How do plane evacuations work?
 

The recent BA38 plane evacuation got me wondering again about how plane evacuations work.

Specifically, I'm wondering about those passengers who need assistance in boarding the aircraft. Do flight attendants know where they sit and assist them? Or is it just nearby passengers who usually pitch in to help? It seems like it would be difficult for some of the less mobile to get out the slides, though I don't know (thankfully!) how hard it is to maneuver out the slides.

Also curious about the pilots. Do they exit the cockpit and go out the slides in the passenger section? There's not an exit for them up there in the cockpit, is there?

And note, this is in reference to an instance like the BA38 evacuation, where the plane is not torn open or anything like that, and an exit down the slides is fairly (under the circumstances, anyway) feasible.

I believe the flight crew CAN exit through roof hatches....I suspect they didn't at LHR...

Can't even hazard a guess as to your other question...

The only airplane that I know of with a roof hatch is the Saab 340. There might be more but it isn't common.

The pilot's side windows are emergency exits. They have escape ropes positioned in the ceiling which can be used to lower oneself out the window. Going out the passenger door on the slide would be the preferred method when possible.

The other thing I've wondered about is how do they get people's baggage off the plane? Is it still on the BA plane? What if you keep your passport, money, etc. in your bag which you're told to leave behind?

Lets not forget the L-1011.

Once the airplane is secure, and doing so will not interfere with the investigation, the baggage will be removed and returned to the passengers.

I can't forget what I never knew. I've never had the pleasure of being on board an L1011.

LarryJ explained it the same way I heard it.

I once had the chance of joining a friend on a flight on which he was the first officer. I was sitting in the jump seat in the cockpit of the 767. The captain did the safety instructions for me and said if we need to evacuate the preferred exit will be through the cockpit door to exit 1L or 1R. He said only if for whatever reason it is not possible to get out this way they would use the rope and climb out the window.

I use a wheelchair and need an aisle chair to board and deplane. I'd say on about 1/3 of my flights, the FAs do not appear to be aware of this, even though it's theoretically on the manifest and I was hauled on the plane like luggage right in front of them. So my best guess answer to your question is "probably not".

In a planned evacuation, the FA would assign a "buddy" to help a non-ambulatory pax. In an unplanned evacuation, the FAs would come to you when the aisle is clear and assist you off the plane, even if that means dragging you out.:eek:

Can you give an example of a planned evacuation?

When the landing gear will not come down, you are going to need to evacuate the aircraft upon landing.

I was recently on a flight where a gentleman, around 3-400 lbs was in an isle seat (literally wedged in there). I do not know what his situation was but he *appeared* to be catatonic. It took 4 FAs to lift him from his wheelchair into the seat. What do airlines do about those passengers? Not only was he immobile but as well he was blocking the two passengers in the middle and window seat.

You open up the exit doors and get the hell out?

I suspect that people like that simply play the odds, which usually turn out in their favor.

In an accident, if they think about it all, the FAs will triage the situation and POS who cannot help themselves will be evacuated last, if time allows.

More common than you think. 747, Do-328, and I believe the Dash-8, CRJs, and ERJs.

At one company I worked for on the 727, the f/o was supposed to exit the most rear-ward exit. Usually the aft airstairs. It made absoutely no sense, the f/o has to climb over the f/e and then go aft rather than going out his window exit.