Correlation of Flammability Test Data on Antimisting Fuels

As a part of a comprehensive FAA program to minimize post-crash fire hazards of jet transport aircraft, a correlation study was conducted on flammability test data of neat Jet A fuel, and the same fuel with various antimisting additives. The data were from full-scale aircraft crash tests, large-scale fuel spillage/ignition tests, and several small-scale flammability tests. Various rheometric tests were also considered. The ability of certain antimisting fuels of eliminate large fireballs during occupant-survivable aircraft crashes was amply supported. Large-scale crash simulations were found to be highly developed, and provide essential credibility on a given antimisting fuel near the end of its development. Small-scale flammability test rigs used for screening antimisting fuels were found generally effective, but with some conflicting data between rigs, and with some deviations from large-scale results.