Aircraft crew deploys emergency slide by accident
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: PA
Age: 59
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Aircraft crew deploys emergency slide by accident
a big oops..
The aircraft’s emergency slide accidentally deployed after the Airbus A321 taxied into the gate at Tullamarine airport about 9.30am.
“The aircraft was slowly taxiing into the bay when the slide was deployed about 10 metres from its final stop,’’ he said.
https://au.news.yahoo.com/vic/a/3169...ew-stood-down/
The aircraft’s emergency slide accidentally deployed after the Airbus A321 taxied into the gate at Tullamarine airport about 9.30am.
“The aircraft was slowly taxiing into the bay when the slide was deployed about 10 metres from its final stop,’’ he said.
https://au.news.yahoo.com/vic/a/3169...ew-stood-down/
TBF you've got to make the announcement at some point and if somebody is going to have finger trouble I don't think it makes any difference whether the aircraft is moving or not...
Also if the slide blows after you've parked I suspect there's more chance of the thing hitting ground crew......
Also if the slide blows after you've parked I suspect there's more chance of the thing hitting ground crew......
Last edited by wiggy; 25th May 2016 at 07:45.
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Soon to be out of the EU.
Posts: 0
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Disarming when still moving when the pax are seated means the exits are completely clear and there are no distractions so the doors can be disarmed and (depending on airline) cross checked with the door opposite. Should anything happen between disarming and getting steps to the doors, rearming the doors in the bus takes a second.
A certain A320 operator in Europe did this a few years back and to my knowledge has not had an accidental slide deployment since. I believe it was found that passengers got in the way and also distracted the crew. So they overhauled their disarming procedures, and a checked to confirm that they are disarmed, and once again double checked before opening each door. Each time a door is opened (in normal ops) two crew are required.
Do Qantas group airlines cross check their doors? I heard that they stopped doing that. And do Jetstar use 2L for boarding on the A321?
A certain A320 operator in Europe did this a few years back and to my knowledge has not had an accidental slide deployment since. I believe it was found that passengers got in the way and also distracted the crew. So they overhauled their disarming procedures, and a checked to confirm that they are disarmed, and once again double checked before opening each door. Each time a door is opened (in normal ops) two crew are required.
Do Qantas group airlines cross check their doors? I heard that they stopped doing that. And do Jetstar use 2L for boarding on the A321?
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Wor Yerm
Age: 68
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You make an interesting point Buster. It makes you wonder what sort of angle the slide would be if the right main gear collapsed.
And here is the interesting question. Excluding the 737, why do we insist on disarming the slides and opening the doors ourselves? What is the benefit? Virtually all aircraft will self-disarm the slides if the doors or opened from the outside. By allowing ground crews to open doors you reduce the possibility of finger trouble but more importantly, reduce cabin crews' door opening repertoire to 'in emergency only'. The benefit of that is when push comes to shove, a disarmed door won't be opened in error. It speaks volumes for cabin crew that this has rarely happened but emergencies they need all the help we can give them.
And here is the interesting question. Excluding the 737, why do we insist on disarming the slides and opening the doors ourselves? What is the benefit? Virtually all aircraft will self-disarm the slides if the doors or opened from the outside. By allowing ground crews to open doors you reduce the possibility of finger trouble but more importantly, reduce cabin crews' door opening repertoire to 'in emergency only'. The benefit of that is when push comes to shove, a disarmed door won't be opened in error. It speaks volumes for cabin crew that this has rarely happened but emergencies they need all the help we can give them.
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Australia
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
On our recent Kiwi flight Air NZ disarmed the doors after we had come to a halt and engines stopped. Thought that was interesting. They also had full cabin service when the seat belt signs were on. Said 'their safety wasn't important' as they trundled past with drinks and food.
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Western Pacific
Posts: 721
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I believe that you have to open the door before the slide will deploy. If so, that was one major stuff up - opening the door instead of disarming it, particularly while moving.
Okape..very insightful.
As Capt Claret has said, there but for the grace of... On the rare occasions I've been involved in opening the things I've always quitely breathed a sigh of relief when it all went as advertised...these days I delegate door problems to the F/O (coward, me...)...
We used to have that as our SOP, it changed a few years back, can't remember why.
As Capt Claret has said, there but for the grace of... On the rare occasions I've been involved in opening the things I've always quitely breathed a sigh of relief when it all went as advertised...these days I delegate door problems to the F/O (coward, me...)...
why do we insist on disarming the slides and opening the doors ourselves? What is the benefit? Virtually all aircraft will self-disarm the slides if the doors or opened from the outside. By allowing ground crews to open doors you reduce the possibility of finger trouble but more importantly, reduce cabin crews' door opening repertoire to 'in emergency only'.
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: UK
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
This happens far more times than gets reported! Always costly and the biggest fear is that ground crew might get hit, they come out at quite a speed.
Crew opening doors is partly an OTP reason along with the hassle of getting all the handling agents to have different procedures for different airlines becomes a headache. Disarming whilst moving is also because as soon as the Aircraft stops, pax get up and start moving about. Giving the crew a few moments of space to concentrate while pulling onto stand is supposed to reduce events.
There's a large amount of human factors behind events like these. Like pulling the pin out with the same arm and same way every time. Dis-arming motor memory discipline.
Crew opening doors is partly an OTP reason along with the hassle of getting all the handling agents to have different procedures for different airlines becomes a headache. Disarming whilst moving is also because as soon as the Aircraft stops, pax get up and start moving about. Giving the crew a few moments of space to concentrate while pulling onto stand is supposed to reduce events.
There's a large amount of human factors behind events like these. Like pulling the pin out with the same arm and same way every time. Dis-arming motor memory discipline.
The person disarming that door is the Cabin Manager so questions will be asked about their experience and training. Given the current CASA spotlight on Jetstar this is not a good look.
You make an interesting point Buster. It makes you wonder what sort of angle the slide would be if the right main gear collapsed.
And here is the interesting question. Excluding the 737, why do we insist on disarming the slides and opening the doors ourselves? What is the benefit? Virtually all aircraft will self-disarm the slides if the doors or opened from the outside. By allowing ground crews to open doors you reduce the possibility of finger trouble but more importantly, reduce cabin crews' door opening repertoire to 'in emergency only'. The benefit of that is when push comes to shove, a disarmed door won't be opened in error. It speaks volumes for cabin crew that this has rarely happened but emergencies they need all the help we can give them.
And here is the interesting question. Excluding the 737, why do we insist on disarming the slides and opening the doors ourselves? What is the benefit? Virtually all aircraft will self-disarm the slides if the doors or opened from the outside. By allowing ground crews to open doors you reduce the possibility of finger trouble but more importantly, reduce cabin crews' door opening repertoire to 'in emergency only'. The benefit of that is when push comes to shove, a disarmed door won't be opened in error. It speaks volumes for cabin crew that this has rarely happened but emergencies they need all the help we can give them.
What metroman said
Bottums Up
Virtually all aircraft will self-disarm the slides if the doors or opened from the outside.
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Asia
Posts: 1,030
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
he person disarming that door is the Cabin Manager so questions will be asked about their experience and training. Given the current CASA spotlight on Jetstar this is not a good look.
I have read stories in the US about disengaged staff members causing trouble and opening slides.
Simple, put it down to a brain fart. It happens, humans make mistakes, without knowing the exact details I can almost guarantee that someone intended to disarm a door and they lifted the handle to open the door by mistake.
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Porirua
Posts: 77
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The procedure for dis-arming the doors is very simple,and a co-ordinated system,those of us on the Bus are familiar.I ve talked to trainers of CC,most say the arming/dis-arming of the doors is one if not the biggest issue.I believe a TUI billboard could be the order of the day....YEAH RIGHT!!
Last edited by Pakehaboy; 25th May 2016 at 15:37.