How it works
When fog hides the runway, airliners can still land thanks to the ILS, a precision radio guidance system, and to automatic landing. Categories I, II and III explained.
11 October 2026
How it works
After an accident, recovering them is a priority. What do "black boxes" contain, how do they withstand impact and fire, and how does France's BEA extract their data? An explainer.
6 October 2026
How it works
At cruising altitude the outside air is too thin to breathe normally. Pressurisation recreates in the cabin an atmosphere comparable to that of a medium-sized mountain. Here is how.
30 September 2026
How it works
Suck, squeeze, bang, blow: an airliner's engine relies on a simple cycle applied to a very large mass of air. A step-by-step explanation of the turbofan, the engine fitted to almost every airliner.
8 September 2026