Cabin Depressurization

A320 Family – A330/A340 Operational Liaison Meeting 2008
CABIN DEPRESSURIZATION
Review of in-service events and Recommendations
© AIRBUS S.A.S. All rights reserved. Confidential and proprietary document.
2
DE-PRESSURIZATION
Contents
1 Cabin Pressurization System design
2 Operational events description - Recommendations

Event 1: No rely on ECAM warning
Event 2: Misuse of the overhead panel
Event 3: Wrong control of manual mode
3 Conclusion
CABIN DEPRESSURIZATION 3
Contents

3 Conclusion
System design - Devices
The proper cabin pressure is automatically maintained by:
2 Cabin Pressure Controllers (CPC)
Outflow Valve(s) (1 on A320, 2 on A330/A340)

Safety Valves
and negative relief valve (LR aircraft only)
Examples given for A320

But similar principle on LR aircraft
System design – Automatic mode
A320 example Cabin Pressure Controllers
Electric Motor CPC 1 CPC 2 Electric Motor

Outflow
Valve
System design - Automatic Mode
The 2 CPCs receive main information from:

FMGC
ADIRS
LGCIU
This enables the CPCs to control the outflow valve to:

Adapt the cabin altitude and V/S to the flight plan and different flight phases
Manage the cabin altitude if the FM data are lost
Ensure there is no residual cabin pressure on ground
Only one CPC at a time controls the pressurization

But both systems continuously monitor the cabin altitude parameters
System design – Cabin altitude
The automatic mode limits the cabin altitude to 8000 feet
16000
12000
8000
4000
0
If CPC1 or 2 detects cabin altitude reaching 9550 feet

ECAM warning
16000
12000
8000
4000
0
If the cabin altitude reaches 14000 feet

automatic deployment of oxygen masks
16000
12000
8000
4000
0
Contents

3 Conclusion
EVENT 1 - Description
ECAM warning triggered
Flight crew did not feel

depressurization nor hypoxia
Flight crew decided to check

CAB PRESS page indication
CPC 1 indicated no failure

EVENT 1 - System 1 / System 2
Then, flight crew changed over the two CPCs (SYS1 / SYS2)
information several times…
CPC 1 indicated no failure CPC 2 indicated the failure , but…
EVENT 1 - Cabin depressurization
…Flight crew suspected CPC 2 malfunction
Actual cabin altitude continued to go UP …
Cabin was depressurized , and at
14 000 feet = Threshold

for Oxygen masks
automatic deployment
EVENT 1 - Recommendations
RELY ON ECAM WARNING
DO NOT DELAY THE DESCENT
Note added in the FCOM (revision of june 08):

Initiate the descent
When descent is established and if time permits :
Perform a system check :

To try to recover normal system operation.
Contents

3 Conclusion
•After a dual FMGC reset,

FMGC landing elevation
lost by the CPC,and ECAM
warning triggered
Flight crew selected by mistake

the manual control of
the cabin altitude
Outflow valve frozen in current position
EVENT 2 - Back to Automatic Mode
When back to automatic mode, cabin altitude increased
Flight crew suspected

a system failure
Decision to take the manual

control of the cabin altitude
EVENT 2 - Wrong use of the controls
- Wrong control of outflow valve

in manual mode
- Led to cabin depressurization

- And oxygen mask
deployment
Do not misuse the CABIN PRESS overhead panel

Further enhancement in next FWC standard for SA and LR
Current situation New design
OLM FBW 2008 – Toulouse –10-12 june 2008

Presented by
Also presented in a dedicated “Main Lorraine de Baudus

Flight Operations Engineer
Flight Warning Computer changes”

presentation
Main Flight Warning Computer Changes
Introduction to the latest FWC Standards
Contents

3 Conclusion
ECAM warning triggered

due to cabin overpressure
Flight crew selected the manual Manually Controlled

Motor
control of the cabin pressure
Outflow
Valve
EVENT 3 - control of the outflow valve
In manual mode,the outflow valve operates slower than in automatic mode
And limited resolution of the outflow valve position
= up to 5 seconds to notice a change of the outflow valve position

(FCOM 1.21.20)
EVENT 3 – loss of outflow valve control
Too long continuous action on the switch
without waiting for position feedback
Outflow valve in fully open position
Cabin depressurization
1) Give short input on the switch , and
2) Check the vertical speed

and the altitude of the cabin
3) No immediate impact on
the indicated Outflow
Valve position
Contents

3 Conclusion
Conclusion
RELY ON THE ECAM WARNING

ÆDo not delay the descent
USE THE APPROPRIATE FUNCTION

of the overhead panel
ÆUse MAN CTL only when required
Manual control of the outflow valve slower

than in AUTO Mode
ÆGive short input on the switch
ÆCheck vertical speed and cabin altitude
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A320 Family – A330/A340 Operational Liaison Meeting 2008

1 Cabin Pressurization System design

2 Operational events description - Recommendations

1 Cabin Pressurization System design

2 Operational events description - Recommendations

The proper cabin pressure is automatically maintained by:

 2 Cabin Pressure Controllers (CPC)

 Outflow Valve(s) (1 on A320, 2 on A330/A340)

 Examples given for A320

A320 example Cabin Pressure Controllers

Electric Motor CPC 1 CPC 2 Electric Motor

 The 2 CPCs receive main information from:

 This enables the CPCs to control the outflow valve to:

 Only one CPC at a time controls the pressurization

The automatic mode limits the cabin altitude to 8000 feet

If CPC1 or 2 detects cabin altitude reaching 9550 feet

If the cabin altitude reaches 14000 feet

1 Cabin Pressurization System design

2 Operational events description - Recommendations

ECAM warning triggered

Flight crew did not feel

Flight crew decided to check

CPC 1 indicated no failure

CPC 1 indicated no failure CPC 2 indicated the failure , but…

…Flight crew suspected CPC 2 malfunction

Actual cabin altitude continued to go UP …

Cabin was depressurized , and at

14 000 feet = Threshold

RELY ON ECAM WARNING

DO NOT DELAY THE DESCENT

Note added in the FCOM (revision of june 08):

Initiate the descent

When descent is established and if time permits :

Perform a system check :

1 Cabin Pressurization System design

2 Operational events description - Recommendations

•After a dual FMGC reset,

Flight crew selected by mistake

When back to automatic mode, cabin altitude increased

Flight crew suspected

Decision to take the manual

- Wrong control of outflow valve

- Led to cabin depressurization

Do not misuse the CABIN PRESS overhead panel

Further enhancement in next FWC standard for SA and LR

Current situation New design

OLM FBW 2008 – Toulouse –10-12 june 2008

Also presented in a dedicated “Main Lorraine de Baudus

Flight Warning Computer changes”

1 Cabin Pressurization System design

2 Operational events description - Recommendations

ECAM warning triggered

Flight crew selected the manual Manually Controlled

= up to 5 seconds to notice a change of the outflow valve position

Outflow valve in fully open position

1) Give short input on the switch , and

2) Check the vertical speed

1 Cabin Pressurization System design

2 Cabin Pressure Controllers (CPC)

Outflow Valve(s) (1 on A320, 2 on A330/A340)

Examples given for A320

The 2 CPCs receive main information from:

This enables the CPCs to control the outflow valve to:

Only one CPC at a time controls the pressurization