Delta B737 Loses Flightdeck Window!

[cflord]

October 23, 2018 - Delta Flight 589 (B737) loses window after takeoff! Complete Pilot/ATC audio!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXaCRfqyy_s

Keep the shiny side up and the dirty side down!

Ret SMSgt Cliff Lord - C-130 Flight Engineer & Mechanic

[alan CXA651]

Hi.
This reminds me of the BA flight , when the pilots side window blew out , and pilot was sucked out , had it not been for the steward who was serving the crew drinks at the time , the pilot would have been killed , as it was the stewards quick reactions saved the pilot , by hanging onto the pilots legs , the co-pilot had to fly and land the aircraft , before the pilot could be dragged back inside.
regards alan.

[Caldemeyn]

Hmm, A tiny offtop, why are cockpit windows made to open aft ? Shouldn't they be made to be open forwards to avoid sliding and opening becouse of the wind, if something got misrigged (lack of space there) ? The fact that they open to the inside is understandable ( so that the inside pressure will help keep it in place, still ram air is strong air at least strong enough to open it during flight, even when pressurized). Shouldn't they be made to be failsafe (they fail shut when flying) ? This shouldn't change their ability to be used during emergency cockpit evac on the ground, right ?

[AKar]

Hmm, A tiny offtop, why are cockpit windows made to open aft ? Shouldn't they be made to be open forwards to avoid sliding and opening becouse of the wind, if something got misrigged (lack of space there) ?

There really is no room for them to slide forward due to normal cockpit geometry.

-Esa

[Caldemeyn]

That could be changed though ? or the window that is movable can be the next one in line, not the one right at the bend of geometry ?

[AKar]

Not really, it will get blocked by the panel and needs to travel inwards in a difficult way if it opens forward. And having rear side window be the one that opens would really hinder the utility. TBH, I really don't see any problems in current designs which would warrant that kind of change, making the usability worse. More convenient they are to use, the better. I mean, if they open at all.

-Esa

[Caldemeyn]

You would just need to back up in your chair to use it, but if you think so. it might even be easier to access it with a backed up chair for more hefty pilots during emergency rope slide plus no risk of it opening in flight.

[AKar]

In newer designs, the cockpit windows don't open at all. This allows for better nose shape, simplifies construction and design and reduces cockpit noise. Where the opening windows are retained, there are no real reasons to have them anywhere but where they are - and how they are. Their downsides are mainly related to their complexity, not to that they would add any additional risk that wasn't acceptable. At cruise altitudes, cabin pressure would easily hold them closed even if you attempted to open them, and at lower phases of flight, the very unlikely event of one opening simply makes a big inconvenience, so to say, and an embarrassing reason for a return to land for the airline.

-Esa

[Caldemeyn]

Thanks for additional info.

[AKar]

Of interest, I had to check and at least 737 manual specifically allows for opening the window(s) in-flight, "if required". They tell you to be at or below holding speeds due to high noise levels if you go faster. If window opens during takeoff, they tell you to not reject at high speed but to continue the takeoff and close the window when you've got time to do so.

-Esa

[Caldemeyn]

I also read that there is an additional bubble created around the outside of the cockpit by the nose, which reduces wind if a window opens or breaks