Empty Exit Row
 

The other day, I was on a rather light-load UX flight, sitting in my usual Exit Row seat...The FA came around, as they always do and addressed me personally, asking if I was 'up to the challenge'. (There was no one sitting in the row on the opposing side).

Got me thinking...If I say no, and ask to be re-seated, and no one takes the seat, who is going to assist the crew in an emergency?

Shouldn't a more appropriate FAA requirement be that one able and willing body is required to sit near each exit on a plane? I've been on many flights where the Exit Rows were empty--UX and mainline...

I know for a fact that should something happen, I'd assist the crew, and would be able to get the exit window open even if not seated there and not having read the pamphlet...But shouldn't more bases be covered (all technically and methodically speaking here) insuring that there is someone there to open the window in case of an emergency?

Just the random thoughts going through my head on a short, but boring ACA flight.

Any of us who are civic minded and think of others will agree 100%.

I always offer to sit in the exit rows on 747s upstairs for that very reason. Even when no others want that row I take it. Everyone else's safety is my primary concern. Further away for the toilets and galley and stairs I realise than other seats, but someone has to offer.

In the case of a water landing 2000 miles from nearest land I promise the FA I will have that door open and be down the slide before she can even blow her whistle. They always smile at my public spirited attitude. And then bring another glass of champagne.

Personally, I enjoy two varations that a certain two flight attendents on my usuall IAD-JAX ACA flights have to this exit row quick demo. They mean this in all seriousness.

1) Please take the plastic cover off of the door handle and place it in the seatback in front of you.

-Ok, really, do you think I'm going to take the time to think about placing that cute little cover in the seatback in front of me?

2) Please take the plastic cover off of the door and throw it behind you.

-My coworker and I just about died laughing as soon as she left, and she said it completely serious. I can just see it, I toss it back, and bonk someone on the head.

NO! NO! NO! You didn't listen to the safety announcements. In the event of a water landing your emergency exit is downstairs. You only get to open the upstairs door for a land landing. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Upstairs on a 747? Water landing? I hope the FAs don't smile and bring you another glass of champagne for that declaration. In the event of a water landing on a 747 it should be pointed out to you verbally and on the safety card that you are to only use the downstairs emergency exits.

Ooops. BrisbanePE and I writing at the same time.

[This message has been edited by PremEx (edited 04-10-2003).]

Well with the water landing it all depends on the situation. If you look out the window from upstairs and see that downstairs is already submerged, then I would certainly be jumping from up top. Hopefully into a life raft from down below. I don't like the chances of everyone getting down the stairs and wrestling thru the mad panic to an exit door down there. It's bad enough at disembarkation http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

I guess all that Champagne nukes some grey matter. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

In any event a few hundred ton 747 doing an emergency water landing 2000 miles from nearest land - and that very likely being a small island country, it is really an academic point as to which door you "attempt" to exit from. I do not notice any UA 747s with sea-plane float pontoons. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

------------------
~ Glen ~

Come visit HERE the most ** FRIENDLY FORUM ** on FlyerTalk. No flame wars, no personal abuse, no substance abuse. Not much of anything really!


[This message has been edited by ozstamps (edited 04-10-2003).]

As the unfortunate 767 demonstrated off the coast of Africa a few years ago, in most cases of a water landing, you will likely exit from the nearest gaping hole in the plane. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

------------------
Brian/\/\

On a flight from ORD-AMS this past January there was nobody seated in the exit row in front of me. One of the flight attendants asked a PAX if she'd mind sitting there during takeoff and landing to help in case of an emergency. PAX moved there for the the takeoff then moved back to her seat.

------------------
Greetings from the land of 10,000+1 lakes.

MBS PremExec:
Some disjointed comments:
You can identify me at 12A.
Row 8 is my second choice. I am willing to remove the window but where will I go with it? Surf on Lake Michigan? (In case of the unlikely event of water landing?)

Midweek flights are always light load..., If they don't cancel a flight.
I had a weird streak in March when 7500 was canceled three Mondays in a row ! (Weather you know...). I was late to work.

Am gone in 2 hours to ORD for FRA->TLV tonight/morrow. Get to burn some of the new SWUs. Willl back in 12A on 7500 on 4/23.

It was actually an Airbus (not sure if an A300/310/330) that was under the control of a hijacker who came in like 90° to the x-axis. Though even a nice "belly landing" is going to shear the engines off, followed by the wings, and then it's "all she wrote".



[This message has been edited by SEA_Tigger (edited 04-10-2003).]

Actually, it was a 767-260ER. According to www.airdisaster.com it was under the control of the pilot, but the hijackers attacked him as the plane was ditching, causing it to veer.

He did a pretty good job I thought, crashing so close to land where rescuers could get to a lot of them with boats.

I always thought that the issue with a water "landing" was that if you open the top doors you provide an outlet for the air and thus the whole plane will rapidly flood and sink (if not already done so).

A few months ago an F/A told me that if it's not a crunch, go downstairs in a water landing. But, if the situation warrants it, screw that and use one of the exits upstairs.

I hope you haven't forgotten the flight where an upper deck door was torn off in mid-flight due to wear & tear near Hawaii and it took a number of biz pax along on its journey to the bottom of the Pacific. Wasn't it a UA flight? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Close, but no cigar. It was UA811, and it was the forward lower cargo door that opened due to a faulty latching mechanism:

From airdisaster.com

United Airlines flight 811 experienced an explosive decompression as it was climbing between 22,000 and 23,000 feet after taking off from Honolulu, Hawaii, en route to Auckland and Sydney. The airplane made a successful emergency landing at Honolulu and the occupants evacuated the airplane. Examination of the airplane revealed that the forward lower cargo door had separated in-flight and had caused extensive damage to the fuselage and cabin structure adjacent to the door. Nine of the passengers were ejected from the airplane and lost at sea.

Weren't these nine unfortunate ones close to the door which was ripped off?

Is a LOWER cargo door on a 747 anywhere near exit row 15 UPSTAIRS? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif