Further to a point mentioned a couple of times already in this thread, discharging a fire extinguisher on board an aircraft.
Obviously if a fire occurs, one of the things a person might do is to set off an extinguisher, but if it a powder-type device, and especially if it is a non-controllable (i.e. a one-shot empties all at once) and especially in an enclosed light aircraft (PA28, 152, 172, etc.) the chances are that you will almost immediately become incapacitated by the powder. It smothers everything, people included, and is harmful to inhale.
I am not 'up' on rules and regs. regarding fire extinguishers on board light aircraft, perhaps powder types are discouraged, or even banned, I don't know. But I have seen them in situ in various light aircraft I have seen fairly recently.
Last edited by Noah Zark.; 18th July 2012 at 22:04.