Elliott L. Maylor

This study evaluated two concepts for modifying the air conditioning systems of large commercial airplanes to enhance the venting of smoke that may be continuously injected into the passenger cabin during inflight fire emergencies. Data from past fire accidents and airplane tests provided a basis for creating four fire/smoke scenarios and deriving five sets of equations to predict the smoke venting effectiveness of current airplanes and the proposed concepts. Concept A would modify the air conditioning packs by adding high flow modes with dual outflow valves and Concept B would add ram air ventilation with an added dump valve. The estimated costs to incorporate Concept A or B in the U.S. fleet were about $381 million or $587 million, respectively. The effectiveness equations predicted that both concepts would provide only slightly significant smoke venting enhancement. Furthermore, the study showed that both concepts would have been negated by the reported crew actions and/or fire damage in past fires. It was concluded that current U.S. fleet airplanes will provide a majority of the passenger cabin free of smoke during inflight fires while the air conditioning systems are kept operating.

Margaret Harkleroad

Experimental tests were. conducted to 'study the'lateral and upward "flame spread behavior of eight aircraft lining materials. The results are tabulated in terms of parameters useful in predicting ignition and flame spread in the presence of an ignition source under exposure to an external radiant source. Experimental and derived results are graphically compared. Derived material properties related to and indicative of the propersity to support flame spread are presented.

Richard Clarke, Deborah Kane, Carla Stewart

This study describes Fire Safety systems, cabin design and materials in cabin areas often common commuter aircraft. The aircraft were selected based upon a balance of current pop ulation and aircraft most commonly delivered. These aircraft represent 880 of 1100 commuter aircraft and probably will be the majority of the commuter fleet in the future.

The trend in these commuter aircraft is increasing sophistication in application of materials similar to those in large commercial aircraft. Among the ten aircraft two are lolder, piston powered aircraft, simple in design and materials applications. Of the other larger eight aircraft, two are no longer delivered. Four newer and larger designs feature large, separate baggage compartments. Only two aircraft have overhead storage bins.
One aircraft has a large interior with act, with interior storage limited to composite materials are used in the newer ith polyurethane cushions; currently, with fire-blocking materials.

Piston powered aircraft use gasoline cabin heaters and ram cooling airflow. The other eight aircraft are turboprop aircraft using engine bleed air for cabin heating and cooling Six aircraft are unpressurized and four are pressurized. One new design has an optional oxygen system using oxygen generators; the other aircraft use cylinder stored oxygen.

US Department of Transportation

This advisory circular (AC) provides guidance for use in demonstrating compliance with the power plant fire protection requirements of the Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR). Included in this document are methods for fire testing of materials and components used in the power plant fire zone of aircraft, as well as the rationale for these methods.

Louise Speitel, Richard G. Hill

A computer model was developed and utilized for calculating the benefits of passenger protective breathing devices and other fire safety improvemnts based on an analysis of accidents involving fire occurring fro 1966 to 1986. The results of exercising this model on 20 past accidents indicate that the "lives saved" is very sensitive to assumptions. It was determined that seat cushion fire blocking (FB) would have saved almost half the lives. Floor proximity lighting (FPL) is much less effective than FB, saving 3-4 percent of fire deaths. Protective breathing equipment (PBE), assuming no donning delay and 100 percent usage by passengers, is more effective than FPL. However, a 15-second donning delay of PBE may have resulted in a net disbenefit.