What is the purpose of aircraft door slides?

• A. To regulate cabin pressure.
• B. To provide rapid evacuation of passengers in an emergency.
• C. To assist in winching the aircraft.
• D. To determine passenger seating.

Answer: (B)

Door slides are emergency evacuation devices. Their job is to let passengers get away from the airplane quickly in an emergency. The slide inflates from the door threshold when the door is opened in an evacuation state, forming a safe ramp from the door to the ground (or water, for those aircraft that use slides as life rafts). This rapid egress is essential to meet safety requirements that all passengers can exit within a short time. They aren’t used to regulate cabin pressure, help with winching the aircraft, or determine seating.