What provides the secondary form of AFFF protection on the Flight Deck?

The primary purpose of Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) is to suppress flammable liquid fires effectively, particularly those that may occur on a flight deck. Fire teams equipped with hose reels are essential for providing a secondary layer of protection. When a fire emergency arises, trained fire teams can quickly deploy hose reels to deliver AFFF directly to the affected areas, creating a barrier between the fire and the aircraft, as well as cooling the surrounding surfaces.

This method allows for a rapid response to mitigate fires, especially in situations where automatic systems may not activate immediately or where manual intervention is necessary. Fire teams trained in emergency response situations can assess and react more adaptively to unpredictable fire scenarios, leveraging the flexibility and mobility that hose reels provide.

In situations involving other options:

• Automatic sprinkler systems are effective for certain types of fire hazards but may not be specifically designed for the high-temperature and rapid-fire growth rates on a flight deck.

• Fire suppression foam tanks hold the AFFF but do not actively provide protection without the intervention of trained personnel.

• Emergency response kits can be useful, but their effectiveness relies on how quickly they can be accessed and utilized, which may vary significantly during an active fire scenario.

The effectiveness of fire teams with hose reels