Narrative:

Loss of cabin pressure required emergency descent from FL310. Notified ATC of emergency and required descent. Center tried to level us at FL220 for traffic below. We told them we couldn't level, needed lower (10000 ft) and in an emergency situation. We asked ATC to turn us (to avoid conflict). They said traffic below us was too slow and couldn't get out of the way. We repeated that we wanted to turn to clear. They responded with a heading (I think) and said I must use my emergency authority/authorized to continue descent. I did, we did so then ATC then tried to give us a frequency change. As we passed 14000 ft on way to our requested 10000 ft, ATC repeatedly asked us if we would level at 11000 ft and it would be easier for them to handle the situation. We need 10000 ft for crew oxygen requirements. By then we had decided to go into sav and continued our descent to an uneventful landing.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737-400 FLC EXPERIENCES LOSS OF PRESSURIZATION. EMER DSCNT AND DIVERSION RESULT.

Narrative: LOSS OF CABIN PRESSURE REQUIRED EMER DSCNT FROM FL310. NOTIFIED ATC OF EMER AND REQUIRED DSCNT. CTR TRIED TO LEVEL US AT FL220 FOR TFC BELOW. WE TOLD THEM WE COULDN'T LEVEL, NEEDED LOWER (10000 FT) AND IN AN EMER SIT. WE ASKED ATC TO TURN US (TO AVOID CONFLICT). THEY SAID TFC BELOW US WAS TOO SLOW AND COULDN'T GET OUT OF THE WAY. WE REPEATED THAT WE WANTED TO TURN TO CLR. THEY RESPONDED WITH A HDG (I THINK) AND SAID I MUST USE MY EMER AUTH TO CONTINUE DSCNT. I DID, WE DID SO THEN ATC THEN TRIED TO GIVE US A FREQ CHANGE. AS WE PASSED 14000 FT ON WAY TO OUR REQUESTED 10000 FT, ATC REPEATEDLY ASKED US IF WE WOULD LEVEL AT 11000 FT AND IT WOULD BE EASIER FOR THEM TO HANDLE THE SIT. WE NEED 10000 FT FOR CREW OXYGEN REQUIREMENTS. BY THEN WE HAD DECIDED TO GO INTO SAV AND CONTINUED OUR DSCNT TO AN UNEVENTFUL LNDG.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.