In this week’s Ask the Captain column, John Cox considers stricter rules for passengers bringing emotional support animals on planes.
Author: John Cox, Special to USA TODAY
Ask the Captain: Can pilots refuse to fly the Boeing 737 Max after it’s recertified?
Can pilots choose not to fly the Boeing 737 Max once it returns to service? Captain John Cox runs down their options in his Ask the Captain column.
Ask the Captain: What’s the point of no return if a plane loses power?
Captain John Cox explains what pilots do in the event they lose power and whether the working engine is inspected after a flight when the other fails.
Ask the Captain: Why do pilots burn off fuel and what’s with the turbulence in Las Vegas?
Captain John Cox fills you in on why pilots sometime burn off fuel before landing and why there often seems to be turbulence at some airports.
Ask the Captain: Is it OK to rat out passengers for phone use during takeoff and landing?
This week, Ask the Captain tackles passengers who slow down evacuations to grab their carry-ons and use their cellphones during takeoff and landing.
Ask the Captain: Do pilots get bored on long-haul flights?
On long flights, what does the crew do to avoid boredom after the flight computer has taken control of the aircraft?
Ask the Captain: How is airplane cargo contained, and is anyone watching it?
How are cargo holds configured in aircraft? Are there separators or some other device such as nets used to restrain the items?
Ask the Captain: Is there a speed limit for planes taxiing on the ground?
Some airports have speed limits but more often airplanes willhave a limitation in the flight manual for maximum taxi speeds.
Ask the Captain: What is a captain-only airport?
Some airports are very challenging in terms of terrain, runway length or airspace.
Ask the Captain: How far does a plane ‘fall’ during severe turbulence?
In heavy turbulence it can feel like the airplane is going up and down long distances.