EMB ERJ 145 ER/LR
Situational Awareness; Time Pressure; Troubleshooting; Workload
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Flight Crew FLC complied w / Automation / Advisory; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; General Declared Emergency; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
In cruise flight at FL220; we observed that the Cabin altitude was rapidly climbing (no associated EICAS message). When we saw it; the cabin altitude indicated 8;800 FT and climbing. The highest altitude I observed was 10;400 FT. We performed the memory items; initiated an emergency descent; contacted Center. We were given clearance to descend to 10;000 FT. The Captain also called the Flight Attendant and told her that we were in an emergency descent and to prepare the cabin.On the ground; the Captain contacted Maintenance Control and had the pack number 2 placed on MEL because it was inoperative. We followed the procedures as we are trained and the flight landed safely without further incident.
An EMB-145 crew cruising at FL220 detected the cabin altitude climbing through 8;800 FT with no EICAS messages so they declared an emergency; completed the memory items and descended to 10;000 FT. The right pack was MEL'ed inoperative after landing.