If cabin altitude cannot be corrected and exceeds 14,000 feet, what procedure should be initiated?

If cabin altitude cannot be corrected and exceeds 14,000 feet, what procedure should be initiated?

• A. Descend to 10,000 feet
• B. Initiate emergency descent
• C. Increase cabin pressurization
• D. Leave the cabin as is

Answer: (B)

When cabin altitude cannot be corrected and climbs above 14,000 feet, the priority is to rapidly lower the aircraft to a safe altitude so occupants have sufficient oxygen. Initiating emergency descent is the action that directly accomplishes this by quickly reducing cabin altitude and allowing reestablishment of a safe pressurization level. Descending to a specific altitude like 10,000 feet can be the result of the emergency descent, but the key step is to start the emergency descent now. Increasing cabin pressurization isn’t viable when the system can’t correct the altitude, and leaving the cabin as is would put everyone at risk of hypoxia.

When cabin altitude cannot be corrected and climbs above 14,000 feet, the priority is to rapidly lower the aircraft to a safe altitude so occupants have sufficient oxygen. Initiating emergency descent is the action that directly accomplishes this by quickly reducing cabin altitude and allowing reestablishment of a safe pressurization level. Descending to a specific altitude like 10,000 feet can be the result of the emergency descent, but the key step is to start the emergency descent now. Increasing cabin pressurization isn’t viable when the system can’t correct the altitude, and leaving the cabin as is would put everyone at risk of hypoxia.