Author: John Cox, Special to USA TODAY

This week, readers ask about the safety of flying first class nonstop and the use of ultraviolet light to sanitize airplane lavatories.

This week, retired pilot John Cox answers your question about HEPA filter maintenance and how they mitigate the chance of contracting COVID-19.

This week, retired pilot John Cox talks about what kind of damage turbulence can do to a plane and how co-pilots came to be called first officers.

This week, retired US Airways pilot John Cox tackles the deboarding process and what would happen if both pilots became incapacitated.

The number of passengers definitely can change the performance of any airplane. Before every takeoff, the pilots compute the weight and balance.

This week, Capt. John Cox explains how the HEPA filters on commercial jets remove virus particulates from the cabin air.

Retired US Airways Captain John Cox explains why he’d get on a domestic flight and gives an update on aircraft production during the pandemic.

Retired US Airways Capt. John Cox addresses the pilot training issues resulting from the coronavirus pandemic and low number of flights.

Why are the flight attendant’s PA announcements easier to hear than the captain’s? Do airports ever clean up the rubber left behind by aircraft tires?