Flightinfo mythbusters!

[Flyairjason]

"Mythbusters" sort of question for you guys...
You've probably all heard of the story where the female (or you know, male, if you're from West L.A.) aircrew member dons her oxygen mask during the rapid decompression and her lips spontanteously combust from the reaction of the oil based lipstick and O2...
My question is... Is this B.S., or not? I work for a Part 142 training center and this is a popular story that I hear all of the time. Some pilots say it's true and others say no... Anyone know the real skinny on this? Thanks in advance and feel free to debunk any other aviation legends accordingly...

Regards,

Jason

 

[Flyairjason]

Spontaneously that is... Sorry.

 

[Ailerongirl]

Wait wait.....

In keeping with family tradition, I sense a conspiracy here!

Maybe the reason that F/A's are told to wear lipstick bright enough to be noticed from 7 rows away, is for the sheer amusement of seeing someone lips combust during a rapid decompression!!!!



Sounds like bunk to me.....

 

[great cornholio]

Yo Jason

I heard they dont really catch on fire but you get some kinda crazy hot rash thing. But I never seen it happen. Anyways how ya doin man. Just got bored finally have a free minute from training.

 

[skyking1976]

100% O2 will react with pertoleum based products. The reaction is a chemical burn similar to acid. It really isn't spontaneous in the true sense of the word. It just depends on the amount of petroleum in the lipstick/chapstick.

 

[Jmmccutc]

100% O2 will react with pertoleum based products...It just depends on the amount of petroleum in the lipstick/chapstick.

So...if that FA was out sucking on the fuel hose before the flight for some reason, we could see one hell of a show, right?

 

[Ailerongirl]

Hey!

I had no choice! My car was out and you had a full tank!

 

[English]

I agree with the whole concept of keeping petroleum-based products away from oxygen, but here's my question - if it were really a problem, why don't airlines prohibit female flight crewmembers from wearing lipstick? Or crewmembers of either sex wearing chapstick? They make a big deal about having a beard while wearing a mask, you'd think they'd mention crewmember's use of lipstick as well.

Not that there's anything wrong with that.

 

[Gulfstream 200]

chiks that are pilots are not the type to wear lipstick.

they prefer LL Bean clothes and usually have a flashlight on thier waists.

(dikes)

 

[Flywrite]

I agree that if it was a problem someone would have made a big issue out of banning any kind of lipstick/chapstick from the cockpit. Also, wouldn't paramedics remove anything from the lips before slapping O2 on a patient?

My guess would be that the concentration of petroleum/O2 has to be greater for the reaction to occur.

 

[English]

Lighten up.

I purchased a portable oxygen system for my airplane a few years ago. In the instructions was a warning not to use the unit around petroleum-based products.

les paul, maybe you should go educate Sky Ox instead.

 

[English]

I think you are the idiot if you truly believe that it is safe to use oil or grease while using oxygen.

No, I never said I was an expert. I backed up my statement, that petroleum-based products should not be used with oxygen, with a reference. That way, it is clear it not merely an opinion, but stated by manufacturers of portable aviation oxygen systems. I never said that someone's lips would spontaneously combust if they wore lipstick or chapstick. It is common knowledge that while refilling and servicing bottles, uyou're to keep grease and oil away from the source.

"Oxygen itself doesn't burn, but a blast of it, combined with fire, is spectacular. Daredevils might take a couple of breaths of oxygen, then blow through a lit cigarette, and produce a violent flame several feet long. (Don't try this at home, and if you do, don't inhale!) Much of the literature cautions against mixing oil and grease with oxygen, which is a very bad thing. At normal atmospheric pressure it might not hurt, but there are many hydrocarbons that will burst into a violent fire spontaneously when exposed to oxygen under even low pressures. Oil and grease are the worst at doing this. If in a contained space, the sudden over-pressure may cause an explosion and an intense fire, as three astronauts found out during a simulation in a pure oxygen environment." John Deakin

Didn't you learn any of this in your primary flight training? You should have. This was definitely covered in civilian primary.

 

[English]

Did your mommy beat you as a child? Because you are a pretty angry person.

 

[Ted Striker]

God's gift.....

Les, lighten up Francis. What a jerk. I hope I can be as cool and smart as you when I grow up. Life's too short to be that angry.

 

[Ty Webb]

As I have said before:


Less Les is more . . . . . . enjoyable.

 

[Ted Striker]

Re: Re: God's gift.....

First off, you do think you are cool and smart. How can I tell.... by the quirky "El Capitan" title in your profile. A little proud of yourself, but you must put a "cool" spin on it to hide your blatant ego.

Second, as I said, I'm probably the happiest person you'd ever meet. Life and career are 10X what I ever expected. I just call the numbskulls on the carpet around here because its plain sad.. some of you.

Hey TY WEBB:

What happened to your proclamation about the NWA pilots being kicked off the jumpseat?? What happened there tough guy??

We all thought you had it on good authority that you were "gonna kick them off the jumpseat". Pretty ambitious statement, since I didn't know FO's signed the jumpseat form at Valujet. Why don't you start your own new thread proclaiming all the new procedures at Valujet that you are going to implement.

If anyone around here is too little for their uniform... it certainly is you.

BTW - Back on the topic... why don't you two kids "splain this whole O2 combustion controversy. I've tried, but the people here are more interested in sparring than talking knowledge.

How you??

Les

Pretty bold for someone whose position is "lead guitar" and total time is "8:30pm". You are a knob and a tool. I vote that you change your screenname to "Craftsman" because you are such a powertool.

 

[Ted Striker]

Sorry.

Look Les, here's the deal.

Sorry I ever started any conversation/banter with you. You aren't worth the time I spent because no matter how intelligent you are or think you are, you are still a jerk about it. You come across as a pompous a$$ who is quite happy with themselves. I would like to buy you for what you're worth and sell you for what you think you are worth. Your insults far overweigh anything positive you have to offer. Again, have fun in life and good luck. Rest assured I will never comment on you again.

 

[Ailerongirl]

ENOUGH!

Guys please!!!

Les Paul...one side of the board.

Ted Striker....the other side of the board!

Now, does anyone else have any other aviation myths or legends that we can debunk?

 

[Jmmccutc]

i got one...i heard that airplane fly because of magic? what happens when the magic runs out?

come on fellas, lighten up...or you both get time outs...

 

[fly2002]

hey...the girl said to split...so STFU