 51,000 feet.

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Question: When a baby is born in flight, what determines the child's nationality? Answer: The nationality of the child depends on which airline the birth occurs, where it occurs and the nationality of the parents. Different countries treat births differently. In some cases, the rules stipulate that when the baby is born, nationality is offered or required. Other countries have the nationality of parents as a rule. In some cases, the nationality of the airline may become the nationality of the baby. Based on this patchwork of rules, there are scenarios in which various citizenships may be available to the child from which the parents can choose.

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Question: How does the evacuation test work? Answer: Manufacturers and airlines often demonstrate evacuations to regulators. This is done when a new airplane is certified or when an airline buys a new airplane. Participants are not specially trained and represent a broad age group. They are aware that they are participating in an evacuation simulation, but they do not receive further information. Half of the outputs are blocked. Participants are not aware of which exits are blocked until the evacuation is initiated. All occupants must be safely off the plane within 90 seconds.

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Question: How do pilots remember and then repeat all ATC instructions? Answer: Listening to and understanding ATC radio calls is a learned skill. Pilots fly for many years, working with ATC. More experienced crews fly to more complex airports. Part of the training process for the first officers before upgrading to the captain is experiencing many different ATC environments.

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Question: What happens when a lightning strikes an airplane? Answer: Spokes usually leave small burn marks or holes at the point of entry and exit. Aircraft are designed to allow lightning to move along the skin of the aircraft without causing damage. Occasionally, a static wick will be the victim of lightning coming out of the plane.

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Question: I believe that aircraft have defrost mechanisms. What is the difference between these and, say, a windshield defroster, and why could not they be used instead of having wings sprayed with defrosting solution? Answer: The on-board thawing device detects only the edges of the wings, propellers and sometimes the tail. Other parts of the aircraft, such as the windshield and pitot tubes, are heated to prevent ice buildup. On the ground, ice forms on the entire surface of the airplane, resulting in significant weight and distortion of the airflow, which is potentially dangerous. Consequently, the ice must be completely removed from the airplane before takeoff. The heated fluid knocks the ice out of the plane and then a thick gel is applied so that any falling ice or snow will not stick to the plane and will explode during the take off flight. This gel is effective only for a limited time, requiring pilots to refer to tables to determine how long the period between defrosting and takeoff can be. Trying to heat the entire aircraft would require a very large amount of hot air and a very heavy mechanism; therefore, is not efficient.

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Question: Airlines are adding more seats to their planes. Are they compromising passenger safety? Answer: No, each airplane is certified for a maximum number of passengers based on the ability to evacuate all passengers and crew within 90 seconds. Most airlines do not have the maximum number of seats installed, so an increase in seats that is still below the maximum certified number does not compromise safety.

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Question: What is yaw and how does it affect an airplane? Answer: Yaw is the movement of the nose of the aircraft perpendicular to the wings (left or right). This can cause the bearing to change and can create an asymmetrical lift in the wings, causing one of the wings to rise and the other to lower (roll).
Swept-wing jets have a natural tendency to spin, requiring a small automatic entry at the helm to contain it. The device that inserts this small rudder is known as the yaw damper.

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Question: I flew on the Airbus 380 several times. It seems to me that the speed of the taxi is slower than that of smaller equipment. This is an illusion of size – larger objects seem to be moving more slowly – and the highest seating position upstairs? Or are there reasons, such as concerns about using fuel and braking, that make him tax more slowly? Answer: The A380 is a very large aircraft with a wingspan of more than 260 feet. The long wingspan means that the jet can only tax certain taxiways and will have the tip of the wing closest to objects and other planes. Consequently, the captains of the A380 tend to tax more slowly. The weight of the airplane causes longer stopping distances. You're pretty sure that being upstairs and the size of the plane makes it seem like it moves more slowly, but large planes tend to tax a little slower.

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Question: Recently there are rumors that some airlines are considering using the Airbus A321-LR for transatlantic flights. Do you think narrow-body airplanes will be the future of international travel? Answer: It is possible that several airlines could start flying A321LRs on transatlantic routes. The plane has the range to make the flight. The Boeing 757 has been used on transatlantic routes less traveled for many years. Both are single-aisle aircraft, also known as narrow-body aircraft. As service to secondary cities continues to increase, the ability to fly non-stop instead of connecting in a hub to a wide-body aircraft will be very attractive. Airplanes will not replace wide-body airplanes between major cities. There is a growing discussion about low-cost transatlantic air service. In the past, it was not successful; however, there are several international airlines that enter the market or are interested in doing so.

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Question: Does excessive dependence on automation increase the number of commercial air accidents? Answer: No, the number of accidents is decreasing. Excessive reliance on automation has become a factor in a higher percentage of accidents, but the overall number is trending down. The proper use of automation and the maintenance of manual flight skills are focus items for aviation. Training should include the extensive use of automation and manual flight.

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Question: Can a larger aircraft land on a lane smaller than the one recommended in an emergency? Answer: Yes, this can be done. Each airplane has a required runway length due to deceleration physics. It is much shorter than many people imagine. When landing on very short runs, pilots will carefully control the speed, land at the landing point and use all deceleration devices (brakes, spoilers and reversal).

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Question: Where does my bag go when I check? Answer: From the moment a suitcase is dispatched, a series of belts and trolleys carry it to the waiting plane. If your plane is larger, the bag will be loaded into a container to make it faster to load on the plane. Bag safety screening occurs prior to loading to ensure flight safety. When charging begins, it is shipped via the belt loader or in the container to the cargo hold, where it is kept warm (medium) and pressurized during the fight. At its destination, the reverse occurs. The belt loader or container loader takes the bag to a cart where it is sent to the terminal to find it.

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Question: When the announcement is made that "The pilot started his initial approach", why is the starting word used? This implies that there may be more than one approach. Answer: It is a differentiation of the segments of the approach. There is an early part of the approach and a final phase of the approach. The final phase is often the last 5 miles when the plane is aligned with the runway and is descending toward it.

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Question: Why do airlines on domestic flights have lifejackets, with all the extra weight it entails? Answer: Airplanes usually fly domestic and air flights on the same day. It is not uncommon for an airplane to fly on several domestic flights and then fly to Bermuda or the Caribbean. Returning from the flights over the water, it flies on other domestic legs. One of the NTSB's recommendations for the Hudson accident was that all airplanes had life jackets available to passengers because of the large number of lakes and other bodies of water on which the planes fly.

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Question: Soon after takeoff, it often looks like the pilot slows down and the plane drops a little. Why is that? Answer: The feeling of slowing down is actually one of slowing down the rate of acceleration; this is due to the reduction of thrust after takeoff to the climb configuration. The sensation of "falling" comes from the retraction of the flaps and slats. The rate of climb is reduced, making it look like a descent.

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Question: Can you explain all the different lights of a commercial airliner and its purpose? Answer: The lights vary on airplanes, but all have red and green lights on the wingtip, and a white light visible from behind (it may be on the tail or the back of the wingtip). In addition, there are landing lights to provide runway lighting during landing. A taxi light provides a low-power light to see taxiways; the cab light can be supplemented by special lights to help make tight turns. Often there are lights that light up the wings so that pilots can inspect the accumulation of ice. The flashing red lights at the top and bottom are known as collision lights. Many planes have white flashing lights called strobes, making them easier to see.

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Question: How bad does turbulence have to be before we are freaking out? Answer: Unexpected turbulence is uncomfortable, but does not pose a safety risk to the airplane. Airplanes are designed for this. The last case of accident caused by turbulence occurred in the 1960s in Japan. There are some similarities to a boat crashing on a wave in the water. One difference is that the airplane can suffer more vertical displacement, making it feel more severe.
Most humans do not like the negative Gs feel, which you feel when the plane crashes suddenly. This sensation is caused by the vestibular system in your ears. In everyday life, we do not often feel negative Gs, making the feeling uncommon and scary for some people. This is a normal reaction. Pilots have experienced this feeling many times and have had no problem flying the plane safely.

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Question: How were airport codes assigned? Answer: There are two different types of airport codes: the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA). ICAO uses a four-letter code, where the first letter is the country code. The US uses K for their code. New York airports are KJFK to Kennedy, KLGA to LaGuardia and KEWR to Newark. These codes are used for the archiving of flight plans and for air traffic control purposes. IATA codes are used for ticketing and are three letters. Chicago O'Hare is ORD, London Heathrow is LHR and London Gatwick is LGW. IATA codes are also used for baggage.

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Question: Why is there no window next to my seat? Answer: When the jets are certified, a consideration is the consequence of a catastrophic engine failure, in which the rotating components of the engine are not contained within the fairing. In the very rare event of parts not contained by drilling through the hood, it is possible that they reach a window causing damage and decompression. This area is reinforced and the area where the window would normally be solid.

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Question: Do airplanes have difficulty taking off in hot weather? Answer: I would not say they have difficulties, but performance is definitely limited by heat. Hot air does not allow the wing to create so much lift (less air molecules); therefore, the weight should be reduced to maintain the required ascent path. Very high temperatures, such as Arizona, the Middle East, or other desert environments, require careful pre-flight planning.

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Question: Is it safer to be on a smaller or larger plane? Answer: It is not possible to differentiate between small and large aircraft because the terms are vague. Regional aircraft the size of an airline have a slightly higher accident rate than the jets of larger airlines. Turboprops have a higher accident rate than jets. Airline jets have some models with lower accident rates than others, but size is not the determining factor. Aviation is the safest form of transportation. This makes it very difficult to say that one airplane is significantly safer than another. Both are safe – even if one type has a slightly higher accident rate, that rate is still infinitesimal.

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Question: How long will the supplemental oxygen last after the masks fall into an emergency? Answer: In typical airplanes, the oxygen generators last from 10 to 14 minutes. This is more than enough time to get down to 10,000 feet or the lowest altitude above the terrain. Airplanes can descend very quickly, which means that the need for supplemental oxygen lasts only a few minutes.
Getty Images

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Question: Why does it take so long to open the exit door? Answer: Once the plane arrives at the gate and is properly shocked, the captain shuts off the engines and turns off the "Fasten the Seat Belt" light. The collision light (this is the blinking red light on the top and bottom of the airplane) is turned off, informing the ground crew that it is safe to approach the plane. The ground crew then begin to position the jet bridge, aligning it with the door. Once the jet bridge is attached to the airplane and the cover is in place, the ground agent either opens the door or hits it for the steward to open it. Once the door is initially opened, the soil agent helps to open it completely and make sure it is locked in the open position. This is the generic procedure for most jet planes. Regional or smaller planes have a slightly different procedure, since their stairs are built into the door.

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Question: How do clues get their names? Answer: The track number is the approximate magnetic bearing. As an example, lane 35 is pointing approximately 350 degrees magnetic. The opposite end of the lane is 17 or approximately 170 degrees magnetic. When there are two parallel tracks pointing in the same direction, they are designated with the appropriate number and a left or right handle. Two lanes pointing east are called 09 on the left and 09 on the right. The 09 indicate that they are pointed 090, to the east, and the left and the right identify the parallels. When there are three lanes, they use the same process but include a designation of "Center". If there are four lanes or more, the airport will change one of the track numbers to help differentiate them. As an example, the northbound southbound lanes in LAX are designated 24 Left and Right, while the southbound lanes are named 25 Left and Right. The tracks point in the same direction, but the difference allows the riders to know which track to use.

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Question: What efforts are being made to ensure that computer hacking does not negatively influence modern ground aviation or during flight? Answer: Computer security is taken very seriously. Flight control and flight management computers are segregated and hardened against external intrusion. It is possible for a hacker to interfere with an in-flight entertainment system, but he and the integrated wireless system have separate paths from flight computers. Improving safety is a continuous effort by manufacturers, operators and regulators.

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Question: Why sending lithium-ion batteries is considered dangerous, but almost all passengers have cell phones with them? What is the difference? Answer: A lithium battery installed in a device is less likely to leak, and if it does, there are few batteries nearby to be taken to the thermal leak. The transport of lithium batteries in passenger aircraft poses a higher risk than many operators consider acceptable due to the rapid expansion of a fire when the lithium batteries go into thermal leakage.

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Question: Are there routes in the continental US that tend to suffer more turbulence than others? Answer: In some conditions, when there are high surface winds, crossing the Rocky Mountains can be turbulent. The mountain waves that this condition creates are more pronounced around larger mountains, making the airways that cross them more turbulent.

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Question: Does it matter how old an airplane is? Answer: If an older aircraft is properly maintained, it is safe. Age is not a factor; it is the quality of maintenance that matters.

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Question: Why do not airplanes have external cameras for pilots to use when they tax or park to better guide the plane? Answer: Some of the larger airplanes (eg Airbus A340 and A380 and Boeing 747-8) have cameras to assist pilots on taxiways and gates. Smaller airplanes (for example, B737 and A320) do not need them, as the flight crew can see the wing tips. Widebody planes that do not have cameras installed by the manufacturer require careful positioning of the captain during taxiing and parking. It was not profitable to adapt these planes to cameras.

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Question: When an aircraft is descending towards the landing, it seems that some airplanes fly down the nose pointed down, and some seem to float down with the nose pointed upwards. Is this true and, if so, why the difference? Answer: When configured for landing, the position of the nose is determined by the fact that tip blades are installed. Airplanes with slats of tip (movable panels in front of the wing) approach the lane with nose upwards, whereas planes without slats approach with the nose downwards.

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Question: Have you ever gotten lost at an airport considering the congested nature of some US airports? Answer: Taxiing, particularly at a large airport with limited visibility at night, can be very challenging. Many modern airplanes have electronic maps with the airplane position displayed, which really helps. Those who do not have electronic monitors require the crew to have taxi tables and agree to the release of the taxi and the actual route. I never got lost, but I went taxiing slowly and took great care to follow the taxi's authorization, using information from the first officer.

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Question: How do commercial airplanes and military aircraft share the skies? Answer: Air traffic control does a great job of keeping airplanes separate, be they commercial, private, or military. In addition, military branches have special airspace that can be used for training and maneuvering.

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Question: How could a plane land at the wrong airport? Answer: There are several reasons that contribute to this: Humans often see what they expect to see, even when it is wrong. This is known as confirmation bias and helps the pilot to believe that it is the correct airport and lane when not. Two pilots and a rigorous crossing with navigation displays usually break the confirmation bias in advance. Fatigue can also be a factor, as performance degradation can make it difficult to recognize the error. Modern airplanes have many wonderful navigation tools that help prevent these events.

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Question: How do flight planners determine which aircraft to use on which route? Answer: Airlines have route planning specialists to ensure that the right-sized aircraft is used for the route, that all maintenance considerations are taken into account and that the aircraft arrive at the appropriate location for inspections and services at the appropriate intervals . It's an art to keep the timeline running. Scheduling professionals learn the job after years of airline experience and are vital to streamline operations.

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Question: Under freezing conditions, with ice on the track, how safe is the non-slip braking system in a modern jet? Answer: The anti-slip system of the modern jet is very good. I landed on ice-covered runways often using the non-slip system to safely stop the plane. Pilots listen closely to other landing planes for descriptions of the ability to stop on the runway. Track conditions can change quickly, requiring judgment and pilot experience to determine if it is safe to proceed. This system worked very well for many decades to ensure the safety of landing aircraft.

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Question: I'm amazed at how pilots pilot the plane so effectively during taxiing, and then get centered on the center line of the runway. How are these procedures done? Answer: Pilots keep the plane centered on the lane using a combination steering wheel nose and rudder. From a very basic flight training, it is a skill that is taught and evaluated frequently. It is essential to keep the plane in line with the center line. Some airplanes are easier than others, but a pilot is expected to master it before being released to fly. The riders observe the drift during takeoff and apply the rudder with the rudder pedals. On some airplanes at lower speeds, it may be necessary to add a little direction of the nose wheel to reach the desired track.

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A landing at the São Paulo / Guarulhos International Airport – Governador André Franco Montoro in Brazil.

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Question: Do airplane pilots need a college degree? Answer: Pilots have varied backgrounds; most are faculties and many have masters or doctorates. It is more important to be able to learn the material, to understand it and to apply it properly than to have a specific level of education.

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Question: What do the bells on board mean? Answer: Different airlines use the bells differently. Here are some uses I've witnessed in my career: a single beep could be for flight attendants to warn them about the hectic air, maybe serious enough that they should be seated. Another possibility would be: "When you have time, could we please have a coffee?" Two chimes are often used to indicate that the aircraft is approaching 10,000 feet of altitude. Three or more bells could be to tell flight attendants to be seated now because of reports of turbulence that have just been received by the pilots. Cabin crew can also use the bells to communicate with the flight deck. A single beep could be "Would you like coffee?" Three or more bells to the flight deck could be "we have a passenger with a medical problem that might require a diversion."