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Cabin Differential Pressure
- Definition: Cabin differential pressure is the pressure difference between the inside of an aircraft cabin and the outside atmosphere. This pressure differential is necessary to maintain a comfortable and safe environment for passengers and crew at high altitudes.
- Function: As an aircraft ascends to higher altitudes, the external atmospheric pressure decreases significantly. To ensure that passengers experience a stable and breathable environment, the cabin is pressurized to a level closer to what is experienced at lower altitudes. The cabin differential pressure represents the amount by which the cabin pressure exceeds the outside atmospheric pressure.
- Example: For an aircraft flying at an altitude of 9,000 meters (approximately 29,500 feet), the cabin differential pressure required to maintain a comfortable environment would be around 60 kNm² (kilonewtons per square meter).