Technical question for pilots / engineers

ScouseMouse

What exactly has to be physically done to activate power to the medical power point on a normal airliner?

Reason I ask is someone was on an a340, seat 43a, yesterday, and they forgot to do this. It took a call to an engineer to put a key into the cover to open it, then the cabin manager took about 45 minutes trying to work out how to activate power to it. They had to be told by the passenger it was dead and needed activating. Couple of hundred people had a delayed departure over it.

Would be useful to know yourself in case it was ever needed again. Is it buttons or switches somewhere? Or programming of the system maybe?

Thanks all

basill

You wont find out, nor should you. Write to the airline with your complaint pointing out that the crew "appeared" unsure of the procedure. End of.

ScouseMouse

Errr. Okay. The outbound flight was fine, the cabin crew were great even though it was pre-done by an engineer I guess. It was the return flight, back to the hub where nothing was done.

The airline approved it in advance. At check-in it was mentioned and checked again. At the gate it again, was checked with the agents. On the plane it wasn't done and then it was the passenger that had to explain it to the crew.

An email will be sent to the airline, but to be fair, we believe it was the ground-crew who should have set it up. The cabin crew tried really hard and the idea was just to know the ins and outs in case it ever happened again.

If you think this is some sort of a security issue, hey, calm down! Jesus, I was only trying be get informed so we could avoid something similar happening again. There were a couple of hundred people held up on that flight although it did land on time.

martinsvi

are you a part of the cabin crew or just a pax in this situation? either way, if you can't enable it from CMS, don't go pushing buttons or turning keys your not certified to turn

Bussywussy

People I think are getting wrong end of stick here jumping on the OP.there is sockets on aircraft for pax/doctor use specifically for medical devices,they can be at sidewall floor level or overhead on psus(older 320s mostly modded out),there is no power to them unless a switch on the cb panel at the aft galley ceiling is switched to on(A330) I've never seen it used personally but they are there,there is a cover on them that may require a quarter turn of a flat screwdriver or some have just the flip door

ScouseMouse

Bussywussy wrote: »

People I think are getting wrong end of stick here jumping on the OP.there is sockets on aircraft for pax/doctor use specifically for medical devices,they can be at sidewall floor level or overhead on psus(older 320s mostly modded out),there is no power to them unless a switch on the cb panel at the aft galley ceiling is switched to on(A330) I've never seen it used personally but they are there,there is a cover on them that may require a quarter turn of a flat screwdriver or some have just the flip door

Ok guys, here is the full story. I have a sleep machine, a CPAP. I went through all the notifications with the airline and it was authorized for use onboard. Got to my departure airport and at my seat 43A, socket flap was open, green light next to it, extension lead attached. I plugged in my machine and happy days.

ON THE RETURN FLIGHT, nothing! Flap was closed, cabin crew tried to open it, but even as a passenger, I could see you needed a key. I pointed this out and they called an engineer to open it. He did, but then there was no power to it. I believe it was the cabin manager who came down (a senior guy in a waist coat and stripes on the shoulders), he listened to me and went off. Then said it was on, but it wasn't. Tried 2 or three times and then it went live with a green light. Issue sorted. This all took about three quarters of an hour and I felt a right lemon holding up a couple of hundred people on an eleven hour flight.

But as a person who stops breathing while sleeping (sleep apnea), I would like to think, if a similar situation did occur in the future, we could get sorted out, hence me asking the folks here, but it appears, from an earlier comment, I won't and shouldn't be told. That's a bit off-putting for a genuine question like in this situation.

I know it is an engineering issue as the airline special assistance people, emailed me correspondence with their engineering dept about activating the said power outlet. This suggests to me its not a normal cabin crew duty.

I quite liked this airline, very friendly and obliging, so that is why I have not named them, I would fly again with them no problem, but a feck up, I assume by engineering fools in Asia, left me in difficulty. I enjoy reading this board and also attended the Boards visit to Baldonnel, but was a bit taken back at one of the comments above.

I am not interested in complaining to the airline, but do intend giving them feedback of the flights in general.

I hope this clarifies my intentions.

scousemouse.

aviator7

I'm assuming this is an airline option? I've never seen it or even heard about it on the a320?

Bussywussy

aviator7 wrote: »

I'm assuming this is an airline option? I've never seen it or even heard about it on the a320?

They used be,mostly taken out.they were previously in the psu with a cover over it that needed to be screwed on or off.

ScouseMouse

It was an eleven hour flight on an a340. Leaving Asia at midnight so I really did need the machine working. Without it, I would snore so loud it would keep everyone awake and when the airway finally collapses, I choke / stop breathing.

Really is scary stuff.

Pat Dunne

basill wrote: »

You wont find out, nor should you. Write to the airline with your complaint pointing out that the crew "appeared" unsure of the procedure. End of.

You could try been a little bit more friendly or just civil, in giving your response.

billy few mates

ScouseMouse wrote: »

It was an eleven hour flight on an a340. Leaving Asia at midnight so I really did need the machine working. Without it, I would snore so loud it would keep everyone awake and when the airway finally collapses, I choke / stop breathing.

Really is scary stuff.

Or you could just stay awake....

ScouseMouse

billy few mates wrote: »

Or you could just stay awake....

For 11 hours? at midnight? Username should be billy funny man

billy few mates

ScouseMouse wrote: »

For 11 hours? at midnight? Username should be billy funny man

How do the crew do it...?

Odelay

Errrm, but they dont, on long haul they have a rest area....

ScouseMouse

Why not start a thread and ask that question?

Gumbo

billy few mates wrote: »

How do the crew do it...?

Most likely fostered to wok, so rest would have been before hand. That's a bit like saying you shouldn't sleep in a hotel because the night porter is awake.

andy_g

back to normality guys please.

billie1b

andy_g wrote: »

back to normality guys please.

'Normality' on boards.ie

Pat Dunne

kceire wrote: »

Most likely fostered to wok, so rest would have been before hand. That's a bit like saying you shouldn't sleep in a hotel because the night porter is awake.

WTF?

The Sidewards Man

Do planes have a fuel reserve light?

martinsvi

ScouseMouse wrote: »

I enjoy reading this board and also attended the Boards visit to Baldonnel, but was a bit taken back at one of the comments above.

I'm sorry to hear about your problem and I'm sorry one of the comments, perhaps mine, offended you, however if you would have started with the full story from the beginning, your post would have come across completely differently and I don't think anyone would dare to say anything snappy to you.

I honestly thought from the original post, that you're some kind of wacko who thinks you can just grab a spanner and go fix a jetliner using tips from google and forums..

ScouseMouse

martinsvi wrote: »

I'm sorry to hear about your problem and I'm sorry one of the comments, perhaps mine, offended you, however if you would have started with the full story from the beginning, your post would have come across completely differently and I don't think anyone would dare to say anything snappy to you.

I honestly thought from the original post, that you're some kind of wacko who thinks you can just grab a spanner and go fix a jetliner using tips from google and forums..

Nah, nothing you did man, it was the post where I was told you wont find out here and shouldnt anyway. The airline were really good, but if it ever happened again, it would be useful if you could say to the people trying to help you, hey guys, I think it may need to be switched on in the galley, or similar.

Thanks everyone, I was trying to be a bit private with the details, but its all out now. Its an issue that people on here may face one day.

triggermortis

To be honest, you don't need to know how it is switched on or where that switch may be OP. You informed the airline that you needed power for a medical device. They should then provide that once they accept your reasons and approve your device. You should notify them of their mismanagement of the situation on your return journey. The crew aren't likely to listen to a passenger telling them how to turn on aircraft equipment and an engineer will have manuals to explain everything (and should be following that manual to do any job).

martinsvi

I wonder was it Lufthansa by any chance? They keep loosing the vegetarian meal for my partner, if I recall correctly - also on return journeys

ScouseMouse

triggermortis wrote: »

To be honest, you don't need to know how it is switched on or where that switch may be OP. You informed the airline that you needed power for a medical device. They should then provide that once they accept your reasons and approve your device. You should notify them of their mismanagement of the situation on your return journey. The crew aren't likely to listen to a passenger telling them how to turn on aircraft equipment and an engineer will have manuals to explain everything (and should be following that manual to do any job).

That's fair comment, I will do. The crew did listen to me about needing a key, and then that the outlet needed to be activated. I didn't enjoy holding up a big plane full of people.

Going on now, if it were to ever happen again, I could at least suggest to the crew to what is needed in a case like this. I understand aviators are extremely well trained, but all the same, there will always be something you have not come across before.

Thanks everyone.

ScouseMouse

martinsvi wrote: »

I wonder was it Lufthansa by any chance? They keep loosing the vegetarian meal for my partner, if I recall correctly - also on return journeys

Nope. As you mentioned meals, the wife is a coeliac - needs gluten free. We ordered a special meal days in advance and it was perfect.

I think I have said about 5 times the airline was very good. I would jump on them again anytime, so I think its safe to mention who it was. It was Swiss International from Dublin - Zurich - HKG. This occurred on the return journey back from Hong Kong to Zurich.

I was on it this day last week going out, and looking at the weather today, wish I was on it again.