Journalism? QF575

[p--and--t]

I understand your thinking, but I do think the use of slides is a very big decision to make. On any flight there will be elderly pax, and women with tiny babies. Shooting down the slides is a very high-risk activity.

.....and very expensive to the airline both in $$$ for re-arming the plane, cancelled flights etc etc etc and potential bad press.

But that shouldn't (and assume didn't) come anywhere near the decision making in the moment.

 

[Franky]

I understand your thinking, but I do think the use of slides is a very big decision to make. On any flight there will be elderly pax, and women with tiny babies. Shooting down the slides is a very high-risk activity.

Agree with all of the above, but that decision is for the pilot to make at that moment. But it is reprehensible that people would slow down the emergency process to collect their belongings...

 

[juddles]

"Journalism"....

I wonder when, if ever, sites that purport to have some aviation knowledge ...

Every year I see journalism standards just get worse and worse. As an example of just how shockingly bad the standards have become in this age of quick copy and paste, etc........

(1) The other day some areas of Brisbane had about 100ml of rain in an hour. The first "news" articles talked about a huge downpour where as much rain fell in that hour as had fallen in the past six months there (true)

(2) the next day an article said that "six months of rain" had fallen in one hour. (potentially true if using the phrase in a detailed context specifically referring to the previous six months)

(3) The next day an article said that Brisbane had received "half its yearly rainfall in one hour" !! (Patently false, misleading, untrue, etc etc )

There just seems to be no penalty these days for false news.

 

[p--and--t]

Curious and will look forward with some interest in the fullness of time without speculation for the real reason as to who and why the slides were activated. Particularly seeing the plane was pulled up to the aerobridge and passengers were disembarking via that path. In somebodies mind something obviously changed from "damn what a nuisance" to "o-oh lets hurry this along".

 

[DC3]

I understand your thinking, but I do think the use of slides is a very big decision to make. On any flight there will be elderly pax, and women with tiny babies. Shooting down the slides is a very high-risk activity.

As risky as (possible) death, by remaining on the aircraft? That’s the thing when it comes to saving lives. It’s based on the information at hand. Yes, a huge decision not made lightly. Given what information may have been available, imagine if that aircraft had caught fire and people were still in their seats or dawdling along in the aisles.

Although we are all speculating here, it will all come out eventually.

 

[juddles]

As risky as (possible) death, by remaining on the aircraft? That’s the thing when it comes to saving lives. It’s based on the information at hand. Yes, a huge decision not made lightly. Given what information may have been available, imagine if that aircraft had caught fire and people were still in their seats or dawdling along in the aisles.

Although we are all speculating here, it will all come out eventually.

I hope I was clear in that I was just highlighting the inherent dangers of the slides - am certainly not second-guessing the captain or crew!! I love the aussie culture and especially Qantas pilots and crew when it comes to making the best decisions for safety.

 

[DC3]

I hope I was clear in that I was just highlighting the inherent dangers of the slides - am certainly not second-guessing the captain or crew!! I love the aussie culture and especially Qantas pilots and crew when it comes to making the best decisions for safety.

Yes, of course. Not trying to say otherwise.

 

[UP4014]

I’m terrified at the top of a ladder so standing in an open doorway looking down would not be easy for me, so yes
Terrifying for me but being back on the ground after the smell of oilwould somewhat diminish the jumping down the slide. Two types of terrifying on this flight.

 

[Tropic]

Curious and will look forward with some interest in the fullness of time without speculation for the real reason as to who and why the slides were activated. Particularly seeing the plane was pulled up to the aerobridge and passengers were disembarking via that path. In somebodies mind something obviously changed from "damn what a nuisance" to "o-oh lets hurry this along".

Yep as I said earlier, will be interested in what precipitated the call... I understand it was based on crew advice re expected time to deplane all Y pax vs state of cabin air quality.

 

[Tropic]

The gentleman wearing hi-viz in one photo had his backpack on. Actually will be interesting see the report on this incident and reason for the slide activation at gate while deplaning pax via aerobridge (if thats what happened)

Actually looks like a number of pax carried off their carry ons from the various videos circulating online. Not good.

 

[p--and--t]

Yep as I said earlier, will be interested in what precipitated the call... I understand it was based on crew advice re expected time to deplane all Y pax vs state of cabin air quality.

That makes sense given reports of sore throats and eyes.

We will find out eventually from those responsible from investigating (not from Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, many media outlets or other sources of non-facts)

 

[Matt_01]

I have always wanted to go down the slide.

 

[Hvr]

I have always wanted to go down the slide.

Perhaps that could be the next WP1 special event, a slide ride at the training centre?

 

[muppet]

Actually looks like a number of pax carried off their carry ons from the various videos circulating online. Not good.

Considering the plane had commenced normal exiting via the forward door, plenty of pax would have already been kitted up with all their gear.

 

[Tropic]

Yeah fair point. That's why it's an interesting situation from a safety POI having call to evacuate while pax in the process of deplaning via 1L.

 

[Franky]

Considering the plane had commenced normal exiting via the forward door, plenty of pax would have already been kitted up with all their gear.

I believe the pax they were referring to were those that had to use the shutes...

 

[ayebee]

I believe the pax they were referring to were those that had to use the shutes...

Understood, but if I was standing in the aisle with my small backpack already on my back, when the direction to evacuate occurred and people turned and pressed towards the rear slide, I doubt I would think about stopping the flow to remove the pack. Indeed it might be physically impossible to create the arm space to do it.

 

[drron]

Interesting point ayebee.The plane had arrived at the gate.The seat belt sign goes off and all who stand do so and retrieve their carry ons.People where already disembarking via the aerobridge so do all those that now have their luggage drop it in the aisle so creating major problems for a rapid exit.Unlikely to be able to throw it on the seat as the other pax in row usually have moved across to the aisle.

 

[drron]

The standard of journalism here is not as bad as LOTFAP.

Note the people walking in the background.

 

[jb747]

Understood, but if I was standing in the aisle with my small backpack already on my back, when the direction to evacuate occurred and people turned and pressed towards the rear slide, I doubt I would think about stopping the flow to remove the pack. Indeed it might be physically impossible to create the arm space to do it.

All correct. It’s one of the reasons that an evacuation at a terminal can be messy. If you get any degree of panic setting in, I’d expect most bags to simply be abandoned in the aisle, which makes things much worse for following passengers.

So who else can order an evacuation? Assuming the Captain wasn't disabled do they have the authority to issue that order?

In some circumstances, though not in this case, cabin crew may. But, there is always potential for unintentional ones if someone in the cabin crew gets jumpy. If an evacuation was ordered, then R1 and L2 should also both be open, and they aren’t.

QF, alone amongst the airlines, I think, used to have a half way procedure, called a precautionary disembarkation. That could involve slides, or stairs, but probably not aerobridges. It was an option for when you wanted everyone off, probably were not going to be at a gate, but could afford a bit of time. The Captain had the option of using as many, or few slides, as he wanted. For whatever reason, the procedure was removed from the books a few years ago, though I noted that the pilot management of the day did remind everyone that by law the Captain could do what he felt he needed on the day.....which made me suspect they disagreed with the removal.