Smoke in the cockpit/cabin
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Join Date: May 2003
Location: Canada
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Smoke in the cockpit/cabin
Hello;
As an ARFF Fire Officer, I am interested in knowing if you experience frequently inflight emergencies where smoke (or smell) is present ? Do you dismiss the problem (by resetting breakers early on) or do you conduct a more thorough investigation ? What kind of investigation techniques are you using ?
Thank you.
As an ARFF Fire Officer, I am interested in knowing if you experience frequently inflight emergencies where smoke (or smell) is present ? Do you dismiss the problem (by resetting breakers early on) or do you conduct a more thorough investigation ? What kind of investigation techniques are you using ?
Thank you.
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Arizona USA
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Frequent...no.
Having said this, if any evidence of smoke/fumes are present, full drills are on, with a possible landing enroute a distinct possibility.
Too many folks have had problems in the past to say otherwise, IMO.
Better alive than dead, any day of the week.
Personally, only three times have smoke/fumes been a problem.
Twice in a B707, once in a TriStar.
On all three, lost sight of the First Officer (with his mask/goggles on...pronto) within ten seconds.
The Flight Engineer knew precisely what to do...and hats off to him, absolutely.
Having said this, if any evidence of smoke/fumes are present, full drills are on, with a possible landing enroute a distinct possibility.
Too many folks have had problems in the past to say otherwise, IMO.
Better alive than dead, any day of the week.
Personally, only three times have smoke/fumes been a problem.
Twice in a B707, once in a TriStar.
On all three, lost sight of the First Officer (with his mask/goggles on...pronto) within ten seconds.
The Flight Engineer knew precisely what to do...and hats off to him, absolutely.
Join Date: Sep 1999
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Infrequent thankfully.Of all the nightmare scenarios,this one takes the biscuit and requires immediate landing(if possible).As 411a rightly says,it helps if you have a a good F/E.
Indepth response to smoke whilst airborne should only be attempted if you have no way of getting down asap.Primarily,it consists of donning O2 masks/goggles,establishing communications,and setting up for an approach and landing at the nearest suitable airport.This is esp true for a 2 man flightdeck.On a 3 man flightdeck,the checklists are more in-depth and allow for more detailed trouble-shooting.If you dont have the Immediate land option on a 2 man flightdeck,then its down to improvisation based on airmanship and systems knowledge.This would include depowering and/or isolation of busses or electrical items that are classed as usual suspects,eg,recirculation fans,equip cooling fans,galley power(first to go).Pilots should know ALL items in the electrical smoke&fire and smoke removal checklist and how to isolate certain electrical busses.From memory.Cb's can be reset after 2 min cooling period,but some would wisely ignore this option.
Delays due to fuel-dumping or establishing radio contact with company should be avoided at all cost.Land overweight and call company on your mobile after landing.
Indepth response to smoke whilst airborne should only be attempted if you have no way of getting down asap.Primarily,it consists of donning O2 masks/goggles,establishing communications,and setting up for an approach and landing at the nearest suitable airport.This is esp true for a 2 man flightdeck.On a 3 man flightdeck,the checklists are more in-depth and allow for more detailed trouble-shooting.If you dont have the Immediate land option on a 2 man flightdeck,then its down to improvisation based on airmanship and systems knowledge.This would include depowering and/or isolation of busses or electrical items that are classed as usual suspects,eg,recirculation fans,equip cooling fans,galley power(first to go).Pilots should know ALL items in the electrical smoke&fire and smoke removal checklist and how to isolate certain electrical busses.From memory.Cb's can be reset after 2 min cooling period,but some would wisely ignore this option.
Delays due to fuel-dumping or establishing radio contact with company should be avoided at all cost.Land overweight and call company on your mobile after landing.
