Fire Safety Expert Addresses Asian Aircraft Materials Conference

By Pete Castellano

Dick Hill, FAA Program Manager for Fire and Cabin Safety, recently addressed the Aircraft Interiors Expo 2006 Asia Conference (Hong Kong, September 27-29). The Aircraft Interiors Expo is the world’s foremost conference and exhibition on aircraft interiors. This particular conference was geared toward the Asian Pacific market, the most rapidly expanding aviation market in the world.

In his presentation titled “The FAA’s Fire and Cabin Safety Research & Development (R&D) Program,” Hill reviewed recent fire safety R&D activities conducted at the Technical Center. These include the development of improved fire tests for hidden materials, hidden in-flight firefighting, initial fire tests on structural composite materials and halon replacement for engines and cargo compartments. He also described the activities of the FAA-sponsored international working groups on material fire tests and aircraft systems fire safety, aiming to attract new members to these groups.

Hill has been project manager for many fire safety projects that cover all aspects of in-flight and post-crash aircraft fire protection. He has authored more than 100 technical reports and papers; and made more than 50 technical presentations at major national and international conferences. He has assisted in the investigations of numerous airplane accidents where fire was a factor, both nationally and worldwide. He has worked at the Technical Center for 36 years, and continues to be an incredible asset and contributor to our success as an organization.