Author: John Cox, Special to USA TODAY

In most airplanes, air is compressed by the engines, cooled by the air conditioning system and then sent to the cabin.

I have noticed a slight smell of kerosene at engine startup. Is that a sign of a seal going bad in the engine?

Two computer issues in two weeks that caused flight delays on major airlines have passengers wondering what’s going on.

Before pushback from the gate, I often hear what sounds like a drilling sound. Is it the cargo doors being secured or something else?

Now that rearview cameras are standard equipment on economy cars, it seems like pilots should be able to see behind the plane and power back.

To keep takeoff and landing speeds as low as possible, engineers include highly efficient flaps (and slats) on the wing.

While they look confusing to the layperson the pilots know exactly what each one does and how it is to be used.

Why does it seem like more aircraft are sliding off runways and taxiways?

Runway length is carefully calculated before every takeoff and landing.

With modern airplanes and well-trained pilots and ground staff, we fly safely in challenging conditions every winter.