FAA: No more emergency oxygen in airplane lavatories

[Newsjock]

Source: MSNBC

Citing security concerns, the federal government in secrecy last month ordered every airline in the United States to remove emergency oxygen in every lavatory on all 6,000 domestic commercial aircraft.

Under Air Worthiness Directive 2011-04-09, made public this week, the Federal Aviation Administration directed all airlines to disable the lavatory oxygen generators to "eliminate a potential safety and security vulnerability.”

That means that if there’s a sudden loss of cabin pressure, now only those passengers at their seats will have oxygen flowing to the masks that drop down from the ceiling.

“I’m in shock,” said Kate Hanni, executive director of Flyersrights.org, a nonprofit airline passengers' rights organization. “We get reports of mid-air decompression events all the time. So now going to the bathroom on a commercial flight can kill you? I’m panicking just thinking about this.”

Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42015889/ns/travel-news

[Jackpine Radical]

1. Gives new meaning to the phrase

"Shit out of luck."

[babylonsister]

6. lol! nt

[w4rma]

2. It's going to be one security "patch" after another, forever, at this rate. (nt)

[targetpractice]

3. Any data about how often "emergency oxygen" saved lives?

Seriously... How many people have been saved because of "seat cushion flotation devices" or "drop down oxygen masks" after a plane crash? Those things seem pretty theoretical to me.

[physioex]

4. True enough...

I am done with the "lectures" at the beginning of each flight.

[DLnyc]

9. Maybe one every year or two

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncontrolled_decompression

Scroll down for table of events

========
. . .
TAM flight 9755 2001 Fokker 100 Accident 1/82 Rapid decompression Window ruptured by shrapnel after engine failure<24>
China Airlines Flight 611 2002 Boeing 747-200B Accident 225/225 Explosive decompression Metal fatigue
Helios Airways Flight 522 2005 Boeing 737-31S Accident 121/121 Gradual decompression The pressurization system was set to manual for the entire flight, resulting in a failure to pressurize the cabin.<25>
Alaska Airlines Flight 536 2005 McDonnell Douglas MD-80 Incident 0/140 + crew Rapid decompression Failure of operator to report collision involving a baggage loading cart at the departure gate. Decompressed at 26,000 feet
Qantas Flight 30 2008 Boeing 747-438 Incident 0/365 Rapid decompression<26> Fuselage ruptured by explosion of an oxygen cylinder
Southwest Airlines Flight 2294 2009 Boeing 737-300 Incident 0/126 + 5 crew Rapid decompression 1 square foot (0.1 m2) hole blown in fuselage during flight.<27> Metal fatigue
===========

[WinkyDink]

17. Google News is more helpful.

[DemoTex]

25. August 8, 2001 - MD-82 over West Virginia at 35,000 feet (I was the captain)

146 pax + 4 FAs + 2 pilots

Subtle decompression that was not detected by the CAWS (Central Aural Warning System). Compounding the problem for the passengers, the oxygen masks did not deploy automatically. In other words, multiple simultaneous system failures on the MD-82.

My first officer deployed the masks manually, and I did an emergency descent from 35,000 to 10,000 feet (spoilers deployed and speed at the barber-pole). A passenger in the lavatory in such a descent would have a hard time making it out of the lav, much less back to a seat or to a flight attendant with a portable O-2 bottle. We landed at Pittsburgh with some frightened peeps in the cabin, but not a scratch on anyone.

My guess is that the pilot unions like ALPA will raise the bullshit flag high on this one. I know that I would never leave the gate without a passenger oxygen system that was 100% functional (or MEL'd with appropriate precautions), including lavatories. If a lavatory oxygen system were inop, that lav would be locked for the flight if other lavs were available with oxygen.

The FAA also needs to think about a scenario where one of the cockpit crew makes a necessary visit to a lavatory in-flight. What if there were an explosive decompression and that pilot becomes incapacitated in the oxygen-less lavatory? Do they really want a solo pilot handling a decompression emergency?

On edit: Pressurization malfunctions and loss of pressurization are much more common than you might think. I would guess one or two per day in the US. Most, like my pressurization emergency, have a happy ending and never make the news.

[WinkyDink]

16. Hello? This year:

http://avherald.com/h?article=4391c038

http://www.montereyherald.com/local/ci_17377591?nclick_check=1

http://avherald.com/h?article=438a180d&opt=0

[Historic NY]

5. BOKYAGB

[thecrow]

7. Why don't they just outlaw planes and be done with it?

I mean... really?

[marybourg]

8. I was on a plane that had a "decompression event." The masks

did come down. No-one put them on. Not even the flight crew. Everyone was just thrown over the seat in front of them screaming (soundlessly) as the plane dove down to 10,000 ft (from 33,000). Everyone survived.

[uppityperson]

10. I read they are doing this because they could be easily used to cause a sudden fire

bomb. Here is another DU link on this and explaining about why

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=607567&mesg_id=607985

Post further downthread there http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=post&forum=439&topic_id=607567&mesg_id=608201

[TheEuclideanOne]

11. I support it 100%. Applaud it actually.

I did not read the link, but assumed that it was something similar to that. The reason that I am happy to hear this news is that it is the first time I heard a security suggestion that did not involved something that already happened. All of the "After the fact" fixes seemed like a waste to me.

[Bette Noir]

13. Something did happen, recently.

Sorry I don't have a link, but I heard on the radio within the last two weeks that someone faked GI distress and spent the whole flight in the head with the door locked. After landing, it was discovered that the cargo hold had been entered through the head, and much money that was being transported as cargo was missing.

I found a link, but not a convincing one: http://www.travelmonitor.com.au/news/weird-news/airline-passenger-stages-daring-robbery-from-the-toilet.html Maybe the whole thing was a rumor, or a hoax. Given the timing, though, I think it may have been the inspiration for the new restriction.

[SoapBox]

12. “We get reports of mid-air decompression events all the time."

Huh?

Really? From where? Who? What carrier?

I currently work for a LARGE airline and I haven't
heard of any decompressions.

Come on lady...give us the specifics of Who, What, Where and When.

[Kolesar]

14. Indeed...eom

[groundloop]

15. That's not a bad move....

It wouldn't be difficult to cause some serious chaos with an oxygen bottle and something flammable.

As far as “We get reports of mid-air decompression events all the time. So now going to the bathroom on a commercial flight can kill you? I’m panicking just thinking about this.” - I call BS.

[Thor_MN]

20. There is no "Oxygen Bottle"

They use Oxygen generators, which produce Oxygen as a result of a chemical reaction, triggered by a pressure drop, when the device is triggered.

Now if there is a generator device in the lav that could be triggered manually, that would be something to remove. If they are merely remove the mask and tubing that pipes the O2 in from a device located out of reach from the lav, it's just another "We want you to feel safe because we are doing something."

I suggest that they also relocate the Flangistan valves out of the reach of the passenger compartments, such that they could not be manipulated by a terriast. That will keep us safe. That being said, relocating the valves will require all attractive people between the ages of 21 and 30 to fly topless.

[FLPanhandle]

18. I'm not worried

I've flown on about 50 flights per year for over 20 years. Never had a decompression event. Compared to the real risks of flying this is negligible. If someone is "panicking just thinking about this", they wouldn't even dream of getting in the shower to get ready for the flight or drive to the airport. Two things that have a higher chance of killing you.

[daleo]

27. I have been on thousands of car trips without an accident

But that doesn't mean car accidents don't happen.

[Vinca]

19. Well, I guess is any of the bad guys hadn't considered igniting oxygen in the rest rooms,

they know about it now. Happy flying everyone!

[rug]

21. As long as they don't remove the gas masks.

[GeorgeGist]

22. Next up ...

eliminating fuel tanks.

[gtar100]

23. Typical conservative / repug type of solution to a problem.

I've heard other ideas for enhancing security, but this is what they come up with to implement.

They must feel clever.

[MikeW]

24. Im worried ... sometimes you need it to breath depending on whos been in there before you

:rofl:

[PfcHammer]

26. They'll have to pass out diapers because nobody will leave their seats

to use the toilet now.