Considering how ubiquitous air travel has become, there’s a lot the average person doesn’t know about airplanes. For example, how the hell do they stay in the sky? Don’t tell me, though — it’s simply not my business.
Seeking to change that, Sabrina Johnson, a 22-year-old pilot, has started sharing other air-travel secrets on TikTok, demystifying much of what being a pilot actually entails — like the fact that sometimes, pilots still get dropped off at work by their parents. Aw.
@sabrinaleej What a great trip #pilotsoftiktok #airlinepilot #travel #femalepilot #helicopter #hispanic ♬ sonido original - Sabrina Johnson
One of her most popular videos to date is her video about the windows in cockpits. Unlike passenger windows, the windows in cockpits open, though no, they don’t open in flight — they have a limit of 160 knots or 184 miles per hour, and the pressure makes it impossible to do so anyway.
The comments are hilarious, with one person sharing, “I’ve had a pilot yell at me from one of those before” — turns out they’re a ramp agent whose job is to guide the plane to and from its gate. “One of those guys with the glowy things,” as another commenter put it so eloquently.
Someone else wanted to know how pilots wave thank you to the other planes mid-flight if they can’t open the windows, while someone else remarked, “No need to lie… y’all open the window and have a smoke mid-flight!”
Other secrets Johnson has revealed include the fact that some hotels have “crew rooms” full of snacks and lounges for airline crew, and that pilots have their own air-conditioning system that’s independent from the rest of the plane — understandable since it undoubtedly gets way hotter in there than anywhere else onboard.
https://www.tiktok.com/@sabrinaleej/video/7208671852691000619
If you’re an avid traveler, or would like to be, her videos are a great watch, and super informative. They can also serve as inspiration for anyone interested in becoming a pilot — $15 first-class seats from the U.S. to Colombia, discounted hotels, the ability to fly standby or in the jump seat. What’s not to love?
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