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/

Always thought it is odd when I hear the announcement in some countries to disarm the slides while the plane is still moving.

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......

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?

Isn't the first time and won't be the last. It doesn't matter how good your procedures are, with the number of times it's done eventually someone will find a hole.

There but for the grace of the deity .....

Nothing to see, move along. Slap on the wrist, take a few days off, back to work next week.

https://s.yimg.com/ea/img/-/160525/5...QxdzQyn7EOYA--

By the way, that looks steep!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Qf doors are opened from outside.

What metroman said

Good to see the slide worked as advertised !

That's the procedure for JQ as well.

I've only flown two jet types, neither had automatically disarming doors.

Cabin Manager should be at L1. L2 is never used so not sure why the handle was moved?

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.

Yeah mate,that's exactly how it works(there's a little bit more detail to it,but no need to go there),a huge lack of concentration on cabin crews part,or some form of personal statement.Ive had 2 slide deployments by the crew,the first,brand new CC on first trip off IOE,the second at the gate,into the jetway,mis communication between jetway driver and lead CC.Different procedures for different airlines for sure,but no matter the procedure,not a cheap fix.I see it as job security for some,a job loss for others

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!!