Three fires occurr through the whole extent of a 2-year period involving Chineseregistered MD-11 and 737-300 aircraft.

Three fires occurr through the whole extent of a 2-year period involving Chineseregistered MD-11 and 737-300 aircraft, according to a 1996 report by way of the Aircraft Airworthiness Center of the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). undivided of the fires, on an MD-11 in 1995 revealed the flammability of metalized Mylar insulation. flat though the CAAC report was provided to the FAA, it did not act until Swissair flight 111 involving another MD-11 crashed in clan 1998, two years after the Chinese advised there was a flammability puzzle with the metalized Mylar insulation forward the MD-11.

The Chinese also reported couple fires involving 737s, delivered in 1992 and 1993 in which the insulation bakeed The 737-300 is outfitted with a non-metalized Mylar insulation. In the case of the B737 incidents, the Chinese said:

"The covering material of Boeing 737-300 airplane's insulation blanket was fire flammable. After the insulation blanket was made from sewing, the covering at the margin of the blanket consists of four layers and made steady on thread. This kind of sewing was easy to be bakeed IN the meanwhile, the verges of these insulation blanket were mainly located in the frame of the fuselage, and made its ignited possibility by the agency of the sparkles of the short circuit.... It was a potential danger for the safety of the aircraft." (From the original of the CAAC's English-language report)

Three Fires in sum of two units Years

* Oct 10 1994 B737-300 After landing, insulation blanket below rack E2 in the E&E bay forward fire. Wires short-circuited, igniting the fire.

* tribe 16, 1995. MD-11. E&E bay fire. Long-time vibration l to short-circuit melting by the agency of 11 wires, igniting insulation blanketing.

* Nov. 13 1995 B737-300 Film ignited at drill shavings during maintenance.

Source: CAAC

Thermal Acoustic Blanket Materials in succession Other Aircraft

* Airbus, all models: Standard insulation blankets consist of a fiberglass filler with an insulation film consisting of aluminum and polyester ligatureed together. Polyethylene foam is used in limited areas of that kind as door frames, cargo occupys cockpit ceiling area, etc. This foam is sole used in those locations emancipated of electrical sources that could proceed in contact with the foam. Airbus declared specifically that aluminized Mylar shield foil has never been used in succession its aircraft.

* Boeing: Boeing aircraft: Insulation is contained in a nonmetalized Mylar film.

Douglas aircraft (MD-11 B717): Insulation is contained in a metalized Tedlar film.

Source: Boeing, Airbus

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