Why no oxygen for pax reccomended in smoke in cabin ?
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Why no oxygen for pax reccomended in smoke in cabin ?
I was given some reasons but not fully convinced. Please educate me.
Last edited by stubby1; 26th Dec 2011 at 13:59. Reason: correction
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What reason were you given that did not fully convince you?
Pax O2 system is typically a chemical O2 generator. Produces both heat and Oxygen, neither of which is a lot of help if there already is a fire.
And additionally, the Pax would still breath cabin air (with added O2 from the O2 generator), unlike the crew O2 system which has an emergency setting giving only O2 from a bottle. If there are toxins in the cabin the Pax would still inhale them.
Pax O2 system is typically a chemical O2 generator. Produces both heat and Oxygen, neither of which is a lot of help if there already is a fire.
And additionally, the Pax would still breath cabin air (with added O2 from the O2 generator), unlike the crew O2 system which has an emergency setting giving only O2 from a bottle. If there are toxins in the cabin the Pax would still inhale them.
Last edited by IRRenewal; 26th Dec 2011 at 14:19. Reason: additional info
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one as same reason of polluted air, other as maybe adding oxygen to fire.
But isn't smoke diluted with O2 better than pure smoke.
I was visualising myself as a passenger & thought in smoke filled cabin O2 mask may be some respite.
But isn't smoke diluted with O2 better than pure smoke.
I was visualising myself as a passenger & thought in smoke filled cabin O2 mask may be some respite.
Last edited by stubby1; 27th Dec 2011 at 10:24. Reason: typo
Chemical oxygen generators generate a lot of heat, which in its self produces a burning smell, which reduces the chance of detecting the real source of the smoke (can't rely on smell anymore),
Secondly, if the source of the smoke is around the same area as the chemical generators, the heat may change the possible 'smouldering' to 'fire' which reduces the chance of a successful outcome.
Oxygen will further enhance the fire.
To use the oxygen masks, passengers will have to keep their heads up (due length of oxygen tube from the generator), rather than on the floor below the smoke. That forces the passengers to breathe the toxic smoke (ok, with oxygen added) and be disorientated by the lack of vision, rather than seeing what is going on at floor level.
At the end of the day, this is not a nice scenario for anyone. 12 min of low flow oxygen isn't going to save you!
Secondly, if the source of the smoke is around the same area as the chemical generators, the heat may change the possible 'smouldering' to 'fire' which reduces the chance of a successful outcome.
Oxygen will further enhance the fire.
To use the oxygen masks, passengers will have to keep their heads up (due length of oxygen tube from the generator), rather than on the floor below the smoke. That forces the passengers to breathe the toxic smoke (ok, with oxygen added) and be disorientated by the lack of vision, rather than seeing what is going on at floor level.
At the end of the day, this is not a nice scenario for anyone. 12 min of low flow oxygen isn't going to save you!
At the end of the day, this is not a nice scenario for anyone. 12 min of low flow oxygen isn't going to save you!
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You need to think about it from a more logical standpoint. You do not add fuel to a fire and O2 is just as important to combustion as the material on fire is. The passengers are getting poisoned, the flight crew's only option with an un controlled fire on an aircraft is to land ASAP, the pilot MUST be concious the passengers do not to land the aircraft.
The main reason is that the chemical generators simply enrich environmental air with oxygen. They do not filter out smoke. With a pax mask on, pax would still be breathing smoke, and would be unable to use towels or clothing to filter the air.
