Summary

  • Safety protocols must be followed during aircraft evacuations, including leaving carry-on luggage behind for a quick exit.
  • Recent incidents highlight the importance of crew preparedness and passenger cooperation during evacuation.
  • The 90-second evacuation rule for aircraft certification is being questioned by some due to concerns about aircraft becoming increasingly crowded.

Statistically speaking, air travel is one of the safest modes of transportation. Still, airlines are supposed to be prepared for any eventuality, including emergency evacuations. All aircraft, big and small, have to meet specific regulatory standards and a time limit to get the occupants out safely and as per protocols. And a string of incidents in recent days only highlights the importance of crew preparedness in such situations.

Recent incidents

A recent incident at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport has once again brought the focus back to evacuation protocols and the importance of following them correctly. An IndiGo flight 6E2211 from Delhi to Varanasi, with a departure time of 05:00, had to be evacuated after a note with a bomb threat was found in its lavatory. It stated, “bomb@5:30.”

This was followed by an evacuation of the Airbus A320 plane, but videos of the procedure circulating on social media have raised questions about the conduct of many passengers and even crew members during the incident.

Passengers are supposed to leave their carry-on luggage behind for a quick exit during emergencies. However, during the IndiGo evacuation, many travelers were seen carrying their bags as they came down the emergency slides. Even the pilot of the aircraft was seen sliding down with his bag.

Some crew members, however, did try their best to help passengers deplane safely. One of the flight attendants was seen helping an elderly lady exit through the emergency window from the slide that deploys behind the wing.

Earlier this month, a small fire onboard a Delta flight induced an emergency evacuation, with reports of some people panicking as well. Recently, a Southwest flight to Tampa from Denver had to be diverted to Colorado Springs, and passengers were evacuated on the tarmac after flight attendants smelled smoke in the cabin. These are some of several such incidents in recent days that have surfaced and highlight the importance of safe evacuation within a specified time deemed safe by regulators.

Two Southwest Airlines aircraft

Photo: Markus Mainka | Shutterstock

90-second rule

To receive certification, aircraft manufacturers have to demonstrate that all their aircraft can be safely evacuated within 90 seconds. The time limit came about after research in the 1960s, studying the development of aircraft fire and even crash testing an aircraft.

Among many things, it was found that a structurally sound cabin engulfed in flames remained habitable for around two minutes before becoming too hot. The FAA initially proposed an evacuation time of two minutes, which was later reduced to 90 seconds. Simple Flying has analyzed this in detail in the article below.

Related

Why Aircraft Have To Be Evacuated In 90 Seconds For Certification

Cabin layout and door placement are carefully considered to help you evacuate an aircraft quickly.

Is it realistic?

However, there has been some skepticism regarding the 90-second rule, particularly as commercial aircraft are becoming increasingly crowded. This has prompted a senator to question the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) about its current standards for safe evacuation during emergencies.

In an interview, US Senator Tammy Duckworth said that the FAA’s testing was not realistic. All the participants were able-bodied individuals, and no one was above the age of 60 or under 18. She was concerned that it did not mimic a real-world flight, which can also carry people with disabilities and toddlers.

Economy class seats

Photo: Mohijaz | Shutterstock

The FAA has been asked to revisit its testing, and given that many airlines are reducing seat sizes to accommodate as many passengers within the legal limits, the 90-second rule could be examined again.

What are your views on this? Please leave a comment below.

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