High Altitude Flashcards
Hazards of decompression?
- Hypoxia
- Evolved gas decompression sickness
- Being tossed around in or blown out of the aircraft if located near openings due to structural damage
- Exposure to wind blasts & extremely cold temperatures if due to structural damage
How does a continuous flow oxygen system work?
Continuous-flow oxygen systems are usually provided for passengers. The passenger mask typically has a reservoir bag that collects oxygen from the continuous-flow oxygen system during the time when the mask user is exhaling.
explosive vs rapid decompression
Explosive decompression—a change in cabin pressure faster than the lungs can decompress, possibly resulting in lung damage.
Rapid decompression—a change in cabin pressure in which the lungs decompress faster than the cabin.
Explain how the Diluter-Demand oxygen system functions.
Diluter-demand oxygen systems supply oxygen only when the user inhales through the mask. An auto-mix lever allows the regulators to automatically mix cabin air and oxygen or supply 100 percent oxygen, depending on the altitude. The demand mask provides a tight seal over the face to prevent dilution with outside air and can be used safely up to 40,000 feet.
Operation advantages of pressurized aircraft?
A cabin pressurization system typically maintains a cabin pressure altitude of approximately 8,000 feet at the maximum designed cruising altitude of an aircraft. This prevents rapid changes of cabin altitude that may be uncomfortable or cause injury to passengers and crew. In addition, the pressurization system permits a reasonably fast exchange of air from the inside to the outside of the cabin. This is necessary to eliminate odors and to remove stale air.
Different types of oxygen systems (3)?
Diluter-demand, pressure demand, continuous flow
Define a pressurized aircraft
cabin, flight deck, and baggage compartment are sealed and capable of retaining air pressure higher than the outside atmospheric pressure.
What is meant by “decompression”, as it relates to aircraft pressurization systems?
Decompression is defined as the inability of the aircraft’s pressurization system to maintain its designed pressure differential. This can be caused by a malfunction in the pressurization system or structural damage to the aircraft.
Which specific type of oxygen should be used to refill an aircrafts oxygen bottles?
The containers should be supplied with oxygen that meets or exceeds SAE AS8010 (as revised), Aviator’s Breathing Oxygen Purity Standard.
Explain how the Pressure-Demand oxygen system functions.
oxygen is supplied to the mask under pressure at cabin altitudes above 34,000 feet. Pressure-demand regulators create airtight and oxygen-tight seals, but they also provide a positive pressure application of oxygen to the mask face piece that allows the user’s lungs to be pressurized with oxygen
Relationship between time of useful consciousness & altitude?
above 10,000 MSL symptoms of hypoxia are increased in severity and time of useful consciousness drops significantly. 5-10 minutes at 22k MSL to 30-60 seconds at 35k MSL
Emergency descent protocol…
Clear the area.
Establish and maintain the appropriate airspeed and configuration appropriate to the scenario specified by the evaluator and as covered in POH/AFM for the emergency descent.
Maintain orientation, divide attention appropriately, and plan and execute a smooth recovery.
Use bank angle between 30° and 45° to maintain positive load factors during the descent.
Maintain appropriate airspeed, +0/-10 knots, and level off at specified altitude, ±100 feet.
Complete the appropriate checklist.
Benefits of flying at high altitude?
more fuel efficient than at low altitudes
bad weather and turbulence may be avoided flying above “the weather”
What are the supplemental oxygen requirements when flying a pressurized airplane?
No person may operate a civil aircraft of U.S. registry with a pressurized cabin -
(i) At flight altitudes above flight level 250 unless at least a 10-minute supply of supplemental oxygen, in addition to any oxygen required to satisfy paragraph (a) of this section, is available for each occupant of the aircraft for use in the event that a descent is necessitated by loss of cabin pressurization; and
(ii) At flight altitudes above flight level 350 unless one pilot at the controls of the airplane is wearing and using an oxygen mask that is secured and sealed and that either supplies oxygen at all times or automatically supplies oxygen whenever the cabin pressure altitude of the airplane exceeds 14,000 feet (MSL), except that the one pilot need not wear and use an oxygen mask while at or below flight level 410 if there are two pilots at the controls and each pilot has a quick-donning type of oxygen mask that can be placed on the face with one hand from the ready position within 5 seconds, supplying oxygen and properly secured and sealed.
(2) If for any reason at any time it is necessary for one pilot to leave the controls of the aircraft when operating at flight altitudes above flight level 350, the remaining pilot at the controls shall put on and use an oxygen mask until the other pilot has returned to that crewmember’s station.
