Ever wondered what those tiny holes in plane windows are for? They play a vital role in protecting passengers
The strange design has two very important functions
EVEN frequent flyers might not have noticed that there are tiny HOLES on plane windows.
Some eagle-eyed travellers have taken to social media to panic about the alarming gap on their airline’s window.
Fearing that the spacing might cause the pane to shatter or crack, the nervous flyers asked the simple question: “Why is there a hole on my plane window?”
Luckily, there’s a very simple explanation… and it’s actually that the holes are there on purpose.
The strange design helps to the aircraft to withstand the changing air pressure outside.
Even though it may look like there’s a hole, the small gap doesn’t go through the entire pane.
Each window is made up of three different acrylic layers, and it’s only the middle one that contains the breather hole.
The small gap helps to regulate the high pressure environment on the plane, making the experience far more comfortable for passengers.
Writing a report for , Pilot Mark Vanhoenacker said: “The outer two cabin windows are designed to contain this difference in pressure between the cabin and the sky.
“Both the middle and the outer panes are strong enough to withstand the difference on their own, but under normal circumstances it’s the outer pane that bears this pressure—thanks to the breather hole.”
As well as being vital for passenger safety, the breather hole has another important function.
The small gap allows moisture to escape the aircraft, preventing fog from forming on the window.
This means that passengers can take in the breath-taking views as they’re descending on their holiday destination of choice.