Ask Captain Dan: Do Pilots eat the same meals as passengers? Our Resident Pilot Answers Flight Questions.

Toronto ON – Pilot Dan Baz is answering your flying questions here on the Cornwall Free News.

If you have a question about flying you can email Captain Dan or post below.

Question

Do the pilots eat the same meals as the passengers ?
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Question asked by Francine.

Answer

Pilots do not eat the same food as passengers. That is not to say that they get better meals. Their meals are prepared in separate kitchens. The companies that make the meals for airlines take great care to prevent any kind of food contamination. Due to the volume of passenger meals, as compared to just a few meals for the pilots, the possibility of food contamination in passenger meal kitchens is greater.
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When the pilots’ meals are heated in the airplane galley during the flight, they must be in separate ovens. Again this is to prevent any kind of cross-contamination. In addition, two pilots on an airplane cannot eat the same kind of meal.
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For example, if one pilot chooses to have a beef meal, the other pilot must not eat beef. He must have a different kind of meal, for example, chicken, pasta, fish or whatever has been boarded for the crew on that particular flight. Also, pilot meals must not contain any shellfish products. This is to ensure that should there be any contamination or spoilage of the food, that both pilots would not be affected by food poisoning and subsequent incapacitation, at the same time.
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Should that happen, as you can imagine, the results would be disastrous for all of us.

A bit more about Captain Dan:

Captain Dan Baz enrolled in Flight School at the age of 16.

He has completed studies in Aircraft Engineering and Master of Business Administration. He has been at the controls of many different types of aircraft, from single engine Cessnas to large intercontinental jets on global routes.

Over the last four decades he has flown thousands of hours up in the blue sky.

Have a question for the Captain ?  Send it to Captain Dan Baz    captaindanbaz@yahoo.com Every week a question from the readers will be selected and answer posted in this column.

Best Western

1 Comment

  1. kindy explain Captain meals should be differed from the rest of food for crew onboard only for hot meals or everything Like a jar of honey

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