what do you do in an emergency plane

What to do on a plane during an emergency?

• Pay attention to safety instructions. Even if you think that you know the instructions and have heard them many times...
• Remain Seated. Wear your seat belts. Make sure that you listen to your flight attendants and remain seated. Fasten your...
• Get into position. Passengers are asked to place their heads on their laps during...

Full Answer

What should you do in a medical emergency on a plane?

During a medical emergency is definitely not the time for other passengers to ask for a drink or try to go to the bathroom, but beyond staying in your seat, Armstrong said, it's important to be ready to help when asked.

How do pilots prepare for an emergency landing?

To prepare for — and ultimately carry out — an emergency landing, pilots must go through a number of steps. These include preparing the cabin and sending a request to the emergency service, as well as reviewing all evacuation procedures and having a plan of action, Netskar said.

What should you do if a plane crashes in the ocean?

Check the pilot's condition. Give the pilot a first aid if possible. Be sure to remain calm. If there is a storm, or waves are very choppy, try not to land in the water. The plane can get tossed by the large waves. Instead, find the thickest trees possible and land there. This is only for emergency situations.

Do airplanes use emergency medical kits?

Many airlines require consultation with a ground-based physician, such as STAT-MD, before the emergency medical kit is used. There is one other prominent medical communications center in the United States called MedAire, based in Phoenix, Arizona, but those calls may not always be answered by a medical doctor. Kits vary widely in quality.

What happens when there is an emergency on a plane?

In the US, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires that, at a minimum, all commercial flights carry an emergency medical kit that includes an AED; tools to aid in basic assessment, bleeding control, and starting an IV; and a variety of medications including analgesics, antihistamine, atropine, epinephrine, ...

How do you deal with an emergency plane?

No matter what the emergency (engine failure, fire, structural failure), fly the airplane. Maintain control and fly it all the way to the ground, if necessary....You are not airborne and have plenty of runway ahead. ... You are not airborne, but insufficient runway remains. ... Immediately after takeoff.More items...

What do pilots do in an emergency?

During the actual emergency, you are focused on flying the airplane, ensuring the flight path remains safe, following the checklists, reprogramming the Flight Management Computer, advising air traffic controllers, advising the passengers of the revised flight plan, advising the company of the return, briefing the ...

What do pilots say in an emergency?

MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAYPilots believing themselves to be facing an emergency situation should declare an emergency as soon as possible and cancel it later if the situation allows. The correct method of communicating this information to ATC is by using the prefix “MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY” or “PAN PAN, PAN PAN, PAN PAN” as appropriate.

What are the three types of emergency landings?

There are three types of off-airport landings. Precautionary landings are made with power in anticipation of a real emergency. Forced landings are made with a dead engine. And a ditching is a forced landing in water.

What is a full emergency?

Full Emergency Phase: is defined when an aircraft is approaching an aerodrome in such a manner that there is a danger of an accident occuring.

Where do most plane crashes occur?

Although the United States is ranked among the 20 countries with the highest quality of air infrastructure, the U.S. reports the highest number of civil airliner accidents worldwide.

What do pilots see when flying?

Pilots have a unique viewpoint while flying private or commercial aircraft. They get an unobstructed view of stunning natural sights, such as pink lakes and rectangular-shaped icebergs. Some have reported seeing UFOs, while others have flown over swirling hurricanes.

Why do pilots say Mayday when they are crashing?

Mayday is derived from a French word, and it means “help” or “help me”. Pilots say mayday three times during emergency situations to alert Air Traffic Control and request guidance and assistance from them.

What is code red on a plane?

9 Code Red They are there to inform people that there is indeed a true emergency on the plane or with it. This is also commonly used in the airport itself. In event of a Code Red, the normal directive is to try and land the plane as best you can at the nearest place you can do so.

What language do pilots speak?

EnglishAnswer: The international language of aviation is English. In most places, the pilots and air traffic controllers have demonstrated the ability to speak and understand English up to a level specified by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Some of the accents can be very challenging.

What does landing feel like in a plane?

Answer: The sensation of slowing down is really one of slowing the rate of acceleration; this is due to reducing the thrust after takeoff to the climb setting. The sensation of “dropping” comes from the retraction of the flaps and slats. The rate of climb is reduced, causing it to feel like a descent.

How fast can a plane land in an emergency?

Idle descent in many jets is around 3,000 feet per minute until reaching 10,000 feet. There is a speed restriction of 250 knots below 10,000 feet, therefore the flight management computer will slow the aircraft to 250 knots and continue the descent at approximately 1,500 feet per minute.

Do you have to pay for emergency landing?

These firms also help pilots decide whether the plane needs to make an emergency landing. The decision isn't taken lightly: The International Air Transport Association, an airline trade group, estimates that an emergency landing can cost anywhere from $10,000 to $200,000.

How must passengers react in case of an emergency landing on water?

In water landings, passengers should put on extra clothes to improve the chances of survival in cold water and secure any loose objects that may float about if water enters the plane. Passengers should put on lifejackets, but not inflate them until exiting the plane.

What to do when in doubt on a plane?

When in doubt, pay attention to your pilots and your cabin crew. “If one of the flight attendants had noticed anything threatening in the cabin, they would have started an evacuation on their own,” Carrie says. Think of how long it takes a typical plane to unload all of its passengers.

What do we tell our friends and family when they hop on a plane?

When we hear that friends and family are hopping on a plane, we often tell them to “fly safe.” At the end of the day, as passengers, control of the plane is not in our hands – but we do have control, and responsibility, over how we react in situations of crisis.

Why is oxygen important in the cockpit?

Oxygen is so important for clear thinking, in fact, that pilots always have their oxygen masks within reach. “When I go up to the cockpit to give one of the pilots a bathroom break, for example, the other pilot will always wear the oxygen mask or have it on his or her lap,” Carrie says.

How fast can a plane descend?

A modern airliner is capable of descending 20,000 feet within 90 seconds. However, most pilots will take the descent significantly slower unless absolutely necessary, to give a potentially damaged airframe less stress. Pilot Tammie Jo Schults took the plane down from 32,500 feet to 10,400 feet over a comparatively longer six minutes, according to flight data.

What does it mean to grab your bags in an emergency?

Taking the time to grab your bags in an emergency could mean the difference between life and death for you and other passengers. The only thing you can’t afford to lose is your life. 5. Know how your oxygen mask works – and why it matters.

What to do when you are in an exit row?

Take your exit row responsibilities seriously. If you are seated in an exit row, be extra careful to pay attention to the instructions on how to operate the door. Your life, and the lives of your fellow passengers, are in your hands.

Can you jump in Flight 1380?

People who are specially qualified know how to jump in without adding to the chaos, says Carrie. “In a situation like Flight 1380, if you’re specially qualified – EMT, military, whatever – jump right in. Or if you’re in the immediate area, and the flight attendants ask you to help. But if you’re not genuinely contributing, stay out of it, and keep your cell phone out of it, yourself out of it. And if you have to question whether or not you’re contributing? You’re not.”

How to level a plane?

Level the aircraft. If the plane is noticeably ascending, descending, or turning, gently bring the plane into a level flight altitude using the outside horizon as your guide. Finally, all those days of joystick video games are about to pay off!

How to get an aircraft to fly in a stabilized way?

Usually the best way to get an aircraft to fly in a stabilized way is to not touch the controls; it is designed to be stable and most people who are not trained pilots tend to over-control the plane.

How to turn on autopilot?

Turn on autopilot. If you have been trying to correct the flight path, the autopilot is probably disengaged. Turn it on by pushing buttons labeled "AUTOPILOT" or "AUTO FLIGHT," "AFS" or "AP" or something alike. On passenger airplanes it is situated in the center of the glare-shield panel, in a position where both pilots can easily reach it. On most flights during cruise stage, the autopilot is already on. [5]

What does GPWS mean on an airplane?

What it does is when you reach a certain altitude (usually 2500, 1000, 500-100, 50-5) , it will call out that altitude. It will also say "Approaching Minimums" and "Minimums". "Approaching Minimums" means you are 100 feet from approaching "Minimums", depending on what kind of approach you are executing. When "Minimums" sounds, you should check if the runway and/or the approach lights are in sight. If not, you must engage the TO/GA mode and execute a missed approach. (If you can't find the TO/GA button, just put the throttle to full).

What is the PFD on an airplane?

On modern-day airliners, there will be a Primary Flight Display (PFD) directly ahead of you. This displays vital information such as Indicated Airspeed (IAS) measured in knots, Ground Speed (GS), also measured in knots, altitude (measured in feet) and heading.

What is the N number on an airplane?

If you are on a commercial aircraft (an aircraft operated by an airline, such as United, American, Southwest, etc.) the aircraft is not referred to by its "N" number. It is instead called by its call-sign, or the flight number. Sometimes pilots will put a sticky note on the panel to remind them.

Where is the joystick on a plane?

Some aircraft may have a side stick, which will be a joystick to the left of the captain's seat.

How many flights have a medical emergency?

One in every 604 flights involves a reported medical emergency, according to a 2013 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center calculated that translates into 44,000 in-flight medical emergencies worldwide every year.

What is the role of the flight deck crew?

The flight deck crew is also instructed to inform the airline’s operations center to make appropriate arrangements once the aircraft is on the ground. As with any in-flight emergency, the situation is evaluated on a case-by-case basis and flight attendants are advised to use their best judgment.

What is required for FAA kit?

Kits vary widely in quality. The FAA requires contents such as saline solution, aspirin, antihistamines, epinephrine and nitroglycerine tablets. Some airlines choose to supplement the basic provisions, but supplies and medications are expensive, they take up weight and they have to be replaced when they expire.

Why is a simple stethoscope useless in flight?

A simple stethoscope, for example, is rendered relatively useless in flight because of all the ambient noise.

Can you use a wheelchair in a plane?

Stay hydrated. Wheelchair users can use the bathroom inflight, using the onboard aisle chair.

What are the duties of an emergency exit?

Possible duties include operating the emergency exit and exit-slide mechanisms, and removing obstacles between you and the emergency exit. Also, you have to be able to hear and see well enough to help during an evacuation. Most important, you must understand the crew’s instructions and be able to follow them.

How much space is needed for an emergency exit?

The rows leading to the “overwing” emergency exits usually still have the humane 36 inches of space necessary for quick egress during an evacuation. They also are often occupied by experienced air travelers who mind their own business. If you’re not in a special class or in one of the bulkhead seats — those in the first row of the cabin, which also have more legroom — the emergency exit row is the next best place to sit.

How much does an emergency exit door weigh?

Emergency exit door weights vary, according to the FAA. Some doors, such as those on an Airbus A320, weigh only 32 pounds. Almost all the Boeing 737’s emergency doors open automatically, so there’s no need to lift anything.

How old do you have to be to sit in an emergency exit row?

The Federal Aviation Administration has numerous regulationsthat govern who can, and can’t, sit in an emergency exit row. You have to be at least 15 years old. You must have sufficient mobility, strength and dexterity in both arms, hands and legs to assist in an evacuation.

Do airlines seat deadheading crew members?

If you worry about forgetting some of the rules, you might take comfort from this: Airlines love to seat “deadheading” crew members — who are traveling between airports for work — in the exit rows. If that’s the case, there will be someone to ensure that you observe exit row etiquette.

Do flight attendants test your strength?

To further complicate things, whether a person belongs in the exit row is largely a matter of self-assessment. Flight attendants don’t have the time to test your strength, vision, hearing and comprehension before the flight, so they rely on you to evaluate yourself.

Do airline seats come with rules?

But, as many air travelers are discovering, these coveted seats come with their own rules — and not just the written ones laid out in the Code of Federal Regulations and clearly disclosed when you get the seat assignment. There are unwritten rules, too, which can trip up even experienced passengers.