Smoke Hoods

[Islav]

I'm currently doing an assignment on passenger survivability after initial crash of the aircraft.

I was just wondering, because I cannot find anything on the FAR's, about the obligation or non-obligation that airlines have about fitting smoke hoods for airliner passengers.

This is because I have read a few reports on where toxic fumes killed passengers after initial impact, and also due to an inflight fire.

If anyone could guide me in the right direction, I would appreciate it.

Thanks

[Denny of Oakland]

There is no requirement or obligation for airlines to provide smoke hoods for airliner passengers. The requirement is for flight crew pilots and flight attendants only. The requirents are in part 121 and part 135. This is because all aircraft certified under CFR 23 small GA aircraft or CFR 25 transport states that all the interior has to be fire retardant material and meet burn requirement. The personal breathing equipment (PBE) are required to be onboard for flight crew only. Since most new aircraft currently have the new materials the toxic fumes has been reduced and all material are flame retardant to an open flame. This is not to say there won’t be any that is why flight crews have PBE’s to assist passenger out in an emergency.

You can find more information using a search engine and look under burn certification requirements. The FAA has several AC’s that cover this subject as well as SAE standards.

Denny of Oakland