During land/ditch prep, how should the status of doors be configured?

During land/ditch prep, how should the status of doors be configured?

• A. Unarmed, ready for quick exit
• B. ARMED unless otherwise directed by captain
• C. Doors must be opened for ventilation
• D. Doors should remain unlocked

Answer: (B)

Arming the doors is the default for land/ditch prep because it keeps the evacuation path ready to deploy immediately if an emergency occurs. When a door is armed, opening it in an emergency triggers the slide or raft to deploy, giving passengers a rapid, orderly exit and, in a ditch, a flotation option. The captain can override and disarm if there’s a specific reason to prevent inadvertent deployment or a particular ground scenario. Leaving doors unarmed would delay egress and compromise safety, and opening doors for ventilation or keeping them unlocked does not align with evacuation readiness and security considerations.

Arming the doors is the default for land/ditch prep because it keeps the evacuation path ready to deploy immediately if an emergency occurs. When a door is armed, opening it in an emergency triggers the slide or raft to deploy, giving passengers a rapid, orderly exit and, in a ditch, a flotation option. The captain can override and disarm if there’s a specific reason to prevent inadvertent deployment or a particular ground scenario. Leaving doors unarmed would delay egress and compromise safety, and opening doors for ventilation or keeping them unlocked does not align with evacuation readiness and security considerations.