Evacuation Slides 

Source-This post on Evacuation Slides has been created based on the article ” Passengers evacuated from Indigo flight after bomb scare: What are ‘evacuation slides’?” published in “Indian Express” on 29 May 2024.

Why in News?

Recently after a bomb threat was reported on an Indigo flight heading to Varanasi at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, the 176 passengers were quickly evacuated using evacuation slides.

About Evacuation Slides

1. An evacuation slide is an inflatable slide designed to help passengers exit an aircraft safely during an emergency, especially when the aircraft door is significantly elevated above the ground.

2.Types of Evacuation Slides

a) Inflatable Slide: It allows passengers to descend directly to the ground from the aircraft exit door.

b) Inflatable Slide/Raft: It functions as both an escape slide and a life raft for water landings.

c) Inflatable Exit Ramp: It facilitates passenger movement from overwing exits to the aircraft wings.

d) Inflatable Exit Ramp/Slide: It is a combination device that helps passengers descend from the wing to the ground.

3. Materials Used: It is made from carbon fibers and nylon coated with urethane to ensure fire resistance. It is constructed with strong fibers to prevent tearing during use.

4. Mechanism: Slides are packed and installed within a cabin door or an external fuselage compartment.

5. Deployment Protocols:

a) It is required when the exit door is six feet or more above the ground.

b) It must inflate between six to ten seconds, depending on the slide’s location.

c) It must function in temperatures ranging from -40°C to +71°C.

d) It is capable of operating in rainfall up to one inch per hour and winds up to 46 km/hr coming from 45-degree angles.

UPSC Syllabus: Science and technology