Transport aircraft crew and decompression hazards: study of a positive pressure schedule
Marotte, H.; Toure, C.; Florence, G.; Lejeune, D.; Kerguelen, M.
Aviation Space and Environmental Medicine 61(8): 690-694
1990
ISSN/ISBN: 0095-6562 PMID: 2205195 Document Number: 354096
The protection of the transport aircraft crew against cabin decompression hazardsat high altitude (Z < 45,000 ft) (13,700 m) is achieved by positive pressure breathing (PPB). Currently, many PPB schedules are used. Our research was performed to propose a PPB schedule, using the hypothesis of a decompression at high altitude, including a stay at the flight level and an emergency descent at the rate of 15,000 ft .cntdot. min-1. The measures were arterial oxygen saturation, heart rate, speech capabilities, and psychomotor performance. The tests were conducted up to 45,000 ft. They show that the best protection at 45,000 ft is afforded when the PPB is included between 2 and 2.5 kPa (15 to 18.75 mm Hg).