SAFO 11007: Preflight Communication and Checks after a Cabin Decompression Event

SAFOSafety Alert for Operators

U.S. Department SAFO 11007

of Transportation DATE: 8/15/11

Federal Aviation

Administration Flight Standards Service

Washington, DC http://www.faa.gov/other_visit/aviation_industry/airline_operators/airline_safety/safo A SAFO contains important safety information and may include recommended action. SAFO content should be especially valuable to air carriers in meeting their statutory duty to provide service with the highest possible degree of safety in the public interest. Besides the specific action recommended in a SAFO, an alternative action may be as effective in addressing the safety issue named in the SAFO.

Subject: Preflight Communication and Checks after a Cabin Decompression Event

Purpose: This SAFO reminds operators of actions necessary on aircraft with deactivated chemical oxygen generators in compliance with Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) Part 121, § 121.1500, SFAR No. 111(b)(1)(iii).

Discussion: The recommended procedures for flight attendants (F/A) during a decompression is to immediately don the nearest oxygen mask, sit down or grasp a fixed object, and brace themselves until given the clearance that it is safe to move about the cabin by a flight crewmember. Certificate holders should ensure that crewmember manuals provide instructions to have a flight deck crewmember announce that the aircraft is stabilized and that masks may be removed. This serves as the signal for the F/As to obtain portable oxygen bottles, administer first aid in the cabin.

F/As should check aircraft lavatories and isolated crew rest areas to ensure these areas contain neither occupants, nor structural damage. Passenger preflight briefing scripts that reference the disabled oxygen generator masks in the lavatory must be revised. Placards and safety information cards that reference the lavatory oxygen pictorial must be revised obscured or removed on applicable aircraft.

References: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)-recommended post decompression procedures are contained in guidance materials such as Order 8900.1, Volume (V) 3, Chapter (C) 23, Section (S) 6, Cabin Safety and Flight Attendant Training, V3C23S4 paragraph 3-1798 Emergency Situation Training Module and V3C32S13, figure 3-124 Preparation of Flight Attendant Manuals, which can be found at http://fsims.avs.faa.gov/fsims/fsims.nsf/home?OpenForm&count=-1

Recommended Action: Air carriers should review safety system processes that interface with the emergency oxygen system such as manual references, training curriculum, safety information cards and placards for aircraft with deactivated oxygen generators. Air carriers with automated preflight safety briefing systems should revise the automated preflight briefing script or instruct crewmembers to provide a “live demonstration” to address decompression procedures. Briefing cards and lavatory placards that provide pictorial illustrations of the lavatory oxygen masks should be obscured or removed.

The Pilot in Command should ensure that F/As are familiar with oxygen dispensing and communication equipment on the flight deck to prepare for the “two person rule”. Additionally, directors of safety, directors of operations and directors of training should ensure that their air carrier personnel are aware of the desirability of flightcrew and F/As performing decompression training drills together. Further, they should ensure that when this is not possible, air carriers are aware of the desirability of training programs that include information addressing the roles of other crewmembers during a decompression.

Contact: Questions or comments regarding this SAFO should be directed to DK Deaderick, Part 121 Air Carrier Operations Branch, AFS-220 at 202-267-8166.

Distributed by: AFS-200 OPR: AFS-220