How it Works?

Honeywell, US aircraft engine manufacturer, has a surprising test aircraft with a strange outgrowth on the right-hand side of its forward fuselage. So what is it?
 

In the vast majority of commercial aircraft, passenger boarding always takes place on the left side of the plane. But why? To give an explanation some say it goes back to the Middle Ages, others speak about more functional aspects.
 

Some aircraft have a hatch in the cockpit ceiling. On first test or commercial flights, pilots often use it to wave a flag. But what’s its real purpose and is it present on all airliners? Read our news article to find out.
 

For safety reasons, commercial aircrew must be able to unlock the toilets of an aircraft from the outside. To do so, there’s a special trick. We reveal the secret in this short video with no comment. Read the article.
 

It’s not necessarily obvious, yet all commercial aircraft today are equipped with the same system. After takeoff, their front landing-gear retracts in a forward direction, from the rear, towards the front of the plane, and when landing, lowered in the reverse direction. But why?
 

A Boeing 777 dumping tonnes of fuel over the Paris region – the story made big waves a few days ago. And yet this rare procedure is actually a classic solution to technical problem. Read the article.
 

A worn car tyre can be replaced; a worn aircraft tyre however is renewed several times using the technique of retreading. The principle is simple: the outer portion of the worn tyre tread is removed and replaced by a new one.
 

They can be found on the the fuselage, nose section or wings: these fittings are essential in the process of aircraft manufacturing. There are on average around fifty per aircraft. Temporarily attached to the structure, this piece of equipment is used to enable the completion of several tasks.
 

In commercial aircraft there are cables everywhere. But where are they located? What are they used for? And how are they made? We went to see at the Safran Electrical & Power factory, specialists in this field.
 

Before being delivered to a client, commercial aircraft have to get painted according the airline’s livery. This process can take from 6 to 13 days to complete depending on the type of aircraft. Close immersion in STTS, a specialized group that paints around a hundred aircraft a year.
 

Since their introduction in the 1940’s, ejection seats in fighter plane have saved the lives of many pilots. But just how do they work ? Come take a look.
 

Commercial aircraft engines are very, very heavy. Those found on short-haul planes,for example, weigh on average two metric tonnes, those on long-hauls are four times heavier; but how are they installed?
 

You don’t start a plane like a car, simply because an airliner has no ignition key. To start the engines pilots must follow a strict procedure. Watch the video and read the article to find out how.
 

No matter the destination, before each take-off and landing in an airplane, we should all observe the safety instructions. Some are obvious, but others may be less so. A Europe Airpost purser explains.
 

So that flights can be conducted safely, load distribution in an airplane is essential. Before take-off, pilots have to ensure that the masses on board - luggage, passengers and fuel - are well distributed.
 

On test aircraft a cable with a cone at the end can be seen hanging from the top of the tail. Deployed in flight, this "trailing cone" is essential for the future commercialization of the plane. Why?
 

They are all over the cockpit, the hundreds of buttons and screens are intriguing, baffling even. Each instrument however has a specific function and position. To demystify the question we visited a development simulator with an Airbus test pilot.
 

There are nearly 80 different types of civil helicopters worldwide, but do you know which categories they belong to? In fact, everything depends on the maximum take-off weight. This is a short breakdown.
 

Today, most commercial aircraft are equipped with engines under the wings, unlike the 1970’s VFW-Fokker 614, which had them above. For what reasons? We went to find out from engine manufacturer Snecma, a Safran Group subsidiary.