Toxicmegacolon From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 28 posts, RR: 0 Posted (9 years 2 months 3 weeks 19 hours ago) and read 4877 times:
So sitting near an exit row on a widebody plane always makes me nervous....what would happen if some idiot just walked up to the door and pulled the handle to open it in midflight? Does anyone know what safety precautions are in place, or what conditions need to be satisfied so that the handle can be pulled and the door opened? Thanks!
Jetguy From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 1, posted (9 years 2 months 3 weeks 19 hours ago) and read 4826 times:
Nothing would happen. Those exits are "plug" type and the cabin pressure would make it impossible for the exit to open. In other words, the actual emergency exit door is slightly larger than the frame it rests in - hence, the term "plug". The cabin has to be depressurized in order for the exit to be opened.
BA757 From United Kingdom, joined Dec 2003, 2832 posts, RR: 16 Reply 2, posted (9 years 2 months 3 weeks 19 hours ago) and read 4810 times:
My understanding (from what I've read in the past) is you can't. The door wouldn't open because they are 'plug' doors. It basically works by the high pressure in the cabin pushing the door into the fitting - doors are apparently a little larger than the hole - no man would be ever be able to open a door with that pressure on it.
Airplay From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 5, posted (9 years 2 months 3 weeks 18 hours ago) and read 4751 times:
Although it is true not all designs use "plug" doors for emergency exits or passenger doors for that matter, it is still quite improbable that someone will open one.
Current designs use safety interlocks such as pressure and speed locks. Pressure locks are pneumatic devices that apply a latch to the handle when the aircraft pressurizes. Many designs require no electrical power to operate.
Speed locks apply secondary locks when the aircraft reaches a certain speed (usually 80 or 90 knots). The speed locks are usually electrical solenoids that require aircraft electrical power to operate.
I'm not sure what to make of the picture. I'm not familiar with the 737-800 but I find it hard to believe they went away from the "plug" emer hatch.
Msllsmith From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 396 posts, RR: 10 Reply 7, posted (9 years 2 months 3 weeks 16 hours ago) and read 4665 times:
Good one Jetguy! Obviously you're not that tired!
There's nothing more beautiful than flying into the dawn.
TheGov From United States of America, joined Apr 2003, 400 posts, RR: 3 Reply 8, posted (9 years 2 months 3 weeks 13 hours ago) and read 4617 times:
Someone correct me if I am wrong, but during the Saudia TriStar fire of about 20 years ago, the report on the accident stated that to some degree because the cabin pressure was not released, the doors could not be opened as soon as needed and that led to the death of everyone on board. I think most of the blame rested with the pilots because the did not realise how serious the situation really was to take the necessary actions to save everyone.
Trekster From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 9, posted (9 years 2 months 3 weeks 13 hours ago) and read 4606 times:
That is true, but also the captain did not turn the engines off,he kept them on meaning the cabin crew could not openthe doors and safley get the chutes down.
He even taxied normally for a while after landing.
Pilotpip From United States of America, joined Sep 2003, 3082 posts, RR: 12 Reply 11, posted (9 years 2 months 2 weeks 6 days 8 hours ago) and read 4364 times:
I just watched a video on that Saudia fire. The opinion of this video was that the crew was incapable of handling the situation. A total CRM failure (Maybe this should come up in the other thread ) The captain, while singing becuase he basically shut down due to stress, made a long landing roll out. By the time the fire trucks go to the aircraft, the aircraft was engulfed and the crew was not responding to ATC.
Does the L10 have a system similiar to the 737 incorporating locks? I don't know if many people would have lived if they jumped out while the aircraft was moving at 75kts. Of course, had the crew not been total morons we probably wouldn't be talking about this.
Tiger119 From United States of America, joined Sep 2003, 1919 posts, RR: 0 Reply 12, posted (9 years 2 months 2 weeks 6 days 6 hours ago) and read 4327 times:
Pilotpip,
Did you see the video on a television show? If so, what was the name? Thanks
Flying is the second greatest thrill known to mankind, landing is the first!
Bruce From United States of America, joined May 1999, 5025 posts, RR: 17 Reply 13, posted (9 years 2 months 2 weeks 3 days 20 hours ago) and read 4105 times:
I read in another thread some time ago that with the amount of pressure exerted on a plug type exit when cabin is pressurized you would need to exert a force on the door of over 10,000 lbs or so in order to open it.
Suffice to say that no human will ever be opening a plug type door inflight.
Bruce Leibowitz - Jackson, MS (KJAN) - Canon 50D/100-400L IS lens
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) The captain, while singing becuase he basically shut down due to stress, made a long landing roll out. By the time the fire trucks go to the aircraft, the aircraft was engulfed and the crew was not responding to ATC. 
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