Just had a pilot ask if the black box was actually black

Quinn Ellis · 2026-03-05T12:30:46.773353+00:00

It's funny how often I get basic questions from flight crew about avionics gear. Made for an awkward pause while I tried not to laugh.

kevinh486mo ago

Had a copilot ask if the radar dish actually spins.

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tyler_bailey896mo ago

Last year a first officer asked me why the passenger oxygen masks don't inflate. I had to bite my cheek hard. The training says they're chemical generators, so they just look limp, but in that moment you realize how many small things we take for granted. I just gave the straight technical answer without smiling. You get used to those questions after a while.

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simon_carr6mo ago

Hey @tyler_bailey89, don't the masks have a little bag that puffs up? Tbh, I thought they did, but maybe your training says different.

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young.michael5mo ago

Our training captain in Atlanta always said those questions show someone's actually paying attention... better than silent confusion.

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