Overwing exit

Overwing Exits

Overwing exits are obviously found on passanger airplanes, or airliners right on the wing. Some arcraft, mainly regional airliners, don't have overwing exits unless they seat more 95 passangers, because 50-79 passengers are able to leave the aircraft within 30-90 seconds. Over wing exits are probably commonly used and mainly directed to because most passangers only exit the plane via the entrance of as this is the only one they are aware of. Each regional airliner has at most two overwing exits, and regular, mid-sized airliners have at least two overwing exits, as the typical boeing 737-700 seats almost 130 passengers yet only offering two overwing exits, this is somewhat a hazard because fewer exits means more congestion. The Airbus A320 has four overwing exits, this is a smart idea because even though it may cost a few thousand dollars more to install overwing exits, more passengers are able to leave the aircraft without congesting exits.

Some Hazards

If used improperly or without caution, overwing exits may do even more damage in an emergency. As for the majority of regional airliners/jets are rear-engined, the overwing exits should be used with extreme caution as for a passenger leaving the plane can get sucked into an engine and mangled causing more danger. On aircraft with wing mounted/braced engines, the slide is angled somewhat away from the engine to prevent the slide from being blown by the jets' thrust or if fire is present, the slide might melt. In ditching situations, overwing exits are strongly recommended to be avoided, as for the wing is the aircraft's center of balance, walking on the wing might create an inequality of weight and possibly weigh down the plane. Also, another main reason for not using overwing exits; is because the slide is not a raft, it has buyouncy, but it doesn't detach from the wing or compartment from which it is inflated. Some over wing exits have escape refts located in a storage bin of an overhead storage compartment.

Operation

Some overwing exits open somewhat differently, some exits open with a pull of a handle whereas a gas or hydraulic strut pushes the wing out and upwards, the most common is the manual door, where there is a safety cover, you simply remove it, turn on your side etching your torso on the door, the passenger then grasps one handle at the lower end of the door and the handle at the top, normally the handle at the top is pulled downwards, if not then there is an arrow which points to where the handle should be pulled. After that you can either rest the door on its side on the seats' armrest, or throw it away from the plane, throwing the door away is recommended because if placed on armrests, there is a chance of the door toppling and falling causing further injury or blocking the exit. A slide should then inflate automatically in about three seconds, down low, there is red handle, if the slide doesn't inflate, this handle should be pulled. File:Http://www.ststulsa.com/images/A330door.jpg A supposed overwing exit of an Airbus A330