Let crew in on your aircraft questions,
Q: Sometimes an aileron is flipped up at the gate (opposite the direction of an extended flap). Why is that?
— Brian K., Chicago
A: This condition could be because of a control lock. Many airliners have hydraulic flight controls — when there is no hydraulic power available, the flight control will move because of the wind. They are designed to limit such movement to avoid damage but can remain in a deflected position until hydraulic power is reapplied. Some older jets use a control system in which the tabs fly the control surface. These controls can be deflected by the wind but will not return to their proper position until there is airflow across them.
Q: I recently had a window seat next to the wing and saw a single screw sticking up. Should I have alerted anyone?
— D. Lamborn, Philadelphia
A: Advising the flight attendant would have been a good idea. He or she would have let the captain know, and maintenance could have looked at it.
Q: On a recent flight I found that my exit door hatch over the wing whistled when the cabin wasn’t pressurized. I could also feel a breeze. I alerted the crew, but they seemed nonplussed. Was I right to notify them?
— Justin, Boston
A: You were right to notify the crew. It sounds like a seal was leaking. This is not a safety issue as the over-wing exit hatch is larger than the opening, making it impossible for it to open in flight. Hopefully, they advised maintenance at the next stop.
Q: I was on a flight and there was a cold draft hitting my feet. Could this plane have had a crack or opening in the fuselage that would allow this frigid air to flow in?
— S. Henderson, Phoenix
A: No, there was no opening in the fuselage. If there were, it would have been very loud from the air noise, and the pressurization system would not have been able to pressurize the airplane. I suspect the air-conditioning system was set a bit too cold.