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Off-Topic Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: Sandwich on March 26, 2006, 05:40:02 pm

Title: Airbus Evacuation Trials Succeed; 33 Injured
Post by: Sandwich on March 26, 2006, 05:40:02 pm
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/world/3749345.html

[q]Airbus: A380 Passes Key Drill; 33 Injured

By CLAUS-PETER TIEMANN Associated Press Writer
© 2006 The Associated Press

HAMBURG, Germany — Thirty-three people suffered minor injuries Sunday during a crucial evacuation drill for the new Airbus A380 superjumbo jet.

One man broke his leg and 32 other people suffered minor injuries during the exercise in which 853 people and 20 crew members from airline Lufthansa AG exited the plane on slides in a darkened hangar.

Aviation authorities mandate specific evacuation times for jet models, and the drill was a critical test for the jet, which will be the world's largest passenger model when it begins commercial service.

The double-deck A380 can hold as many 873 people, including crew.

Despite the injuries, Airbus said the plane passed its test, with everybody out of the airplane in about 80 seconds. The European Aviation Safety Agency will confirm the test results this week. If the agency decides the test was a failure, the simulation would be repeated next Saturday.

Airbus had said that bringing 650 people out of the plane within 90 seconds would have been sufficient to meet safety requirements.

"That was a very great success," Airbus manager Gustav Humbert said after the test at its factory in the north German city of Hamburg.

Some of the injured suffered friction burns from sliding down the escape ramps, Airbus spokesman Tore Prang said.

Construction problems have delayed the introduction of the A380, the largest passenger plane in the world. So far, 16 customers have ordered 159 of the planes and the first examples were to go to Singapore Airlines at the end of the year.

Of the plane's 16 exits, just eight were used in the drill, which was mandatory for the A380 to receive its safety certification, Prang said.

Though the simulation was conducted inside a hangar, he said Airbus sought to make it as realistic as possible, strewing debris in the aisles.

Singapore Airlines is scheduled to take the first A380 delivery by year's end.[/q]
Title: Re: Airbus Evacuation Trials Succeed; 33 Injured
Post by: IceFire on March 26, 2006, 10:03:48 pm
Apparently injuries during evacuation trials on all major aircraft types are normal.  Its an unusual headline when you read into the details.
Title: Re: Airbus Evacuation Trials Succeed; 33 Injured
Post by: Rictor on March 26, 2006, 10:28:50 pm
In case you need to evacuate for real, a few bruises will be the least of your worries. Besides, it's only natural selection. That 90 year old woman was near death anyway, she didn't need her parachute.
Title: Re: Airbus Evacuation Trials Succeed; 33 Injured
Post by: Blue Lion on March 26, 2006, 11:48:02 pm
Makes you wonder if anyone died during one of these runs
Title: Re: Airbus Evacuation Trials Succeed; 33 Injured
Post by: Mars on March 27, 2006, 12:02:56 am
A broken leg would get you killed if it was for real.
Title: Re: Airbus Evacuation Trials Succeed; 33 Injured
Post by: Mefustae on March 27, 2006, 12:14:42 am
True, especially if you crash in water. I don't know about you guys, but i'm damn sure i'd use the weakest people as floatation devices... :nervous:
Title: Re: Airbus Evacuation Trials Succeed; 33 Injured
Post by: Porthos on March 27, 2006, 12:24:28 am
Heck, 99 times out of 100, when your in a plane crash of any form not involving a takeoff or a landing, your dead anyway. Why bother. lol
Title: Re: Airbus Evacuation Trials Succeed; 33 Injured
Post by: Prophet on March 27, 2006, 12:42:45 am
I know how they could do it in 10 seconds. Place explosive charges along the hull so that when accident happens, the walls blow off (without seriously harming anyone ofcourse). Then, a spring mechanism in the seats eject passengers trought the holes in the sides. Thus delivering the poor people out of harms way should the plane erupt in flames. It is likely that most of the passengers won't be walking anytime soon, but atleast they exit the plane alive.
If evacuation is needed while airborne, there is a parachute under every seat.

If someone finds a flaw in that plan gets Vorlon milk and cookies :p
Title: Re: Airbus Evacuation Trials Succeed; 33 Injured
Post by: Deepblue on March 27, 2006, 12:47:22 am
Vorlon milk???

Ummmm...
Title: Re: Airbus Evacuation Trials Succeed; 33 Injured
Post by: Prophet on March 27, 2006, 12:56:21 am
No! Not milk of a Vorlon! You filthy minded you... :hopping:

Milk imported by Vorlons. It's a delicacy. :nod:
Title: Re: Airbus Evacuation Trials Succeed; 33 Injured
Post by: Grug on March 27, 2006, 03:09:48 am
No! Not milk of a Vorlon! You filthy minded you... :hopping:

Milk imported by Vorlons. It's a delicacy. :nod:

:lol:
Served cold or warm...?
Title: Re: Airbus Evacuation Trials Succeed; 33 Injured
Post by: karajorma on March 27, 2006, 03:46:20 am
If someone finds a flaw in that plan gets Vorlon milk and cookies :p

I think the fact that the people are going to be 3-4 stories up when ejected at speed from the aircraft has to count as a major one :D
Title: Re: Airbus Evacuation Trials Succeed; 33 Injured
Post by: Prophet on March 27, 2006, 03:53:35 am
They can grab the parachute from under the seat :ha:
Title: Re: Airbus Evacuation Trials Succeed; 33 Injured
Post by: Mefustae on March 27, 2006, 04:05:40 am
...and just pray their seat isn't right in front of the bloody turbines!
Title: Re: Airbus Evacuation Trials Succeed; 33 Injured
Post by: Prophet on March 27, 2006, 04:21:44 am
It won't because the spring sends the passenger flying far and fast :ha:


Moving slightly towards the original topic: How big do you suppose these planes will get? In my small mind I belive it is more feasible to transport 400 people 5 times a day, than 2000 once a day. Though I kinda like the idea of a huge passenger plane that can darken the sun :cool:
Title: Re: Airbus Evacuation Trials Succeed; 33 Injured
Post by: Grug on March 27, 2006, 05:40:46 am
Flying will become redundant once they invent transport tubes.
Title: Re: Airbus Evacuation Trials Succeed; 33 Injured
Post by: Sandwich on March 27, 2006, 08:24:13 am
Heck, 99 times out of 100, when your in a plane crash of any form not involving a takeoff or a landing, your dead anyway. Why bother. lol

What kinds of plane crashes, pray tell, do not involve the plane taking off from the ground, or landing on the ground?
Title: Re: Airbus Evacuation Trials Succeed; 33 Injured
Post by: karajorma on March 27, 2006, 09:41:59 am
Ever heard of these things called oceans that cover 75% of the planet? :p

Seriously though look up CFIT.
Title: Re: Airbus Evacuation Trials Succeed; 33 Injured
Post by: Sandwich on March 27, 2006, 10:12:29 am
So what do you call it when a pontoon-equipped airplane arrives at the end of a flight? Watering? Nu-uh - they land just as well as the next plane over. :p
Title: Re: Airbus Evacuation Trials Succeed; 33 Injured
Post by: karajorma on March 27, 2006, 11:17:47 am
What kinds of plane crashes, pray tell, do not involve the plane taking off from the ground, or landing on the ground?

Still having trouble? :p
Title: Re: Airbus Evacuation Trials Succeed; 33 Injured
Post by: Sandwich on March 27, 2006, 02:11:19 pm
Oops?
Title: Re: Airbus Evacuation Trials Succeed; 33 Injured
Post by: Taristin on March 27, 2006, 02:16:20 pm
's what you get for being so anal and nitpicky :p
Title: Re: Airbus Evacuation Trials Succeed; 33 Injured
Post by: Mefustae on March 27, 2006, 06:31:06 pm
I'm a little surprised nobody has made a bad joke about the injuries stemming from a snake on the plane... :nervous: