Originally Posted by
Harley Quinn
Isn't this issue similar to what is thought to have brought TWA800 down? As a layperson I wouldn't be surprised to learn this system was similar to that in the ill-fated 747.
It could be; however TWA 800 had the misfortune of the crew pumping the fuel out of the suspect tank, thereby admitting a large amount of air which created an explosive mixture. As long as that rapid emptying isn't done then the situation should not repeat. Notwithstanding, the ignition source should not have been available on TWA 800.
However this is not much different than automobiles which mostly use a submerged electric pump with an electric fuel level sensor in the gasoline tanks and it generally doesn't cause a problem as the fuel vapor pressure is high enough to exclude the oxygen rich air.