How Airlines Work

Each day, licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineers (AMEs) perform a series of tasks from an approved maintenance program to ensure the continued safety of the aircraft. These tasks include checking the tire pressures and inspecting for fluid leaks and damage to aircraft structure, as well as testing the function of systems and controls. If any faults are detected, AMEs take the necessary actions to restore the aircraft to a safe condition for flight.

Hours before takeoff, flight dispatchers prepare the flight plan, a complete review of the route, altitudes, fuel burn and weather conditions for the flight, which also includes detailed information about en route airports, the aircraft and more. Weather patterns are a primary concern in preparing a flight plan, since the pilot needs to avoid such conditions as icing, thunderstorms, windshear and even volcanic ash.

Customer service agents, baggage handlers, and maintenance workers secure aircraft doors, hatches, and passenger bridges, and prevent unauthorized people from accessing the aircraft cabin and cargo compartments. Only authorized security-screened checked-baggage and cargo is loaded onto the aircraft.

Ground crew empty the lavatories and fill up the water reservoirs on the aircraft.

The amount of fuel designated in the flight plan is carried in a fuel truck to the aircraft and added to the fuel tanks through a hose connected by the aircraft fueller.

Screening Officers from the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority screen passengers and their baggage for prohibited or dangerous items before boarding.

Air carriers implement their own measures to screen passengers against government and internal security watch lists. This includes verifying passengers' identities and matching it to their boarding passes prior to boarding.

Cabin crew and pilots meet for a full-crew briefing to prepare for the flight. This is followed by a briefing from the Service Director or Flight Attendant-in-Charge to all Flight Attendants about the safety features and service elements of the aircraft.

When the pilots arrive on the flight deck, they enter their flight plan into a computerized navigation system, perform a number of cockpit safety checks, and prepare for the flight. The captain and first officer run through their emergency responsibilities together to ensure that they are on the same page.

Cabin crew perform checks on all safety equipment in the cabin, as well as an aircraft security check prior to passenger boarding. Food and beverages are brought on to the aircraft by the caterer at this time.

Flight Attendants perform Pre-Boarding of all passengers who have small children or require special assistance and provide these passengers with individual safety briefings if required.

This is followed by General Boarding. As passengers board, they are required to stow their carry-on baggage, including purses, under their seats so that the aircraft can takeoff safely. It is also crucial that passengers turn off their cellphones to prevent causing interference that could put the takeoff at risk.

Flight Attendants can only close the main cabin door once all baggage is stowed. Every aircraft is certified based on a physical demonstration that the flight can be evacuated within 90 seconds with half of the doors unserviceable.

Flight Attendants perform a Safety Briefing for all passengers. Passengers are provided with Safety Features Cards detailing the specific safety features of the aircraft they are flying on. Both the Safety Briefing and Safety Features Cards follow strict guidelines set out in the Canadian Aviation Regulations, and it has been proven that paying attention to these briefings saves lives when emergencies occur.

Once the cabin door is closed and armed (where applicable), the pilots complete their before-start checklist and then release the brake to "push back" from the gate. A tow bar is used to push the aircraft to a location where its engines can be safely started once the pilot has received a clearance to do so. Once the tow bar is disconnected, the pilots wait for another clearance from ground control before they may taxi to their runway for takeoff.

If there is ice or snow on the wing or other critical surfaces of the aircraft, it will impact the aircraft's performance and pose a serious risk to the flight; this must be removed before the aircraft may take off. This may add to the scheduled flight time. Once the aircraft has been sprayed, it must be airborne before the anti-icing fluid loses its effectiveness; otherwise the de-icing will have to be repeated.

At the end of the runway, pilots complete their before-takeoff checks. They advise Flight Attendants to take their positions, and then wait for takeoff clearance from air traffic control before applying thrust for takeoff. The aircraft then accelerates down the runway for takeoff.