How hot is too hot aboard an airliner? The law doesn't say

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press


Thomas Peipert, Associated Press
 Updated 5:04 pm, Friday, July 14, 2017





DENVER (AP) — Every day, tens of thousands of U.S. airline passengers settle into their seats, lower the window shades and reach up to twist the air vents without the benefit of something that might do even more to keep them cool: a rule setting temperature limits inside the cabin.

Airlines have their own guidelines — some allowing the mercury to hit 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 Celsius) — and federal regulations cover air flow and, more generally, passenger safety and comfort.
 
But nowhere do authorities say how hot is too hot when a plane is sitting on the ground — a fact illustrated this summer when a mother holding her beet-red infant had to plead to be let off a broiling regional jet stuck on the tarmac at Denver International Airport.
 
Emily France said she and her 4-month-old son, Owen, sweltered aboard the 50-seat "oven with wings" for more than an hour June 22 before it returned to the gate and passengers were allowed off briefly.

Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/us/article/How-hot-is-too-hot-aboard-an-airliner-The-law-11289655.php

[greymattermom]

1. Just look up the temperature and air flow requirements for caged laboratory mice

that would be a good start.

[Not Ruth]

2. It can be cultural

I have flown where the temps would not be acceptable to Americans. JAL is known to set cabin temps at 82F, and Etihad possibly higher.

[rickford66]

3. Not to get too technical, but aircraft a/c packs need cold ram air.

I've simulated these systems many times. Engine bleed air is used to keep the aircraft pressurized. It is run through a "pack" which extracts heat by driving a turbine. This alone is not enough to cool the bleed air. There are one or more heat exchangers which rely on cold ram air during flight to operate. On the ground, since there is no ram air, a ground fan blows air across the heat exchanges, but it's obviously outside hot air in this case. The heat exchanger efficiency is reduced quite a bit. At the gate a ground cart supplies conditioned air, but once you're taxiing, it's hard to cool the cabin. Also, on some aircraft, the packs are turned off close to and during takeoff, so as to not reduce engine bleed air use which reduces engine power somewhat.

[dembotoz]

4. Thank you

Good explanation

[Turbineguy]

5. Thanks!