Class 5: Oxidizing Agents and Organic peroxides

  These substances are sensitive to impact or friction, or may create a dangerous reaction when in contact with other substances. They may be explosive and burn rapidly. Some examples are fertilizers and chemicals.

Class 6: Toxic (poisonous) and infectious substances

      Those substances that are liable to cause death or injury if swallowed, inhaled or absorbed through the skin. Examples are pesticides and poisons, mercury.

Class 7: Radioactive materials

Class 8 Corrosives.

Class 9 Miscellaneous - Hazardous substances such as dry ice and magnets.

Dangerous goods fall into three types:

1. Goods that are acceptable on passenger and cargo aircraft

2. Goods that are acceptable on cargo aircraft only

3. Goods that are prohibited for air transportation

Goods which are strictly prohibited for transportation in the cabin are

• Explosives - fireworks, flares, toy gun caps

• Compressed gases - filled or partly filled aqualung cylinders

• Flammable liquids and solids - lighter fuel, non-safety matches, paints

• Oxidizers - some bleaching powders

• Poisons

• Irritating materials - Tear gas devices

• Infectious substances - live virus materials

• Radioactive materials - medical or research samples which contain radioactive

sources

• Corrosives - acids, etc.

• Magnetized materials - instruments containing magnets.

Consequences

Fire on board can result in

· High stress level in the cockpit

· Engine failure

· Pressurization problems

· Shortest high speed vector to land

· Poor R/T (oxygen mask) or loss of R/T

· Passenger evacuation

· RWY blocked

Types of fire

Engine fire.

Engine fire is normally detected and contained satisfactory by the aircraft fire detection and suppression systems. But there are such situations when fire can not be determined by onboard systems and it can spread to the wing and the fuselage.Even when engine fire was eliminated the crew need to land the aircraft as soon as possible so that the fire will not break out again.

Cabin fire.

Cabin fire can be easily detected and put out by usage of fire extinguishes. It is also advisable to perform landing as soon as possible in order to investigate the problem.

Hidden fire.

Hidden fire can be detected by onboard systems or by passengers noticing smoke or fume. It is very hazardous as smoke can fill up the cabin and can reduce visibility and lead to suffocation and choking.

Effects

t the first indication, or suspicion, of smoke and fumes, or fire within the aircraft the flight crew will don smoke goggles and oxygen masks. The wearing of oxygen masks may make the voice messages more difficult to understand.

Secondly, the crew will attempt to find the source of the smoke or fire and eliminate it. Different emergency equipment may be used, such as smoke detectors, fire extinguishes, fire gloves, fire goggles, hoods, crash axe, emergency chutes for evacuation.

· Smoke detectors. Optical Smoke Detectors are installed in aircraft toilets and usually in cargo compartments as well. They are usually only activated by a significant reduction in visibility due to thick smoke from, say, a waste bin fire. Cigarette Smoke will not usually activate them.

· Portable fire extinguishers. Portable extinguishers are to be found in the cockpit and in the cabin. They are designed to fight small fires and thus their capacity is limited.

· Fire/crash axe. Fire axes are provided to obtain emergency access to areas and parts of the airplane which are not easily accessible (e.g. behind sidewall, electrical or ceiling panels).

· Fire protection gloves. These gloves are kept in the flight deck and/or in the cabin to protect the user against heat/fire. They can also be used to handle hot or sharp objects.

· Smoke hoods. It is a smoke protective device which incorporates a small oxygen generator, which provides the wearer with Oxygen for a limited amount of time, typically 15-20 minutes.

· Smoke goggles. Smoke goggles may be found in the flight deck for use with smoke hoods. Some aircraft are equipped with oxygen masks with integral smoke goggles.

· Fire Blankets. Some operators have fire proof blankets onboard which can be used to suffocate a fire by cutting off the supply of oxygen.

 When crew members manage to extinguish fire, the captain will evaluate the situation and make up his mind about the further actions. But in the majority of cases he’ll give preference to land as soon as possible for further investigation if any systems were affected by fire.

  If fire is uncontrollable and pilots will

- put on oxygen masks if there is smoke or fire in the cockpit

- initiate emergency descent without any delay (otherwise it will take an aircraft a few

 minutes to burst into flames and burn fully)

- set squawk 7700

- declare Mayday

- proceed to nearest suitable airport and request priority for landing or

- try to find appropriate place for landing ahead of them(off-field landing or ditching)

- request fire brigade, ambulance, search and rescue team

- upon landing start immediate evacuation of passengers (After disembarkation for safety reasons they have to be removed on 100meters distance from crippled aircraft.)

  If there is engine fire, pilots need to:

- increase the work of running engine

- shut down affected one

- activate fire extinguishing system

- stop fuel and hydraulic liquid supply

- close air conditioning supply from the engine

- start APU for auxiliary electrical power

- start emergency descend

- set squawk 7700

- declare Mayday

- proceed to the nearest suitable airport

 ATC needs to act quickly

· Evaluate the situation (receive pilot’s report as for emergency: reason, consequences)

· Provide safe separation with other aircraft in this sector

· Impose radio silence if necessary

· Inform supervisor and military services

· Give aircraft priority for landing

· Ask if dangerous goods on board

· Ask for number of Persons On Board (POB)

· Inform landing aerodrome

· Clear RWY when ACFT 50 track kilometres from touchdown

· Keep safety strip clear

· In case of diversionary or forced landing, record last known position and time

· Alert emergency services

· If needed, inform pilot about:

· Next suitable aerodrome

· Aerodrome details as soon as possible

· RWY in use, length, surface, elevation, ILS- and NAV-frequencies

· Weather information of landing aerodrome

· Observed fire and/or smoke in order to help pilots from what side it is better to start evacuation of passengers.

ATC has to be aware of:

1. In case of fire a flight crew does not have very long time for communication - time is critical. The crew will commence descent immediately and begin planning an emergency landing possibly without controller’s clearance

2. Putting an aircraft on the ground within 15 minutes of a fire being detected is a challenge for the pilot of a modern passenger jet at cruising altitude, so expect the descent to be rapid.

3. After the initial emergency call, and having declared their intentions, the crew will turn their attention to isolating and fighting the fire, and may therefore not respond to calls. The controller will need to be patient and try to anticipate the actions of the flight crew