A Question

[U4EA]

For all the experts here:

Say it's about 107 ambient ramp temp and you have a parked 737-300 that's been at the gate since arrival for about 50 minutes.

After shutdown there's either ground power or APU while sitting parked.  Unknown which was the provider.

Say, at boarding time, inside cabin temp is easily low to mid 90s.  Passengers load, mains start after pushback, and there is absolutely no change in air temp blowing out of the passenger vents which may or may not be significant.

BUT, after take-off and climbout to 28,000 there still is no change in the hot air the vents are blowing!

Now the query for the experts:  I realize that ambient air temp at 28,000 should be significantly lower than at ramp elevation.  And I realize that the mains are running at capacity therefore providing full power to all systems, like the air-conditioning.  So, with that in mind, was the crew possibly not fully versed on maintaining passenger comfort, or was the plane broke.

The side effect was that methinks I lost a good bit of water weight in the 'sauna' I was trapped in.

Thanx for any responses! 8-)

[planephysician]

The Temp Controller may have been set to "hot", not working or the Packs may not be on. Was there a sufficient amount of airflow from the gasper? The Recirc Fan may have been the only thing running and it was blowing the same, hot, cabin air that was there when you boarded. Of course, if you were in STL you were a victim of the humidity and the Packs weren't able to cool it enough. Seen that one a number of times!

[U4EA]

That was probably it, and sorta what I suspected.  We were at Chicago Midway, destination KSTL, yesterday evening.  Air temp at the time was around 95 so I guessed that ambient ramp temp was somwhere in the 102-108 range.

I suppose that the outside air they intaked in-flight loses it's 'coolness' when it's compressed to enhance its 'breathe-ability'?

They probably let the temp get away from 'em, or the A/C system was overloaded, and niether condition was addressable til the sun went down.

Felt bad for the folks that had to stay on at StL for continuance to LAX.

[expat]

[quote]That was probably it, and sorta what I suspected.

[U4EA]

Thanx Expat!  I wasn't trying to be insulting, but if something was broke I would think they would've announced something or had a different response than, "We're trying to do the best we can." 

It was either one of three possibles IMHO: a) broke, b) overload, or c) operator malfunction.

A straight answer from the attendants would've been nice, but they could've been gettin' smoke blown up their butts by the drivers and not known any better.

[planephysician]

Well, I guess being a 30+ yr mechanic who works on these systems daily doesn't qualify my answer I guess - my bad!

[wifesaysno]

Well, I guess being a 30+ yr mechanic who works on these systems daily doesn't qualify my answer I guess - my bad!

There is always room to learn...so maybe the sarcasm can go.

I have been working on WACOs for a couple of months, but I have managed to learn some things about them that the folks that have been building and maintaining them for 15years did not realize..because I have a different view point.

[expat]

Well, I guess being a 30+ yr mechanic who works on these systems daily doesn't qualify my answer I guess - my bad!

I am 5 years behind you and still learning every day

Matt


PS, Why not post that you work in these systems when you gave your answer, saves a lot of time and I would have changed the way I replied and not trodden on your toes