Life

Most parts of the plane are pretty straightforward — cockpit, wings, tail. First class, business class, and economy seats that seem sized for preschoolers. However, there’s a lot going on behind the scenes of the plane that you don’t necessarily notice. Even if you fly all the time, these hidden spots and symbols will surprise you, and could even help to make your flight more comfortable. 1. Black triangles above the window photobac/iStock/Getty Images Next time you’re on a flight, take a look at each window and notice four black triangle markers. These are in place to indicate the best spots for crew members to view the planes slats or flaps through the window. If you’re worried about getting sick on the plane, try to choose a seat that’s located between these two sets of triangles. Sitting between the wings puts you in the direct center of the plane and offers the smoothest possible ride. Next: This hidden feature helps keep the windows intact. 2. Hooks on the plane’s wings WeatherlyHammond/iStocik/Getty Images Gaze out the window of your next flight and you might see yellow bumps with holes on the wings. No, those aren’t purely decorative — they’re in place in case of an emergency landing. If your plane were to land in the water, the wings would get very slippery when passengers were trying to get an inflatable slide set up. The yellow ridges are there to help crew members attach a rope, which would then allow passengers to grab on and head to safety. Next: Look for these symbols if you suffer motion sickness. 3. Secret sleeping compartments Laser1987/iStock/Getty Imag You may already know that tractor trailers have beds for long hauls — but did you know planes have them too? Larger airplanes such as Boeing 777 and 787s have secret areas with beds where flight attendants can catch a few winks during long flights … and rumor has it that sometimes they’re doing more than just sleeping. Next time you’re on a long flight, look for a locked door near the front of the plane or a door masquerading as an overhead bin. The sleeping area varies from plane to plane, with some fancier ones offering high-end features such as private lavatories and entertainment systems. Next: Head this direction in an emergency. 4. The hidden handrail dayatrhw/iStock/Getty Images You may have noticed that flight attendants always touch the overhead compartments while they’re walking down the aisles. It turns out that the overhead storage compartments have scalloped edges along the bottom to help you get a better grip. Go ahead and grab hold of it the next time you’re walking down the aisle since it’s a lot more polite to use this hidden handrail instead of touching random people’s seats as you make your way back to the bathroom. Next: This is where the flight crew can nap. 5. The magic button that gives you more space AwaylGl/iStock/Getty Images There are two types of people in the world: people who like window seats, and people who prefer aisle seats (nobody likes the middle). If you’re the latter, take notice of your armrest next time you fly. Feel around near the hinge and you’ll most likely discover a button which allows the armrest to pop up, instantly giving you more space to relax. The button is there to help you exit the plane more quickly and easily in case of an emergency. But even on a regular, disaster-free flight, it’s a great way to get a little bit of extra legroom. Next: Here’s why flight attendants walk this way. 6. Defibrillator Muratani/iStock/Getty Images All US-based commercial airlines are required to carry a defibrillator onboard because it could mean the difference between life and death. In 2015, a British woman died after suffering cardiac arrest during her flight, and the coroner pleaded that all flights start carrying defibrillators going forward. Next: They’re watching your every move. 7. Sky marshals The sky marshal hides in plain sight to keep you safe, and if you’re lucky, then you’ll never figure out which passenger he or she is. He won’t intervene in situations with standard drunk and unruly passengers but will step in for suspected acts of terrorism or more serious threats. They do carry weapons, but will only use them in extreme situations. Next: This could literally save your life. 8. Ashtrays in the bathroom frontpoint/iStock/Getty Images Smoking on airplanes has been banned for decades, but the most perceptive travelers may notice that even the newer planes still have ashtrays in the bathroom. The reason is simple — despite the strict, no smoking policy and the warnings posted everywhere, at some point a smoker is still likely to ignore the rule and light up anyway. An available ashtray means that the rule breaker is less likely to throw their cigarette butt in the trashcan where it could cause a fire. Next: This plane feature hides out in the open. 9. Secret handcuffs Disruptive or violent passengers can’t exactly get thrown out like they can in a restaurant or bar. Because of this, every airplane has a pair of hidden handcuffs so flight attendants can restrain anyone fighting or causing a disturbance. But beware — if you’re acting crazy, you may be the catalyst for an emergency landing, in which case you’ll probably wind up arrested upon arrival. Next: It’s illegal to use this next item. 10. Holes in the windows esinesra/iStock/Getty Images You may have already noticed that your plane window is actually made of three separate panes of thick glass. But did you see the hole in the middle? This feature protects against the pressure drop in the atmosphere. While flying, the outside air pressure drops dramatically as compared the pressure inside the plane. That middle pane of glass with the hole in it helps to balance things out. The inner glass, meanwhile, protects that middle glass from shattering. Next: You’ll only see these when you get in trouble. 10. Supplemental oxygen Bychykhin_Olexandr/iStock/Getty Images Some planes stock extra oxygen tanks for passengers who need help breathing in addition to the drop-down oxygen masks that come standard. 11. Cockpit camera XavierMarchant/iStock/Getty Images Cockpit cameras are meant to supplement the information found on the airplane’s famous black box, but pilots have been fighting against their installation, citing privacy laws. Some airplanes do have them. Next: You can never have enough oxygen. 13. Fire extinguisher gabriellephotos/iStock/Getty Images Most fire extinguishers on airplanes use a liquefied gas that puts out the fire using a vapor. The engines of planes also have built-in fire extinguishers that can be activated from the cockpit and will stop the fire from spreading. The US Federal Aviation Administration stipulates that the materials used to construct the passenger cabin must also be self-extinguishing. Next: Pilots fought against using these. 14. Axe Artfoliophoto/iStock/Getty Images Airplanes used to stock axes in case of a crash so that the crew could break through panels to fight an electrical fire. You might still see them today, but most airlines have replaced axes with crowbars as an anti-terrorism measure. Next: In case of a fire, grab this. 15. Surveillance cameras Allison Joyce/Getty Images JetBlue was the first airline to install surveillance cameras after the tragic events of September 11, 2001. Some of the cameras are visible and some are hidden — but no matter where they are, JetBlue maintains a 24-hour live feed surveillance known as “Blue Watch” that’s transmitted back to headquarters. Next: These can help in an emergency. Credits: cheatsheet.com Share this story on Facebook with your friends.