I know how you feel and from all this question and answers I can assure you flying is very safe even more save than driving a car on highway.
Q.Will aircraft self-disintegrate in the air?
A. Under normal operations, this is not going to happen. The authority like U.S. FAA/European EASA have very strict regulation about how an aircraft should withstand different kind of stress in-flight before the manufacturer could get the certification. They have to demonstrate it to the authority and make sure all tests are conform and within the required standards.
After the aircraft has been delivered to the airlines, the airlines also required to maintain the aircraft according to manufacturer's recommendations. There are different kind of schedule checks, from 6,12 and 24 months. They are A, B, C and D checks in maintenance terms.
Your local authority, for example Singapore will be CAAS. They are the one making sure all checks are completed and comply with before they re-issue an air worthiness certificate. Without that certificate no one can use the aircraft for commercial operations.
Your Pilot on-board will also do there job by avoiding all major storms whenever possible (Mainly for passengers comfort and not because of the aircraft will break apart). Why I said whenever possible? Because it is still subject to Air Traffic Control, there are many invisible airways in the sky and it is just like our highways. The ATC controllers have to ensure there is enough safety distance between aircraft, and hence sometimes the pilots might not be able to get what they want due to safety reason.
Safety is a team-work, as long as the operator (Airlines) adhere strictly to the maintenance schedules. It is very safe to fly.
Q.What happen when engine failed?
A. First thing first, the crew will try to re-start the engine in-flight. Only if they failed or not able to re-started (e.g. due to engine fire). Then they will consider the below options.
Ok. Let's say you have 4 engines, if you lost 1 engine there will be no big deal, you still have 75% of power. The crew will evaluate the situation and most likely they will divert to the nearest airport with maintenance facility.
Let's say you have 3 engines, if you lost 1 engine there will be no big deal, you still have 66.66% of power. The crew will do the same, check for nearby airport with maintenance support.
Let's say you have 2 engines, if you lost 1 engine then we will have a little problem. First thing, the remaining engine is designed to support the entire aircraft so you won't fall out of the sky. However, you will need to drift-down to a more suitable height (Altitude) because the single engine cannot operate in a very high altitude due to lack of air density. The drift-down will be around FL200+ (20,000 ft). Your pilot will choose to divert to the nearest airport which is within 60 mins.
Extended Operations (Apply to more than 2 engines aircraft) or Extended-Range Twins Engines Operations (Apply to 2 engines aircraft) depends on where you are from, they have different meaning (ETOPS):
For airlines and aircraft granted ETOPS XXX (XXX denotes number, could be ETOPS 120, 180 or more) that means your aircraft can fly with only single engine (or remaining engine) for more than 120 or 180 minutes away from the nearest airport depends on the XXX numbers.
Before departure, there are ground crew (Flight dispatcher) will do the pre-flight planning for the pilot. They will calculate the ETP (Equal Time Point), the EEP (ETOPS Entry Point) and the EXP (ETOP Exit Point). In-flight the crew will take-note of all the points and in case of divert they will choose the shortest route to the nearest airport. (I will explain the above technical terms in my future post)
Your crew will always have the nearest airport in-mind while flying and keep monitor the weather of that particular airport just in case they need to divert.
Let's say you lost all engines! (The chances here is very very rare)
The aircraft won't fall out of the sky immediately. The crew will try to re-start the engines if possible. Contact ATC for their location. Declare Emergency to ATC and find a suitable landing area.
Things you will notice:
- No electrical power in cabin (This is to reduce the power load and let the pilot to have the power to glide the plane to safety)
- Dimmed lightings (Same as above)
- Very quiet and only wind noise (Engine is no long producing power therefore very quiet)
Backups you have:
- Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) to provide hydraulic and essential electricity (Hydraulic to control the aircraft movement surface i.e. ailerons, rudder, elevators and landing gears) Electricity to flight management computers, avionics.
- 30 mins of battery power
- The aircraft could glide a good 100 nautical miles (185 km) at 40,000 ft
- RATs - Ram Air Turbine System (Using wind to generate power) if the aircraft is fly-by-wire
- Pilots are highly trained in such situation
Q.Will turbulence break the plane?
A. No. The aircraft fuselage have to withstand at least +2.5g/-1.5 with 150% load before the certification will be issued. You can take a good look of the A380 wing bend test.
Your pilots are more concern about the hot coffee spill on your laps and/or you being throw into the air and fell rather than the aircraft will break. Therefore they switch on the seat belt sign and stop hot beverages service.
Turbulence is the disruption of airflow, meaning the wind is blowing from different direction and the the disorder of wind will try to be in-order as much as they want. Therefore they won't last long.
Good to remember this before you fly. Turbulence won't last long.
Severe turbulence - Last around 10-20 seconds (Major discomfort to your body)
Major turbulence - Last around minutes (Quite discomfort to your body)
Minor turbulence - Last around 15 minutes (Massage chair)
To avoid discomfort, make sure you don't drink too much coffee/tea or alcohol which is known to create gastric issue. Also to avoid spicy food before flight.
Q.Will aircraft self-disintegrate in the air?
A. Under normal operations, this is not going to happen. The authority like U.S. FAA/European EASA have very strict regulation about how an aircraft should withstand different kind of stress in-flight before the manufacturer could get the certification. They have to demonstrate it to the authority and make sure all tests are conform and within the required standards.
After the aircraft has been delivered to the airlines, the airlines also required to maintain the aircraft according to manufacturer's recommendations. There are different kind of schedule checks, from 6,12 and 24 months. They are A, B, C and D checks in maintenance terms.
Your local authority, for example Singapore will be CAAS. They are the one making sure all checks are completed and comply with before they re-issue an air worthiness certificate. Without that certificate no one can use the aircraft for commercial operations.
Your Pilot on-board will also do there job by avoiding all major storms whenever possible (Mainly for passengers comfort and not because of the aircraft will break apart). Why I said whenever possible? Because it is still subject to Air Traffic Control, there are many invisible airways in the sky and it is just like our highways. The ATC controllers have to ensure there is enough safety distance between aircraft, and hence sometimes the pilots might not be able to get what they want due to safety reason.
Safety is a team-work, as long as the operator (Airlines) adhere strictly to the maintenance schedules. It is very safe to fly.
Q.What happen when engine failed?
A. First thing first, the crew will try to re-start the engine in-flight. Only if they failed or not able to re-started (e.g. due to engine fire). Then they will consider the below options.
Ok. Let's say you have 4 engines, if you lost 1 engine there will be no big deal, you still have 75% of power. The crew will evaluate the situation and most likely they will divert to the nearest airport with maintenance facility.
Let's say you have 3 engines, if you lost 1 engine there will be no big deal, you still have 66.66% of power. The crew will do the same, check for nearby airport with maintenance support.
Let's say you have 2 engines, if you lost 1 engine then we will have a little problem. First thing, the remaining engine is designed to support the entire aircraft so you won't fall out of the sky. However, you will need to drift-down to a more suitable height (Altitude) because the single engine cannot operate in a very high altitude due to lack of air density. The drift-down will be around FL200+ (20,000 ft). Your pilot will choose to divert to the nearest airport which is within 60 mins.
Extended Operations (Apply to more than 2 engines aircraft) or Extended-Range Twins Engines Operations (Apply to 2 engines aircraft) depends on where you are from, they have different meaning (ETOPS):
For airlines and aircraft granted ETOPS XXX (XXX denotes number, could be ETOPS 120, 180 or more) that means your aircraft can fly with only single engine (or remaining engine) for more than 120 or 180 minutes away from the nearest airport depends on the XXX numbers.
Before departure, there are ground crew (Flight dispatcher) will do the pre-flight planning for the pilot. They will calculate the ETP (Equal Time Point), the EEP (ETOPS Entry Point) and the EXP (ETOP Exit Point). In-flight the crew will take-note of all the points and in case of divert they will choose the shortest route to the nearest airport. (I will explain the above technical terms in my future post)
Your crew will always have the nearest airport in-mind while flying and keep monitor the weather of that particular airport just in case they need to divert.
Let's say you lost all engines! (The chances here is very very rare)
The aircraft won't fall out of the sky immediately. The crew will try to re-start the engines if possible. Contact ATC for their location. Declare Emergency to ATC and find a suitable landing area.
Things you will notice:
- No electrical power in cabin (This is to reduce the power load and let the pilot to have the power to glide the plane to safety)
- Dimmed lightings (Same as above)
- Very quiet and only wind noise (Engine is no long producing power therefore very quiet)
Backups you have:
- Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) to provide hydraulic and essential electricity (Hydraulic to control the aircraft movement surface i.e. ailerons, rudder, elevators and landing gears) Electricity to flight management computers, avionics.
- 30 mins of battery power
- The aircraft could glide a good 100 nautical miles (185 km) at 40,000 ft
- RATs - Ram Air Turbine System (Using wind to generate power) if the aircraft is fly-by-wire
- Pilots are highly trained in such situation
Q.Will turbulence break the plane?
A. No. The aircraft fuselage have to withstand at least +2.5g/-1.5 with 150% load before the certification will be issued. You can take a good look of the A380 wing bend test.
Your pilots are more concern about the hot coffee spill on your laps and/or you being throw into the air and fell rather than the aircraft will break. Therefore they switch on the seat belt sign and stop hot beverages service.
Turbulence is the disruption of airflow, meaning the wind is blowing from different direction and the the disorder of wind will try to be in-order as much as they want. Therefore they won't last long.
Good to remember this before you fly. Turbulence won't last long.
Severe turbulence - Last around 10-20 seconds (Major discomfort to your body)
Major turbulence - Last around minutes (Quite discomfort to your body)
Minor turbulence - Last around 15 minutes (Massage chair)
To avoid discomfort, make sure you don't drink too much coffee/tea or alcohol which is known to create gastric issue. Also to avoid spicy food before flight.
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