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.
I agree with your assessment. Good observation.
Have you seen this thread? Interesting read.
ping
I'm sure some of the flames came from burning hydraulic fluid.
I read that they don't do that anymore because they found that the aircraft would lose directional control on the slick surface.
Thanks. I hope the FAA and NTSB do something about this. this seems easy to fix.
on the other hand, how often would this be an issue?
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