Firefighting When Airplanes Are Loaded With Hydrogen Fuel
Thursday, 20 March 2008
Liquid hydrogen (LH2) may be a viable alternative to kerosene as an aviation fuel, but the new fuel poses challenges to Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) assets, argues Joseph Murrell, the senior fire commander for Australia’s Launceston Airport.
Two safety recommendations regarding windshield heating systems have been issued by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), however, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has yet to take action, and windshields continue to crack.
Most aircraft use about two-thirds of the runway length to take off. On YouTube is a video of an Ilyushin IL76 freighter taking off at Canberra, Australia, in which nearly every foot of the runway was used (see photo).
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