It’s Required That All Planes Be able to Fully Evacuate Within 90 Seconds
image courtesy of YouTubeWe’re going to make a shift in tone here and talk about something pretty serious. At the beginning of many commercial flights, one of the crew will instruct you on the safety stuff: seat belts, oxygen masks, and emergency landing procedures. This may seem silly—most of us will never be involved in a plane crash in any way, no matter how often we fly. So why do it? Can’t we just sleep through it or something?
The reality is that when an emergency does happen, things can go bad very quickly. While planes are designed with safety in mind, serious problems can rapidly spiral out of control. FAA regulations require that all commercial passenger aircraft be capable of a full evacuation in 90 seconds. That seems fast, but in an emergency you’re up against the clock. An airplane fire can engulf the entire cabin and everyone within in less than two minutes. Air crews spend a lot of time worrying about fire: preventative measures are part of every aspect of preparing for flight, and emergency procedures are practiced till the crew can actually do them blindfolded. It’s serious stuff, so next time you’re waiting for takeoff and the steward starts to go over how seatbelts work, please pay attention.