Tue, Apr 17, 2007
Agency Wants To Confirm Fire-Suppression Safety Of
Composites
The FAA has spoken... and the agency says Boeing needs to
demonstrate its upcoming, composite-bodied 787 Dreamliner offers a
level of fuel-tank fire suppresion safety comparable to
aluminum-bodied airliners.
At issue is Boeing's use of composite fuel tanks in the fuselage
and wing structures of its first-generation 787-8, which is
expected to enter service in 2008. Previous use of such tanks has
been limited to military aircraft, and the empennage structure of
some Airbus designs.
“The use of composite structure should not decrease this
existing level of safety,” the FAA proposal states.
“Boeing must demonstrate that the 787 has sufficient
post-crash survivability.”
While the request is hardly a surprise -- as such tests are
necessary for certification of any passenger-transport aircraft --
it does represent the first time such testing will be performed on
a largely composite-bodied plane, Reuters.
“This is very much expected and the timing is expected as
well. This is something we've been very intentional about in
working with the FAA on the 787 program – to identify all
applicable rules as early as possible,” said Jeff Hawk, who
is overseeing the 787-8 certification effort for Boeing.
The FAA is also expected to issue a second proposal request
shortly, calling for Boeing to conduct special crashworthiness
testing on the 787, for largely the same reasons as the fuel tank
tests.
Hawk adds neither test requirement is expected to delay the
787's entry into service, as the company does not expect the FAA to
demand any airframe changes.
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