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Curious announcement Print E-mail
Wednesday, 31 October 2007
On the FAA Technical Center’s website is an announcement regarding the use of magnesium metal in the cabin, and the likelihood that special conditions will be required to assure that safety is not reduced.
The announcement is interesting on a number of counts:
  • Apparently, magnesium is being considered as a weight-saving element to the structure of passenger seats and associated fittings.
  • The FAA has no standards for such use of magnesium and therefore “special conditions” will have to be issued regarding its use.
  • The FAA stands ready to research the appropriate standards.
Despite the immutable laws of nature (magnesium burns, intensely and brightly, which is why it is used in flares), the FAA is not saying, “We have received inquiries about using magnesium in seat frames and must declare that such use is prohibited due to the metal’s flammability.” Rather, the FAA appears willing to engage with the industry in assessing how this flammable material may be used in the cabin:

“The FAA has had several recent inquiries regarding the use of magnesium in airplane cabins. Specifically, magnesium alloys have been suggested as substitute for aluminum alloys in seat structure.

“The FAA’s central concern regarding the use of magnesium in the cabin is flammability. The current regulations do not address the potential for a flammable metal to be used in large quantities in the cabin. Therefore, if such a material were introduced to the cabin, the FAA would have to be convinced that the level of safety was not reduced. Special conditions may be required to establish appropriate criteria. While we are aware that there have been changes to magnesium alloys over the years, magnesium remains a material that, once ignited, presents a fire hazard that is almost impossible to cope with.

“If there is widespread interest in assessing the potential requirements and data necessary to demonstrate that the level of safety is not reduced, the FAA will work with industry to do that. Both the post crash, as well as in flight, fire scenarios should be addressed. At this point, the FAA does not have any research underway to address the use of magnesium in the cabin.” (See www.fire.tc.faa.gov/pdf/UsofMagnesiuminAirplaneCabins.pdf)

 
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