Posted on 09/21/2005 8:25:21 PM PDT by HighWheeler
After looking carfully at the replays of the JetBlue landing tonight, I noticed during landing that the nosegear flames and fires were pulsing on and off during the landing. The flames became quite fierce during the "roll"out of the aircraft, but would diminish and suddenly flame-on strongly again.
If you watch the landing carefully, you will see the times that the flames pulse on are the moments when the nose gear is scraping on the painted stripe on the runway.
This is very significant.
The FAA, airlines and manufacturers are always concerned with fire and especially fire avoidance and fire suppression. Fire is the number one enemy of ships, aircraft, and buildings. The fact that the tarmac paint could erupt in flames is a highly significant observation, especially where sources of flames are always a priority in accident investigation.
Imagine if there had been any available fuel source from the plane associated with this landing, leaking fuel, hydraulic fluid, or lubricant. The outcome could instead have been a significant disaster. The FAA and these airfields will need to find a far less flamable paint for these stripes.
Next time try a series post.
Yeah, the painted strip might ignite the whole LA basin.
The sparks were caused by friction of the metal parts of the nose gear contacting the cement. I don't think the paint on the runway entered into it.
Good Point, Is there such a Non Flammable Paint the will withstand all those TA/L and be cost effective ?????
Very good observation. I too noticed it and mentioned it to grandpa. He said the paint was burning even though the commentators kept saying the tires were on fire. It was quite obvious.
Here is the video
Watch the paint stripe
http://www.asjewelers.com/FRstuff/16/jet_blue.wmv
Sure it did. Paint is flammable.
check the video, then make your comment.
This may also ahve been the ground up magnesium of the wheels being scattered and burning and maybe just coincidental that the wheels/gear was centered over the stripes.
You sure it wasn't the other way around that the paint stopped the sparks and the landing gear only sparked when it hit bare tarmac?
Stripes were flaming up alright
Did you look at the video? Check again.
Yeah watch the video. I think he mas made a good observation.
Notice he used most of the runway that was about 10,000 feet long-- I don't think he used any brakes, since the weight would have shifted forward onto the nosewheel, causing the gear to dig in and making it more likely for the nose gear to collapse.
He did an outstanding job, all considered.
It seems to be all related to whether the gear was on the painted portion of runway or the unpainted.
It was like a light switch turning on and off.
The amazing thing to me is that the front strut still functioned after all that -- you would think the heat would boil the fluid and seize it.
lol!
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