FedEx Express has unveiled the industry’s first onboard automatic fire-suppression system (FSS) andwill install it throughout its long-haul freighter fleet of MD-11s and the future B777s to improve
safety levels for international, over-water flights.The comprehensive fire-safety system is the result of seven years of design and developmentefforts at FedEx Express, and expands upon the company’s existing commitment to advancing aviationsafety, the company said in a statement.
“The in-flight safety of crew and cargo is a top priority at FedEx Express, leading to ourdevelopment of this enhanced fire-safety technology,” said Joel Murdock, managing director,Strategic Projects, FedEx Express. “After seven years of design and development, we’re proud to seethis proprietary technology take flight on a variety of aircraft in the FedEx fleet, representinganother strong step forward in our air-safety initiatives.”
In April 2009, FedEx Express began installing the FSS technology on its 59 MD-11 freightersand will complete the programme in early 2011. Each installation requires approximately 700 manhours. FedEx also plans to install the FSS technology on its new B777 freighters, which begininternational service in the company’s fleet in early 2010. In all, 74 FedEx wide-body planes usedfor international, over-water flights will be upgraded with the technology.
The FSS features a network of infrared thermal sensors, foaming-agent generators and anoverhead cargo-container injector. If heat is detected by the sensors, the fire suppressiontechnology located above each cargo container is activated, simultaneously alerting crew members.The metal container is pierced by an injector apparatus and filled with an argon-basedbiodegradable and non-corrosive fire-suppression foam that controls and extinguishes the fire inminutes. Cargo in other containers is unaffected by the system’s activation, and the foam has onlyminimal impact on packages housed within the container. For palletized freight, a specialfire-retardant blanket is used to cover the cargo; it restricts the level of oxygen around freight,effectively serving as a fire suppression tool.
In extensive testing, including the certification process, the FedEx FSS proved quick andeffective on different classes of fires. These are ordinary materials such as paper or lumber(Class A), flammable or combustible liquids such as gasoline or kerosene (Class B), and combustiblemetals such as lithium, magnesium titanium, potassium and sodium which burn at extremely hightemperatures (Class D). No other aircraft fire-safety system in use today is effective againstClass D fires, according to the company.
Shipments that are subject to what would be considered Class C fires, electrical equipment,for example, will continue to be carried separately in the aircraft’s lower belly compartment, andare safeguarded with the industry-standard halon bottle system.
A majority of fire-safety systems in use onboard cargo aircraft require manual activation bya crew member. In addition, many systems only address fires that could potentially occur incontainers holding cargo that must be declared and labelled by shippers as being Dangerous Goods.Yet most cargo fires originate from undeclared Dangerous Goods, posing additional challenges toexisting fire-suppression systems. Because of its unique over-head design and automatic activation,the FedEx FSS technology overcomes this challenge by suppressing fires contained within any cargocontainer or pallet on the main flight deck.
In addition, current FAA regulations require that aircraft depressurize, divert to theclosest airport and land immediately after any in-flight fire situation. This means that the flightcrew has about 30 minutes to safely land the aircraft. With the new FedEx safety system, aircrafton lengthy international flights, which can be up to three hours from land, are able to safelydivert and land.
“Our new in-flight system has pushed the industry safety standard to a new level,” Murdocksaid. “With the FedEx technology our pilots have more time to review and assess an in-airsituation, further ensuring their safety, and the safety of their plane and cargo.”
