Re: Engine fire, EDI
APU u/s. #4 started on stand. #1 started during push back.
I’ve carried out engine runs on the RJ myself and forgotten to increase engine power on the running engine, resulting in a wind down of the good engine and it stalling/surging. I escaped with a cough of flames and brown underwear, fortunately only me onboard so no witnesses! I also had the luxury of only being concerned about one person and could pause to decide what to do. I didn’t have to worry about any possibility of the PA not working when the aircraft died down to battery power, or try to communicate through a locked flight deck door with cabin crew and eighty-odd punters.
A surge or jet pipe fire will not give a fire warning. Pulling the fire handle on your only source of AC power will disable a lot of a/c systems, including main lights. If you’re told you have an engine fire what else would you do?!
The cabin crew got everyone off safely from what they believed was an aircraft on fire.
The flight deck acted the best they could with the information they had at hand.
It’s taken you about 15 seconds to read this post. Probably about 15 times longer than the decision time the crew of G-CFAE had.