Aircraft Escape Slide, Escape Slide Functions and Maintenance, Escape Slide Maintenance tips

Aircraft Escape Slide

Aircraft escape slide is used as a quick way to evacuating the aircraft in an emergency condition. It can be inflated in just six seconds! We've all seen security cards and demonstrations of how the evacuation slide should be used on an aircraft during crew briefing before flight.

However, have you ever wondered how they work? Let's take a closer look.

How do escape slides work?

Every passenger aircraft which are used for commercial purpose and exit doors are at height of more than 6 feet, are fitted with the escape slide to help the passenger for evacuation in the event of emergency.

Each slide is uniquely designed for its location on an aircraft model. It should be light and compact, so that it can be stored inside the aircraft door, under the door wall, or by emergency exit windows. A lever on the inner door connects the slide to a door. When the aircraft is in flight, this lever is in 'armed' mode, in this mode if the door is opened, the slide will be deployed and provide an exit way.

As soon as the door opens, it ejects the slide from its container. The slide then moves into position and begins to swell. Compressed gas is initially used to inflate the slide, but provides about one-third of the gas required to fully inflate the slide. The rest comes from ambient air, which is transmitted to the slide through the aspirator valve.

When the inflation mechanism is initially triggered, the gas from the canister moves through the aspirator at high speed and creates a vacuum. The ambient air is sucked into the aspirators through the louvre, which closes after the slide is fully inflated.

Random deployment

Sometimes accidents occur, and slides are deployed when not needed. Full or partial deployment of these slides is a costly and dangerous occupation.

An accidental deployment of an evacuation slide can occur if the doors are not disarmed correctly or if there is a malfunction. We have all heard the command for flight attendants to ‘disarm door and cross-check’ or ‘prepare doors for departure / arrival’. This command is asking the flight attendant to check that the doors have been disarmed to properly stop. When the doors are opened they are released and inflated.

Many of the slide events are accidentally deployed, and can cause considerable delays.

For Maintenance Tips of Escape Slide CLICK HERE

Interesting fact about escape slide

• James F., the invention of the first evacuation slide. The first slide was produced by air cruisers. This company is now known as Zodiac Aero Evacuation Systems. It continues to produce inflatable aircraft evacuation slides even today.
• In the 1960s, slides were to be able to inflate in 25 seconds in non-peak weather. Today, the slide should be able to inflate within six seconds. They should also be made to function in temperatures ranging from 65 to 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Additionally, they should be able to fall in winds with a speed of 25 knots (28.7 mph).
• In addition, most slides can be used as a raft if an emergency landing occurs over water.

Overall, do you have to use a clearance slide? Tell us in the comments.