Stupid people panic and cry
I’m not sure I’d call it STUPID to panic when something extremely scary happens to you…
NeoNachtwaechter@lemmy.world 6 days ago
It depends very much on the height.
If we assume a jet flight at around 30.000 feet:
The cabin pressure goes down immediately, that means, a very strong wind goes out of this open window. Several eardrums burst. Afterwards people cannot breathe normally because of the low pressure… They need these air masks.
Then the pilot descends immediately to something like 5.000 feet - I don’t know exactly - where everybody can breathe normally again.
And then you land at the next airport.
glimse@lemmy.world 6 days ago
Dark_Arc@social.packetloss.gg 6 days ago
I mean, I wouldn’t exactly call it smart either. Panic is pretty useless in situations where flight is not an option.
glimse@lemmy.world 6 days ago
I wouldn’t call it smart either but to look down on someone who freaks out when an airplane window blows out seems a bit much lol
NeoNachtwaechter@lemmy.world 6 days ago
Would you agree that it is wise not to panic?
glimse@lemmy.world 6 days ago
Yes but there’s plenty of better-suited middle ground between wise and stupid
NeoNachtwaechter@lemmy.world 6 days ago
No. Wrong.
It is clear and simple in that order of events that we are describing here: the ones who panic and the ones who don’t. And so I describe them with clear and simple words. That other guy who always looks for some grey areas in between and then makes lots of buts and long winding arguments, he is just not there. No time for him, no place for him.
He maybe comes afterwards, when all is over and I don’t care anymore, and that’s what I do with you now.
Skunk@jlai.lu 6 days ago
Standard procedure is max FL100 or 10 000 ft.
But if you are flying over mountains (FL180 for the Alps highest safe flight level) you are fucked.
Well no, there are oxygen masks and the pilots will immediately put them on and then dive toward a safer altitude at a controlled but fast rate of descent (more eardrums bursts).
Airbus Procedure is basically “Pull everything on the MCP !”:
- masks on for both pilots,
- checks interphone com with your Captain/FO.
- On the MCP, autopilot set altitude to max FL100 or below (above if mountains), pull for open descent,
- pull for HDG and go off track (outside the airway to avoid collisions).
- Pull for max Speed or appropriate (not in managed mode anymore, this will change your rate of descent).
- Speedbrakes max.
- Transponder 7700
- Then you can call Mayday on radio.
- You also check that the masks had been automatically lowered in the cabin at that point.
And A320 should descent at around 7000ft per minute. Could be more or less, it’s the pilot choice and how much he is willing to stress an airframe that just had an explosive decompression.
Rapid decompressions are very rare events tho. Except maybe on 737 max.
chillinit@lemmynsfw.com 6 days ago
Halfway decent comment so adding more:
The emergency descent altitude is almost always 10,000 feet. This is because most people will be able to breath without the oxygen mask at this altitude. But, do not take off your mask.
They do not descend lower because, succinctly, what if all engine power is lost? If that happens then the pilots want enough altitude to have enough time to try and restart the engines and, failing engine restart, to extend gliding range in effort to maximize choices of where to land.
Qualifications: expired VFR license (not a commercial pilot)
SzethFriendOfNimi@lemmy.world 6 days ago
And to add to the dialog (if there’s anything incorrect please let me know) from videos I’ve seen by MentourPilot, Captain Joe and online sources
The process will most likely look like the following:
They will put on their own o2 masks (it’s critical to do this as you can lose consciousness in under a minute)
They will radio the distress both for ATC but also nearby planes to give them a heads up that they’ll be rapidly descending. If it’s in a high traffic area they may wait for approval to begin descent (and you can be sure ATC is going to be moving planes out of the way.). If it’s taking too long they will begin descending anyway.
They will start a rapid descent to 10,000 ft (if terrain allows it, otherwise down to whatever they can safely get to). This is because the emergency o2 is limited to about 15 minutes.
Some interesting things I learned about this.
They will often use autopilot for the descent and level flight. This is because of limited visibility and a risk of possible issues caused by low o2.
This descent will be really unpleasant. Not a gentle descent but the safest one (especially if they’re unsure if there’s any structural issues) they can do. Which will be quite a bit steeper than anybody is used to.
So passengers on the plane will experience this as:
Not a fun experience I’m sure
Some sources to check out
Emergency descend!! Cockpit video
Pressurisation Problems: Guidance for Flight Crews
chillinit@lemmynsfw.com 6 days ago
Expired VFR from above:
Think about “aviate, navigate, communicate” and add to your pilot procedure. For example, the first priority is that the pilot in command establish straight and level flight.
Also, relate that descent to things people know, such as the typical max climb and descent angles passengers experience and the maximum grade found on US interstates.
Your work is pretty good. I encourage you to pick up the textbooks used in flight school. There’s lots of ways to be a pilot without actually obtaining a VFR license, such as a recreational license or MS Flight Simulator. You can even get a taste with a type of skydive called an “assisted free fall”.