Gate 41Flying explained
40 calm, plain answers about how a flight works, from the check-in desk to the landing. Written for curious people, nervous flyers and kids. Each one links to a small interactive scene in Gate 41.
Things that look scary but have an explanation
- Why do the wings flex?That wing is bending. Is it supposed to do that?
- Why do the engines change sound?The engines just went quiet after takeoff. Did something go wrong?
- What is turbulence, really?The plane just dropped. Are we falling?
- Why does takeoff feel so fast?I am pinned to my seat. Is this normal?
- Why does the plane tilt in turns?The whole world just tilted. Are we sliding sideways?
- What are those thumps and whirrs under the floor?I heard a clunk and a whine below me. Is something falling off?
- Why does the wing seem to come apart?Pieces of the wing are sliding out. Is that supposed to happen?
- Why do my ears pop, and what is that hiss?How can we even breathe at 35,000 feet?
- Why might oxygen masks drop?What would actually happen if the masks fell?
- What are those bangs and roars when we land?The landing was loud and bumpy. Was it a bad landing?
- Why do the cabin lights dim?The lights just went dim. What is the crew expecting?
- Why is there fog coming out of the vents?Smoke is coming out of the air vents! Wait, is it smoke?
- What is the little fan that pops out of the aircraft?Wait, a propeller just came out of the belly. Is that normal?
- What are all those dings?Ding! What did that mean? Should I do something?
- Feeling uneasy? You are in good companyI get nervous when I fly. What can I do?
At the airport
- What happens inside the control tower?Who is up in that tall glass room, and what are they looking at?
- Do I need a passport, and who checks it?A boarding pass gets me on the plane. Where does my passport come in?
- What actually happens at check-in?Why do I have to check in at all?
- Reading your boarding passWhat do all of those codes on my boarding pass mean?
- Where does my bag go?I handed over my bag. What happens now?
- How do airport screens work?Why does the board change at the last minute?
- Who runs an airport?Who decides which plane goes where?
- What happens at security?Why do I need to take my shoes and laptop out?
- What does the X-ray screen show?Why are all my things orange and blue on that screen?
- Why do we board in groups?Why can't everyone just walk on?
- How much fuel does a flight carry?Why is a truck connected to the plane?
- The pre-flight walkaroundWhy is someone circling the aircraft with a torch?
- Why does the plane need to be balanced?Does it matter where people sit?
- Why does a tug push the aircraft backward?Why doesn't the plane just reverse out?
- Why does taxiing take so long?We've been driving around for ages. Why not just take off?
In the cabin
- What is the tiny hole in my window?There is a small hole in my window. Should I be worried?
- Why keep my seat belt on?The sign is off. Do I really still need my belt?
- How do overhead bins work?Will that bag stay up there when we hit a bump?
- What does "doors to armed" mean?Could the door ever open in flight?
In the cockpit
- The primary flight displayWhat are all those numbers and lines?
- What does the autopilot do?Is the plane flying itself?
- The thrust leversWhy are there levers in the middle?
- Talking to air traffic controlWho are the pilots talking to?
- Yokes, sidesticks and pedalsHow do the pilots actually steer?
- Why do pilots read checklists out loud?Shouldn't experienced pilots just know what to do?
The people behind your flight
- Check-in agentTomás Weber
- Aviation security officerPriya Nair
- Gate agentDaniel Whitfield
- Security guardMarcus Bell
- Coffee bar baristaMina Park
- Ground handler (ramp agent)Sam Okoye
- Aircraft maintenance engineerKenji Watanabe
- Flight dispatcher / operations controllerElena Petrova
- Air traffic controllerRuth Kowalski
- Captain (pilot in command)Captain Imani Okafor
- First officer (co-pilot)First Officer Mateo Alvarez
- Cabin crew (purser)Nadia Rahman