Aerform LHR

Aerform LHR, the only low heat release thermoplastic, was introduced to the aviation market in June 1992

The test method is based on the observation that generally, the net heat of combustion is directly related to the amount of oxygen required for combustion (1,2). Burning may be either with or without a pilot ignition applied either at the top or the bottom of the specimen. The primary measurements of oxygen concentrations and exhaust flow rate are made as specified in (2). Additional measurements include the mass-loss rate of the specimen, the time to sustained flaming, lateral travel rate across the specimens surface and the specimen interior temperature.

Richard G. Hill, Constantine P. Sarkos, Timothy R. Marker

Evaluate and determine the additional time available for escape provided by the SAVE water spray system under controlled full-scale test conditions for several postcrash fire controls.

Timothy Marker & Bruce Downie

Three full-scale fire tests were conducted in a modified DC-10 fuselage to determine the effectiveness of an onboard water spray system in reducing the hazardous effects of an oxygen enriched postcrash cabin fire. Two fuel fire testes were conducted in which pressurized oxygen was introduced into the cabin interior in the vicinity of a pool fire which was adjacent to a fuselage opening. Water was sprayed throughout the cabin during one of the two oxygen fed fire tests in order to determine the benefits of using an onboard spray system. For comparison, a third test was performed using the identical pool fire adjacent to the fuselage opening without the introduction of oxygen into the cabin in order to establish “baseline” data.

The interior of the fuselage was realistically furnished in the area adjacent to the fuel fire and was fully instrumented to measure the various fire hazards. Temperature profiles, smoke levels, gas concentrations and heat flux were monitored throughout the fuselage during the tests. Photographic and video recordings visually documented the progress of the fire. The results showsed the water spray to be an effective method for increasing the chances of survival in the event of any oxygen enriched fire by significantly prolonging the period of time that the cabin environment remains habitable

Mark D. Mitchell

This study was performed to determine the feasibility of recycling Halon 1301 extinguishing agent for support of the United Staes civil aircraft fleet until 2020. Research for this study centered around known relationships of refrigerants; scientific principles of Avogadro, Dalton, Henry, Raoult; and natural physical properties of Halon 1301. Reslts of this study deminstrate the recovery of Halon 1301 to military specification purity requirements is practical. Agent recovery efficiency of 98 percent (minimum) can be expected; and the recovered agent can meet applicable purity requirements, except for a maximum noncondensibile gas content of 10 pounds per square inch partial pressure at 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Support of current and future United States domestic civil fleet until 2020 and beyond requires less than 5 percent of the projected 1994 Halon 1301 bank.