1. Separate Dining: Captains and co-pilots are served entirely different meals to avoid the risk of simultaneous food poisoning.
2. Autopilot Trust: Modern pilots actively hand-fly the aircraft for only about 3 to 10 minutes, with autopilot handling the rest of the cruise.
3. Oxygen Caps: If a captain leaves the flight deck above 25,000 feet, the remaining pilot must wear an oxygen mask as a precaution.
4. Sleep Onboard: Cockpit pilots are permitted to take short 'controlled rest' breaks during long cruises while the other pilot monitors flight paths.
5. Lightning Striking: Commercial planes are struck by lightning approximately once a year, but the fuselage safely routes the electric charge away.
6. Third Engine Fail: Pilots are trained to glide aircraft safely to runways even if they suffer complete engine failure, using natural gravity and airspeed.
7. Windscreen Strength: Cockpit glass windscreens are incredibly thick, reinforced with heating elements to withstand bird strikes at high speeds.
8. Emergency RAT: When total electrical power is lost, a small Ram Air Turbine (RAT) drops into the airflow to power basic instruments.
9. No Beards allowed: Many airlines restrict pilots from wearing heavy beards so oxygen masks can form a tight, airtight seal.
10. Ultimate Authority: Once the cabin doors close, the Captain holds absolute legal authority, equivalent to a ship's master under maritime laws.