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View Full Version : Freight Pilots...Just Out of Interest?


euroboy
22nd March 2001, 16:59
I think it would be a great idea as suggested by "Hogg" that a Freight Forum is set up, so "us" that deal with joe public out there can hear about their type of problems,etc...

I am cabin crew to start with, but I use to Train SEP/Security to both Pilots and Cabin Crew a like. Whilst training Pilots I came across number from Freight airlines and was amazed that they did not do slide evacs and sometime no wet drill.
The slide evacs I would have throught important for your own safety ie do you jump into the slide or sit and slide. I found most pilots quite surprised to see how steep these slide are and could be even steeper if you had a gear failure.
I started thinking how you guys would deal with certain types of emergency, where your fellow collegues on a pax a/c would rely on the cabin crew.
In the case of Pilot Incapacitation...3 flight crew on older jets I image F/E would assist, but on the newer a/c that are 2 crew what would your procedure be?
A fire on board in the cabin? I use to do Royal Mail flts on a pax jet. 1 cabin crew member was in the cabin to montor it.
I guess you have smoke detectors are located through out the cabin section. But who fights the fire?
How fire proof are Cargo paletts and do you know what you are carrying so the fire brigade/yourself know what they are dealing with, eg Dangerous goods?
I guess these paletts leave little or no room for pilots to pass. If you needed a visual check eg. flaps are ok, check the engine if you are experiencing problems- can you do this check? This leading on you having to evacuate the a/c. Say the gear collapes on landing. This could cause the fwd door(s) to jam, and the DV`s may do as well, or its not safe to evac. from fwd exits, eg. fire outside.
I hope you guys don`t mind answering its just out of general interest.

CargoRat2
22nd March 2001, 17:07
We do slide evacs when the slides become timexed. Everyone in the company is invited to come and play in the hangar and have as many goes as he/she wants.
Modern freighters (744F in our case) have a fireproof cargo compartment with plently of fire-fighting equipment. Anyhow, we would depressurize.
I believe the burn rate on a cargo net has to be less than 2.5In/min
Edit; We also have a "Dangerous Goods Notification". This mentions Proper Shipping Name, UN number, type of packing, quantity, location on aircraft etc etc. We also carry an emergency reponse guide, which tells you what to do depending on what type of DG you've got on board.


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rgds Rat

[This message has been edited by CargoRat2 (edited 22 March 2001).]

Techman
23rd March 2001, 03:23
As mentioned above, we carry a detailed response guide telling us and the emergency services what to do. The amount, type and location of the dangerous goods being known before takeoff.

And FE's, like me, are trained to fly the aeroplane (and land) it using the autopilot.

With regards to evacuation, there is always more than one escape path, i.e. cabin doors, cockpit windows.