Guppy,
I started this thread because I wanted to raise awareness, which ultimately will add pressure for a change to FAA rulings. I am getting fed up with your constant negative and destructive comments. Your posts make up a third of this thread, and all are negative, destructive, condescending and very repetitive. Quite frankly I feel that you are trying to sabotage everybody's efforts. You seem unable to allow anybody else to have an opinion, unless they agree with you.
You are NOT entirely knowledgeable when it comes to cargo operations and I am beginning to wonder whether you are quite who you say you are? Perhaps you are just trying to provoke reactions? Or maybe I am giving you far too much credit here, but could you possibly be management for a cargo outfit? Or perhaps even have links to the FAA?
I do not understand what vested interest you have in quashing any thoughts of fire suppression. If you simply think it is unlikely to happen or change why can't you ignore the thread? Instead you are hell-bent on trying to prove everybody else wrong and insisting only you know best. Yet apart from your own experiences, you lack any specific research, scientific and regulatory knowledge!
I am looking for people that can think outside of the box and take this matter with the seriousness that it deserves.
The UPS 6 accident has had an enormous impact on the community in Dubai. We had an event here, where a minute's silence was held for Capt Doug Lampe and First Officer Matthew Bell. Among the attendees were other flight crew members who had relayed communications for UPS during their attempts to return to Dubai. You can only imagine the emotion. There were many more who witnessed the tragic event from the perceived safety and security of their own homes. Many of which have made emotional statements among the local journals and papers.
I have no doubt UPS 6 will have a lasting impression on Dubai. I cannot even begin to imagine the impact it will have had on Doug and Matt's family, friends and colleagues.
With such tragic loss of life, more should be done to reduce the risk of such events happening again. The NTSB and the FAA have a growing list of documentation on the risks of cargo flights and hazardous materials. In my opinion The FAA is stalling on the issue with little decisiveness to find ways of addressing the problem.
Whatever caused the fire on UPS 6, they clearly did not have adequate fire suppression onboard.
Two issues need addressing;
1) Tighter controls on correct shipping of dangerous goods
2) As the last line of defence, we need adequate fire suppression in all holds.
Yes, this is going to cost money! I do not feel that even one life should be traded for fire suppression.
Class E to Class C ASAP