During land/ditch prep, how should the status of doors be configured?

• A. Unarmed, ready for quick exit
• B. ARMED unless otherwise directed by captain
• C. Doors must be opened for ventilation
• D. Doors should remain unlocked

Answer: (B)

Arming the doors is the default for land/ditch prep because it keeps the evacuation path ready to deploy immediately if an emergency occurs. When a door is armed, opening it in an emergency triggers the slide or raft to deploy, giving passengers a rapid, orderly exit and, in a ditch, a flotation option. The captain can override and disarm if there’s a specific reason to prevent inadvertent deployment or a particular ground scenario. Leaving doors unarmed would delay egress and compromise safety, and opening doors for ventilation or keeping them unlocked does not align with evacuation readiness and security considerations.