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To All,
I disagree with the statement that Nomex only protects you in the case
of flash fires. Nomex flight suits protect in more than flash
fires. There are numerous accounts of personnel surviving after being
caught in post crash and refueling fires where they needed to evacuate
the aircraft through flames. These were more than flash fires.
What has been learned from most aircraft fires is that;
Is it in the name of saving money that programs willingly gamble with their lives of their employees? I know there is a low rate of aircraft fires with the improvement of fuel cells and break away fittings, but do people think you only have post crash fires during non survivable accidents? A poly-cotton flight suit might look and feel nice, but what personal protective value does it provide? Have you ever seen how polyester melts into the skin? Last point-Nomex IIIA flight suits can be tumbled dry on low heat. Bob Carnevale
Deb Milliner wrote: The point that everyone must remember is that Nomex only protects you in the case of flash fires and with a true blaze, there is little protection. Nomex was originally developed when military helicopters had problems with flash fires in the cockpit. Nomex must also be laundered correctly and hung to dry to preserve the Nomex fire retardant. When I came to my present program, they were wearing short sleeved Nomex at almost 1/3 the price of poly-cotton suits. I also wondered why suffer the extra expense and then wear short sleeves or roll them up. Seemed to be counterproductive. We now wear the poly-cotton and are very happy with them. I will tell you that there is no one "Wonder Flight Suit Company". They all have issues. Deb Milliner |