B737-300
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors
I was waiting for the inbound aircraft. As the aircraft was pulling into the gate; I was standing about four feet from the jetway double doors and I briefly turned my back and plugged my ears. I then heard a rapid succession of loud popping noises and I turned to see the emergency escape slide deploying toward me. Because there was a loud compressed gas sound as the slide was attempting to continue to inflate; I ran about twenty feet up the jetway until the inflation noise stopped. I ran back to the slide and began calling out asking if anyone was hurt or trapped by the slide. The crew responded there were no injuries and no one was trapped. I picked up the jetway phone and attempted to call for help. I saw the standard framed phone directory but there was no prominent labeling of the phone number for Company Operations. Due to the very close proximity of the slide and the urgency of summoning help; I dialed '0' on the phone and reached the airport operator. I clearly explained I had a serious situation and I needed to speak with Company Operations immediately. The Operator connected me to Airport Operations. I then observed the Agent on the other side of the jetway operator window pushed against the aircraft fuselage and forward entry door. He was on his cell phone talking to Company Operations. I could hear him summoning help so I hung up the jetway phone. A Mechanic arrived very shortly and he ordered us from the jetway while he deflated the slide.It was one of the most frustrating experiences I have had to know I needed help quickly and I was unable to summon help because I didn't know how to use the phone! Adding to the frustration is the knowledge that the method of using the jetway phone varies from city to city. Because Company Operations is one of our first points of contact; we need to require all Station Managers to clearly placard in a standardized manner in large 1/2 inch letters the phone number to Company Operations and Dispatch as dialed on that phone in that jetway. I touched the slide and it was inflated rock hard. If someone was pinned against a wall or floor; there is no way they could have been able to breathe. I surveyed the jetway and there is no tool available to deflate a slide in an emergency. I have heard of an inadvertent escape slide deployment filling the entire forward galley; hence; there is no guarantee the crash axe would be available for use. We need to obtain a tool available in each galley with a very short blade that could not be used effectively in a hijacking but could be used in an emergency to deflate a slide.
B737 pilot describes an inadvertent slide deployment as viewed from the jetway.