380 Evac test

[atakacs]

Funny nobody mentioned it...
I'd really love to be in Hamburg to watch this :)
Any first hand report most welcome...

[Oilhead]

:mad: Airbus will be keeping very tight on who talks about the test I am sure. The participants are chosen from a local health club I believe. Will be interested to hear how many make it out inside 90 seconds.

[atakacs]

:mad: Airbus will be keeping very tight on who talks about the test I am sure. The participants are chosen from a local health club I believe. Will be interested to hear how many make it out inside 90 seconds.

I understand that 50% are EADS employees

[surely not]

Oilhead you work for Airbus do you?? Thought not. Got a hotline to the board of Airbus? Thought not.

So how can you state so definitely that Airbus will tightly control who speaks about the evac tests? Pure supposition on your behalf BUT it does make sense that Airbus wouldn't allow the floor cleaner to pass comment to the assembled press. I doubt that Boeing, Embraer or Bombardier allow just 'anyone' to pass comment on their tests, but they allow people who are qualified and knowledgeable to speak for them.

So just for once can we forget the Boeing v Airbus, USA v Europe battles. When Boeing flew the 747 for the first time I was young but was excited by the tecnologically of the new a/c and the advance it represented. Same for the Lockheed C5, Concorde, Space Shuttle, fly bywire Airbus demonstrator etc.

Is it impossible for people to be genuinely excited by advances in aviation these days? Do we have to have the constant carping by one camp against another?

I hope the A380 is successful and I can't wait to see one flying instead of watching it on the Television. The same goes for the B787.

I note you are living in America. If Americans really are champions of the free world and free trade maybe you could be a little less parochial and wish the A380 well. I hope you do.

[Oilhead]

What an extraordinary response! My comment concerned who may or may not talk to the press. I am GUESSING (and am sure!) that Airbus will have some pretty strict controls in place on who may talk to the media regarding this test. Nothing odd about that. I worked for an aircraft manfacturer years ago (sorry to disappoint you old chap, but it was British Aerospace, not Boeing) and media contact was very tightly controlled around new aircraft and tests for all the obvious reasons.

I am not even remotely acting parochial on this - I am not a Boeing fan over Airbus etc. I am anxious to see both 380 and 787 both succeed - how on earth could you construe my simple posting to suggest anything to do with USA v Europe - that is far more telling of your thinking frankly. And no, you are absolutely right, I do not have a hotline to the Airbus board. I did however, spend 3 days at Toulouse last month, specifically to get technical briefings on the plane, and to climb all over it... Nice machine. Flew the simulator too - great fun to be able to do that. I very much hope they get everyone off in 90 seconds.

I think your comments were rather curious and yet rather telling. With 2700+ posts, you obviously do like to post well thought out and considered reponses....

[TowerDog]

Well, the test should be over by now..?

14:30Z plus 90 seconds.

Any direct video link or web cam?

Hope nobody breaks their back and/or get paralyzed like in other similar tests.
(was it DC-10 or MD-11 that was particulary bad...?)

[cringe]

In the second MD-11 evacuation test in 1991 a 60-year-old woman broke her neck after tripping and falling head first down the slide. 36 more people (out of 410) were injured in the same test.

[Oilhead]

FWIW I just looked at my notes from the briefing at TLS on the evac test....these are unedited notes I made as the briefing took place....

380 Evacuation Demo Update –

Full Scale Evac Demo Required – each deck will be considered independent of each other. 90 second evac with half (8 of 16 ) doors inop. 3 upper deck door pairs plus 5 main deck door pairs. 2 staircases link the two decks.

Upper deck – 315 pax plus 7 cabin crew

Lower deck – 538 pax plus 11 cabin crew.

(This is a 340 put on top of a 747!)

Evac analysis will determine final max pax number.

New evacuation requirements – 25 knots surface wind, plus all slides to be cold soaked prior to them firing. (-65 F for min 8 hours)

If aircraft is on tail the slides can be extended. >5 degree pitch attitude will activate a cord cutter to extend slide – clever.

All slides take 3.5 seconds to fully extend.

1100 people will be involved in demo – night conditions at Hamburg.

Low ground light – path leading into aircraft covered to prevent test participants from viewing outside.

All must leave aircraft in 90 seconds.

Make up of pax – min 40% female – Min 35% over 50 – with 15% female and over 50.

Ground power will be switched off – emergency lighting only.

Goal – 853 passengers in less than 90 seconds.

[grimmrad]

according to the German newsmagazin Der SPIEGEL online there will be a briefing for journalists at 17:00 Hamburg time (http://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/0,1518,408044,00.html). In the same article it is mentioned that the tests were completed at 16:30, it was planned that 873 people will be involved and have to be evacuated in the 90 secs. The SPIEGEL does not expect any detailed briefing.

Best

[HermanTheGerman]

... 80 seconds.

New World Record.

one broken leg.

congratulations. :ok:

[grimmrad]

Der SPIEGEl online reports as mentioned above that 873 people were evacuated in 80 secs, one elderly person above 50 injured (fractured leg), 32 other people slightly injured (bruises, scratches).
http://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/0,1518,408052,00.html

[alexmcfire]

The individual with the broken leg is a +50 year-old male.

[Rainboe]

Step forward 747Focal and take a bow. Been telling us for what seems like a couple of years it couldn't be done! Done it was! Whatchagonnasaytodat? Say something! If only "well I never!" (Did you never.....all the time!)

[rotornut]

The participants are chosen from a local health club I believe. Good thing they weren't chosen from the Reeperbahn:E

[Kalium Chloride]

I am GUESSING (and am sure!) that Airbus will have some pretty strict controls in place on who may talk to the media regarding this test.


Oh yes? How sure?

I know a couple of aviation journos who'll actually be among the evac participants. Kinda puts the speculation on media control in its place.

[nooluv]

PARIS (Reuters) - European plane maker Airbus said on Sunday it had interrupted an evacuation test for its new A380 double-decker plane after an incident in which several people were injured as an evacuation slide dis-inflated.

The test took place in a hangar at its Hamburg site in Germany under supervision of the European certification authority and in the presence of a representative from the U.S. Federal Aviation Authority, as it is part of the certification procedure.

"Such an incident during such a trail is not unprecedented," said Airbus chief operating officer and head of the A380 programme, Charles Champion, in a statement.

There were 873 people involved in the evacuation test. Some 31 had minor injuries and one broke a leg. Regards nooluv....

[AlphaWhiskyRomeo]

I am always surpised how many people are actually injured by the evacuation process itself.

I talk it that leg breaks occur when people hit the floor at the bottom of a slide???

[Buster the Bear]

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2006-03-26-jet-drill_x.htm

[mickjoebill]

Full Scale Evac Demo Required – each deck will be considered independent of each other. 90 second evac with half (8 of 16 ) doors inop. 3 upper deck door pairs plus 5 main deck door pairs. 2 staircases link the two decks.
Upper deck – 315 pax plus 7 cabin crew
Lower deck – 538 pax plus 11 cabin crew.
(This is a 340 put on top of a 747!)
/I]

Would a different mix of operative and inoperative doors have a significant impact on evacuating the double decker?
Lets say most of the bottom doors inoperative due to...?

The issue being 70% of total number of passengers are on the lower deck. If lower doors inoperative to evac they need to locate the nearest stairs then climb the stairs and locate exit at top. Rather than just run along/across the aisle.


Mickjoebill

[Algy]

As best I know it, and I was on it, this is what happened (http://shortlinks.co.uk/a1), and this is how it was for me (http://www.bizbuzzmedia.com/blogs/flight_international/default.aspx).

[Fernando_Covas]

Does anyone know if any footage is to be released?

[DingerX]

Yes, adding a requirement that the decks may not be considered independent for evacuation would significantly affect the test.
So would, for that matter, concealing the cameras that monitor the "good" exits (have they done that yet?), or filling the aircraft with unsuspecting passengers instead of semi-trained personnel.

But, well, that's not the point. The test, like many others, is artificial. It doesn't simulate real world conditions any more than a Blood Alcohol level tells you how well someone can drive: if it's .20, they can't drive; if it's .04, they might be perfectly good drivers, or they might be horrible ones. But, like the BAC it is an objective benchmark that can be used for making safety determinations. Unlike the BAC, however, it's a benchmark that seems to get more generous with each generation of aircraft. That does not make the planes "less safe".
Didn't it use to be 45 seconds?


Anyway, inspite of what those of us who see those upper-deck slides snaking down and around the lower-deck ones, even if this broken leg and uninflated slide meant a test failure doesn't mean serious safety problems (yet). But, no offense to the mad-dog, bringing up the MD-11 as similar example in terms of safety won't appease the "Skytanic" crowd. The MD-11, along with its DC-10 heritage, could be argued to have dealt the final blow both to its manufacturer and an airline on its perceived lack of safety. The Airbus people cannot afford to build an 880-seat MD-11.

[Algy]

Dinger, what uninflated slide?

[Earthmover]

I am always surpised how many people are actually injured by the evacuation process itself.
I talk it that leg breaks occur when people hit the floor at the bottom of a slide???

The Flight Safety Foundation (Dec 2000) studied 46 actual evacuations in which 92% (2614) of people were uninjured, 6% (170) suffered minor injuries and 2% (62) sustained serious injuries.

As for the actual injuries, I guess that quite a few are as you say, caused by the impact at the end of the slide, but additionally, in real events people are sometimes evacuating from damaged aircraft with sharp edges, debris - and sometimes fire.

I was involved in one of these practise evacuations. Never again. The chap in front of me hit the base of his spine hard when the girl in front of him got a foot caught in the slide as she ran off, and took it sideways with her as she ran off (the slide, not the foot - that was still attached to her leg.)

[CD]

Unlike the BAC, however, it's a benchmark that seems to get more generous with each generation of aircraft. That does not make the planes "less safe".
Didn't it use to be 45 seconds?
Actually, evacuation demonstrations were first required to be conducted in the US - 1965 I believe - and it was the air carrier that had to conduct them. It wasn't for another two years before the certification standard was put in place to require the manufacturer to conduct the demonstration.
The timing was originally 120 seconds, likely to account for the "state of the art" canvass chutes that were in use at the time, which required a couple of able-bodied folks to climb down ropes and hold the chute at the bottom.
The 90-second benchmark was introduced some time around 1967.

[cwatters]

So it looks like using prople recruited at "a local gym" has paid off :)

[broadreach]

What a great result for Airbus! Algy, thanks for the link to the blog.

And cwatters, what would be the option to people from the local gym, pulling them off the street? Yes, of course, the typical cross-section of pax on a flight will probably be more like people off the street but, surely, neither the certification authorities nor the manufacturers want to incur the injuries a test with that cross-section would involve. People from a gym are not, on the whole, athletes, rather, normal people who want to keep in or return to reasonable physical shape, at least at the gyms I've frequented. It makes sense to use them.

I wonder what sort of sweeteners Airbus will be offering the fellow who broke a leg!

[747FOCAL]

I say bravo. Glad nobody was serioulsy injured. :) To bad we can't them PAX off in 80 seconds on normal revenue flights of any aircraft.

[Founder]

Impressive work by Airbus =)

Here's the CNN story:
http://www.cnn.com/2006/TRAVEL/03/26/airbus.safety.ap/index.html

[LowObservable]

Algy,

<<Then a sort-of comic comes in and talks in German. I laugh when everyone else does. >>

That is dangerous. Have you never read the story of Herr Slossen Boschen from Three Men In A Boat?

LO

[rotornut]

Or Baron von Munchausen?

[DingerX]

Algy: my mistake. The initial news reports were not good. "Airbus calls off test early due to injury", "slide collapses" and so on. I was in the middle of spewing pompous blather when you posted the link to your excellent account (which answers a few of my other questions).
heck, even now, the headlines read:
"32 Hurt in Airbus Test Evacuation", "Volunteers Injured in Airbus Test"

If I were boeing, I'd be sending a nice gift to the editors who came up with those headlines.


CD: Thank you for the corrections.

[kms901]

"Airbus spokesman Tore Prang". Who said the Germans have no sense of humour ?

[Whoops]

A380 successfully completes evacuation test
26 March 2006


Airbus successfully completed the passenger evacuation trial on development A380 MSN7, paving the way for the Authorities to certify the aircraft in time for delivery by the end of 2006. During the trial, all of the 873 participants were able to leave the aircraft and reach ground within the 90 seconds prescribed, with half of the 16 doors in operations. The trial was performed under the supervision of the European Aviation and Safety Agency EASA and a representation of the American FAA.

The Airworthiness Authorities will now thoroughly review the material available, analyse the passenger flow on the two decks, and the evacuation itself.

"There was one passenger suffering a broken leg and few minor injuries. We will support them in every way we can," said Airbus COO and Head of A380 programme Charles Champion. "Although the final number as confirmed by the Authority will only be known in a few days, we are very happy with this result. It clears the way for the transportation of passengers as defined by our initial customers who all have selected very comfortable three class layouts. And even in a higher density two class layout, the A380 cabin will continue to set new standards of comfort."

The evacuation trial was the most stringent ever performed and the first ever on a passenger aircraft with two decks. The aircraft was fitted with a very high density cabin layout, featuring 853 seats which were all occupied. In addition there were two cockpit crew members and 18 cabin crews from Lufthansa on board to manage the evacuation in a representative way. The trial was performed in darkness, yet filmed by infrared cameras. The doors and slides that were operative were not known before the trial.

The "passengers" having suffered injuries when arriving on the ground were immediately taken care of by the medical emergency and first aid service available on the site. Airbus will of course provide all the support required to the injured person who were covered by a special insurance.

The A380 is designed to carry an average of 555 passengers in three classes over distances up to 8,000 nm/ 15,000 km. To-date, 159 A380s have been ordered by 16 customers, with the first due to be delivered to first operator Singapore Airlines before the end of the year.

Airbus is an EADS joint company with BAE Systems.

[panda-k-bear]

Well that closes the debate then, I suppose.


AUTHORITIES APPROVE A380 SUCCESSFUL EVACUATION TRIAL

29th March 2006

The European Aviation and Safety Agency (EASA) and the American Federal Aviation Administration, FAA gave their “seal of approval” to the successful A380evacuation trial performed at Airbus’ site in Hamburg, Germany, on Sunday, 26th March, during which 853 passengers and 20 crew members left the aircraft within 78 seconds. They herewith validated 853 as the maximum passenger seating capacity, for the A380-800.

As per regulation, the evacuation test was performed in complete darkness through only half of the 16 exits of the A380. The exits that had been selected by the Authorities to be operative were not known to any of the passengers and crew before the test.

“This is an exceptional result and a remarkable success for Airbus. We have passed a major milestone on the road to Certification.” said Airbus COO and Head of A380 programme Charles Champion. “I would like to thank all participants, the crew and all teams who worked for months on this exercise. They did a fantastic job”.

The evacuation test was the most stringent ever performed and the first ever on a double-deck passenger aircraft. The aircraft was fitted with the highest possible density cabin layout. In addition there were two flight crew members and 18 cabin crews from Lufthansa on board to manage the evacuation in a representative way.

The A380 is designed to carry an average of 555 passengers in a three class layout over distances up to 8,000 nm/ 15,000 km. To-date, 159 A380s have been ordered by 16 customers, with the first due to be delivered to first operator Singapore Airlines before the end of the year.

Airbus is an EADS joint company with BAE Systems.

[Algy]

...Well that closes the debate then, I suppose...

I doubt that, the conspiracy theorists are in full flight elsewhere!

[panda-k-bear]

Full Flight - Boom boom! Sorry, couldn't resist...

You are, of course, correct, and I suppose it will continue unabated. However, it's done now, the approval's there and that part of the certification dossier has the stamp. All that will be left are conspiracy theories but we all know about them, don't we. It must certainly have been an experience to be there on the day! You say you were wearing the last numbered bib (853, I suppose) - but what number out of the dorr were you?!

Even FOCAL has given his word on the subject and, though he couldn't resist another dig, he had to admit that the A380 came through - what more proof do you need!

[Xeque]

Thanks Algy for the great reports.
In an earlier life I was an officer on big passenger ships. In an emergency we were faced with the safe evacuation of up to 3,500 passengers and crew (on the old Oriana) using only half the boats available but a lot more time to do it in.
I've flown a lot over the past 30 years or so and (touch wood) have never been involved in an evacuation. I hope I never have to in 'real' circumstances.
It may have been a test but the speed element would still have been there and to get that many people out in such a short time is really impressive.
Only two other things to say. (1) How soon before the first airline crams 853 poor souls into an A380 and (2) You're going to have to get a new nic Keiron :)

[vapilot2004]

I was betting on fewer than 750 out (and lost ) , but then I had a hunch that all of the fit and focused volunteers would thrust their way out of the behemoth within a minute and a half.

Congratulations Airbus on this !

The slides tell the story - and shows how e-a-s-y it may have been to evac so many so quickly:

http://h1.ripway.com/eisler99/AB1.jpg



http://h1.ripway.com/eisler99/ab2.jpg

[smith]

Though the simulation was conducted inside a hangar, he said Airbus sought to make it as realistic as possible, strewing debris in the aisles.

Making it as realistic as possible could entail offering a financial incentive for the first 300 people off of something substantial like £1,000.
The mad scramble to get £1,000 would be similar to the mad scramble of someone running for their life.

[PAXboy]

vapilot2004The slides tell the story - and shows how e-a-s-y it may have been to evac so many so quickly:

I presume you mean that fact that the slides are double width? If you can get the CC to consistently 'post' people out of the door into alternative channels of the slides, then that would make a remarkable difference. The effects of four coloums of people arriving in close proximity to each other may increase minor injuries but best to be hobbling away than being carried off the airframe later ...

The pictures posted (much appreciated) show the eight Starboard slides. Does this mean that they only exited from the Starboard side? Or did they deploy all slides but limit which ones were used?

[BahrainLad]

The regs stipulate that it has to be all out in 90 seconds with half of the exits inoperative (i.e. 8/16 in this case). Presumably to simulate an event where you cannot evac on one side due to engine fire etc.

vapilot2004

The pictures posted (much appreciated) show the eight Starboard slides. Does this mean that they only exited from the Starboard side? Or did they deploy all slides but limit which ones were used?

[gaunty]

Well done chaps.:ok:

Now Bloggs if you wouldn't mind stuffing those slides back into their containers before your crib break, there's a good lad.:}

[vapilot2004]

PB- Not 100% sure, but I believe all did indeed evacuate starboard.

I guess it was the slides size in the photos that gave me the impression there was plenty of exit area for the fleeing hundreds available. Had I viewed the setup before the test, I wouldn't have lost the cost of dinner. :}

There was in interesting first hand bit from an FI 'writer' here: URL="http://www.bizbuzzmedia.com/blogs/flight_international/archive/category/1033.aspx"]FI Blog[/URL]

Glad to pass along the pix - they were gleaned from Airbus.

[Ernst Blofeld's Cat]

Very impressive test by Airbus, but looking forward to the A380F certification,

trying to unload 40 pallets with half the cargo doors inop in 90 seconds would be impressive!! :D

[vapilot2004]

CHARLOTTE, N.C., March 31 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Goodrich Corporation's (NYSE: GR) evacuation slides played a key role in the Airbus A380 full scale evacuation test which was successfully completed on Sunday, March 26, 2006 in Hamburg, Germany. The test simulated an emergency involving 853 passengers, 18 flight attendants and 2 flight crew and purposely used only half of the 16 Goodrich-produced slides on board. In total 873 people were safely evacuated from the plane in 78 seconds on the eight slides that were deployed in complete darkness. The test aircraft was configured to represent a maximum density seating arrangement and the flight attendants were seated in Goodrich- produced Cabin Attendant Seats. It was the largest evacuation test ever conducted and the first time a test involved a dual deck passenger aircraft with both decks as part of the test. The test was performed under the supervision of the European Aviation Safety Agency and representatives from the U.S. FAA. On Tuesday, March 28, 2006, both regulatory agencies declared the test a complete success after a thorough analysis of the evacuation process.

According to Goodrich's Christine Probett, Division President Aircraft Interior Products, "It truly was an awe-inspiring event to witness. And I'm proud of my team for playing a key role in this milestone for the A380. Our slides added to the speed at which the passengers were able to evacuate the aircraft. On average, due to new inflation technologies we've developed specifically for the A380 evacuation system, our slides deploy approximately 40% faster than slides currently in use -- all while meeting other performance requirements for this state-of-the-art aircraft such as temperatures ranging from below 65 degrees Fahrenheit to above 160 degrees Fahrenheit and 25-knot winds in any direction, to name a few."

In addition to producing the evacuation system and cabin attendant seating on board the A380, Goodrich, as one of the world's largest suppliers of landing systems, provides both the main body and wing landing gear for the aircraft. Though Goodrich was already a major supplier for Airbus, it was the first time the company had been selected to provide landing gear for an Airbus aircraft. The components for the landing gear system are produced by Goodrich's Landing Gear division and involve manufacturing facilities in Oakville, Ontario, Canada; Cleveland, Ohio; Tullahoma, Tennessee; and Krosno, Poland. The final gear integration takes place at the Goodrich facility in Toulouse, France before delivery to Airbus' final assembly line.

Goodrich is also supplying innovative High-Density Discharge (HID) and LED-based exterior lighting, award-winning variable frequency technology for the aircraft's power generation system (through its Aerolec joint venture with Thales) and flight controls that take advantage of the latest power by wire technology. And Goodrich will provide the primary and standby air data systems.

Goodrich is also providing an automatic ice detection system, and will bring its experience in aircraft materials and structures to bear in the development of the aircraft's cargo system and with several structural components.

Goodrich's Aerostructures team provides the sail fairing, or Rear Secondary Structure, an aerodynamic surface that serves to reduce drag associated with the trailing edge of the A380's pylon. It also encloses a number of aircraft systems which must be easily accessible through various doors and removable panels. The company provides the aft pylon fairing, which also reduces aircraft drag and protects the primary and secondary pylon structures from temperature extremes. In addition, Goodrich will provide the center and rear fan case sections for the Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engine option on the A380.

Furthermore, as the A380 enters service, Goodrich's Component Support network and Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul facilities are being equipped to provide the aftermarket services necessary to keep the A380 in the skies.

Goodrich Corporation, a Fortune 500 company, is a global supplier of systems and services to aerospace, defense and homeland security markets. With one of the most strategically diversified portfolios of products in the industry, Goodrich serves a global customer base with significant worldwide manufacturing and service facilities.


I did not know that the US tire manufacturer was so em - diversified. I'm impressed and am also midly relieved none of the slides 'deflated' and caused anyone injury. :)

[atakacs]

I did not know that the US tire manufacturer was so em - diversified. I'm impressed and am also midly relieved none of the slides 'deflated' and caused anyone injury.

I believe the tires business was sold to Michelin long ago... :)

[PAXboy]

From the Goodrich PR blurb: ... and flight controls that take advantage of the latest power by wire technology. I'll bet Thomas Alva Edison wished he'd thought of that! :p

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