Hi
Centaurus,
As you point out, to
assume is to make an
ass of
u and
me.
Good SOP will prevent climbing unpressurized, as you check that in the after takeoff cklist, 10000ft, and reaching cruise altitude,
at least.
I have seen various times people screwing up their check using the challenge - response method also.
I'm always amazed when I simulate setting the flaps at 30, leaving them at 15 for example, and getting a response "30, green light" from what I normally consider smart FOs...
(Yes I know, I shouldn't do that... but I guarantee that's a lesson they aren't going to forget soon, so they grew up
quickly).
Chatting with a colleague after the Helios accident, I found out an incredible incident had already taken place in our Company, before I joined.
Amazingly, but not surprisingly, instead of being of public dominion for the sake of everybody, few people know about it...
During a turnaround, the mechanic turned both bleeds off to do some check of his own...
Well, to make it short, the Belgian captain managed to skip it through the Before start cklist, After take off cklist, the Cabin altitude warning sounding, the falling of the oxygen masks...!!!!
Can you believe that?????
When the FA came to the cockpit, they were still climbing happily.
The airplane reached about 24000ft!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They made an emergency descent, ad landed at the departure airfield,
still with both bleeds off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I can't find the words... better, I do have them, but better I keep my mouth shut