List,
Here's a topic that none of us want to become authorities on, at least not
from experience. I've been talking to the aircraft fire fighters here at the
Air Station about Halon. I've heard nothing good about it other than the
fact that it really does a great job putting out fires. Lots of stories
about people getting brain damage and going into cardiac arrest after being
exposed to it.
These wearn't old fire fighters either, these were 19 and 20 year old kids.
Makes me almost want to plumb some sort of snorkel in my helmet. Forward
facing air ducts and vents are nice when you're going forward and you're
moving. What happens in those few seconds when you're going backwards, or
you roll to a stop, and you're on fire, maybe even unconscious? Our fire
crews are great, and they'd probably be there at the first sign of trouble,
but if we have to pull the FIRE handle are we really gonna have enough air?
I'm also concerned about ducting for the fresh air system. What if your
plastic ducting melts? I'm hauling 15 pounds of this stuff around in my
car, and never want to use it, but if I am on fire the last thing I want to
be thinking about is holding my breath!
Surely there's a chemist, a flight surgeon or a fireman out there who can
give us an expert opinion on this.
Chuck Rothfuss
ECTA
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