Open aircraft windows

Easy to follow. No jargon. Pictures helped. Didn't match my screen. Incorrect instructions. Too technical. Not enough information. Not enough pictures. Any additional feedback? Submit feedback. First, cabin pressure is achieved by utilizing what every jet engine airliner already has on it; the jet engines.

A jet engine is already working as a giant compressor. The blades inside suck air in and compress it. When fuel is injected into compressed air, the resulting expansion or explosion turns another set of blades and flows out of the exhaust, creating thrust. Cabins are pressurized by air that is redirected from between the compression and combustion stages. However, this air is very hot after being suddenly compressed, so it must be cooled before it is forced into the cabin.

This brings the cabin pressure to approximately equal to what ambient pressure is at feet above sea level. The pressure is kept there because if it were higher, say, equal to that of sea level, a greater amount of pressure would be applied to the skin of the aircraft from the inside, and risk damage on the fuselage. Bringing the pressure to the equivalent of what it is at feet allows minimal hypoxia among passengers maybe some mild sleepiness and minimal pressure on the aircraft. So, what causes depressurization in flights when it does happen?

Historically, a variety of situations have caused it. Examples include a slow leak through a cracked window, sudden structural damage to the fuselage, or a mechanical error in the compression system.

Whatever causes it, the results can be devastating if not dealt with in a correct manner. First, automatic sensors will sense the loss of cabin pressure and immediately deploy oxygen masks. Hypoxia takes place very quickly and accelerates with altitude, so in a worst-case scenario, the time before a loss of consciousness could be seconds.

Simultaneously, the sudden loss of pressure can cause pain and damage to the eardrums and mucous membranes. This is because small pockets of air in the human body such as in the middle ear and sinuses will suddenly expand, often causing pain and minor bleeding. The temperature is also going to drop dramatically, as the temperature equalizes with the low temperatures outside. Air will rush from inside the cabin to wherever the breach is, potentially taking with it large objects even passengers if the hole, and corresponding air rush, is large enough.

This will stop as the pressure equalizes. Improve this question. Add a comment. Active Oldest Votes. Improve this answer.

Thunderstrike Thunderstrike Glad I never got to try that one. Depressurizing is accomplished first, along with slowing down. The 2 airplanes I've seen that as a checklist branch, didn't list any max airspeed for it.

Naturally, you can't be pressurized if you have a window open. Ralgha Ralgha 2, 19 19 silver badges 22 22 bronze badges. Sign up or log in Sign up using Google. Sign up using Facebook. Sign up using Email and Password. Post as a guest Name. Email Required, but never shown. Featured on Meta. New post summary designs on greatest hits now, everywhere else eventually.