Posted on 12/27/2005 6:34:42 PM PST by paulat
Hole found in Alaska plane
05:30 PM PST on Tuesday, December 27, 2005 KING5.com
Investigators: Problems spike after ramp work outsourced
SEATTLE – An Alaska Airlines plane was forced to return to Seattle Monday after a gash in the plane’s fuselage caused the aircraft to lose pressurization.
The incident began when a ramp worker hit the plane with a baggage cart or baggage belt machine, according to National Transportation Safety Board spokesman Jim Struhsaker.
The accident created a crease in the skin of the plane which opened up into a hole when the pressure on the plane changed at 26,000 feet.
The employee told the agency that although the vehicle had touched the plane, he was not aware that he had dented it.
“At that time in the driving rain it did not appear to be significant to him,” Stuhsaker said.
According to Alaska Airlines and accounts provided to KING 5 News by passengers, flight 536 took off from Sea-Tac at 3:50 p.m., bound for Burbank, Calif.
Alaska Airlines flight 536 was forced to return to Sea-Tac Monday after it lost cabin pressure. Passenger Jeremy Hermanns took this snapshot of the scene after the oxygen masks had dropped down.
About 10 or 20 minutes into the flight, there was a loud noise and the cabin lost pressure. The plane then descended rapidly before returning to Sea-Tac, said Caroline Boren, a spokeswoman for Alaska Airlines.
Passenger accounts of the incident paint a scary picture.
“I could feel that obviously my ears popping and that's not a good symbol and that didn't go away and then it got hard to breathe and then whoosh all the compression in the plane was lost. We totally decompressed,” said passenger Jeremy Hermanns.
He said everyone on board scrambled to get their masks on and then the engine noise became very loud.
“We knew that something was going on … it was definitely frightening. It wasn't something I wanted to do again,” he said.
Jeremy Hermanns shot this image of himself with his oxygen mask on after the plane he was on lost cabin pressure.
Hermann’s believes, nevertheless that the crew handled the situation well.
“I'm just very glad that the pilots and the crew and everybody handled it so well,” he said.
I can tell you about some tug races between flights :)
I heard a reported say a hole punctured the fuselage causing it to lose pressurization.
Thank heavens we can laugh at that because it turned out all right!!
These type of accidents happen more often than you think.
Military Training Facility
To attend one of the military training facilities, submit an application form and fee.
Application form--Physiological training application form (AC3150-7) contains locations, fees, scheduling procedures, course content, individual requirements, etc.
How to obtain--From the accident prevention specialist or the office forms manager in the nearest flight standards district office (FSDO) (addresses and telephone numbers for FSDOs can be found in Section 12).
Tlme of useful
consciousness
Altitude (ft) without oxygen
40,000 15 seconds
35.000 20 seconds
30,000 30 seconds
28,000 1 minute
26,000 2 minutes
24,000 3 minutes
22,000 6 minutes
20,000 10 minutes
15.000 Indefinite
=======
So you wouldn't have necessarily lost your dog. Depends on how fast the descent was. And the lower you get the longer you (and your dog) will stay conscious.
http://www.afn.org/skydive/sta/wts-hab.html
plus at other links
thats a big thing with asa. the crews into alaska are either sea or anc based and the crews south are mostly lgb based. big attitude difference.
LOL!!!
The contract baggage handler knocked a hole in the plane?
Ewwww....
;-)
Hole! Not Ho'!
I don't think it's illegals although there were allot of felons bagging for asa in the 90s under contract.
alaska airlines went down the toilet when bruce kennedy left and people like rene visscher came on board.
the rampers were soaking the company; they had better contracts/more pay than mechanics and avionic techs. thats why they got rid of them, when the amfa came in and the iam went out.
the ramper trainers suck, obviously.
alaska has had problems before. they had one aircraft run into the terminal at anc and catch fire years ago. lousy mx led to flt 286 hitting the pacific...it goes on and on. it has become a good ol boys network.
286 should be 261. sorry
Example of non-union aircraft production.
Yepper, look at all those nose gear problems lately and it turns out they send the planes to Central America for service. Wonder what their insurance carriers will say if more than nose gear starts failing and they start crashing?
You were post 69....(insert Beavis/Butthead laugh track)
Wasn't it Alaska Airlines that crashed off the Coast of California a few years ago due to a poorly maintained jac screw? This maintenance issue isn't new to Alaska.
My preference is Continental...
My daughter flew out on Alaska yesterday- thank heaven this was not her flight. Sheesh, what a nitwit of a worker....
Yes, you are unfortunately correct about Alaska Airlines' maintenance.
I like American because there's more room in coach and so I can use my PowerBook without its hinges being torn off by the seat in front of me reclining. That didn't actually happen, but it sure felt like it.
D
Alaska is still by far my favorite airline to fly.
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