Aircraft Carrier Flight Deck Firefighting Tactics and Equipment Evaluation Tests: Executive Summary

Following the crash of an EA-6B aircraft on the flight deck of the USS NIMITZ on May 26, 1981, an extensive research program was undertaken to address possible deficiencies in shipboard firefighting procedures and systems and to identify potential areas for improvement. The test program included eva...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Carhart,H W, Leonard,J T, Darwin,R L, Burns,R E, Hughes,T J
Format: Report
Language:English
Subjects:
AIRCRAFT CARRIERS
COOLING
FIRE FIGHTING
FLIGHT DECKS
FLOW
FOAM
HIGH RATE
HYDROCARBONS
LIQUIDS
MONITORS
ORDNANCE
PE63514N
ROBOTS
Safety Engineering
SHIP FIRES
SHIPBOARD
WATER
WUDN020158
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Summary:Following the crash of an EA-6B aircraft on the flight deck of the USS NIMITZ on May 26, 1981, an extensive research program was undertaken to address possible deficiencies in shipboard firefighting procedures and systems and to identify potential areas for improvement. The test program included evaluation of existing shipboard equipment such as handlines, the flight deck washdown system and the P-16 firefighting vehicle, as well as proposed improvements such as high flow rate monitors (up to 12,000 gpm), hose tie down devices and robots. The effectiveness of both water and Aqueous Film Forming Foam in cooling ordnance exposed to a hydrocarbon pool fire was also investigated. The systems were evaluated in simulated aircraft carrier flight deck fires using a specially-designed debris pile fire as a standard or reference fire and under wind conditions of 0-30 knots. A total of 216 fire tests and 56 non-fire tests were conducted. As a result of this program, a number of actions have been taken including changes in firefighting doctrine that have already been implemented into the Fleet. The effectiveness of existing shipboard firefighting systems, when installed and used properly, was also confirmed. Keywords: Aqueous film forming foam; Robots.