Ask the Captain: Why doesn't the emergency oxygen mask bag inflate immediately?
Why have the bag on the emergency oxygen mask in airplanes if it does not inflate? What purpose does it serve?
– amiller, Friday Harbor, Washington
Passenger oxygen is provided by oxygen generators. These generators produce oxygen at a given rate, which flows into the bag until you inhale. The bag is the collection vessel, pulling in more oxygen for you to inhale.
This system has been extensively tested and proven when there is a pressurization problem that requires deployment of passenger oxygen.
How is the distance remaining on the runway marked?
– roybjr, Corning, New York
On many runways, there are distance-remaining markers on the side of the runway, sometimes both sides. They are large square signs with large numerals usually black background with white numerals. They provide the remaining distance in thousands of feet.
John Cox is a retired airline captain with US Airways and runs his own aviation safety consulting company, Safety Operating Systems.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ask the Captain: Why doesn't the emergency oxygen mask bag inflate?
