CABIN SMOKE CONTROL - PHASE I

WHILE INFREQUENT, THE OCCURENCE OF AN IN-FLIGHT FIRE ABOARD COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT PRESENTS A DANGEROUS SITUATION WHICH HAS HAD CATASTROPHIC RESULTS IN THOSE FEW CASES IN WHICH THE EMERGENCY HAS DEVELOPED BEYOND THE ABILITY OF THE EQUIPMENT AND CREW TO COPE WITH IT. WHEN FIRE OCCURS IN THE APSSENGER CABIN, THE RESULTING ACCUMULATION OF SMOKE AND HOT GASES PRESENT HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS TO THE OCCUPANTS AND CAN ULTIMATELY LEAD TO FIRE FLASHOVER IF NOT CONTROLLED AND EVACUATED. THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL SYSTEM (ECS) OF MODERN PRESSURIZED AIRCRAFT PROVIDES THE ONLY VENTILATION AVAILABLE TO EXHAUST THE SMOKE AND OTHER HOT COMBUSTION PRODUCTS. THIS PHASE I PROGRAM WILL STUDY TWO INNOVATIVE CONCEPTS FOR PREVENTING, CONTROLLING OR ELIMINATING SMOKE ACCUMULATION IN THE PASSENGER CABIN RESULTING FROM AN IN-FLIGHT FIRE BY PROVIDING ENHANCEMENTS TO THE ECS. PERFORMANCE, WEIGHT, FLOW AND ENERGY REQUIREMENTS, AND THE IMPACT OF MODIFICATIONS ON OTHER AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS WILL BE EVALUATED. THE CONCEPTS WILL BE DEVELOPED AND ANALYZED FOR THE BOEING 757, AND IF SHOWN TO BE FEASIBLE, WILL BE EXTENDED TO OTHER AIRCRAFT IN PHASE II.