Interesting document, sky9.
I am shocked in the extreme that the crews involved displayed such poor training and sense in these incidents.
Delta 2030
What on earth was the #1 thinking of in delaying to ask the captain's permission to put a fire out? And what on earth was he thinking of when he told the #1 not to use Halon in the cabin? Yes, Halon is nasty stuff after it's been pyralised, but not nearly as nasty as an uncontrolled fire.
AirTran 913
Does Fire Training in the USA not cover the chemistry of fire? The off-duty pilot was worried that "oxygen would be taken away"??? He's obviously not aware that this is one method of extinguishing a fire.
American 1683
The CC told the passenger to "use the extinguisher if needed"???? Whatever happened to the crew taking responsibility for the people in their care? She should have sat herself right there. She has the equipment, the recurrent training (or does she?).
Air Canada 797
As the document makes clear, one significant factor in this incident was the delay in putting the aircraft on the deck. If I have any fire within the fuselage, I am going to make an emergency descent and diversion ASAP. I am going to be extra keen on this if the crew can't determine the origin of the fire.
Whilst it is important not to be complacent about such things, I think that most flight deck and cabin crew members I have flown with would show 50 times more sense than was displayed in these incidents.