Originally Posted by
Sniper
- Can the emergency crew escape hatch be opened in flight on the 747, and when it is advisable to do so?
- Why was pilot comfort an afterthought on Boeing aircraft until the 757 (727, 737, 747 = loud, cramped cockpit with uncomfortable seats - and yes, the 747 cockpit is cramped, despite the aircraft being huge)
- better noise reduction (the seals, or simply the volume of the pressurization system, whatever MD did, copy it).
- more comfortable seats
- the other stuff guys have pointed out here (dial-a-flap and an AOA are both good ones)
Pilot-first design philosophy. The yoke and thrust levers, for instance. A side stick and a tray table are vastly superior in comfort and convenience. However, the ability to physically monitor the control inputs of the other pilot or the autopilot through a yoke is a higher priority. The TL's also need to physically move, which Boeing does (vs. Airbus). The plane just is a joy to fly - isn't that why we do this job, instead of sitting behind a desk?
Can the 747 overhead emergency escape hatch be opened in flight? Yes, and I have. When is it advisable to do so? Only when you have failed to check that it was properly closed before flight. You do have to depressurize before opening, but you will know about the problem by the time you reach 1,000 AGL.
Joe