Does working a redeye flight hurt the flight crew as much it does passengers? And what do pilots think when they hear passengers clap after landing?
Author: John Cox, Special to USA TODAY
Ask the Captain: Why would an airline fly a plane with just one passenger?
While it may seem silly to fly a nearly-empty plane, airlines do it anyway because the flight needs to be somewhere the next day or to move cargo.
Ask the Captain: Will airlines ever adopt common-sense rules on emotional support animals?
In this week’s Ask the Captain column, John Cox considers stricter rules for passengers bringing emotional support animals on planes.
Ask the Captain: Can pilots refuse to fly the Boeing 737 Max after it’s recertified?
Can pilots choose not to fly the Boeing 737 Max once it returns to service? Captain John Cox runs down their options in his Ask the Captain column.
Ask the Captain: Why do pilots burn off fuel and what’s with the turbulence in Las Vegas?
Captain John Cox fills you in on why pilots sometime burn off fuel before landing and why there often seems to be turbulence at some airports.
Ask the Captain: Are cabin electronics a drain on a plane’s engine?
Captain John Cox explains where the power to run seat-back screens and reading lights come from. Plus, when we will we have noise-canceling cabins?
Ask the Captain: Is it OK to rat out passengers for phone use during takeoff and landing?
This week, Ask the Captain tackles passengers who slow down evacuations to grab their carry-ons and use their cellphones during takeoff and landing.
Ask the Captain: Do pilots get bored on long-haul flights?
On long flights, what does the crew do to avoid boredom after the flight computer has taken control of the aircraft?
Ask the Captain: How is airplane cargo contained, and is anyone watching it?
How are cargo holds configured in aircraft? Are there separators or some other device such as nets used to restrain the items?
Ask the Captain: Is there a speed limit for planes taxiing on the ground?
Some airports have speed limits but more often airplanes willhave a limitation in the flight manual for maximum taxi speeds.