haynflyer From United States of America, joined Nov 2008, 117 posts, RR: 0 Posted (4 months 3 days 9 hours ago) and read 3395 times:
I was wondering why four windows on the KE's A380 have what appear to be "frames" around them. In the photo below, look at the third window from the rear on the upper deck. You'll see that four windows have similar markings - Two on the upper deck and two on the lower deck.
travelavnut From Netherlands, joined May 2010, 1158 posts, RR: 6 Reply 4, posted (4 months 3 days 9 hours ago) and read 3145 times:
So is there a difference in the underlying structure to accommodate rescue workers? IE; the certainty there are no power-, hydraulic- or bleed air piping?
atcsundevil From United States of America, joined Mar 2010, 516 posts, RR: 2 Reply 5, posted (4 months 3 days 7 hours ago) and read 2879 times:
As mentioned above, they're cut-in points. They're spaced fairly evenly in between the emergency exits, and from what I understand, they are specific areas which can be cut without hitting a structural piece which could be difficult to cut through, hydraulic lines, electrical lines, or other things which might not be so good to just cut through on a whim. Obviously it's designed to aid the first responders and give them very quick access to the cabin. It's something that most airlines around the world do, with US being the exception (as we typically are). I'd guess it's an ICAO requirement. The US conforms to most things ICAO, but there are many key differences (altimeter measurements is just one example). Obviously the FAA doesn't require it, therefore no airlines in the US paint them on their aircraft.
Look at the area between 'n' and 'e' on this BA 744 (the red frame can be quite clearly seen on the white BA fuselage) - it says 'cut here in emergency', and there's one between each door, with none before door 1. On the upper deck there's one on the right side behind the upper deck door.
longhauler From Canada, joined Mar 2004, 3305 posts, RR: 25 Reply 8, posted (4 months 1 day 13 hours ago) and read 1500 times:
Quoting haynflyer (Reply 6): I kinda thought they were for emergency use, but the marks are unique to KE's A380. I've not noticed the markings on other aircraft in KE's fleet.
That is like Air Canada, some aircraft in the fleet have them, some do not.
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Viscount724 From Switzerland, joined Oct 2006, 18467 posts, RR: 17 Reply 11, posted (3 months 4 weeks 1 day 15 hours ago) and read 1066 times:
Quoting HAWK21M (Reply 10): Quoting western727 (Reply 9):
Why is it not universal
Depends on the regulatory requirements of the country registered.Most state the requirements about emergency access areas clearly.
ICAO Annex 6 that covers this type of thing only says that where such markings are used (they're not mandatory) they have to meet certain guidelines for size, colour, spacing etc. As mentioned, it's up to each country's regulatory authority whether they're required or not. In quite a few cases they're not required but the carrier chooses to do it anyway.
Found this copy of Annex 6, not current (appears to reflect updates through 2006) but I doubt those provisions would have changed. See section 6.2.4 with diagram below (and the note at top of the next page that's part of that section). http://dcaa.slv.dk:8000/icaodocs/Ann...t%20-%20Aeroplanes,%208th%20ed.pdf
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