What is the importance of aircraft pressurization system?

Definition. A system which ensures the comfort and safety of crew and passengers by controlling the cabin pressure and the exchange of air from the inside of the aircraft to the outside.

What can happen if the pressure is lost in the cabin of a plane?

Loss of cabin pressure triggers confusion before sleepiness and even death. Passengers may have succumbed to hypoxia, or a lack of oxygen.

What is the cabin pressure on commercial airplanes?

Pressurization systems are designed to keep the interior cabin pressure between 12 and 11 psi at cruise altitude. On a typical flight, as the aircraft climbs to 36,000 feet, the interior of the plane “climbs” to between 6000-8000 feet.

Why do airplanes need to be pressurized for passenger safety when flying high in the atmosphere?

A: Airplanes are pressurized because the air is very thin at the altitude they fly. At this altitude humans can’t breathe very well and our body gets less oxygen.

What is the purpose of outflow valve?

Outflow valve: Allows for air to exit the cabin at a controlled rate which results in the cabin becoming pressurized. Safety/Dump Valve: If the outflow valve fails, the dump valve will release excess pressure (can be manually activated) by a squat switch to prevent pressurization on the ground.

Why would a plane loses cabin pressure?

Loss of pressure in a plane can come from a hole or leak and results in loss of oxygen. Pilots then need to get the aircraft down to a safe altitude where everyone can breathe normally. Loss of pressure could be caused by a bomb and destroy the plane in the worst case scenario.

Can a pilot depressurize the cabin?

Yes, s/he could depressurize the aircraft. Even at FL450, a sudden depressurization is not going to kill everyone in the cabin. The pilot has no control over the oxygen masks; if they detect too high of a cabin altitude, they are going to drop.

How is an aircraft pressurized?

How airplanes are pressurized. All airplane cabins are pressurized to simulate the amount of pressure felt at 8,000 feet. Pressurization happens via the engines, which compress incoming air, heat it up, and then divert some of that hot compressed air to the cabin.