After the loss of pressure and emergency descent on a SW airlines plane, inspections have found others with similar stress problems on the outer skin and the method used to check for cracks additionally weakens the skin.
Twenty five years ago or more locating problems of that nature was easy. People smoked on planes thus tars/nicotine collected along the stress cracks on the outer skin and were easily spotted. This is an excellent example of progress in one area creating problems in another.
I am a non smoker but if I were to vote, I believe I would accept exposure to minute amounts of second hand smoke (Planes had/have state of the art air filtration systems) as opposed to riding the plane all the way to the crash site.
I suspect that some substance could be pumped into the plane under pressure that would stain or oxidize the aluminum around cracks. Maybe that would be more toxic than second hand smoke.
If you are near the hole and have no seat belt on, you will land well before the plane!!
These are a few thoughts to ponder.
Slàinte,
Patch
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