What is not clear is if passengers started to wear or inflate lifejackets in the plane. Did they inflate them?

There is a lot of controversy about this as a study by the cabin crew training centre for British Airways says that passengers are better off inflating lifejackets much later.

In an incident where an Ethiopian Airlines 767 was hijacked and crashed into the Indian Ocean after the pilot got into a serious fight with a hijacker, passengers had already inflated the lifejackets. It was shown to interfere with evacuation and created obstacles at the emergency exits. Boeing said more lives could have been saved if passengers had inflated jackets after exiting aircraft.

Emirates in its safety video, clearly shows that passengers must inflate after getting out of the plane and getting a signal from the cabin crew. But it's fine to say that in theory. When it usually happens, panic is a huge danger. People hardly listen. Can't blame them. Escaping when the plane is in water seems terrifying.   

karatecatman wrote:

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THAI AIRWAYS / COLOMBO EMERGENCY LANDING Agency Passenger tells of panic and confusion on flight June 4, 2006 A passenger on the Thai Airways flight from Colombo to Bangkok that was forced to make an emergency landing minutes after its second attempted take-off on Saturday says there was panic on board, even though the airline's new president played down the incident.

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that reminds me last week a TG (i guess thats THAI right) flight from BKK to LON made an emergency landing at BKK minutes after take off. the TG authorities say that there was an engine problem and believe me the plane landed with only one engine.

i kno its common but great to experience one isnt

the_380 wrote:

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airlines tell you to inflate after you leave the aircraft and whereas these guys ask u to inflate ur jacket "Well in advance" logically any explanation for this...curious to know

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An IA A300 cabin crew said when they are trained in emergency (it is different in the propeller plane) and if the plane has to be ditched, they should see to it that passengers wear the life jacket but should not inflate it inside the plane; it will almost certainly block exit because of the dimensions of the cabin (enclosed space), panic situation and the possibility of parts of the cabin piercing an inflated lifejacket. There is also a smoke/fire possibility where it is best to have passengers have clear vision of their surroundings. The lifejacket is not to be inflated until clear of the plane. One reason is that in a few moments where you are sitting is going to be underwater. If wearing an inflated device a passenger is going to float to the highest point in the cabin and remain there. This will be a serious obstacle.

Priority is to get everyone out quickly. Once you are at the exit, you inflate and jump. 

An inflated lifejacket is almost like having a huge closefitting balloon around your neck and the area you can see around you is a bit limited. 

The crew then have to collect and deploy life rafts, collect all signalling equipment and survival gear that ideally should all be combined in one or more convenient packs or included in the crew life jacket or life raft.

 It sounds fine in theory, but suppose the plane breaks up in an ocean, passengers are better off having an already inflated lifejacket. The impact will be very sudden and so much water around, you really won't be calm and trying to wear your life jacket.   

The crew member said it all depends on how the pilot manages to land the plane (there are various situations) and then how much damage there is to the structure of the aircraft. The pressure of the water entering the cabin might sometimes prevent exit till a balance between the pressures has been reached.There is also the communication between the cockpit and cabin crew. It is very tense and cabin crew have to judge by looking out also. Worst situation is an emergency over water at night.

http://indiaenews.com/2006-07/14865-tyre-forces-ia-kolkata-airport.htm

Second one for IA on Friday

Flat tyre forces IA to land at Kolkata airport
 
Friday, July 14th, 2006

Kolkata - A Yangon-bound flight of the national carrier, Indian Airlines, carrying 90 passengers made a precautionary landing at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International (NSCBI) airport here after one of its tyres got deflated.

An airport official said one of the rear tyres of the A-320 plane deflated soon after the take-off at around 11 a.m. from Gaya in Bihar forcing the pilot to make an emergency landing here.

None on board the flight was hurt, the official said, adding: ‘This is not an emergency landing. We call it a precautionary landing.’

The Kolkata-Gaya-Yangon flight, which originated from here, left with the passengers at 4 p.m.

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 http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/002200607141655.htm                          

Yangon-bound plane makes emergency landing in Kolkata

Kolkata, July. 14 (PTI): A Yangon-bound Airbus 320 aircraft of Indian with 92 passengers on board made an emergency landing at N S C Bose International airport here as one of its rear tyres burst during take-off from Gaya in Bihar today.

Airport officials said one of the eight rear tyres burst as the jet took off from Gaya and the pilot decided to head to Kolkata.

The pilot sought permission from the air traffic control here for making an emergency landing. The aircraft touched down at 1.30 pm at the airport here as the fire brigade and ambulances were standing by.

It was then taken to the isolation bay for a check by aviation experts.

The passengers were given refreshments and the plane was expected to leave for Yangon later in the afternoon after the problem was rectified.

One thing i like in IC is that when flights are delayed most of the times (except if situations like july 26th floods where all flights were delayed) they really offer good service.

4 years ago i was returning from Kolkatta to Mumbai and IC was operating an A300 which those days used to carry out the Kolkatta -Singapore sector via Yangoon i guess.

But the flight was delayed by nearly 3hours from SIN and the time ws about 9.30PM. And IC offered all passengers full dinner by Oberoi Hotels. There were different menus for 'J' class and 'Y' class (buffet ofcourse)

Difference was not mch ofcourse but as we were flying in J class we had about 4 veg dishes and 2 non-veg dishes along with 3-4 sweet dishes and of course 2-3 salads and soups, etc.

Excellent food.

Just like ur signature

Think of the Brighter Side !!!

In such cases i wudnt mind a delay of 4-5 hours

BTW do private carriers give such compensations like 9W or IT or S2

Any Registration Marks.

regds

MEL

http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1752889,000600010001.htm
Air Deccan flight makes emergency landing

Press Trust of India

New Delhi, July 25, 2006
 
An Air Deccan flight from Delhi to Hyderabad with 100 passengers on board developed a major engine trouble soon after take off and returned to the Delhi airport under full emergency conditions on Tuesday night.
The pilot of the aircraft informed the air traffic control about "serious engine trouble" and sought permission to return to the Delhi airport, the airport sources said.

The aircraft had to dispose off fuel in the air before landing, they said.

As per the emergency drill, fire brigades, ambulances and other paraphernalia were put in place.

The aircraft landed safely at about 2200 hrs, the sources said.