Here is a a suggestion to lessen the amount of crying and wailing from kids during takeoff and landing. Most young 'uns cry 'cos they can't take the air pressure at these times. Could cabin crew possibly offer a free sweet or a small drink to these kids since sucking helps relieve the pressure? Or perhaps at the very beginning, before the plane taxies, you could offer the parents of these young kids some earplugs at a low price.

I have been taking my son everywhere since he was a year old and these "tricks" have helped keep him quiet - we travel several times a year so I was really reading up on all kinds of tips that would ease a child's travel. Now, at 13 years-old, with sinus problems, he just relies on silicon earplugs to help him easily get through landing and takeoff. They really work.

Since joining AirAsia as a cadet pilot several years ago, I have learnt much – not only about the strange and wondrous workings of commercial flying, but also from the many close encounters with our dear guests. Answering guest queries personally is important to me as that’s when I get to provide that much needed ‘personal touch’ to our guests.

Here is a crash course folks (pardon the bad pun) on my flight FAQs.

Q: Why do we need to open the window shades for takeoff and landing?
A: Basically, for safety. Do remember that if there were to be an accident it is likely to occur during take off and landing. Opened window shades allow both passengers and crew to access the situation outside of the aircraft (as well as first responders to assess the situation inside).

Q: With autopilot on, what’s so difficult about flying?
A: The Autopilot cannot make the plane take off by itself. (It can land by itself but this is not allowed due to calibration problems). Though used extensively, note that like any other computer, it operates on a GIGO (garbage-in, garbage-out) principle. The Autopilot cannot make critical decisions like abort a take-off, perform a go-around etc. Man still rules, ok! (read more...)