CABIN PRESSURE TESTING
WHAT IS CABIN PRESSURIZATION?
Cabin pressurization is a process in which conditioned air is pumped into and exhausted out of the cabin of an aircraft to keep the pressure in the cabin between sea level and 8,000 feet. This is called cabin altitude and allows still for normal breathing. Once the cabin achieves an ideal pressure level, the aircraft will limit the cabin air exhaust to keep the cabin pressure under control and maintain it at a constant level throughout the entire flight.
Controlling cabin pressure is key to keep people on commercial flights and cargo safe and allow them to breath normally to avoid severe health problems such as hypoxia or death.
Airplanes control their cabin pressure via an outflow valve. This valve helps keep the incoming air inside the cabin and then releases it at a rate that is regulated by pressure controllers.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO CONTROL CABIN PRESSURE? WHY NOT FLY LOW?
Aircrafts could fly low where the atmospheric pressure is more comfortable for passengers and staff onboard but has some disadvantages.
- Most bad weather conditions happen in lower altitudes.
- Most aircrafts fly high altitudes to optimise full consumption.
- Engines are made to best perform in high altitudes.
Basically, if we want to combine fast, safe, smooth flight and fuel efficient we need to pressurize.
The aircraft’s cabin pressurization system helps create – alongside other technologies such as the air management systems – the necessary pressure that you and I would need to breathe comfortably during a flight that typically takes place at a cruising altitude of around 36,000 feet.
HOW TO CONTROL CABIN PRESSURE INSTRUMENTS?
A cabin pressure controller is a device used to control the cabin air pressure. Older aircraft use strictly pneumatic means for controlling cabin pressure. Cabin altitude, rate of cabin altitude change, and barometric pressure setting are all made directly to the pressure controller from pressurization panel in the cockpit.
ADSE (Air Data Test Equipment) or Pitot-Static test sets (PSTS) are pressure generators and measurement instruments that simulate the altitude and speed of onboard aircraft equipment. They are commonly used in aviation to monitor the accuracy of an aircraft’s airspeed, Mach number, altitude, and altitude trend readings. The name ‘Pitot-Static’ is derived from ‘Pitot & Static’ tubes on the aircraft which are connected to the testing instrument.
Air data test equipment can easily simulate the exterior pressure and therefore may be used to check Cabin Pressure indicators. In this mode, you can use Ps and Pt channels. The Ps unit is feet and Dpsi for Pt.
ATEQ Air Data Test equipment range can support you in testing you cabin pressure control system. Discover how and find out more our ATEQ Aviation ADSE product page
