Decompression zombie aircraft-a simple solution

[Bret Ludwig]

There should be a interlink which brings engine power to flight idle
any time cabin pressure is lost above FL180. The aircraft wil descend
under autopilot. There is statistically very little terrain above
18,000 feet and what there is is unpopulated.

Of course there should be an override, but it should take positive
crew action and should need to be repeated at intervals.(The emergency
buoy on a sub, is a good example. If not manually held down with a
timer button each hour it releases and sends the rescue signal.) How
long is a passenger aircraft without cabin pressure gooing to be
operated abov FL 180 anyway?

[No Such User]

In article om>,
Bret Ludwig wrote:
> There should be a interlink which brings engine power to flight idle
>any time cabin pressure is lost above FL180. The aircraft wil descend
>under autopilot. There is statistically very little terrain above
>18,000 feet and what there is is unpopulated.
>
With all the fancy nav equipment you could do better. Just tell the
computer to descend to, say, 10000 "unless you're over the Andes,
Himalayas, etc."

[Ben Hallert]

I recently read a review of a new business plane that had a similar
feature. I think it was the new Gulfstream, the reviewer noted that
the pilot manually partially depressed the cabin. Once the cabin alt
was above some figure like 9,000 or so, the plane automatically
initiated an autopilot descent to a 'safe' oxygen altitude.

A large scale accident like this may be responsible for an FAA mandate
that such systems be retrofitted onto existing commercial fleets. If
you know a public traded company that makes such equipment, now might
be a good time to invest.