On commercial aircraft, pilots are provided with masks which supply oxygen in the event of cabin depressurization, or smoke and fumes in the cockpit.

Light aircraft generally aren't pressurized, because they don't fly high enough for it to be needed; therefore there are no masks for the pilots or passengers.

In the event of a fire, or even just smouldering, the small volume of the cabin can very quickly fill with smoke; this can affect breathing and irritate the eyes, making operation of the aircraft very difficult.

The proposal is for a simple, lightweight full-face mask with a tube that connects to the exterior of the aircraft, allowing the wearer to breathe uncontaminated air. A baffle system prevents turbulence and the slipstream from affecting breathing, and exhaust air is discharged to the cabin through a one-way valve. Provision may be made for warming the intake air as the outside air temperature may be uncomfortably cold for breathing.
-- 8th of 7, Jan 16 2016

"Cockpit Smoke Hoods" are a thing http://www.avweb.co...hoods_197712-1.html
[scad mientist, Jan 16 2016]

I like it. You'd have to be careful with the positioning of the intake as the local air pressure at certain positions around the fuselage may be less than that in the cockpit. I suggest a somewhat forward facing intake to capture some of the freestream dynamic pressure - this should make breathing easier.
-- EnochLives, Jan 16 2016


Hard to believe that this isn't already a thing.
-- 2 fries shy of a happy meal, Jan 16 2016


[scad], this isn't a smoke hood - the problem with them is that they induct ambient air from the cabin, which requires filtering. The additional load of breathing through a filter is not going to be welcome in an emergency.

This system simply supplies outside air at neutral or slight positive pressure.
-- 8th of 7, Jan 16 2016


Open a window ?
-- FlyingToaster, Jan 16 2016


//Open a window ?// That would seem to be an adequate solution, no?
-- MaxwellBuchanan, Jan 16 2016



random, halfbakery