Big Bird Takes Off (and lands safely)

[fireman328]

Originally Posted by SMHarman

Won't the skills for fighting a fire on one of these be very similar to a 747 though, two decks, lots of bodies...

The vast majority of incidents occur on take off or landing, it is very unusual for an aircraft to fall out of the sky so the incident is usually easy to get to as it is near the airport. BEA 548 was an example of this, although it made a mess of the Staines by pass it was relatively easy to manage and the fire was not very big. (I went on the job from Wimbledon as a very junior crew member when it was virtually all over)
The response to all incidents includes foam tenders to quell the fire to allow time to evacuate plus other units to supply water and perform rescues
Definitely lots of pieces of bodies scattered over a larger area and a lot more local damage. I would imagine that contingency planning has already started to ensure the foam tenders have enough throw and that the pumps will have enough water to enable knock-down of flames for a longer time to allow escape, but i do not think that an A 380 incident would leave many alive.
When I fly I always try to get a seat near the emergency exit over the wing just in case !

[SMHarman]

True - considering the widebodies put up in the air over the last few years, there have yet to be any fatalities on A330s, A340s and 777s.

Only Air China (2002) and Korean Air (1997) have lost 747 hulls in flight, Singapore bent one on a closed runway in 2000 and of the other deaths associated with 747s since 1997 most have been individual deaths from turbulence, cigarette smoke (yes really).

It really is true that you are more likely to be involved in a crash on the M25 on the way to LHR than you are a plane crash once you are there.

[Halcyon]

Originally Posted by fireman328

When I fly I always try to get a seat near the emergency exit over the wing just in case !

Good idea. And you normally get a bit more leg room there too due it being the exit routes.