Another Learning Experience

Rodelu

Well-Known Member
A co-worker of mine (not a pilot) wanted to go up with me, and on Saturday we went flying. I did a couple of approaches and then headed for the beach/coast to do some sightseeing. I don’t like to fly over the beach, (too much traffic), but I made an exception. All of the sudden I spotted traffic dead ahead same altitude and the most picture perfect head–on you can imagine and approaching FAST …I bank right slowly to see if he spotted me, and he does the same. At this point immediate drastic action was needed, so I banked 30-40 degrees right and ditch -without loosing sight-,AND AGAIN the other pilot does the same. At this point I’m basically in front of a “mirror” airplane and too low for comfort. Went back to the seashore and this is when my friend lost it!
This is what I learned…

1) When debriefing passenger DO NOT tell them that it’s O.K. to open the window in-flight on a 172.

2) Explain to passengers that the pressure outside is A LOT GREATER than in the inside.

3) Start carrying plastic bags (1/2-gallon Ziplocs would be ideal).

4) I’m glad I carry paper towels in my car all the time.
 
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A2) Explain to passengers that the pressure outside is A LOT GREATER than in the inside.

.

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isnt the pressure inside the cabin greater than outside.....and shouldnt you tell them not to open the window when you are briefing, not during the debrief....
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I've always kept 1 or 2 plastic bags from WalMart or a grocery store in the flight bags, haven't needed any so far -- knock on wood.

Having the window open on a 172 isn't a problem so long as you're under certain speeds right?
 
okay, that's what I thought, don't have my POH handy right now . . . and one should never be exceeding Vne, so opening up the windows shouldn't be a problem unless maybe one has a lot of loose papers around.
 
Opening up the window isn't a problem. Puking out of said open window is. It will end up in the back seat. Messy.
 
i really hope for rodelu's that guy didnt try to puke out the window of a moving aircraft.....the humanity!!
 
when i was alot younger i would always ask any relatives or friends that we're flying to grab a "barf bag" from their flight, anyway I had forgotten about this until the other day when i stumbled onto a bag containing about a dozen or so "barf bags" they now reside in my flight bag hopefully they will never be used but they will be handy when the situation calls for them.
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…I bank right slowly to see if he spotted me, and he does the same. At this point immediate drastic action was needed, so I banked 30-40 degrees right and ditch

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You had to ditch the plane? And still ended up on land?
 
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isnt the pressure inside the cabin greater than outside.....and shouldnt you tell them not to open the window when you are briefing, not during the debrief....
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No, the pressure inside the cabin is actually lower than the ambient pressure outside. This is because the slipstream over the fuselage creates a venturi-like effect. Consider the corrections needed to the altimeter, VSI, and airspeed indication when using the alternate static source.
 
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No, the pressure inside the cabin is actually lower than the ambient pressure outside. This is because the slipstream over the fuselage creates a venturi-like effect. Consider the corrections needed to the altimeter, VSI, and airspeed indication when using the alternate static source.

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The ambient press is greater outside...however the air moving past window is moving at about 110kts. With the increase in the air's speed, there is a decrease in pressure. It is a Bernoulli thing. That is why stuff will "suck" out of a an open window, less pressure out there.



But yeah....puking is gross.
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Let's hear it for ZIPLOCK!!!!

I used a big ziplock freezer bags to hold small stuff like pens and mini flashlight. Then one day, my student told me he was getting sick (never happened to me before ... had to happen sometime). I dumped the contents of the Ziplock out into my flight bag and handed him the ziplock.

Ziplocks are 10X cheaper than the aviation sick bags.
Ziplocks are 10X better, because the can be sealed, opened back up, and then sealed again.

Yeah, I sound like a commercial, but those things really came through for me, and I'll never be without one on a flight again.
 
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Let's hear it for ZIPLOCK!!!!

I used a big ziplock freezer bags to hold small stuff like pens and mini flashlight. Then one day, my student told me he was getting sick (never happened to me before ... had to happen sometime). I dumped the contents of the Ziplock out into my flight bag and handed him the ziplock.

Ziplocks are 10X cheaper than the aviation sick bags.
Ziplocks are 10X better, because the can be sealed, opened back up, and then sealed again.

Yeah, I sound like a commercial, but those things really came through for me, and I'll never be without one on a flight again.

[/ QUOTE ]Ziplock's are the awesomest thing created.. if only I'd thought of it.. I wouldn't be working anymore.. hmmm -> ok.. past the downer...

but anyways, I use them for everything -> especially in packing because they're see through AND they'll hold spills like hairspray or shampoo... (yeaww.. i'm a girl, we think of things like that)...
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I had a guy tell me he felt sick, I immediatly turned back to the airport, but 30 seconds later he simultaneously spewed chunks, dropped his glasses out the window, and coated both backseat passengers with partially digested and pseudo-intact sphagetti noodles with tomato sauce.

Always carry a sick sack for each passenger, and let them know exactly where it is when they need to use it.
 
Well, it wasn't a "complete" ditch, but we went pretty low....
I know that it's OK to open the window during flight (depending on your airspeed), but in the future, during the briefing, I'll say something like:... "if you feel sick here is a bag and DO NOT open the window, or you'll end up cleaning the back seat, back windows, FLIGHT BAG, floor",etc. (just like my buddy had to do...)
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Believe me, if the pressure outside was greater than the inside, we would've hosed the OUTSIDE of the plane... right???
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)
 
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Ziplock's are the awesomest thing created.. if only I'd thought of it.. I wouldn't be working anymore.. hmmm -> ok.. past the downer...

but anyways, I use them for everything -> especially in packing because they're see through AND they'll hold spills like hairspray or shampoo... (yeaww.. i'm a girl, we think of things like that)...
grin.gif


[/ QUOTE ] Too bad they are 9x11 instead of 9x12. Otherwise, they'd be great in the office (tax records, letters, etc)
 
I cannot speak on behalf of all aircrat, but in a cessna, the speed in which you may open the windows is almost always your Vne.
 
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I cannot speak on behalf of all aircrat, but in a cessna, the speed in which you may open the windows is almost always your Vne.

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Any slower than that and the pressure differential won't let it open....
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[/lame humor]
 
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