Will the ditching pb in the Airbus 320 flight deck prevent the over wing ramp slide from deploying and inflating during a ditching situation?
thanks

No. You do not normally use the over-wing exits during a water landing, but you can still open them, and the slide will still deploy. The ditching PB closes all openings below the cabin doors (cargo hold, avionics ventillation, etc).

I'm guessing thats a safety feature to stop the a/c filling with water and sinking right?

Regards,
Chris

Exactly! Eventually the acft will sink, but this is designed to delay that process as long as possible. I googled it to see if I could find a better explanation than what I learned during flight attendant school, here it is:

"17. What does the DITCHING pb do? PHB 10.5.4

The DITCHING pb on the pressurization panel, when selected ON, allows the pilot to close all exterior openings below the flotation line. This will enhance flotation of the aircraft in case of ditching. System sends a “close” signal to:
-Outflow valve (if not in manual control)
-Emergency ram air inlet
-Avionics ventilation inlet and extraction valves
-Pack flow control valves
-Forward cargo isolation outlet valve (if installed)"

Hope that helps!

thanks soo much .. it does help. I went about the same way googling for an answer and found pretty much the same info on it, it however does not mention anywhere i have searched regarding the locking of the over wing ramp slide, so i guess the ramp slide will deploy and inflate in a ditching situation and there is no safe gaurd in place to avoid that from happening.

I think that you will find that most slides can be used as rafts in a ditching (the biggest one is normally for the Captain's use). Incorporated on the girt bar mechanism is a pin which will release the slide from the airframe. And often nearby you will also find a knife that can be used if the quick-release fails.

PM

sorry pal, on the 320 the ramp slide cannot be used as a raft, in fact it cannot even be detached from the aircraft and used in a ditching, thats the reason i posted the ? in the first place, since its of no use in a ditching is there some way to avoid it from deploying and inflating.

Most, not all...

Thanks alot, that is really interesting stuff. Thanks for your effort.

PM said:



Ok but I am curious why the captain must have the largest raft, why is this?
I take it that the slides are only fastened by ropes/string, and the pin - thats made of metal right, with a red string attached?

Regards,
Chris

PS - I am trying to learn more about safety features on an aircraft. I don't know why but each month I try to find something new about aircraft (obviously, thats why I am here) and if i forget it...i forget it, ill just have to learn again. Recently I have been trying to find out a little about safety, although I havent been on it long, just since monday. If you want to know why I am reading this its to doo with a book on a/c I have just recently read, PM me and i will explain more.

I think the captain having the largest raft was a joke. The flight crew will usually get into one of the two fowardmost rafts.

Each aircraft differs, but there are instructions on how to detach the slideraft from the aircraft. These are written at the top of the slideraft, where it meets the fuselage. Basically, once everyone is aboard, you lift the flap and pull the end of the 'string'. This action detaches the raft, but you are still attached to the aircraft with a rope line. There is a knife on the raft, or thethe rope has a weak point which you can pull. Also attached to the raft are kits for stopping leaks, and a survival pack. These contain emergency rations, drinking water, flares, flare guns, mirrors, water activated torches and emergency transmitters which transmit on all the emergency channels for 48 hours.

No, it will just close the outflow valve situated at the back of the fuselage just below the tail, to stop the water coming in......but afterthought, Aspiring Boeing seems the better answer.


This is all wrong, please see my updated post below.

Thanks a Ton.....I have finally found the answer to my question. But i still wonder why Airbus would not incorporate shutting the ramp slide compartment in some way when it is not used in a ditching.

Because there are certain circumstances where you would use a window exit, and its slide, in a ditching situation. Without going into too much detail, flight attendants are trained to consider all options. In a perfect would we would land pretty smoothly on the water, everyone would already have their lifejackets on, would leave all their carry on luggage behind, and quickly get into the slide-rafts at the 4 main doors. In reality this may not happen, or the aircraft may roll to one side, or begin filling with water from the front or rear.

Sorreeeeee!!! I got it all wrong.

NWS2002 was right on the numbers. I confused his post with Boeings...post.

and...I was wrong. It is in fact all the holes including the outflow valve.

Note: (also) The outflow valve will NOT automatically close when the DITCH pb is pressed if the Pressurisation pb is in MAN.



post edit !!!

I see you wrote "(when not in maual control)" which is the same as "when the pressurisation pb is in MAN "- did you add this later or did I miss it? If I missed it, I apologise.

Can you not just leave doors to manual?

You could set the doors to manual, but that doesn't effect the window exits. You can't arm/disarm the window exits, at least the cabin and flight crew can't. Maintenance has a way of doing it.

I am flumuxed on here. The fours main doors give you a slide which is also a raft. This you know anyway. The window ones are a slide but not a raft. This you know too. Now you say you cannot dis-arm the window Emergy exits.

Sorry if I am out of the range of your..I mean, why d`you wanna know? Can you not just open the door/window (slide deploys or not, then pull ...never mind..why not just let the slide deploy and either jump over it if you dont want it there or detach it from the aircraft using the Girst Bars in the floor..? Sorry, if I am missing your point, please bear with me - three meals a week is getting my brain cells a bit ....ketosistic.