Originally Posted by
LHR/MEL/Europe FF
I think dssxxxx was responding to the OP, not you?
That's the problem with not quoting, I suppose.
And I agree with them. If you have the slightest doubt, or if you are in the mind-frame that your first line of thinking is 'you don't know unless you've tried it' then you probably shouldn't be sitting in the exit.
How would I have any way of knowing for certain without trying? If that's so much of an issue, each airport should have one of each type and you should have to go and get your boarding card stamped to say you've tried it. The idea is not completely silly - theme parks often have an example seat outside rides for you to try to be sure, and I do tend to use these to check because I'm borderline on height/weight for a lot of rides, so they save queueing up for a ride I can't get on.
They don't do this at airports, though...
I am strongly of the view that I can open one without problems - I can't see any rational reason why I wouldn't be able to. But how can I, you or anyone else say for 100% certain if they haven't tried? About anything at all, let alone opening an aircraft exit door?
If I was saying "I might panic and freeze" that would be different, but I'm not saying that (though it is true that few people know exactly how they will react under extreme pressure unless they've been in a situation involving fear and a high risk of death, which most people fortunately haven't). FWIW I have been in such a situation (in the mountains), and I'm pretty sure my reaction based on that experience is that I'll be out before you even have chance to get to my row.
But let's say there's a tree outside my window (there is, as well). I might believe I can climb it by looking. How can I be 100% sure unless I try?
See what I mean?
Rather than thinking 'i don't know' you should be doing a quick check-list in your mind 'check for fire, remove cover, pull handle, throw out door'.
The two are unconnected. You can plan to open the door without ever having done so!
As for 'evacuate evacuate' - it may be that you never hear such an instruction, for a variety of reasons. you need to be ready to act even in the absence of such an instruction.
I was figuring that in the absence of that coming from the cabin crew I might well issue it myself. You tend to find that if you issue complete strangers in a state of confusion/fear[1] a very assertive and clear instruction, they will do it first and complain about you having done it later (or not, I suspect, if your doing so got them out of a burning aircraft). Psychology is a strange thing.
[1] I'm a volunteer climbing instructor so have a bit of experience of that.
Neil