W DOC AIRBUS | AMM A320F

FLIGHT CREW PORTABLE DEVICES - DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION

** ON A/C NOT FOR ALL
1. General
The flight-crew emergency breathing-hood system gives protection to the eyes and respiratory system for crew members.
It is used in the conditions that follow:
  • Fire
  • Smoke and poisonous fumes.
The breathing hood supplies air during a minimum of 15 minutes.
** ON A/C NOT FOR ALL
2. Component Location
F Breathing Hood Container ** ON A/C NOT FOR ALL
F Breathing Hood Container ** ON A/C NOT FOR ALL
The breathing hood container is installed in the cockpit, in the right aft console (702VU).
The container has a good-condition indicator and tamper seal for the pre-flight inspection.
The breathing hood container is installed in the cockpit, in the lower part of the rear panel (120VU).
On the container, there is a good-condition indicator and tamper seal for the pre-flight inspection.
FIN FUNCTIONAL
DESIGNATION		 PANEL ZONE ACCESS
DOOR		 ATA REF
** ON A/C NOT FOR ALL
5776HM HOOD-SMOKE 212 21-20-00
** ON A/C NOT FOR ALL
5904HM HOOD-SMOKE 212 21-20-00
** ON A/C NOT FOR ALL
3. System Description
A. Breathing Hood System
(1) Storage
The hood assembly is vacuum-packed in a transport/storage container.
The breathing hood is put into storage under vacuum in a specially made sachet. After the container is opened, the vacuum protection can be opened and the hood removed with one movement.
(2) Description
The container and its cover are made of polycarbonate. The container has the components that follow:
  • A good-condition indicator on the cover (serviceable color: yellow)
  • A handle
  • A hinge for jointing the container and the cover
  • A pictogram that shows how to use the oxygen mask
  • An identification plate at the rear of the container that gives the date of the hood manufacture.
To get access to the aluminized bag, it is necessary to break the tamper seal and open the box cover.
(3) Description
The hood container and its cover have the components that follow:
  • An inspection window to see the serviceability indicator (serviceable color: green) and a tamper seal for the pre-flight inspection
  • Two locking clamps to close the cover to the hood container. The tamper seal is installed on one of the two locking clamps.
  • A hinge to attach the cover to the hood container
  • A handle
  • A pictogram which tells you how to use the breathing hood, installed on the cover
  • An identification plate with the manufacturing date, installed on the cover.
To get access to the aluminized bag, it is necessary to break the tamper seal and open the cover.
B. Description of the Protective Breathing Equipment
F Breathing Hood ** ON A/C NOT FOR ALL
The protective breathing equipment has three main parts:
(1) The hood
The hood has the components that follow:
  • A neck seal
  • A strap that goes around the head and a strap that keeps the oronasal mask (also referred to as the inner mask) on the face of the user
  • A relief valve that keeps the overpressure in the hood at a correct level.
(2) The oronasal mask (or inner mask)
The oronasal mask has the components that follow:
  • An anti-suffocation valve, operated by a higher breathing resistance. The user can breathe the air that is between the head and the hood through this valve. If the breathing bag is empty, it is possible to breathe from the external closed-loop breathing-system with the mask or the hood on.
  • A speech transmitter, in the front part of the oronasal mask.
(3) The KO2 cartridge
The KO2 cartridge has the components that follow:
  • An attached breathing bag with a volume-controlled relief valve:
    This valve also keeps the breathing resistance for exhalation at a low and correct level when the breathing bag is full.
  • A starter with a lanyard to operate it
  • A fold tube (or breathing hose) for the connection with the oronasal mask
  • A belt that keeps the cartridge attached to the hood.
(4) The technical characteristics of the mask are:
  • Duration: a minimum of 15 minutes
  • Breathing capacity: 6 l (NTPD)
  • Operational temperature: -18 deg.C (0 deg.F) to 55 deg.C (131 deg.F).
** ON A/C NOT FOR ALL
4. Operation/Control and Indicating
A. Operation
F General Operation ** ON A/C NOT FOR ALL
The protective breathing hood operates with a closed breathing circuit.
The breathed-out air is regenerated, enriched with oxygen, and breathed in again.
The exothermic chemical reaction, which occurs with the breathed-out air, between the potassium superoxide (KO2), the humidity and the carbon dioxide (CO2) supplies oxygen. This reaction also releases heat.
B. Donning sequence
F Operation Instructions ** ON A/C NOT FOR ALL
C. Indicating
The breathing hood is serviceable when the serviceability indicator is yellow.
The tamper seal shows that the hood container is serviceable.
You must replace the protective breathing equipment in the conditions that follow:
  • The serviceability indicator is broken.
  • The serviceability indicator is not yellow.
  • You cannot see the serviceability indicator.
  • The tamper seal is broken.
The breathing hood is serviceable when the serviceability indicator is green.
The tamper seal shows that the hood container is serviceable.
You must do an inspection to know if it is necessary to replace the protective breathing equipment in the conditions that follow:
  • The serviceability indicator is red (fully or not fully).
  • You cannot see the serviceability indicator.
  • The container seal is broken.
[Rev.10 from 2021] 2026.04.01 01:05:27 UTC
"Aviabrain" 2025