Photos: (Doug Morris) Brian Losito; (cockpit interior) Doug Morris

Q: What are your favourite airports to fly in and out of, and why?

I’ve flown into the world’s ten busiest airports. Vancouver has to be at the top of my list of Canadian airports for its stunning scenery. At night, Las Vegas takes the cake because of its brightly lit downtown district. But to see the Eiffel Tower or Windsor Castle from an airplane and to land on the man-made island in Osaka really make me appreciate my bird’s-eye view.

Q: Do airliners have keys, and if so, do pilots have spares?

Keys are not used to start airliners’ engines; only smaller airplanes, like a Cessna,
require a key for start-up. With large passenger aircraft, we go through a procedure whereby the engines are started by switches and levers. Compressed air, supplied by the APU (auxiliary power unit), is used to start the engine turbines spinning. That hissing sound you hear during board­ing is the APU. You may also notice the ventilation system is momentarily turned off as the APU air starts the engines.

Crew tips
To help reduce jet lag, reset your watch and gear inflight activities, such as sleeping, to the destination time. Drink water or fruit juice during the flight, and minimize the consumption of alcoholic beverages. Upon arrival, adjust to the new time zone as soon as possible. Scheduling outdoor activities during the first few days at your destination will also help your body readjust.

Got a question of your own? Send it to askdoug@enroutemag.net. 

Doug Morris is an Air Canada pilot and captain on the Airbus A320.