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NTSB Seeks Better Fire Protection for Cargo Aircraft, Pallets, Containers

Current fire protection regulations for cargo airplanes are inadequate, said the National Transportation Safety Board, issuing three recommendations to reduce the impact of in-flight fires. The NTSB said the Federal Aviation Administration should require active fire suppression systems in all…

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cargo containers or compartments of cargo aircraft. It also recommends improving early detection of fires within cargo containers and pallets and said cargo containers should provide better fire resistance. In three fire-related accidents involving cargo aircraft in the past six years, the "fires quickly grew out of control, leaving the crew with little time to get the aircraft on the ground," said NTSB Chairman Deborah Hersman. "Detection, suppression and containment systems can give crews more time and more options. The current approach is not safe enough."