C.P. Sarkos, R.G. Hill, T.R. Marker

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and British Civil Aviation (CAA) have been engaged in a joint program since l989 to determine the effectiveness and practicability of an onboard aircraft cabin water spray system for improving survival during a postcrash fire Aviation authorities from Canada and other European countries also participated in the program.

Constantine Sarkos, Richard G. Hill

This paper discusses full-scale transport aircraft cabin fire tests conducted in the United States under postcrash fire conditions. The logic behind the development of fire test scenarios is described, including a comparison of fire involvement by external fuel fire penetration through an opening or by fuselage burnthrough. Early full-scale tests in the 1960's and 1970's that furnished data on the characteristics of cabin fires are briefly described. Past test activities addressing facets of the fuselage burnthrough problem are also discussed. The impact of environmental. Factors (such as wind, door opening configuration, and fuselage orientation) on fire penetration through openings and the resulting cabin hazards is discussed on the basis of past test activities. The majority of the data presented in the paper are. from a recent full-scale test to determine fire/hazard progression in a postcrash cabin fire environment with emphasis on post-flashover conditions, to examine factors affecting occupant survivability, and to evaluate the performance of a protective breathing equipment filter. The paper often discusses and cites past studies addressing important cabin fire characteristics and concepts, such as flashover, stratification, and survivability.

A.F. Taylor

A further study is being made, on a world-wide basis, of accident summarizes and reports together with recent papers on the various aspects of fire safety.

Department of Transportation

The Federal Aviation Administration is considering amending Part 37 of the Federal Aviation Regulations by adding a new Technical Standard Order (TSO) concerning aircraft flight recorders that have the capability of recording the additional flight data required by the Federal Aviation Regulations.

T.L. Court

The test methods used in flammability standards and specification for upholstered furniture vary from agency to agency and country to country. In the United States some standards specify the materials that must be used but do not include any test methods. An example is the Federal Prison Mattress Standard which requires cotton with a minimum boric acid content.