As an SLF, I see a lot of arrogance from the professionals here.
I can fully understand why the pax are panicking:
1. Pre-flight safety briefing does not mention that plane will carry out emergency descent (pax translation: dive or plummet) after oxygen masks drop. Pax may think plane will continue level flight or descend gradually (after all, why the hurry, if the oxygen masks work?)
2. No explanation that it might seem like the air supply is constricted. True, volume of oxygen required is only 20% of normal volume of air breathed. But we are used to breathing that volume, and will be prone to panic when we do not get it.
3. In this computerised age, it should not be beyond the wit of man to devise a system that makes an automatic PA announcement when the masks drop....not only could you explain the descent, you could even remind pax NOT to help others first and that the supply may seem constricting
The comments of some pilots here remind me of doctors 50 years ago: "Who cares about the bedside manner as long as I cure the patient?"....Doc Martin, anyone?
Last edited by marchino61; 26th Aug 2008 at 13:27.
Reason: Added NOT in point 3