Another window gone...

[jb747]

An amazing event, that I'm surprised had such a good outcome...

Sichuan Airlines flight 3U8633 loses windscreen in flight – Flightradar24 Blog

 

[Himeno]

I read the thread title and thought it was a 3rd Southwest window.

 

[Quickstatus]

How did the pilots communicate with each other after the event

 

[jb747]

I expect that the FO was pretty much totally out of the loop. So, I wouldn't expect much, if any, communication.

 

[tgh]

JB .. what kind of systems are in place to deal with such an event.
Does the aircraft attempt to take any action on it's own ?

 

[Quickstatus]

I’m assuming the noise would be deafening.

What is the fallback position when flight crew cannot communicate with each other by normal means.

And what about commukication with ATC? Can they hear one another over the noise?

 

[Flying Fox]

A Chinese pilot was nearly sucked out of a plane with 119 passengers aboard when one of the coughpit windows fell out mid-flight.



Chinese plane windshield pops out mid-flight - 9News

Sounds very similar to BA5390 incident.

 

[jb747]

JB .. what kind of systems are in place to deal with such an event.
Does the aircraft attempt to take any action on it's own ?

No. And as the mode control panel was destroyed, I'd expect one of the first things to have happened would be an autopilot disconnect.

I’m assuming the noise would be deafening.

Noise. Wind blast. Temperature.

What is the fallback position when flight crew cannot communicate with each other by normal means.

I doubt that the FO was in any position to be of any help at all. So, single pilot....

And what about communication with ATC? Can they hear one another over the noise?

Again, I doubt it. Set the transponder to the emergency code, and just do what you need. They'll work it out.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

In terms of the co pilot being potentially sucked out by the depressurisation... does the head-on inward flow of air at 600mph potentially counter the outward force of the higher cabin pressure? Of was the co pilot just lucky to be secured in their seat?

 

[Quickstatus]

As the coughpit is a relatively enclosed space the pilots would not be exposed to the same 800km/h wind like the poor Southwest passenger going past their body. And any movement of air from depressurisation would quickly subside?

As for the Fo being partially evacuated, don’t they have a 4 point seat belt/harness?

Edit: 5 point harness

 

[MEL_Traveller]

As the coughpit is a relatively enclosed space the pilots would not be exposed to the same 800km/h wind like the poor Southwest passenger going past their body. And any movement of air from depressurisation would quickly subside?

As for the Fo being partially evacuated, don’t they have a 4 point seat belt/harness?

I was wondering... if you remove the windscreen on a car you're going to have the wind coming in full force at you. But opening a side window is not the same.

Do pilots wear their harness at all times during cruise?

 

[Quickstatus]

but where is the incoming mass of air going to go

 

[tgh]

The fuselage acts as an aerofoil, but the actual airflow with a hole in the lift area is an interesting question.
There would have been a whole raft of changing pressures happening, my best guess is a vacuum rather than a positive flow.

 

[jb747]

I was wondering... if you remove the windscreen on a car you're going to have the wind coming in full force at you. But opening a side window is not the same.

Do pilots wear their harness at all times during cruise?

No. Most don't, only the lower harness.

but where is the incoming mass of air going to go

Into the cabin I'd expect. And overboard from there. There is a relief vent within the security door which would have been opened by the flows.

Even if only a fraction of the blast is coming in, at -50º or so, it would have been disabling.

 

[PLANT]

Mmmm how often does this occur?
Is this the cheap seats on CHINA AIR?
Might have to update the flight simulators?
All those years in I was in the jump seat with a lap sash ahhhhh!

 

[cove]

I like cold rather than hot but -50 would be a test for any human especially when you have to get the plane down quickly. As a non pilot I will stay with flight simulators.
It was good news that the flight crew survived.

 

[Quickstatus]

A YouTube video purporting to be from the flightdeck showing disruption of the heating film

See below for anatomy of A319 windshields

 

[jb747]

There has been discussion about this video on other forums. It is NOT this event.

Worth noting though, that if you have a window heating issue/arcing, all of the aircraft checklists have you either turning it off, or pulling the CB. None have filming the window getting ready to fail as an appropriate action.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

According to a statement from the pilot, the co-pilot was partially sucked out, but able to be brought back in.

 

[Quickstatus]

Max altitude during flight prior to windshield failure was less than 10000 feet

5 point crew seat harness: