Halon Phase out.

Click here for the original Aritcle: http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/aerospace/2014-11-20/halon-phaseout-proposed-easa

Halon Phaseout Proposed by EASA

by Gordon Gilbert

 - November 20, 2014, 1:45 PM

The European Aviation Safety Agency proposed a phase-out schedule for the use of halon in fire extinguishers in the cabins and lavatories of future Part 25 business aircraft and airliners, as well as Part 29 rotorcraft. It claims that there are currently or soon will be two non-halon alternative fire-extinguishing agents available for these compartments.

However, for APU and engine compartments, the agency is taking a “do nothing” position until weight and other technical issues for alternative fire-extinguisher agents are solved. The objective of the proposal is to “progressively mitigate the environmental impact that halon has on the atmosphere and climate change,” EASA said.

The proposed schedule calls for the replacement of halon in lavatories on newly produced aircraft starting on Jan. 1, 2016, and in handheld extinguishers on newly built aircraft starting Jan. 1, 2019. End dates for the use of halon on current and new type-certified aircraft are already in effect under EU regulations. A second proposal will address smaller airplanes and some rotorcraft used in international operations.

15,000 fire extinguishers removed from planes worldwide after Welsh factory owner's fraud

by Elwyn Roberts
Jan 13 2012

A MAN who sent shockwaves through the global airline industry by supplying substandard gas to onboard fire extinguishers has been jailed for two and a half years.

More than 15,000 fire extinguishers were removed from planes worldwide because of Eric Andrew Lyon, 47.
His actions sparked a huge investigation and led to the changing of guidelines for the production of fire extinguishers and fire suppressant systems in aircraft in Britain, Europe and in America.
And at the time his actions were discovered it was believed he had put the lives of thousands of aircraft passengers at risk.

Mold Crown Court heard the halon gas Lyon supplied for fire extinguishers was not up to a required standard and that he had altered certificates.
The gas had to be 99% pure but Lyon changed analyses certificates when his samples failed to meet that high standard. Some were later found to be as low as 60%.
The gas, recycled by Lyon at his company Lyontech Engineering Ltd at Flints Manor Industrial Estate, was used by manufacturers at home and abroad in 2007, 2008 and the start of 2009.
The court, sitting in Chester, heard the gas was no longer manufactured because of its harmful effects to the ozone layer.
It was not used in everyday fire extinguishers but because of the importance of being able to prevent catastrophes in the air it was used in airplanes under strict guidelines.
When the fraud was discovered it sent shockwaves throughout the aircraft industry and aviation safety authorities worldwide.
Prosecutor Wyn Lloyd Jones told the court that while Lyon had admitted a s390,000 fraud upon his customers, the seriousness of the case outweighed the high value.
There was a substantial breach of trust in this case. Because the gas was being supplied to the airline industry there was at the very least a real risk that public safety could have been compromised, he said.
The motive was greed and profit.
Lyon, of Oakmount House, Northop Country Park, near Mold, admitted 25 fraud offences and was jailed for 2.5 years.
Judge Niclas Parry told him: By your activity, you caused the potential withdrawal of aircraft from service both in this country, in Europe and in the USA.
You caused emergency directives regarding the recall of safety equipment to be issued worldwide.
It has subsequently transpired that the breaching of the regulations may not have had such an impact upon public safety as had initially been feared.
That knowledge is important for the sake of future passenger confidence.
But the reality is that at the time you were offending you could not have been certain of that and you continued to ignore the risk regardless.
The judge said Lyon had s operation was close to being to a monopoly because of his expertise and said he abused that position in a systematic, sophisticated fraud achieved with total disregard for the potential risk to public safety.
It beggars belief that a man of your experience in such a specialised activity acted in such a cavalier fashion, showing utter disregard for the potential consequences, the judge said.
Lyon was not charged with any airline safety offences following an investigation by the Civil Aviation Authority.
It was passed to North Wales Police who carried out a fraud investigation.
But the Aviation Regulation Enforcement Department of the CAA had carried out a full investigation into the risk to flight safety caused by fire.
Halon was a highly effective fire suppressant widely used in the aircraft industry and it was estimated that about 15,000 fire extinguishers had to be replaced because the gas was outside specification.
Following tests in America it had been found that gas with a 90% purity was just as effective as that with 99%.
But Mr Lloyd Jones said the defendant did not know that at the time and some of the purities in the gas he supplied were far less than that.
The probe by the CAA, the European Aircraft Safety Agency and the Federal Agency in America meant thousands of extinguishers were recalled and replaced by compliant products.
Paul Abraham, defending, said his client denied his actions were down to greed.
He was not supplying a product that was rubbish to make money, he said.

Read More http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2012/01/13/15-000-fire-extinguishers-removed-from-planes-worldwide-after-welsh-factory-owner-s-fraud-91466-30118951/#ixzz1jUDjdz9j

Update on Contaminated Halon Investigation in Europe

According to the EASA and the Emergency Airworthiness Directive it appears that the Contaminated Halon is becoming a very serious issue in Europe. Below is the article from the EASA that describes the reasons and actions for correcting this Contaminated Halon in Europe. The Civil Aviation Authority of the United Kingdom was the first to alert the proper authorities and companies about this safety issue.

EASA AD No.: 2009-0251-E
EASA Form 111 Page 1/3
EASA EMERGENCY AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
AD No.: 2009-0251-E
Date: 25 November 2009

Note: This Emergency Airworthiness Directive (AD) is issued by EASA, acting in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 216/2008 on behalf of the European Community, its Member States and of the European third countries that participate in the activities of EASA under Article 66 of that Regulation. This AD is issued in accordance with EC 1702/2003, Part 21A.3B. In accordance with EC 2042/2003 Annex I, Part M.A.301, the continuing airworthiness of an aircraft shall be ensured by accomplishing any applicable ADs. Consequently, no person may operate an aircraft to which an AD applies, except in accordance with the requirements of that AD, unless otherwise specified by the Agency [EC 2042/2003 Annex I, Part M.A.303] or agreed with the Authority of the State of Registry [EC 216/2008, Article 14(4) exemption].

Type Approval Holder’s Name : Fire Fighting Enterprises Limited
Type/Model designation(s) : Portable Halon 1211 Fire Extinguishers
Approval Number : Various National approvals.
Foreign AD : Not applicable
Supersedure : None
ATA 26 Fire Protection – Portable Fire Extinguishers – Identification / Replacement
Manufacturer(s): Fire Fighting Enterprises Limited

Applicability:
Portable Halon 1211 (BCF) fire extinguishers, identified by Finished Goods (FG)
number and serial number (s/n) in Appendix 1 of this AD. These fire extinguishers are known to be installed (or carried/stowed on board) on, but not limited to, Airbus, Alenia, Boeing, Embraer, Fokker and SAAB transport aeroplanes, Pilatus, Hawker Beechcraft (formerly Raytheon) and
Vulcanair (formerly Partenavia) general aviation aeroplanes and Agusta and
Eurocopter helicopters.

Reason:
The Civil Aviation Authority of the United Kingdom (UK) has informed EASA that significant quantities of Halon 1211 gas, determined to be outside the required specification, have been supplied to the aviation industry for use in fire extinguishing equipment. Halon 1211 (BCF) is used in handheld fire extinguishers, usually fitted or stowed in aircraft cabins. EASA published Safety Information Bulletin (SIB) 2009-39 on 23 October 2009 to make the aviation community aware of this safety concern. The results of the ongoing investigation now show that LyonTech Engineering Ltd, a UK-based company, has supplied a quantity of heavily contaminated Halon
1211 (BCF) to Fire Fighting Enterprises (FFE). This Halon 1211 has subsequently been used to fill certain FFE portable fire extinguishers that are now likely to be installed in or carried on board aircraft. The contaminated nature of this gas, when used against a fire, may lead to
release of toxic fumes, possibly causing injury to aircraft occupants. EASA AD No.: 2009-0251-E
EASA Form 111 Page 2/3 For the reason described above, this EASA AD requires the identification and removal from service of all affected fire extinguishers and replacement with
serviceable units.

Effective Date: 26 November 2009

Required Action(s) and Compliance Time(s):
Required as indicated, unless accomplished previously:
(1) Within two (2) days after the effective date of this AD, identify the FG number and s/n of the portable fire extinguisher(s) installed or carried on board the aircraft.
(2) If any portable fire extinguisher identified as required by paragraph (1) of this AD is listed in Appendix 1 of this AD, before next flight, remove it from the aircraft and replace it with a serviceable unit.
(3) From the effective date of this AD, do not install any portable fire extinguisher as identified in Appendix 1 of this AD on any aircraft, unless it has been serviced with Halon 1211 that has been verified to conform to the correct specification.

Ref. Publications: None

Remarks :
1. If requested and appropriately substantiated, EASA can approve Alternative
Methods of Compliance for this EAD.
2. The safety assessment has requested not to implement the full consultation
process and an immediate publication and notification.
3. Enquiries regarding this AD should be referred to the Airworthiness
Directives, Safety Management & Research Section, Certification Directorate,
EASA. E-mail: ADs@easa.europa.eu.
4. For any question concerning the technical content of the requirements in this
AD, please contact: Fire Fighting Enterprises Ltd, 9 Hunting Gate, Hitchin,
Hertfordshire SG4 0TJ, United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 (0) 845 402 4242
E-mail: sales@ffeuk.com, Website: http://www.ffeuk.com/

For a hard copy of this article visit: http://ad.easa.europa.eu/blob/easa_ad_2009_0251E.pdf/EAD_2009-0251-E_1

Feel free to contact RemTec if you have any other questions or concerns: http://www.remtec.net/
1-800-372-1301