Have you ever wondered that when the plane flies at an altitude of 35 thousand feet above the clouds, how do people breathe normally in such low oxygen? The outside air has neither enough oxygen nor enough pressure to breathe, yet passengers neither feel dizzy nor suffocated. After all, what is that technology that makes us feel the air like earth even in the sky? You will be shocked to know the answer.

cabin breathing techniques

When an airplane flies at high altitude, the air pressure there becomes extremely low. At altitudes above 30,000 feet, the air is so thin that the oxygen level is not sufficient for human lungs, but modern airplanes have a very special system, which pulls in the thin outside air and makes it breathable.

Where does the wind come from?

The engine of an airplane is not only for flying, but it is also the heart of the air system. The engine draws outside air and transforms it into very high pressure through compressor blades. In this process the air also gets heated, after which it is cooled so that a comfortable temperature can be created for the passengers.

process of making air breathable

This cooled and controlled air passes through the ‘cabin pressure system’ of the aircraft. Here it is kept at a pressure which is equal to the altitude of about 2400-2500 meters (about 8000 feet). That is, when you are sitting in a plane, your body is breathing such air as if you are in a hilly city, and not at an altitude of 35 thousand feet.

continuous air supply

This process does not stop here. The engine continuously draws in new air and expels old air and replaces it with new air. In this way the air inside the cabin keeps getting refreshed every few minutes. Therefore, passengers do not feel suffocated, even if there are hundreds of people on board.

If the air pressure suddenly decreases then…

Sometimes due to technical fault or damage the air pressure in the cabin may decrease. In such a situation, the oxygen masks immediately come out from the cabin above. These masks supply oxygen separately for a limited time, so that the pilot can bring the aircraft to a safe altitude.

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