Module 11B.7, 11B.8 and 11B.14 — Piston aeroplanes: equipment and furnishings, fire protection, lights

Levels

Sub-module	A2	B1.2
11.7(a) Emergency equipment requirements	2	2
11.7(b) Cabin and cargo layout	1	1
11.8(a) Fire/smoke detection, extinguishing, tests	1	3
11.8(b) Portable fire extinguishers	1	1
11.14 Lights	2	3

11.7 Equipment and furnishings (ATA 25)

Emergency equipment

Typical equipment on piston aeroplanes depends on certification basis and type of operation (non-commercial Part-NCO vs commercial):

Item	Notes
Seats, safety belts and shoulder harnesses	Inertia-reel harnesses; check webbing for wear, buckle function; seat locking pins/stops on rails
ELT	Fixed automatic ELT (406 MHz with 121.5 MHz homing); battery expiry date marked externally; g-switch activation; registration/coding of the 406 MHz beacon; test only per the manufacturer's instructions and national rules (self-test function; live tests restricted to short, notified periods to avoid false alerts)
Hand fire extinguisher	Mounted within reach of the pilot; gauge, seal and weight checks
First-aid kit	Where required by operation
Life jackets / life raft	For flights over water beyond set distances from land
Survival equipment	For remote areas (operational requirement)
Emergency exits / hatches	Openable window or door jettison mechanisms on twins; placarded

Cabin and cargo layout

• Cabin layout per the approved configuration; seat installation and removal procedures (record weight and balance changes).
• Baggage compartments: placarded maximum load and floor loading; cargo nets/tie-downs; fire-resistant liners where required.
• Interior furnishings must meet flammability requirements (self-extinguishing materials).
• Airstairs: integral stairs in the door of larger twins (cable-supported) — check cables and hinges.

11.8 Fire protection (ATA 26)

Fire zones on piston aeroplanes

The engine compartment is a designated fire zone, separated from the cabin and fuel tanks by a firewall. Combustion heaters also form a fire zone. Fire risk sources: fuel/oil leaks onto hot exhaust, induction fires (backfire), electrical faults.

Detection (B1.2 level 3)

System	Use on piston aircraft
Thermal switches (bimetallic)	Spot detectors in the engine nacelle wired in parallel; close at a set temperature → warning light
Thermocouple (rate of rise)	Several "hot" junctions in the fire zone and a reference junction; rapid heating generates current → relay → warning
Continuous loop (Fenwal/Kidde)	Used on larger piston twins and on engine nacelles
Smoke detectors	Baggage areas on some larger types
Carbon monoxide detectors	Cabin — combustion heaters and exhaust heaters (see 11B.4)

Tests: press-to-test switch checks loop continuity and warning circuit.

Extinguishing

• Many single-engine piston aircraft have no fixed engine extinguishing: the procedure is to shut off fuel (fuel selector/firewall shut-off valve), mixture to cut-off, master off.
• Larger piston twins may have fixed engine fire extinguishing with one bottle per engine or shared, squib-fired discharge, fire handles that close the firewall fuel shut-off valve and arm the squib, and discharge indicators.
• Agent historically Halon 1301 (fixed) — environmental restrictions apply.
• System tests: squib circuit continuity test, bottle pressure/weight checks, hydrostatic test intervals, cartridge life.

Portable fire extinguishers

Type	Use	Caution
Halon 1211 (BCF)	Most common in light aircraft cockpits — A, B and electrical fires	Ventilate after use
CO₂	B and electrical	Asphyxiation risk in small cabins; cold burns
Dry powder	A, B, C	Obscures vision, corrosive residue, damages avionics/engines
Water	A only	Not on electrical or fuel fires

Halon replacements are being introduced (e.g. Halotron-type agents).

Key fact: On most single-engine piston aircraft, engine fire action = fuel off at the firewall shut-off/selector, mixture idle cut-off, ignition and master off — there is often no fixed extinguisher.