Question

If the cabin altitude reaches 10,000 ft, the CPAM will cause the:

a) Oxygen masks to drop
b) Increase in cabin pressure
c) Emergency landing
d) Shut down of cabin ventilation system

Answer 1

The CPAM system will release oxygen masks if the cabin altitude reaches 10,000 ft to prevent hypoxia, as sudden exposure to low oxygen levels at high altitudes can lead to altitude sickness without supplemental oxygen.

Step-by-step explanation:

If the cabin altitude reaches 10,000 ft, the Cabin Pressure Altitude Management (CPAM) system in an airplane will cause the oxygen masks to drop. This is a safety feature designed to provide passengers with supplemental oxygen in the event that the cabin altitude—the equivalent altitude inside the aircraft—reaches a level where the ambient oxygen might not be sufficient to prevent hypoxia. Hypoxia is a deficiency in the amount of oxygen reaching the body's tissues, which can lead to symptoms like dizziness, faintness, and, in severe cases, altitude sickness or worse. The body's acclimatization process at high altitudes, where partial pressure of oxygen is lower, involves physiological adjustments such as changes in blood pH and bicarbonate levels. However, this process takes time, and sudden exposure to high altitudes, as could happen with a rapid cabin depressurization, can be dangerous without immediate access to supplemental oxygen.