DL 767-300 decompression (DL 2353 9/18)
#33
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: 45 North
Programs: DL DM MM, HH Diamond
Posts: 10,196
IIRC, Leadville, CO is the highest incorporated town in the US at 10,152'. It has about 2800 people.
But looking outside of the US it's easy to find large populations at altitude.
La Rinconada, Peru: 16,732 with ~50,000 people
Nagqu, Tibet: 14,800 with ~42,000 people
Juliaca, Peru: 12,546 with ~216,000 people
Cusco, Peru:11,152 with ~428,000 people
El Alto, Bolivia: 13,620 with ~846,000 people
Quite a few more of varying sizes: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_highest_cities
But looking outside of the US it's easy to find large populations at altitude.
La Rinconada, Peru: 16,732 with ~50,000 people
Nagqu, Tibet: 14,800 with ~42,000 people
Juliaca, Peru: 12,546 with ~216,000 people
Cusco, Peru:11,152 with ~428,000 people
El Alto, Bolivia: 13,620 with ~846,000 people
Quite a few more of varying sizes: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_highest_cities
#34
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,830
At altitude, effects of hypoxia are measurable in just a few seconds, HOWEVER, that doesn't render you dead/unable to do anything.
For a good example of how you get 'loopy' at altitude, go into youtube and search for "Kalitta Hypoxia" for the ATC recordings of a Kalitta flight that decompressed without the pilots fully grasping what was going on. Back at 16,000 or so, you'll hear how much more coherent the pilots are vs the 30,000 decompression
For a good example of how you get 'loopy' at altitude, go into youtube and search for "Kalitta Hypoxia" for the ATC recordings of a Kalitta flight that decompressed without the pilots fully grasping what was going on. Back at 16,000 or so, you'll hear how much more coherent the pilots are vs the 30,000 decompression
#36
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: BOS ORD (via MSP) and occasionally AUG and MWN
Programs: UA 2P. Former DL FO in the Golden Age of Mileage Runs
Posts: 139
Even 14-15k feet isn't as bad.
If you stay at 14k feet long term, hypoxia is possible, but useful consciousness is ~30 mins or more.
The scary thing is explosive decompression at max cruise altitude. Useful consciousness is ~5 seconds. If you aren't quick with oxygen mask or at least the autopilot altitude selector, you're toast.
If you stay at 14k feet long term, hypoxia is possible, but useful consciousness is ~30 mins or more.
The scary thing is explosive decompression at max cruise altitude. Useful consciousness is ~5 seconds. If you aren't quick with oxygen mask or at least the autopilot altitude selector, you're toast.
#38
In memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2005
Location: PIT
Programs: DM life is over 2MM PM now & NW MillionAir Wyndham Rewards Plat -Hotels.com Silver -Accor Silver
Posts: 15,408
#39
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Houston
Programs: UA 1K and Million Miler, *A Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hertz Five Star,
Posts: 1,301
#40
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: PDX
Programs: AA LT PLT (3.6+ MM), UA 1K LT Gold, Hilton LT Diamond, Bonvoy Gold.
Posts: 1,655
Even 14-15k feet isn't as bad.
If you stay at 14k feet long term, hypoxia is possible, but useful consciousness is ~30 mins or more.
The scary thing is explosive decompression at max cruise altitude. Useful consciousness is ~5 seconds. If you aren't quick with oxygen mask or at least the autopilot altitude selector, you're toast.
If you stay at 14k feet long term, hypoxia is possible, but useful consciousness is ~30 mins or more.
The scary thing is explosive decompression at max cruise altitude. Useful consciousness is ~5 seconds. If you aren't quick with oxygen mask or at least the autopilot altitude selector, you're toast.
As you likely know, at max cruise altitude (above 35k ft.) one of the pilots SHOULD be wearing an O2 mask full time as per FAR 91.211. It's a well know fact that this is one of the most disregarded rules in the aviation industry. But this episode is there to remind us why that rules exists....
#41
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: PDX
Programs: AA LT PLT (3.6+ MM), UA 1K LT Gold, Hilton LT Diamond, Bonvoy Gold.
Posts: 1,655
Yes, but you don't go from 8k to 14k in a couple of seconds. Also people who climb up peaks like that are likely a bit fitter then your average passenger. Thirdly there is an FAR on O2. Simply stated -As a pilot you have to use supplemental oxygen if you fly more than 30 minutes at cabin pressure altitudes of 12,500 feet or higher. And that at cabin altitudes above 14,000 feet pilots must use oxygen at all times. And that above 15,000 feet each occupant of the aircraft must be provided supplemental oxygen. All of this is spelled out in Federal Aviation Regulations Part 91.211.
#43
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: LAS
Programs: DL PM, Honors Gold, Marriott Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 894
I read a story today about a teenager who got stabbed and a significant number of people stood by and filmed him bleeding out instead of calling 911. I worry that this will be the demise of our society, and it is why I absolutely insist on people following all the take-off and landing rules. I can't be sure that the jamoke next to me is going to get out of the way in an emergency, or stop to facebook live the whole thing
#44
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Economy, mostly :(
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 7,801
As you likely know, at max cruise altitude (above 35k ft.) one of the pilots SHOULD be wearing an O2 mask full time as per FAR 91.211. It's a well know fact that this is one of the most disregarded rules in the aviation industry. But this episode is there to remind us why that rules exists....
except that the one pilot need not wear and use an oxygen mask while at or below flight level 410 if there are two pilots at the controls and each pilot has a quick-donning type of oxygen mask that can be placed on the face with one hand from the ready position within 5 seconds, supplying oxygen and properly secured and sealed.
That being said I'm surprised that despite the above this is rather a strict rule and the next paragraph does require one pilot to wear the mask while the other is out of their seat (e.g. during a crew member change or lav break)
#45
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Atlanta
Programs: DL PM, Hertz PC, HH Dia
Posts: 246
As you likely know, at max cruise altitude (above 35k ft.) one of the pilots SHOULD be wearing an O2 mask full time as per FAR 91.211. It's a well know fact that this is one of the most disregarded rules in the aviation industry. But this episode is there to remind us why that rules exists....