petersfreeman

In an MD-11F, can the flight crew access the cargo containers? For example, say a cargo container had lithium batteries in which one failed and was burning, could one of the flight crew go to the cargo container in question and use a fire extinguisher on it?



Is the cargo area not accessible?



If the cargo area is accessible, is all of it accessible or just some areas?


Thank you.

kc10/c130

Two post and you want us to give you info on MD11. Hmmm.... No. Moderators?

TiredSoul

What was your question again?

petersfreeman

I'm not sure I understand your question. I wanted to know how accessible the cargo area is if there was an emergency, for example a small fire. I have read that there have been some incidents resulting in crashes that are suspected to have been caused by the carrying of lithium batteries that have failed and caught fire. If there was a fire, could one of the air crew put it put it out, assuming they could access the area, or is it all buttoned up?

TiredSoul

You missed my attempt at humor.
Why do you want to know all these things you’ve posted in 3-4 threads ?
In answer to your question I don’t know and probably neither does anybody else.

JohnBurke

Makes me wish I were a tie.

I can answer the question in entirety, as can anyone with training or experience on type, but I'm not sure that this is appropriate. I find myself curious why the original poster wants to know, or needs to know this. For a book?

The issue of lithium batteries has been addressed at every level industry-wide, but when someone with no knowledge of the aircraft, or a need to know, begins asking about fires that the crew might or might not be able to reach or control, it raises questions of operational security.

My immediate thought is that the poster may be asking because he or she wishes to set a fire and wants to know if the crew can extinguish it.

petersfreeman

Hello John Burke,

I agree that my question could be construed as one that would be asked by a person whose interest was to create a situation that would be hazardous to the flight crew.

I am writing about the McDonald Douglas MD-11F and my research has shown that there have been a number of incidents that have occurred when air freight companies have been carrying hazardous materials, such as lithium batteries, and a defect has caused a fire and the subsequent loss of the aircraft and the life of the crew members.

I found in my research that a new design of lithium batteries has eliminated the risk of fire as they can be damaged without them bursting into flames. This is good news for those people who have received serious burns from a phone carried in their pockets when the battery has burst into flames, but in particular, from air freighters. Although in those cases, loss of life has been limited to the air crew, as bad as that is, it would be a more serious disaster if a passenger aircraft succumbed to a serious fire from defective lithium batteries (or other potentially hazardous sources)

I wanted to know if automated fire fighting systems could handle such a fire, and if not, could the crew of a MD-11F actually make some effort, and take the initiative, to save their lives by utilizing a hand held fire extinguisher to deal with the emergency.

Cheers, Peter

JohnBurke

Again, for reasons of operational security, you can understand why that question should be discussed not on a public web board, and should be confined on a need-to-know basis.

petersfreeman

Hi John Burke,

I understand. My interest to have an answer to this question overrode my awareness of the negative consequence of such information being displayed publicly. Viewing the world innocently can lead to naivety, and in my case, I am guilty. Please ignore my question. I can write to Boeing and negotiate the best way to present such information so that it does not provide any advantage to those of nefarious design.

Cheers, Peter

MarioD

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