Just heard FDX MD-11 routing ALA-CGN has diverted into Moscow DME with an actual fire suppresion event/discharge. Overheating cans in 7L/7R. (confirmed by fire service) On the ground safely in DME and awaiting cargo offload for inspection. Could this be the first time the FSS has earned its money?

 

Sound like crew did a great Job! Glad everyone is OK.
Well Done

 

Way to go guys.

Jumpseating one time one of you guys took the time to explain how it worked, seemed like a really cool system (in-house if I remember?).

 

Great to hear they're on the ground safely. Wow.

Giving credit where credit is due... First, to the pilots for getting back on terra firma safely. Second, to the company for developing and installing these systems in our aircraft. Everyone flying cargo should have the same equipment, regardless of cost.

 

Great gouge, Flightmech--thanks. Anybody giving odds on the overheating cans being full of lithium-powered electronics?

 

Heard false alarm from Fire SS....

 

Do you guys have any more info about this event? Can't find anything online about it...

 

Had the same thing happen to me last summer when I was an MD11 captain flying from CDG-BOM. Diverted into DXB. Ironacally it was also 7L and 7R that lit up. The FSS control box located on the side panel also showed red and read "indicating 500 degrees". Turned out to be a false indication but 7L had a pallet with a bunch of Nokei phones. Or so I was told. Good job to these guys.

 

Only that the airplane is still in DME awaiting MX paperwork from engineering to get it back to CGN. Temperature indicated 451 degrees in 7L/7R. No firm news whether actual event or false or can contents in those positions but FSS discharge did take place.

 

FedEx MD-11F diverted after fire suppression system deploys


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By: KRISTIN MAJCHER WASHINGTON DC 22 hours ago Source:

A FedEx Boeing MD-11 freighter flying from Almaty International Airport in Kazakhstan to Cologne-Bonn Airport in Germany made an unexpected diversion to Moscow Domodedovo Airport when the aircraft's automatic fire suppression system deployed on 8 June. FedEx says that inspections showed that no fire occurred in the cabin but that the system automatically deployed when its sensor network triggered a faulty indicator to pilots.

"[The aircraft] did divert to Moscow and it was for technical reasons with the fire suppression system but there was no fire on board," says FedEx.

FedEx says that the aircraft landed in Moscow in the early evening on 8 June, where it underwent a maintenance inspection that showed no signs of a fire happening on board. At 18:00 on 10 June, the MD-11 took off for Cologne to finish the flight with its cargo on board.

FedEx says it cannot determine the reason for the fault until its mechanics look into the issue further.

According to a FedEx video about the system, the fire suppression technology uses a network of infrared sensors that detects significant increases in the temperature of a freight container. A panel that shows the operational status of the fire suppression system and the position of the container that experienced a fire is located near the main deck crew door. In this case, the suppression system alerted the crew to a fire and automatically deployed its cargo injection system but it was a false alarm.

FedEx first told Flightglobal that it would install the bespoke fire suppression system it designed in-house on all of its Boeing MD-11 freighters and new Boeing 777Fs in October 2009. The system uses a network of heat-seeking sensors to detect fires caused by paper or lumber, gasoline or kerosene and combustible metals, such as lithium.

If the sensors detect a fire, it will alert the crew and cue an injector system that pierces a hole into a cargo container from above and sprays an argon-based, degradable, non-corrosive foam to extinguish the flames and to absorb toxic fumes. If the sensors detect an indicator of fire within a package of palletized cargo, the system will cover that pallet in a fire-retardant bag to restrict the level of oxygen around the freight.