ATC Read More: Facts

Here are a few fun facts you may not know:

• The official language of international aviation is English, and every pilot flying outside their country must communicate in English. The same rule applies to controllers; all controllers must be able to communicate in English.
• Memphis is the 2nd busiest cargo airport in the world.
• Did you know that the pilot and the co-pilot eat different meals when flying a plane? They do this so if the food upsets the pilot’s stomach, the co-pilot will be well enough to fly the aircraft.
• We know planes fly very high in the sky – sometimes looking like a little dot. But did you know that even when a plane flies at a height of 30,000 feet, they are only about 7% of the way to the edge of space?
• Most commercial airplanes are painted white to reflect sunlight, which helps keep the aircraft cooler.
• Airplane trails are made up of water. Those white lines that planes leave in the sky are simply trails of released water vapor. When that hot water vapor is pumped out of the plane’s exhaust and hits the cooler air, it creates puffy white lines in the sky. It’s basically the same reaction as seeing your breath when it’s cold outside.
• Planes fly at almost 600 mph. When you see a plane in the sky above you, it may seem like it is going slowly. But it isn’t. A plane reaches speeds of up to 575 miles per hour (mph) when reaching about 36,000 feet. So, the next time you’re on a plane going this fast, you are traveling about 75 – 85% of the speed of sound (approximately 770 mph).
• Why do you always board on the left side of an airplane? It is a safety issue. When you board on the left side of the plane, the right side is free for the grounds crew to load baggage or even fuel the plane.