> The above applies to everybody. There are additional requirements > if you want to be certified for extended overwater flight. > > And no, I'm not making that up, either. You you can read for > yourself at e.g. > > http://rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgFar.nsf/FARSBySect > Lookup/25.801 > > If you want really detailed "specifics" you will find that the > FARs are not overly specific on this topic. But the FAA guys in > their usual way have backfilled with memos explaining their > "interpretation" of the FARs. You can find some of these by > googling.
I don't doubt you are basing your statements on solid ground. I'm sure there are buoyancy requirements, etc. But, what I am saying is that what manufacturers are supposed to do, and what is actually valuable may not necessarily be the same thing. They have to state some kind of requirements and in good faith and for logical reasons they have done so. In this most recent accident, the lower fuselage panels were "shredded". I'm sure that didn't help the buoyancy issue any, though it still stayed afloat long enough to get everyone out, thank God. But, are the FAR ditch requirements realistic? Can a two engine airliner over the open seas with average swells ditch safely, maintain structural integrity, and float long enough to get everyone safely out? That may be the requirement, but we have very few instances (if any) where this has specifically been demonstrated. Many years ago NASA tried to crash land a 707-type aircraft in a controlled crash to document (IIRC) a fuel additive and how it might suppress the crash fire. The test was an utter failure, except that it did demonstrate the unpredictability of any crash landing - no matter how well planned. Sure, there are requirements and certifications. I want to see testing to validate that the real ditching performance of an aircraft works to save lives in the real world. I don't expect to see that kind of real world testing, though. As I mentioned initially, though, this most recent "Miracle on the Hudson" case will be a good data point. JB ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This SF.net email is sponsored by: SourcForge Community SourceForge wants to tell your story. http://p.sf.net/sfu/sf-spreadtheword _______________________________________________ Flightgear-devel mailing list Flightgear-devel@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/flightgear-devel
