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Multiple Choice

At what cabin altitude do the oxygen masks automatically deploy during decompression?

When a cabin loses pressurization, the system is set to release oxygen masks automatically at a specific cabin altitude to protect passengers from hypoxia. That threshold is around 14,000 feet. Releasing at this level ensures oxygen is available quickly as the air becomes thinner and the brain and body can be affected within minutes. If it were set too low, like around 8,000 or 12,000 feet, masks might deploy too early or unnecessarily, while waiting until 18,000 feet would delay oxygen and increase the risk of hypoxia before the masks come down. So 14,000 feet is the balance that provides timely oxygen without premature deployment.

When a cabin loses pressurization, the system is set to release oxygen masks automatically at a specific cabin altitude to protect passengers from hypoxia. That threshold is around 14,000 feet. Releasing at this level ensures oxygen is available quickly as the air becomes thinner and the brain and body can be affected within minutes.

If it were set too low, like around 8,000 or 12,000 feet, masks might deploy too early or unnecessarily, while waiting until 18,000 feet would delay oxygen and increase the risk of hypoxia before the masks come down. So 14,000 feet is the balance that provides timely oxygen without premature deployment.