What are the usual locations where a carbon monoxide detector would be installed?

• A. In the cargo hold
• B. In an aircraft cockpit or cabin
• C. In the avionics bay only
• D. Under the floor panels

Answer: (B)

Carbon monoxide detectors are placed where people breathe, so they shield crew and passengers by being located in the cockpit and cabin. CO can enter the occupied flight deck or passenger area from engine exhaust or other fuel-system issues, and having a detector in those spaces provides an early warning to take action. The cargo hold is typically unoccupied, so a detector there wouldn’t serve the same protective purpose. The avionics bay houses equipment and wiring, not a space where people breathe, so a detector there wouldn’t alert occupants. Placing a detector under floor panels also fails to reliably monitor the breathing zones and can be obstructed. Therefore, the usual locations are the cockpit or cabin.