cwatters..... glad to hear you are a glider pilot,me too,only I have 2 engines on my one...
Concerning the fire lights,the second post is right on and is the common sense app....
I have had several occassions where I have had to do an airstart (do gliders need these?)....the rear cargo door has been open as the boys are still loading bags....the airstart cart has been fired up and the smoke from this thing has "waffled" into the cargo hold,....note: on the aircraft we have,the cargo detection system is for smoke only not fire /heat
In the front office we get the cargo smoke lights.....we immediatly panic,start screaming and looking for the big red button.....disgharge the bottles,do the checklists,evacuate the aircraft,and then immediatly go to the Chief Pilots office and explain why we were such idiots!!!!
Bottom line...all situations need to be evaluated,use all your resources,and that includes those in the back.....
On the ground the decision is somewhat easier,in the air,obviously different,....under those conditons my QRH requires under to blow the bottles,even if you have doubts......better to have blown the bottles on a "suspected" smoke/fire as opposed to finding out you actually have one
