Re: Explosive decompression - how fast?

On 2008-04-27, Michael Ash <mike@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> Wandering a bit, this discussion makes me wonder about the
> possibilities for unpressurized passenger aircraft.

A terrible idea.  Quite apart from the discomfort and need for
concentrated oxygen for breathing, there are plenty of medical
problems for which this would be very much more dangerous.  Most
non-pressurized aircraft are limited to about 3 km altitude, and even
below that low altitude there are plenty of conditions where flight is
strongly contraindicated.  Including *very* common things like
pre-symptomatic colds, where you can rupture your sinuses.


> The obvious solution would be to give everybody oxygen masks. They
> do that anyway, but these would be for regular use.

Which means you can't go to the toilet without a portable oxygen tank,
and if you somehow dislodge your mask while doing your stuff in the
toilet, you will quite likely pass out - and if not noticed in time,
suffer brain damage and even die.


> Would it make sense to have an aircraft cabin that's fairly well
> sealed but not pressurized, such that it could be filled with pure
> oxygen at altitude?

Routine pure oxygen atmosphere in the cabin?  And you think
pressurization is dangerous?


- Tim