loss of cabin pressure in mountainous terrain?

[Beetle007]

Do most airlines have a procedure for how to handle loss of cabin pressure when the MEAs are over 20+ thousand feet (like in South America)?

 

[Andy Neill]

Do most airlines have a procedure for how to handle loss of cabin pressure when the MEAs are over 20+ thousand feet (like in South America)?

Like using supplemental oxygen until you can safely get below 10,000? (or higher for the passengers)

Yes.

 

[flygirlqt]

Do most airlines have a procedure for how to handle loss of cabin pressure when the MEAs are over 20+ thousand feet (like in South America)?

Escape routes are published for certain segments.

 

[FLYLOW22]

EMER DESCENT memory items.
Follow the AFM abnormal checklist.
Note minimum IFR altitude or ask ATC.
Make plansd to land. It's easier to breathe down there.

 

[race#53]

There are 33,000 people living in a town in Peru that is at 16,700' elev.
No O2 mask needed!

 

[Hypoxik]

They're as acclimated.

 

[viking737]

EMER DESCENT memory items.
Follow the AFM abnormal checklist.
Note minimum IFR altitude or ask ATC.
Make plansd to land. It's easier to breathe down there.

ATC in South America is not what you are used to up here.
Wouldn't trust them to keep you out of the rocks!

 

[Oakum_Boy]

Routes are analyzed and as stated above, escape routes to enroute alternates are provided and can be called upon from the FMS. Minimum altitudes are published and the crew will step descend all the way to the alternate. I think the aircraft manufacturer actually publishes an oxygen profile that details how much time is allowed at different altitudes and this must be taken into account when route planners devise the escape paths.

 

[boxjockey]

For flying over the Himalayas in western China, we have specific charts for depress points, one engine inop, and two engine inop. As we fly along the route, we pre-program our escape routes at the end of the flight plan or in route 2. If one of the above occurs, then we start the diversion to our pre-determined airport. Some of the MORA's in that area are above FL300. Helps to keep you awake at 3am.

box

 

[The Prussian]

ATC in South America is not what you are used to up here.
Wouldn't trust them to keep you out of the rocks!

Let alone away from other aircraft...

 

[Beetle007]

Routes are analyzed and as stated above, escape routes to enroute alternates are provided and can be called upon from the FMS.

How are escape routes selectable from the FMS? Is it something like a company route from each waypoint (in mountanous areas) to an alternate airport?

 

[regionalcap]

We have Critical Terrain Routes that we preload into the FMS. If we lose pressurization, then we select the new route from the FMS.

 

[race#53]

i have a friend with a Mooney that cruised at 18,500' without oxygen just to keep his wife quiet!

 

[Frap]

Ah, the little known VFR altitudes in Class A airspace.

 

[landlover]

Ah, the little known VFR altitudes in Class A airspace.

i had an old timer once tell me he used to fly a lear 24 VFR out west before radar was wide spread at 43,500. true or not, who knows.