inerting

With regard to fuel tank inerting, the FAA letter stated that its research on ground-based inerting indicated that the costs associated with the needed ground equipment are significantly less than what was estimated by the FTHWG and, further, that analysis indicated that ground-based inerting would reduce the fleetwide average flammability exposure for affected CWTs to about 2 percent. The FAA indicated that it planned to conduct ground and flight tests to determine how long ground-based inerting would remain effective during flight and whether vent system modifications would be required to ensure its effectiveness. The FAA stated that it is also establishing an ARAC working group to gather additional data on the practicality of both ground-based and on-board inerting methods.

2000 August 23, National Transportation Safety Board, “2.4.2 Preclusion of Flammable Fuel/Air Vapor in Fuel Tanks”, in Aircraft Accident Report: In-flight Breakup Over the Atlantic Ocean, Trans World Airlines Flight 800, Boeing 747-131, N93119, Near East Moriches, New York, July 17, 1996, archived from the original on 11 Jul 2022, page 301