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the cabins of airplanes are actively pressurized by pumping air in, and constantly removing some air so carbon dioxide doesn't build up. The pumping that feeds the replacement air could be higher capacity than the flow through a missing window.

pressurization of aircraft is not required till 12,500 ft (3810m) so the air pressure differential at 15000 is not likely to be that great.

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> pressurization of aircraft is not required till 12,500 ft

Well, no. I don't think cabin altitude for passenger airliners has ever been that high, so you need pressurization much lower than that (typically starting around 6000 ft for modern aircraft).

Edit: Even the Boeing 307 Stratoliner was pressurized to 8000 ft.

Pilot here - it's legal to fly at 12,500 in an unpressurized aircraft indefinitely. See https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/chapter-I/subchapter-F.... Cabin pressurization is set to a lower altitude, but that's not for a legal requirement. It's just nicer to be at higher pressurization.

And, I mean, think about it - there are _towns_ at 9k+ feet.

> but that's not for a legal requirement.

This one? https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/14/25.841

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