Althouse: One thing we learned from that Southwest Airlines blown-engine incident...

April 19, 2018

One thing we learned from that Southwest Airlines blown-engine incident...

People don't know how to use the oxygen mask!

52 comments:

rehajm said...: During the pre flight check some of those flight attendants are quite vague when demonstrating how to place the mask on your head. It’s one part don’t mess up the hair and one part those demonstration kits are fucking disgusting.

Seems like it could look less like a margarine cup and more like a mask, too; 4/19/18, 8:28 AM
WisRich said...: Or maybe they're designed badly.; 4/19/18, 8:30 AM
rehajm said...: Let's all review with Deltalina...; 4/19/18, 8:31 AM
Ralph L said...: But they had their seats in the upright position.; 4/19/18, 8:35 AM
Fernandinande said...: rehajm said...
Seems like it could look less like a margarine cup and more like a mask, too

Like a Batman mask. Then people would be ... dying to use them.; 4/19/18, 8:35 AM
Etienne said...: The masks are designed for dogs.; 4/19/18, 8:38 AM
Wince said...: Two thoughts:

1.) Trump should have used the oxygen mask metaphor to explain his immigration policy: even though it seems selfish, make sure your own mask is in place and you are receiving oxygen before you try to help others. America first, if you will.

2.) The photo seems like it's all young men... Guys, you got to be willing to put your nose in it, if you know what I mean.; 4/19/18, 8:40 AM
the 4chan Guy who reads Althouse said...: You know, maybe the safest place in a plane when an engine blows up and shit is to be locked in one of the bathrooms while you're banging a chick.

Because you're behind a closed door, so you probably won't get sucked out of the hole in the plane, and you're banging a chick, and that's usually pretty always good.

If there is, like, a science reason behind this, that would be cool.

I post my shit here.; 4/19/18, 8:40 AM
Fernandinande said...: But not this Batman mask.; 4/19/18, 8:47 AM
Leland said...: In some cases, you need to pull (tug really) on the cord to start the flow of oxygen. Many people miss that part of the presentation as well. The tug activates the chemical system that generates the oxygen.

On the other side of all this, part of the QRH checklist would be to quickly get to a lower altitude. The oxygen system doesn't last very long. It could well be the picture was taken after the aircraft reached a lower altitude. Indeed, it most likely is the case, since most of those people would have suffocated otherwise.; 4/19/18, 8:51 AM
Etienne said...: The tug activates the chemical system that generates the oxygen.

The oxygen is stored in a tank in the lower lobe on airlines. There is no "chemical system" and I'm not sure what you mean by that.; 4/19/18, 8:58 AM
Oso Negro said...: We also learned that no matter how desperate the situation, there are always a few MEN who will jump up to help, putting themselves in harm’s way. I’m talking about you “man in a cowboy hat” who “rushed forward”. Oh, and keep your seatbelts fastened.; 4/19/18, 9:04 AM
Left Bank of the Charles said...: Is it too soon to ask whether the woman who was sucked out the window was wearing her seat belt?; 4/19/18, 9:05 AM
The Drill SGT said...: agree

It's bottled o2; 4/19/18, 9:06 AM
David in Cal said...: Easy for us CPAP users.; 4/19/18, 9:06 AM
Etienne said...: The man who first came to her aid, said she was being held in by her seat belt. He said he was unable to pull her in, until another guy came to help, who turned out to be a fireman.

According to the autopsy report, so had traumatic injury to her torso, which probably came from the seat belt.; 4/19/18, 9:08 AM
Nonapod said...: Or maybe they're designed badly.

This. Just looking at the masks in the photo, they don't seem very form fitting around the nose and mouth. They appear very cylindrical in shape.; 4/19/18, 9:09 AM
Leland said...: The oxygen is stored in a tank in the lower lobe on airlines.

For some aircraft, and I don't disagree to the notion that is the case for 737 NGs or Max. But that isn't always the case. Some aircraft use these. When chemical oxygen generators are used, they are activated a different way. The flight crew will explain their operation in the preflight briefing, if you pay attention. Several studies found that even the most attentive passengers often missed the requirement to pull down on the oxygen mask before putting it across your nose and mouth. For that reason, most aircraft manufacturers switched over to carrying compressed oxygen. This isn't universal across airlines or individual fleets, so you should pay close to attention to the flight attendant's instructions.; 4/19/18, 9:12 AM
Oso Negro said...: @Etienne - confirming the suspicion that her injuries were frightful.; 4/19/18, 9:12 AM
Rick.T. said...: I prefer this safety video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyCQejVd7jk; 4/19/18, 9:16 AM
Mike (MJB Wolf) said...: “Margarita cup?” They should make them breast shaped.; 4/19/18, 9:29 AM
David-2 said...: @rehajm - That video doesn't seem too realistic. It seems to gloss over the part where the man and especially the child are screaming in terror while being physically knocked about from side to side and front to back as the plane dives from the 35000 foot level to about 10000 feet while around them all loose stuff in the cabin - and maybe a passenger or two - is sucked out a broken porthole.

Seriously, I imagine the terrifying chaos also has something to do with passengers not properly securing their masks.; 4/19/18, 9:48 AM
Leslie Graves said...: I'm a frequent flyer so I often get to pick a good seat ahead of time. That would be an exit seat because it's more leg room.

When you are sitting in an exit row, for the last few years, the flight attendant comes by and asks everyone in the row whether they are capable of doing the tasks you are supposed to be able to do. Everyone has to look the flight attendant in the eye (he or she is eyeballing you) and say "yes" out loud.

The thing you have to be able to do is open up the exit door and do something with it. The something you are supposed to do with it is demonstrated in a graphic that is glued to the exit door.

I have studied that graphic a number of times and it is 100% not clear to me what exactly the human being is expected to actually do, to complete the task.

I still say "yes" because I want that extra leg room, and because I guess I'd more or less figure it out by trial and error if push came to shove. I expect the other people in the exit row are thinking the same thing, unless I am uniquely unable to decipher instruction graphics.; 4/19/18, 9:48 AM
holdfast said...: I like this one - it's a little long, but at least it's got a beat you can dance to https://youtu.be/DtyfiPIHsIg.; 4/19/18, 9:54 AM
Etienne said...: Don't believe the statistics, they are exclusionary.

I know people get killed in medical helicopter accidents every day, but they get away with it because they aren't technically "paying passengers".

They look just as dead though.; 4/19/18, 10:10 AM
Etienne said...: When I used to fly on airlines, I always asked for an over-wing exit seat.

If the airline tried to hold us hostage at the end of the runway, instead of returning to the gate, I was prepared to open the hatch and throw it onto the wing.

In which case, we would have to go to the gate, as the plane would be grounded.; 4/19/18, 10:13 AM
CWJ said...: "What we should all learn from this accident is how safe air travel in the U.S. is. One death since 2009 in untold millions of air miles."

Did I just hear the plaintiff's bar shouting "Finally!" In unison?; 4/19/18, 10:18 AM
Inga...Allie Oop said...: Kudos to the pilot, Tammy Jo Shults, one of the first female fighter pilots of the Navy.; 4/19/18, 10:27 AM
RNB said...: Etienne: "The oxygen is stored in a tank in the lower lobe on airlines. There is no 'chemical system' and I'm not sure what you mean by that."

On B737's, emergency oxygen is supplied by chemical oxygen generators in the PSU's (Passenger Service Units) located above each row of seat.; 4/19/18, 10:36 AM
Etienne said...: ...first female fighter pilots of the Navy.

30 years ago... She's a veritable Joan of Arc™ minus the fire.; 4/19/18, 10:46 AM
rhhardin said...: The incident showed major competence but nothing incredible. They had two emergencies at once so had to prioritize. (fire and air); 4/19/18, 10:53 AM
Etienne said...: RNB said...On B737's, emergency oxygen is supplied by chemical oxygen generators...

Good Lord... I hope they work better than the F-22 and the T-45...; 4/19/18, 10:53 AM
richlb said...: I saw this yesterday. I retorted that you don't know the plane altitude when that photo was taken. The pilot descended quickly and may have been below 12,000 feet or so and masks weren't necessary. Things are looking relatively calm in that shot so I would think that was at a point that the masks weren't doing much.; 4/19/18, 10:55 AM
rhhardin said...: A DC-9 in Florida dove unguided into the everglades after oxygen generator spares it was carrying ignited everything.; 4/19/18, 10:57 AM
Leland said...: Fully agree with richlb at 10:55.; 4/19/18, 11:59 AM
Bruce Hayden said...: “The thing you have to be able to do is open up the exit door and do something with it. The something you are supposed to do with it is demonstrated in a graphic that is glued to the exit door.”

Not so fond memories on a United flight. The flight attendant helped an elderly woman into the exit row. Clearly incapable of much of anything. Another time, they had to find a seat belt extender for an exit row occupant. I had the window on the opposite side, so I was getting out, even if he got wedged in there. The other passengers? Not as likely. SWA is pretty good about this - they position a flight attendant in the exit rows, who do a good job at weeding out the riff raff, or at least those likely to get stuck between the seats, or break bones trying to ditch the door outside in their older planes. The problem that UAL faced that SWA does not is that they assign exit seats in advance, sometimes days in advance, and it often takes being a frequent flyer to get those seats, so evicting a very frequent flyer, desiring the exit row because of his girth, is problematic. Even if he is likely to get wedged in there if the plane crashes - because they do rarely do crash anymore.; 4/19/18, 12:06 PM
gadfly said...: Airplanes are virtually falling from the skies but its all "under the radar."; 4/19/18, 12:48 PM
Rusty said...: rhhardin said...
"A DC-9 in Florida dove unguided into the everglades after oxygen generator spares it was carrying ignited everything."

My understanding is that it ignited the grease in the bearings of the spare wheels they carry on the hold. Once the grease ignited the tires caught fire and ignited everything else.

from the picture I saw it looks like the whole fan assembly was torn out. That's about three or four feet of engine. It must have been a spectacular failure.; 4/19/18, 1:07 PM
cubanbob said...: If I was on a plane and the masks came down, it would occur to me to put it over my nose. That is what the nose is for, to breath through. Yes, some people are mouth breathers but the mask covers the mouth as well.; 4/19/18, 1:53 PM
heyboom said...: Every FA briefing I've ever heard states to "place the mask over your NOSE AND MOUTH and breathe normally". Regardless of whether they mess their hair up or not.; 4/19/18, 1:54 PM
David said...: Nor do they know how to listen, which leads to the mask errors.; 4/19/18, 3:08 PM
dbp said...: I saw the picture of the guys with the mask only over their mouths and thought, typical!

We've all heard the briefing at least dozens of times, but at the crucial moment: Well, it feels better just over my mouth, so that's what I'll do. In fairness, the only injury was to the woman next to the blown-out window.; 4/19/18, 3:28 PM
Howard said...: Value Jet! I don't think they know what started the fire, but the extra available oxidizer made it spread fast and furious.; 4/19/18, 4:49 PM
Etienne said...: David said...Nor do they know how to listen, which leads to the mask errors.

They listen, it's just that modern immigrants don't bother to learn English - si entiendes...; 4/19/18, 5:09 PM
Bad Lieutenant said...: Etienne: "The oxygen is stored in a tank in the lower lobe on airlines. There is no 'chemical system' and I'm not sure what you mean by that."

No OBOGS?; 4/19/18, 9:50 PM
0_0 said...: Etienne, how would a seat belt injure one's torso? And do you refer to critically injures passengers dying (not "being killed") in your medical helicoptes?

Inga, she flew Hornets in an auxiliary capacity. That is flying a fighter, but not being a fighter pilot in the assumed meaning.; 4/19/18, 11:23 PM
Kirk Parker said...: Etienne,

No problem, I believe you when you say you know nothing of aircraft oxygen systems.

For my part, I have no idea what you mean by "lower lobe."

Ok; 4/20/18, 2:23 AM
Etienne said...: I retired in 1993, and it was a different century, and we had real oxygen back in them there days. Not this fake stuff they got now... :-); 4/20/18, 3:00 PM
Etienne said...: how would a seat belt injure one's torso? And do you refer to critically injures passengers dying (not "being killed") in your medical helicoptes?

No, I mean helicopters that pile into the ground, and get smashed into little pieces with blood and guts everywhere.

A seat belt can injure your torso, by fixing your hips to one place, while something else pulls your arms and/chest the other way.

Artery's collapse, organs rupture or connective tissue disconnects, or the heart stops. Bones sometimes break.; 4/20/18, 3:04 PM
Unknown said...: Best safety video ever: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oB6DN5dYWo

Not terribly relevant to aircraft, however.; 4/20/18, 4:23 PM
Kirk Parker said...: Etienne, you're pulling my leg, right? Chemical oxygen generators have been used on aircraft *forever*.; 4/20/18, 5:13 PM
Etienne said...: Kirk Parker said...Chemical oxygen generators have been used on aircraft *forever*.

I heard about them, but I just associated them with fighter aircraft.

I used to go to the altitude chamber every three years to get certified, and we only learned about pressurized bottled oxygen (circa 1972 - 1993).

I learned about oxygen concentrators because my mom had emphysema real bad before she croaked.

No leg pulling involved :-) Totally ignorant of modern aviation...; 4/21/18, 1:50 PM