6 ms·
Not a pilot, and not trying to be an armchair pilot, but why would he have ascended all the way to 36000 feet? Isn't there a real risk of depressurization with
by lavrov 8y ago
Not a pilot, and not trying to be an armchair pilot, but why would he have ascended all the way to 36000 feet? Isn't there a real risk of depressurization with hull damage?
- sandworm101 8y agoNo. If there was a leak then it wouldnt pressurize properly on the way up. If it was holding pressure, it would probably keep doing so.
- spectre256 8y agoIt totally depends. A weakened structure can hold pressurization for a while, and then suddenly (and possibly catastrophically) fail. A famous example of this is American Airlines flight 96 (1972): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Airlines_Flight_96 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Airlines_Flight_96
- jedmeyers 8y agoAlso Japan Airlines Flight 123
- Johnny555 8y agoI'd rather not trust my life to "probably". If there was some damage to the hull or a cargo door that could lead to failure, it's under more stress and is more of a hazard as the altitude increases.
- sandworm101 8y agoLess stress imho. At altitude the forces on wings/structure are far less than during takeoff.
- Johnny555 8y agoThe takeoff has already happened, and a landing (of some sort) will have to happen (which also means flying near ground level). The thing that doesn't need to happen is flying at full flight altitude when the pressure differential between the inside and outside is greatest.
- TylerE 8y agoIncorrect. In level flight the wings have - by definition - 1g of upward load. Regardless of speed or altitude.
- nutcracker46 8y agoConsider cabin pressure differential versus the outside ambient air.
- FabHK 8y agoThat’s what sand worm was saying - level flight puts less stress on the wings than takeoff (where you accelerate vertically, thus have more than 1g). Still, you don’t want to take a structurally damaged plane high up.
- sandworm101 8y ago1g in up/down force. But thicker air means more forwards/back forces. Higher engine power = more force, regardless of G.
- TylerE 8y agoEngine power is a fraction of weight. Even at full thrust (which is rarely used in commercial service, even for takeoff), the engines are only capable of 0.25g or so.
- inferiorhuman 8y agoOne minor UX gotcha: the alarm for a pressurization problem on a 737 is not all that intuitive. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helios_Airways_Flight_522 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helios_Airways_Flight_522
- TheOtherHobbes 8y ago"probably"
- FabHK 8y agoTo take a structurally damaged plane to altitude with that argument (if it holds pressure, it probably won’t explode) is reckless folly.
- deleted 8y ago[deleted]