XPost: rec.aviation.piloting   
   From: nospam@nospam.com   
      
   Bertie the Bunyip wrote:   
      
   >>   
   >> Again, maybe the Airbus is different, but for example on my aircraft   
   >> the ditch switch does more than "sealing" fuselage, it does:   
   >> -depressurizes the cabin (so you can open the doors)   
   >> -Shuts down the packs (so no risk of pressurization   
   >> -closes the outflow valves (so no water can get in.   
   >   
   > Nope, it just closes the holes in the belly.   
   >   
      
   As I said probably the Airbus is different, on other aircraft the switch   
   does a bit more.   
      
      
   >> Check list also calls for pulling the APU and engines fire handles,   
   >> you probably don't want to ditch with APU running (or engine you are   
   >> still trying to relight)   
   >>   
   >   
   > Well, maybe you should go and drive your airplane into the hudson and   
   > show em how it's done.   
   >   
   >   
   >   
   >   
   > Bertie   
   >   
   >   
   >   
   Never said I would have done a better job, and personally I prefer to   
   complete the flight to the destination airport rather than go into the   
   water, we were discussing about the ditch switch and if to flip it or not.   
      
      
   If the emergency check list calls for it is probably a good idea to do   
   it, then if you prefer the creative way, well is up to you.   
      
   I agree they did a great job, at the end everybody got out alive. That   
   doesn't mean that we cannot talk about what could have been differently.   
      
   You for example would have been trying to restart your engines after a   
   probable catastrophic failure till the end.   
      
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