Emergency aircraft evacuation

Emergency aircraft evacuation refers to emergency evacuation from an aircraft which may take place on the ground, in water, or mid-flight. There are standard evacuation procedures and special evacuation equipment.

Ryanair Boeing 737-800 take off, showing the two overwing emergency evacuation doors

Commercial airplanes[]

Commercial aircraft are equipped with aircraft safety cards detailing evacuation procedures. These include locating and using emergency exits, using slides and flotation devices for water landings, etc.

An evacuation is more urgent than a "rapid disembarkation", which entails using the aircraft's ordinary exits while leaving luggage behind. A 2017 incident at Cork Airport saw passengers use the overwing doors and slides after misinterpreting the captain's rapid disembarkation instruction as an emergency evacuation instruction.^[1]

Ejection seats[]

In aircraft, an ejection seat is a system designed to rescue the pilot or other crew of an aircraft (usually military) in an emergency. In most designs, the seat is propelled out of the aircraft by an explosive charge or rocket motor, carrying the pilot with it. The concept of an ejectable escape capsule has also been tried. Once clear of the aircraft, the ejection seat deploys a parachute.

Parachutes[]

Parachutes are designed to allow people to exit aircraft mid-flight and safely land on the ground by creating drag to slow descent.

See also[]

• Air safety

References[]

Further reading[]

• Safety Study: Emergency Evacuation of Commercial Airplanes. National Transportation Safety Board. Adopted June 27, 2000.
• Muir, H. C.; Bottomley, D. M.; Marrison, C. (1996). "Effects of Motivation and Cabin Configuration on Emergency Aircraft Evacuation Behavior and Rates of Egress" (PDF). International Journal of Aviation Psychology. 6 (1): 57–77. doi:10.1207/s15327108ijap0601_4.
• Youtube.com [1]
• [2]