Gate 41

In the cabin

What is the tiny hole in my window?

There is a small hole in my window. Should I be worried?

Cabin windows are three layers. The outer pane carries the pressure load. The middle pane has a tiny bleed hole that lets cabin pressure reach the outer pane, so the outer pane does the work. The inner pane is a scratch shield you can touch.

The hole also lets moisture escape so the window does not fog or frost. If you see a frosty ring around it at cruise, that is just the cold outer pane.

A little deeper

Windows are rounded because sharp corners concentrate stress. In the 1950s, early de Havilland Comet airliners suffered fatigue cracks that began near window cutouts, and the lessons shaped modern design and testing.

The outer pane is designed to hold the pressure by itself if needed; the inner pane is a fail-safe too.

See it in Gate 41, in the cabin

Related questions

People involved