A PILOT has revealed why they never eat the same food as passengers – and it’s for a rather scary reason.
They aren’t even able to eat the same food as the other pilot, for the same reason.
Pilots don’t eat the same food as passengers – or the other crew
A pilot, who wished to remain anonymous, told the Express that pilots – of which there must be at least two on each flight – eat a different meal to passengers, and to each other, too.
These meals will be prepared by the same catering company as the rest of the flight, but won’t be the same as those given to passengers.
This is in case one of the pilots is struck down by food poisoning on board the plane.
The pilot revealed: “The pilot and the captain also eat different meals to prevent both getting ill in the case of an emergency.”
EU law requires that there must be two pilots manning a plane at all times in case of emergency, so reduces the risk of both pilots being incapacitated.
Pilots are also allowed to bring their own packed lunch on board a plane.
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If one of the pilots gets ill, crews have a specific emergency landing strategy.
They added: “All pilots are trained to handle a ‘pilot incapacitation event’ where the other pilot is unable to continue their duties in-flight.
“We will then fly the aircraft [solo] and divert to the nearest and most suitable airport.”
They added that an emergency landing would only happen if there was a very long way to the final destination.
If there’s not long left to fly, the pilot will fly the plane to where it’s meant to be going.
Pilots are also not allowed to read long books in the cockpit of the plane.
That’s because of the fear that a crew member could too easily get swept up in a story and fail to monitor the flight deck regularly enough.
And another pilot revealed the three big mistakes passengers make during long flights.
Getty There are strict rules for pilots in the cockpit[/caption]