231
submitted 10 months ago by L4s@lemmy.world to c/technology@lemmy.world

Alaska flight incident reveals another feature Boeing didn’t inform pilots about - Federal investigators said that Boeing didn’t make pilots aware that when a plane rapidly depressurizes, the cockp...::undefined

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[-] solrize@lemmy.world 61 points 10 months ago

If that design is necessary it has presumably always been like that on every pressurized plane ever built. So it shouldn't have been a surprise. But, some vents should be able to equalize the pressure without opening the door.

ISTR hearing that El Al planes had separate entrances for the cockpit and passenger compartment so there was no way to enter or leave the cockpit except on the ground. No door, just a reinforced wall. But maybe that was a post-911 urban legend.

[-] flying_mechanic@lemmy.world 40 points 10 months ago

Aircraft maintenance has been doing the negative pressure unlock tests on cockpit doors for decades, its honestly surprising what isn't common knowledge. Like others have said, rapid decompression of only a portion of the aircraft is very bad, and will result in massive structural failure as individual compartments aren't pressure rated and will blow apart. The doors I've had experience with had large panels that would pop out when in a negative pressure event.

[-] solrize@lemmy.world 5 points 10 months ago

Interesting. Now I'm wondering if the bathroom doors also blow out if there is decompression.

[-] flying_mechanic@lemmy.world 5 points 10 months ago

Those don't seal well, so probably not

[-] ryannathans@aussie.zone 1 points 10 months ago

I think my ass would be having a blow out too if that happened

[-] someguy3@lemmy.world 7 points 10 months ago

Cockpits would need their own bathroom, food, and maybe sleeping area if they had no door. Can't see that happening.

[-] BearOfaTime@lemm.ee 4 points 10 months ago

Your getting downvoted by people who've never flown on a 737, or even better, an MD80!

[-] someguy3@lemmy.world 2 points 10 months ago

Yeah I don't get it. Lemmy is an odd place at times.

[-] brianorca@lemmy.world 3 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

There are surely some vents that could handle a slower decompression, but a sudden event that reduced the pressure by half in a single second would be too much. 6 tons is a lot of force for a door to take, especially when it is in the opposite direction of most threats the door is supposed to stop.

[-] HaywardT@lemmy.sdf.org 2 points 10 months ago

Seems like a burst disk in the bulkheads would be a better solution than counting on a door to pop open.

this post was submitted on 10 Jan 2024
231 points (100.0% liked)

Technology

59379 readers
3238 users here now

This is a most excellent place for technology news and articles.


Our Rules


  1. Follow the lemmy.world rules.
  2. Only tech related content.
  3. Be excellent to each another!
  4. Mod approved content bots can post up to 10 articles per day.
  5. Threads asking for personal tech support may be deleted.
  6. Politics threads may be removed.
  7. No memes allowed as posts, OK to post as comments.
  8. Only approved bots from the list below, to ask if your bot can be added please contact us.
  9. Check for duplicates before posting, duplicates may be removed

Approved Bots


founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS