Originally Posted by
LordLucan
See for example:
http://www.theairlinepilots.com/medi...andhypoxia.htm
Time of useful consciousness is 30-60 seconds at 35.000 feet, and around 3-5 minutes at 25.000 feet. Time to death at 35.000 feet is approximately 5 minutes if no oxygen supply comes in.
What may have played a role in the argument: if it is not a rapid decompression, the cabin isn't yet at 35.000 feet, but the alert in the cockpit starts at a "cabine altitude" of around about 10.000 feet with the cabine altitude climbing further at some rate depending on packs, position of outflow valve and size of leak. This will lead to a much longer time of useful consciousness than the theoretic value.
Servus, Simon