Firstly, thank you to everybody who has contributed to this thread. I feel very strongly about this topic and intend to do everything in my power to get the rules changed.
I'm aware that Class D compartments no longer exist as was mandated by the FAA Airwothiness Directives in 1998 (FAR 25.857). ( Obviously this only applies to American-registered aircraft). My understanding is that Europe (EASA) followed this change in 2003 in the JAA Certification Specifications and that all aircraft registered FROM these dates will only have Class E or Class C cargo compartments.
The FAA had gone one step further to mandate all older aircraft be upgraded from Class D to Class E or C by 2001 in accordance with:
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 25
[Docket No. 28937, Amendment No. 25-93]
"These amendments upgrade the fire safety standards for cargo or baggage compartments in certain transport category airplanes by eliminating Class D compartments as an option for future type certification. Compartments that can no longer be designated as Class D must meet the standards for Class C or Class E compartments, as applicable. The Class D compartments in certain transport category airplanes manufactured under existing type certificates and used in passenger service must meet the fire or smoke detection and fire suppression standards for Class C compartments by early 2001 for use in air carrier, or most other commercial service. The Class D compartments in certain transport category airplanes manufactured under existing type certificates and used only for the carriage of cargo must also meet such standards or the corresponding standards for Class E compartments by that date for such service. These improved standards are adopted to increase protection from possible in-flight fires."
Unfortunately I have learned that Europe is still more than a decade behind this ruling and refer you to:
ToR 26.003 dated 17th Sept 2010
"3. Objective:
The objective is to improve the protection of occupants onboard large aeroplanes
operated in commercial air transportation (CAT), by removing the risk of uncontrollable fire in Class D compartments.
This improvement would be reached by upgrading, on large aeroplanes used for CAT, the existing Class D cargo compartments to the current CS-25 standards for Class C or Class E cargo compartments."
This change is only proposed and the decision is set for 2012! Far too little far too late!
I have some questions;
How does adding detection remove the risk of "uncontrollable fire in Class D compartments"?! This is not a form of control!
Are there still cargo operations within the US airspace on aircraft with no fire/smoke detection within compartments?! (i.e non US registered aircraft)
Which airlines within Europe are operating without smoke detection? (Pax or cargo)
I have written to the NTSB, the FAA and to Mr Obama about this topic and intend to take it a lot further.
Please don't let Capt Doug Lampe and FO Matthew Bell's deaths be for nothing...
Class E to Class C ASAP!!!