FedEx has requested a conference with the feds before the penalty becomes official. The EAA is working to give GA pilots more of a fighting chance. EAA officials met last week with representatives from the FAA, the NTSB, and GA industry to talk fire prevention and suppression. EAA Executive Director of Government Programs, Earl Lawrence, hopes the meeting is just the first of good things to come. This gathering could be the watershed for exciting enhancements in general aviation safety.
Fire is a constant danger in aircraft accidents.
The evolving technology discussed here, which will be tested by the FAA, could eventually offer greater safety in general aviation aircraft in a light, easily stored substance. The FAA plans to test a variety of the foams in GA aircraft fuel tanks to determine whether they can be used. The way the foam works is by filling the tank, cutting down vapors and preventing fuel from exploding upon accident impact. The foam reportedly adds little weight to aircraft and cuts down usable fuel by less than five percent. The foam would also help prevent fuel explosions due to electrical malfunctions, lightning strikes or static discharges.