TOP 10 Things People Don’t Know About Commercial Flying

A list of the 10 things most people don't know about commercial flying.

10. Flying is much safer than driving.

(Statistically proven)

9. Turbulence does NOT damage the plane.

The planes are designed to withstand strong vibrations and shaking. This is mainly due to the fact that jets create turbulence.

8. Not all landings are “perfect”.

(Crosswind Landing)

7. Weather is the number one cause for delays.

6. The final decision to go through with the flight is up to the captain.

5. Most commercial jets need at least 1.5 miles of runway for takeoff.

Does not include wide-bodies. They need 2 miles minimum.

4. Each year a jet gets a full checkover of every part and replacements are made early.

3. Most planes are fairly old.

(The iconic MD-80)

Most planes are from the 80's and 90's.

2. Not all airplanes have GPS.

There is this thing called INS (Inertial Navigation System). It determines where a plane is by knowing the start point, velocity, and acceleration as it travels. The main instrument used is a gyroscope.

1. Yes, the wings on the plane are designed to flex up and down.

The engineers just wanted people to freak out when they looked out the window.