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I have a few topics lined up to write about over the coming weeks but I thought I would write a bit of a fun article that covers some of the myths associated with pilots and flying. It's no news that air travel has been associated with myths, urban legends, exaggeration and just plain misunderstandings. The mysteries of the Bermuda Triangle, Hollywood movies giving false impressions in their big budget films, and fearful fliers dramatising stories. No matter where it comes from over the years certain myths and stories have stuck, below is just a small list of some of these wrongly assumed myths. If you have any additions, log in and comment

1. Are all pilots rich?

No is the answer to this, it is a mistake most people make. The student pilot will spend $40,000 - $80,000 on getting their commercial pilots license, depending on where they do it and how far they go with it. A pilot that still has their pampers on (as I like to call them), will start out on about $21,000 a year and they can be on this for a while as they work their way up the ranks.

2. Can oxygen from the masks make you high?

Well if you believe Brad Pitt's character in fight club the answer is yes, but that is why I am writing this, to show why we shouldn't believe fictional characters. The oxygen can make you feel more relaxed but the truth is a lack of oxygen makes you feel high, as you lose the ability to compute brain messages correctly due to the lack of oxygen. Oxygen masks are there if we have a rapid decompression so you do not have a lack of oxygen while the pilots gets to a safe altitude for you to breath freely again.

3. Do you get drunk quicker on a plane?

The myth here is that due to a lack of oxygen you get drunk quicker on a plane than on the ground, this is untrue. A cabin is pressurised so it makes no difference whether you're drinking in your local pub or at 37,000 feet you will feel the effects of alcohol at the same rate. Although to all you nervous fliers who have a drink to calm the nerves, the same is true on the ground as in the air if you have 3 glasses of wine before food it is bound to go to your head quickly.

4. Do planes avoid the Bermuda Triangle, or did they ever?

There have been many myths and legends surrounding the Bermuda Triangle over the years. The hundreds of different reports of boats and planes mysteriously disappearing in this area which is between Florida, Bermuda, and Puerto Rico. The truth is planes fly over this area every day and always have, the alternative is a 1,800 mile detour to avoid it. I remember when I was in labour and on my way to the hospital we were about 15 minutes away when we encountered a detour sign which would now make the journey about 40 minutes. Believe me that sign was the last thing I wanted to see when in labour and just wanting to get to the hospital at 2am. Well that is what it would be like for you as the passenger; me coming over the intercom saying 'this is your captain speaking we are just approaching the Bermuda Triangle, we have been told to take a detour and unfortunately it will add another 3 1/2 hours to the trip'. Well if you're already on a 10 hour long flight you don't want to make your journey any longer.

5. Why is there no row 13 on planes?

If you’re the black cat avoider, fear of walking under ladder person, throw the salt over your shoulder for spilling it and have a dread of Friday the 13th you'll appreciate this one. Just for the same reason many hotels don't have a 13th floor, airlines don't have a thirteenth row so we don't spook our superstitious passengers.

6. Can lightening make a plane crash?

You're flying in a massive metal flying tin can, perfect target for lightening right? Absolutely.... on average most aircraft are hit by lightning at least once a year. I hear your gasps.... what's coming next? Do I have to panic more the next time I see lightening when I am flying? No don't worry, the last aircraft that ever went down because of lightening was 1967. Aircraft nowadays have to go through rigorous lightning strike tests and now when they are hit, most reports are just a feeling of light turbulence.

7. Why are ashtrays still fitted in all airplane toilets even when smoking on aircraft has been banned for years?

The FAA said that all airplanes had to have ashtrays on board and most of the world’s airlines followed suit, this was to increase flight safety. This rule came into effect after a cigarette caused a passenger jet to go down in 1973. So even though it has been almost two decades since smoking was banned on airplanes they all still have ashtrays. This is just in case you naughty smokers, who can't control your cravings, try to have a sneaky one on board.

8. Can mobile phones, iPads, computers etc. cause problems for an airplane?

A show called Mythbusters did a test on this years ago, although legally they couldn't take a plane up and test, they tested on the ground. There was no movement to the instruments, so essentially no problem. Whilst you with a phone or iPad turned on is not going to interfere with the airplanes navigation system, there have not been enough tests to know the reality of everyone on board having all their electronic devices on at one time. So whilst I don't see any major problems from having electronic devices on I think it is better to obey the rules, after all, you don't want to go down as the first person in history to bring down a passenger jet because of your iPad.

9. You have a good chance of catching a cold on a plane?

This couldn't be further from the truth. Planes a fitted with High Efficiency Particle Air Filters (HEPA) system. This takes air from outside, mixes it with the recycled air and then filters it, capturing airborne germs and pumping clean air into the cabin. A complete air change occurs every two to four minutes.

10. Diet cola is difficult to pour at altitude?

This one is actually true. The fizz from the diet cola combined with altitude makes it one of the most difficult to pour in an aircraft. According to flight attendants, in the time it takes to pour one diet coke they could have served three other passengers. OK so I have let the cat out of the bag, if you really want to annoy your flight attendant, order loads of these, make a note, you are warned, this same person will be serving your food so I wouldn't push it.

11. Can a jets door be opened mid-flight?

Absolutely not, there have been reported cases of people in a drug induced state trying to open a door in mid-flight. Obviously they were taken down by cabin crew or other passengers. There really was no need to panic as it would have been impossible to open. Commercial airliners are fitted with what's known as plug doors, meaning the pressure seals the doors. It would take the strength of 100+ men to manage to get one of those doors open mid-flight. I will say however if you see the Olympic body building and weight lifting team get on board, maybe you could panic a little. :)

12. Are there certain weight and height restrictions for cabin crew?

Cabin crew have to be above 5ft 2in tall so they can reach the overhead bins, which are usually around the six foot mark, and must be able to manually deploy the slides. Also on the flip side they do not want cabin crew much above 6ft 2in as it makes it hard squeezing around the tight corners of the galleys, well unless you’re a contortionist. As far as the waistline goes as long as you can stay on feet and serve food and drinks during turbulence your good to go.

13. Is it true that passengers are not allowed to stand up when the pilot goes to the toilet?

When the seatbelt sign is illuminated, all passengers must remain seated. Usually this is turned on during take-off and landing and during periods of turbulence. However sometimes it is turned on and it is not because of unexpected turbulence, whilst your sitting in your seat thinking 'I am not feeling any turbulence' it is usually because the pilot is making a bathroom break. The number one cabin crew member will stand guard by the flight deck door to prevent anyone from storming the cockpit. You just better hope they don't get engrossed in the paper or accidentally lock themselves in like one poor pilot did.

A pilot caused a mid-air terror scare after locking himself in the lavatory, he tried to get a passenger to go tell the co-pilot what was going on. The co-pilot thought it was someone trying to storm the cockpit, even though the Good Samaritan gave him the password the captain had told him he refused to let him in. Fighter jets were scrambled and the plane was escorted in for landing. The pilot eventually got out and explained the lock had broken and he had to use his body to bust out. Still got to be a bad day at the office when that happens!

14. Flying is growing more dangerous?

The events of the past several months, particularly with the losses of Malaysia Airlines Flights 370 and 17, have put the fear back in people that flying has become less safe. The actual fact is it’s much safer than it used to be. Worldwide there are twice as many planes in the air as there were 25 years ago, yet the rate of fatal accidents, per miles flown, has been steadily falling. The International Civil Aviation Organisation reports that for every million flights, the chance of a crash is one-sixth of what it was in 1980.

Globally, 2013 was the safest year in the history of modern commercial aviation. This year will be something of a correction, but we can’t expect every year to be the safest, and the overall trend shouldn’t be affected. 3 billion people took to the skies last year, with only 210 fatalities. Of course 1 fatality is one too many, but when compared to driving deaths, this is a miniscule number.

There has been so much research done to make flight travel safe from aircraft design, airport design, training of pilots, cockpits of planes and the cabin. Safety is an accumulation of knowledge about risk converted into practice, and no other mode of transportation has been as expansive as flying in incorporating what we know about the fallibility of humans and machines. From the plane seats to the cabin air to the course and altitude of the flight, every decision in commercial aviation comes after careful consideration of its impact on safety. In other words it is still the safest way to travel.

Well these are just a few of some of the myths and misconceptions of flying. If you have any more that you what answered or have any other question about aircraft or flight in general, just ask the pilot.

Natalie Cowley
PR and Marketing Manager