- Hans Mast says having a ‘psychological map’ of the place an exit row is ‘can be lifesaving’
A former pilot has revealed his golden rule for flying that he vows can save lives in the occasion of an emergency.
Hans Mast says one in every of the easiest methods travellers can guarantee in-flight security is by familiarising themselves with their environment earlier than take-off.
Mr Mast, who now works as a journey agent, says finding the nearest exit and having a ‘psychological map’ of what number of rows away it’s ‘can be lifesaving’ in an emergency.
More than 25 million journeys overseas are anticipated to be created from the UK this summer season, with most Britons travelling by air.
While flying is taken into account to be the most secure mode of transportation, there are nonetheless precautions passengers ought to take to make sure they’re ready simply in case any points do come up.
‘As quickly as I board a aircraft, I all the time pay attention to the nearest emergency exit, counting the variety of seat rows between my location and that exit,’ Mr Mast informed Travel & Leisure.
Pilots and cabin crew encourage passengers to find their nearest emergency exit whereas boarding. They shouldn’t wait for the flight attendants start the security demonstration.
While unlikely, a pilot could should provoke an evacuation earlier than the aircraft’s engines have even began.
Mr Mast says that the usually neglected step of counting rows is extremely necessary, particularly if the cabin had been to fill with smoke.
‘In the occasion of an emergency, visibility may be impaired, and having this psychological map can be life-saving,’ he added.
Additionally, if cabin visibility is diminished, passengers can look for colored lights alongside the aisle that point out the place an exit row is positioned.
Passengers seated closest to exit rows are additionally extra more likely to survive in the occasion of a crash as a result of they’re able to evacuate faster than these seated additional away, a 2008 examine by the University of Greenwich revealed.
Travellers who’re prepared to help in an emergency must also think about reserving their seat in an exit row, however specialists warn not achieve this if you’re not bodily capable of open the emergency exit door.
Checking the location of the exit row, is just not the solely approach passengers can put together themselves for a secure flight.
A industrial pilot of 10 years, who spoke to Daily Mail anonymously earlier this yr, revealed the most secure spot to take a seat on a aircraft is in the final two thirds of the plane as a result of it’s the ‘strongest a part of the plane and subsequently extra more likely to survive an influence’.
He reiterated that it is vital for passengers to maintain their seat belt mounted, particularly throughout turbulence, and stated the brace place – which is designed to restrict the influence on the physique in case of a collision – does save lives.
He added that passengers ought to attempt to keep away from the galley as a lot as doable, earlier than conscious of sharp edges in the bathroom and attempt to drink a glass of water with each alcoholic beverage.
The pilot additionally stated travellers ought to by no means attempt squeezing luggage in areas, as they’ll come flying out if the bin pops open – which generally occurs on touchdown. Loose objects must also be saved in one bag and obligation free objects, similar to bottles of alcohol, positioned securely beneath a bag in the overhead bin.