3.2 Aircraft Systems and Flight: Pressurization system

 Aircraft Systems and Flight: Pressurization system

Almost all the commercial airplanes we're used to fly in have a pressurization system, this system works in close relationship with a pneumatic system that's depends on bleed air from the engines, this mixture of high pressure and low pressure bleed air generally goes through a heat exchange phase and reaches the passenger cabin filtered to supply breathable air to the people inside the aircraft. Modern airplanes have reliable pressurization systems with redundancies and Emergency pressurization modes, but failures can still happen, in this case emergency descent procedures to lower altitudes might be necessary.

The cabin pressurization system in an aircraft is responsible for maintaining a comfortable and safe environment for the passengers and crew. If the pressurization system fails, the cabin will lose pressure and the occupants will be exposed to the outside environment, which can be potentially dangerous (Lauritzsen 2003). There are several ways to mitigate the risks associated with a pressurization system failure. First, the cabin pressure should be monitored constantly to ensure that it is within a safe range. If the cabin pressure does not stay below a certain level, the pilot should be proficient with the proper procedures and system malfunction warnings so that corrective action can be taken. another mitigation is accomplished by regulations that ensure the aircraft is equipped with an emergency oxygen system that can be activated in the event of a pressurization failure (XU 2017). This system will provide the occupants with a safe supply of oxygen to breathe until the aircraft can land safely. Finally, all occupants should be properly briefed on what to do in the event of a pressurization failure by the cabin crew. They should be instructed to put on their oxygen masks and remain calm until the aircraft can land. A pressurization system failure can be a serious problem, but it can be mitigated with proper planning and procedures. By monitoring the cabin pressure, equipping the aircraft with an emergency oxygen system, and briefing the occupants on what to do in the event of a failure, the risks can be minimized.

Reference

Lauritzsen, L. P., & Pfitzner, J. (2003). Pressure breathing in fighter aircraft for G accelerations and loss of cabin pressurization at altitude—a brief review. Canadian Journal of Anesthesia, 50(4), 415-419.

Xu, X., Zhang, S., & Hai, X. (2017, October). Cabin pressurization control system design of civil aircraft by model based systems engineering. In 2017 Chinese Automation Congress (CAC) (pp. 3035-3040). IEEE.