why do commercial airliners have little windows that open on the side of their cockpits?

Question

Even Concorde had them, what are they for? why go to the trouble of providing opening cockpit windows?

Answer 1

Could be several reasons,

If the main cockpit window is a round shape then they fit a flat window to give direct vision. If you look in a flat mirror you see a perfect reflection of yourself but if you go to a fairground and look in a bent mirror then the view is distorted, not a true view!
A nice true view is a bonus when flying.

As most commercial jets are pressurised inside, if there is a problem with the pressure dump valves (these open up as the aircraft loses altitude, pressurisation is only required above 12,000ft but most aircraft start at 8000ft although pressure will build up on the ground (sealed doors air conditioning on etc) when the aircraft lands if the pressure has not dumped then opening the doors can be difficut and or dangerous, having a little hatch or a window allows the pilot to manually depressurise.Equalising outside and inside pressure.
Most doors on the aircraft, cargo doors or passenger doors usually have an opening sequence where on operating them, the main door doesn't open until another little door has opened first to release any excess pressure build up.
When I worked on Canberra's in the RAF the door opened outwards, if the pilot didn't open his little DV window first then when I opened the main door the pressure inside would cause the door to open violently, not an explosion but a knock on the shoulder was painful enough. A certain Mr Rory Underwood of Rugby Union fame was one of the worst offenders for not opening his DV window first. I made a few complaints about this as he was the only person to do this. He never did like me after that.
Back to it, the Canberra was an old aeroplane and now aircraft doors open in before they open out releasing any excess pressure.
In effect it's a safety feature.

Although the Liney above is not wrong, hand signals and emergency escape are not the main reasons..Quite laughable answers actually.
Bet you were a FLeM....or should have been!
Just noticed, Avionics should stick to wiggly amps! Haha

Aircraft fly on a principle found by Bernoulli not Marconi!

From a better Aircraft engineer!

Can I have best answer now please? hehe

Answer 2

Giving pilots their very own loos and having 2 doorways might require extra area interior the airplane which ability much less seats and extra weight. this might cost the airline extra money. maximum commercial planes do have closed circuit video feeds of the different fringe of the door & something of the airplane as properly as intercoms to flight attendants' aspects. wearing any variety of weapon in a cockpit isn't a great theory. What might take place if the tear gas exchange into by twist of destiny released into the cockpit mutually as the pilots the place flying? they might the two be no longer able to fly the airplane. Pilots have a complicated job and that they might desire to paintings on that, no longer situation approximately retaining hijackers out of the cockpit. If secure practices needs to be more suitable than an armed safeguard could be in place exterior of the cockpit for the full flight to guard the cabin. wish this helps (:

Answer 3

Easier to signal the froundcrew, and at times, the AC is turned off, and the cockpit, with all the electronics crampt together in there can get very hot very fast. The windowsprovide a bit of ventilation in these cases.
In some aircrafr, where this window is large enough, it might be used as an emergency escape for the cockpit crew.

Answer 4

1) It's an escape route in case of fire (trapping them in) and from terrorists while on the ground. A rope is stowed under the window. In case of emergency, the window can be punched out/opened (depending on aircraft type) and the rope thrown out. It's long enough to reach the ground.

2) In case of groundcrew intercom failure, the pilot can give hand signals to them for engine start etc. (It is not for left/right indication, as the ground technician marshalls the aircraft out. The pilot has to follow his direction.)

Answer 5

part of the preflight checks require the pilots to inspect the aircraft, from the cockpit they can view, or visually check the top of the aircraft,most check involve a visual check for bumps, ripples or dents in the body of the aircraft. it would be impossible to check for these type of damage from beneath the aircraft.

JD

Answer 6

It is to allow them fresh air on the ground, to clean the windshield, to communicate verbally with the ground crew (although the intercomm is usually used), and to provide an emergency exit.

Also see below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCAIfoOgWWM

Answer 7

There are no ashtrays provided to the cockpit crew.
It is the only way to flick their fagash.

Answer 8

So the pilots can have a sneaky smoke, at 30,000ft, instead of using the toilets and setting off the smoke detectors??

Answer 9

Makes it easier for the pilot to see for parallel parking? Not like he has a rear-view mirror.

Answer 10

So the pilot can throw a v-sign at other planes when he gets a bit of air-rage !!!!!!