Cargo Fire (Cargo aircraft) Procedures

[F111UPS767]

You have a confirmed Cargo fire (that is, the stuff you are carrying in the main cargo deck is on fire, too severe to try to attack with your portable fire extinguishing agents).

If land ASAP is not available, Cargo Fire checklists in the 757/767 and 747 freighters call for descent to 25,000 and depressurize aircraft until rapid descent to landing can be accomplished.

The A-300 freighter calls for descent to 20,000 and depressurize if land ASAP is not possible.

The MD-11 freighter includes depressurized flight at 25,000 in its checklist for Cabin Smoke.

Has there ever been a cargo fire where unpressurized flight at 25,000 was utilized prior to rapid descent to landing?

It doesn't seem to me we have much information on the effectiveness of the above procedures. Any inputs?

[Intruder]

Use the procedure for your airplane so it works best with the designed pack & pressurization scheme. You want minimum air AND air flow through the affected compartment, but an environment where you can breathe easily with the O2 mask while you go for the nearest landing place.

If you think 20,000-25,000' cabin pressure, even with 100% O2, will NOT affect you, you better think again...

[F111UPS767]

My aircrafts procedure is to depressurize at 25,000 if there is not a suitable landing site for an immediate descent and landing (e.g., midway between HNL and LAX).

I would feel a lot better about that procedure if there was more information or if depressurized flight at 25,000 has previously been used and resulted in a successful outcome.

I guess you could say that there has not been an example where depressurizing at 25,000 has not been successful.

[punk666]

Not to be funny but if there is an uncontrollable fire and no suitable airport available putting the thing on the deck will be my priority.

[F111UPS767]

Of course that is the priority, but the checklist procedure to depressurize at 25,000 is designed to control a fire when a suitable landing site is not immediately available...