Cargo fire
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Cargo fire
I thought to pass this one along. Could happen to you.
Happened to me, around 1984 or so...
xxx
Aircraft, was a DC8-63F, ONA/UACI, on ACMI to Air India. I was captain.
We left Madras (today's Chennai) to Milan Malpensa, fuel stop Dubai.
We were about half way between Bombay and Muscat...
Suddenly, cabin fire warning - cargo fire...?
We had a loadmaster aboard, we were ready for fire drills.
Masks and goggles...
Warning continued. There was a haze in the mid cabin section.
Not really "smoke" like you and I imagine smoke to be.
The loadmaster stood ready just aft of the cockpit, portable 02 etc...
We talked on the radio, declared an emergency, to land in Muscat.
About an hour later, we land in Muscat. Fire equipment around plane.
No trace of fire.
xxx
Our cargo was tons of shoes, "made in Madras"... leather, in bulk.
The fire chief, an Englishman, discussed with us...
What you gentlemen probably had was "spontaneous combustion", he said.
This can happen to any organic material (i.e. leather).
It is a "fire" but... no flames. Might happen to you.
xxx
I will tell the rest of the story, although not related to the "cargo fire"...
The shoes, as we know, bulk, were leather, made in Madras.
We were going to Milan. They would be unloaded there.
In Italy, the shoes got an insole "made in Italy", and marked as such.
Then placed in a nice box, with a fancy Italian brand name.
So when you go to that fancy store on Carnaby St. or Broadway, you buy Italian shoes.
That is the nice boxes we load in Milan... on the way to London or New York.
And expensive they are. Expensive insoles your wife is offering you.
Especially "made in Italy"... printed inside the shoe (on the insole, yes).
You buy $200 shoes, of which $5.oo shoes, $195.oo insoles and box.
xxx
Was double education for me that day. Spontaneous combustion and Italian shoes.
Happy contrails
Happened to me, around 1984 or so...
xxx
Aircraft, was a DC8-63F, ONA/UACI, on ACMI to Air India. I was captain.
We left Madras (today's Chennai) to Milan Malpensa, fuel stop Dubai.
We were about half way between Bombay and Muscat...
Suddenly, cabin fire warning - cargo fire...?
We had a loadmaster aboard, we were ready for fire drills.
Masks and goggles...
Warning continued. There was a haze in the mid cabin section.
Not really "smoke" like you and I imagine smoke to be.
The loadmaster stood ready just aft of the cockpit, portable 02 etc...
We talked on the radio, declared an emergency, to land in Muscat.
About an hour later, we land in Muscat. Fire equipment around plane.
No trace of fire.
xxx
Our cargo was tons of shoes, "made in Madras"... leather, in bulk.
The fire chief, an Englishman, discussed with us...
What you gentlemen probably had was "spontaneous combustion", he said.
This can happen to any organic material (i.e. leather).
It is a "fire" but... no flames. Might happen to you.
xxx
I will tell the rest of the story, although not related to the "cargo fire"...
The shoes, as we know, bulk, were leather, made in Madras.
We were going to Milan. They would be unloaded there.
In Italy, the shoes got an insole "made in Italy", and marked as such.
Then placed in a nice box, with a fancy Italian brand name.
So when you go to that fancy store on Carnaby St. or Broadway, you buy Italian shoes.
That is the nice boxes we load in Milan... on the way to London or New York.
And expensive they are. Expensive insoles your wife is offering you.
Especially "made in Italy"... printed inside the shoe (on the insole, yes).
You buy $200 shoes, of which $5.oo shoes, $195.oo insoles and box.
xxx
Was double education for me that day. Spontaneous combustion and Italian shoes.
Happy contrails
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crjlover...
Then what about the hundreds of tons of flowers (daily) that come out of NBO to Holland. Made in Holland...
Then what about the hundreds of tons of flowers (daily) that come out of NBO to Holland. Made in Holland...
Last edited by CR2; 5th Feb 2008 at 11:43. Reason: spelling
