Why is it necessary to be in a pressurized cabin when flying at 30000 feet?

If you were to fly at this altitude without today's technology, you would quickly begin to feel light-headed and may faint as your brain isn't receiving enough oxygen to function properly. This is because, at 30,000 feet, there is only 4.4 lbs of atmospheric pressure compared to the 14.7 lbs found at sea level.



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The primary problem is low oxygen, says Professor Frances Ashcroft, a physiologist at Oxford University. Low pressure would cause little more than discomfort in the ears and eyes, but the associated drop in oxygen levels makes people pass out if they do not put their oxygen masks on within about 15 seconds.

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Although air contains 20.9% oxygen at all altitudes, lower air pressure at high altitude makes it feel like there is a lower percentage of oxygen.

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The general rule is that planes should have cabin pressurization when they go above 10,000 to 14,000 feet. Can a pilot depressurize a cabin? Most aircraft cabins are pressurized to an altitude of 8,000 feet, called cabin altitude.

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If the plane is somehow kept pressurized, the cabin pressure is usually equivalent of 6000–8000 ft, which is lower pressure than the outside at sea level. Which means as soon as you unlock the door, it will swing inwards with a lot of force, as air from outside rushes in to re-pressurize the cabin.

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after the flight. Even if you are flying a pressurized aircraft, altitude DCS can occur as a result of sudden loss of cabin pressure (inflight rapid decompression).

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What happens if you open a pressurized door? If someone were to open a door while in an airplane, the consequences would be dire. The sudden decrease in air pressure would cause the plane to rapidly lose altitude and could potentially lead to a crash.

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The reason planes cruise at high altitudes is that they burn less fuel and can fly faster, as the air is less dense. At 30,000 feet and higher, it is also possible for aircraft to avoid weather systems, making it more comfortable onboard.

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For Part 91 General Aviation operations the required flight crew must use supplemental oxygen for any portion of the flight that exceeds 30 minutes above a cabin pressure altitude of 12,500 feet mean sea level (MSL) up to and including 14,000 feet (MSL).

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Use the Valsalva maneuver during ascent and descent. Gently blow, as if blowing your nose, while pinching your nostrils and keeping your mouth closed. Repeat several times, especially during descent, to equalize the pressure between your ears and the airplane cabin.

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Why do the flight attendants touch the overhead compartment so often? Flight attendants don't just touch the ceiling for fun when they walk; the bottom of the overhead compartment has a scalloped area that provides a better grip when walking down a moving airplane.

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Harrowing video shows the moment a plane's door burst open during a flight over Brazil, causing the aircraft to make an emergency landing. The passengers and crew received medical assistance, but there were no serious injuries, the airport said.

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No emergency door can be accidentally opened by passengers. They are all automatically locked from the cockpit before you ever board, and in any case in flight they can't be opened due to the pressure differential inside and outside the plane.

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Does flying affect blood pressure? Yes it can. At high altitudes, even in a pressurised aircraft cabin, passengers are at risk of hypoxaemia (low oxygen concentration in the blood).

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