THIS PROPOSAL DESCRIBES A RESEARCH EFFORT DIRECTED THE DEVELOPMENT OF A REBREATHING DEVICE FOR USE BY PASSENGERS IN AIRCRAFT FIRES.

THIS PROPOSAL DESCRIBES A RESEARCH EFFORT DIRECTED THE DEVELOPMENT OF A REBREATHING DEVICE FOR USE BY PASSENGERS IN AIRCRAFT FIRES. AT PRESENT, THE CABIN OF AN AIRCRAFT IN FLIGHT FILLS WITH SMOKE AND TOXIC GASES DURING A FIRE, THERE IS NO EFFECTIVE MEANS OF PROTECTING THE PASSENGERS AND CREW UNTIL THE AIRCRAFT CAN BE LANDED AND EVALUATED. CURRENT OXYGEN MASKS ARE OF LITTLE VALUE SINCE, WITHOUT A DEPRESSURIZATION, THEY DO NOT SUPPLY SUFFICIENT OXYGEN, AND THE MASK DESIGN IS SUCH THAT AMBIENT SMOKE AND TOXIC GASES ARE ALL TO ENTER THE USER'S LUNGS. THIS PROPOSAL DESCRIBES A STUDY THAT IS AN EXTENSION OF THE WORK BY DESTEIGUER AND SALDIVAR OF THE CIVIL AEROMEDICAL INSTITUTE OF THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION (REFERENCE 1). IN THAT WORK, PASSENGER OXYGEN MASKS WERE MODIFIED TO INCORPORATE A "CONTROLLED-USE REBREATHER RESERVOIR". WHILE THIS APPROACH IMPROVED THE PASSENGER OXYGEN MASK IT STILL REQUIRED MORE OXYGEN THAN MOST CURRENT AIRCRAFT CAN SUPPLY. WE PROPOSE TO INCORPORATE A CARBON DIOXIDE (CO2) ABSORBER IN THE REBREATHER RESERVOIR TO REDUCE THE OXYGEN REQUIREMENTS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE LEVELS AND TO REDUCE THE HIGH CO2 LEVELS IN THE REBREATHER MASK. THE REBREATHER RESERVOIR CONTAINING CO2 ABSORBER TAKE THE FORM OF A HOOD TO ALSO REDUCE EYE IRRITATION.