Many people think that skydiving is the fastest way to escape from the plane, but things are not so simple.
When flying, passengers know that each seat is equipped with a personal oxygen mask and a life jacket. Here are 2 escape measures for each passenger. In addition, the plane also has emergency exits with lifebuoys with lights on the floor for people to follow in case of an emergency.
According to the imagination of many tourists, umbrellas can be the fastest way to escape in emergency situations. However, according to international organizations for aviation safety, parachutes are considered an unsuitable escape device on civil flights.
Although the escape device is not suitable for passengers. Photo: Unsplash
At first, it was not possible to parachute from the passenger compartment because civil aircraft usually operate at an altitude of 10 km (aircraft reach this altitude or more after take-off and maintain throughout the journey), Average speed is 910 km/h. If a jump is made, the body will burst or stick to the fuselage. "Even if you're trained to skydive, the conditions around you won't allow it," said Jim Crouch, Safety and Training Director for the American Parachute Association. Crouch also points out that temperatures at this altitude are typically -17 degrees Celsius or colder. This can cause the eyes, mouth, and nose to freeze immediately. The lungs also expand rapidly.
This American expert also added, starting from an altitude of about 4.5 km, passengers need to be provided with oxygen because when opening the parachute, the plane will not be pressurized, the human body will be under great pressure. If the plane is below the above altitude, if there is a problem, it will land at a very fast speed.
In addition, even in cases where it is possible to jump from such a height or lower, psychology is also an important factor. Not all passengers are capable of independent skydiving. This requires professional training. When a person panics, his/her actions will become out of control. Chances are, having to jump out of the plane will cause chaos, blocking the plane's exit doors, making emergency handling more difficult.
In addition, retrofitting a parachute also costs more. While they are expensive, they add to the weight of the aircraft, which means more fuel is needed and flights are more expensive.
The next problem is the weather. Accidents often happen when the weather is bad, but such circumstances also make using parachutes very dangerous.
