Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 150; Flight Crew Total 4000; Flight Crew Type 3000
Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem; General Declared Emergency
Human Factors
We departed and received a cabin pressure light illumination [climbing] through 12;000 FT. We put on our oxygen [masks] and requested lower immediately. We declared an emergency and squawked 7700 in order to get descent priority. Pilot flying took controls and radios I prepared the appropriate cabin pressure light checklist. As we descended to 10;000 the light extinguished and [we] continued to finish the cabin pressure checklist. The checklist led us to check the bleeds I realized they were not on and had not been on since we took off. I turned them on and the cabin pressurized normally in both auto and manual mode. Realizing my error (i.e. accidentally not turning the bleeds on allowing the cabin to pressurize) we received legal approval to continue after canceling our emergency and continued to our destination.
P180 Captain reported losing cabin pressure and then finding he had never turned the bleeds on.