Planes have this secret handle for emergency evacuations

* Some small planes have a small handle on the tray table in front * This is normally on the seats in an evacuation row * It is to prevent the tables from being knocked down during an

emergency Planes must always evacuate in an emergency within 90 seconds. This is dictated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), who only allow an airline to fly if they pass this

timing. Airlines must have procedures in place to allow this to happen, with training courses constantly reevaluating evacuation times. There is also a secret handle many may not realise

exists that also helps this. The hidden feature can be found in the tray table in certain seats. These are often the seats near the exit, which, not only have the most leg-room, but are used

for people to exit during an emergency. Quora user Vimal, a frequent flier, revealed this hidden handle that many may not realise exists. He wrote: “If you notice a small knob near the

lever of your tray table, then congratulations, you are sitting in the Overwing Emergency Exit Row,” which he explains is often on smaller planes such as the A320.” He continues: “The knob

helps to keep the tray table lever from moving into the open position as passengers squeeze between these seats to get to the Overwing Emergency Exit during evacuation.  “It prevents the

tray table from opening and blocking the way to the exit. It also serves as a good visual identification and physical identification (when your cabin is dark and filled with thick smoke) for

the exit rows.” Not all seats have this function as they are at less risk of being knocked if passengers are not walking through them. It has been revealed why flights always dim the lights

during take off and landing, which is also a safety precaution. Flights do this so that the eyes have time to adjust to the dark, which can take up to 30 minutes for full adjustment. Take

off and landing are the two most dangerous times of a flight, which is called the Plus Three Minus Eight rule. If an emergency does take place during this time, and the lights go out, the

eyes will be more adjusted to the darkness and be able to escape easier. This can help the 90 second evacuation time as well.