Ground Based Inerting Overview An Overview of the

Ground Based Inerting Overview __________________ An Overview of the FAA Technical Center’s Commercial Aircraft Fuel Tank Inerting Research August 29 th-30 th, 2000 International Aircraft Systems Fire Protection Working Group AAR-422 Fire Safety R&D

Ground Based Inerting Overview __________________ Outline • Work Performed • Work in Progress • Proposed Work AAR-422 Fire Safety R&D

Ground Based Inerting Overview __________________ Work Performed • Cost Analysis of Ground Based Fuel Tank Inerting in the Commercial Fleet – Performed Study of Two Target Airports with Carriers – Estimated Cost 1. 6 B over 13 Years, 800 M HCWTs Only – Published Report in May 2000 • Inerting of a Vented Fuel Tank with Nitrogen Enriched Air – Performed Lab Experiments with Model Fuel Tank and Air Liquid NEA Generator – Jury Still Out on Effectiveness of Recirc and Replace – Report to be Published October 2000 AAR-422 Fire Safety R&D

Ground Based Inerting Overview __________________ Work In Progress • Boeing Flight Test Instrumentation – Design Build and Integrate System that Measures 8 Channels of Continuous Oxygen Concentration Data at different locations in a Boeing BBJ CWT – Failed to Make Fiber Optic Fluorescence System Work • Fuel Tank Flammability at Increased Altitude and Decreased Oxygen Concentration – Performed Ignition Experiments with Model Fuel Tank in Pressure Chamber – Initial Study at Sea Level with Reduced Oxygen Concentrations – Work to Continue with Increased Altitude to 40 K feet AAR-422 Fire Safety R&D

Ground Based Inerting Overview __________________ Future Work • Full Scale Ground Based Fuel Tank Inerting – Presently Seeking a Decommissioned B-737 for Ground Based Testing. – Plan Extensive Instrumentation and Testing Beginning in 2001. • On-Board OBIGGS Feasibility Study – Solicit Paper Designs with Performance Estimates from Several Venders • Fuel Load Effect on an Inert Ullage Space at Altitude – Use Model Fuel Tank and Altitude Chamber to Measure the Effect of Decreased Pressure on Ullage Space Oxygen and Hydrocarbon Concentration at Different Fuel Loads AAR-422 Fire Safety R&D