IPA Press Releases

NTSB Issues Recommendations to Better Detect and Suppress Air Cargo Fires

The following quote is from Captain Robert Travis, President, Independent Pilots Association (UPS pilots) in reaction to the NTSB's statement on fire suppression
Release Date: 11/28/2012 11:45:26 AM

The following quote is from Captain Robert Travis, President, Independent Pilots Association (UPS pilots) in reaction to the NTSB's statement on fire suppression (see statement below).

"No pilot group is more aware of the tragedy that can result from in-flight smoke and fire than the IPA. We thank Chairman Hersman for her leadership in identifying the causes of these hazards, and the Board's recommendations on preventing, detecting and suppressing fires on cargo aircraft."

Press Release

National Transportation Safety Board
Office of Public Affairs

WASHINGTON - The National Transportation Safety Board today issued three recommendations to reduce the impact of in-flight fires aboard cargo airplanes, saying current fire protection regulations are inadequate.

The recommendations urge the Federal Aviation Administration to require active fire suppression systems in all cargo containers or compartments of cargo aircraft. They also recommend improving early detection of fires within cargo containers and pallets and urge that cargo containers provide better fire resistance.

The NTSB has led or participated in the investigation of three fire-related accidents involving cargo aircraft in the past six years. One involved a UPS aircraft in Philadelphia that was substantially damaged in 2006; another was a UPS flight that crashed in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in 2010; and the third was an Asiana Cargo flight that crashed into the East China Sea off the coast of South Korea in 2011. The Dubai and South Korea investigations are ongoing under the direction of the General Civil Aviation Authority of the United Arab Emirates and the Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board of Korea respectively.

"These fires quickly grew out of control, leaving the crew with little time to get the aircraft on the ground," said NTSB Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman. "Detection, suppression and containment systems can give crews more time and more options. The current approach is not safe enough."

NTSB investigators found that the early stages of a fire burning inside a cargo container are concealed from detection. In later stages, when the fire grows and does become detectable, it rapidly intensifies and burns through the container to become a substantial threat to the aircraft and crew. In the UAE crash, the crew had just 2 1/2 minutes between the fire detection and the onset of aircraft system failures.

"I also want to commend the air cargo industry for actively researching and implementing new fire prevention and suppression technologies," said Hersman, who was briefed this week by UPS on its efforts. FedEx is in the process of installing a fire-suppression system on its long-haul fleet.

A link to the full text of the safety recommendations can be found here:http://www.ntsb.gov/doclib/recletters/2012/A-12-068-070.pdf

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