VA Airbus grounded after water cannon salute

It takes several minutes running non-foam to clear foam out of the system on most fire apparatus I've worked with. It's possible that the last time the water cannons were used was with foam, and it was just residue clearing out of the system.

It's also very common for an operator to forget to check whether foam is selected or not from the previous usage before pumping. It seems like foam is on 90% of the time when you aren't expecting it. Per my comment above, From the time you realize the mistake, it's still going to take 2-3 minutes to clear the remaining foam in the system.

Short story is that I doubt it's a simple as someone 'accidentally pressing the button for foam.'
 
pressclick said:
It takes several minutes running non-foam to clear foam out of the system on most fire apparatus I've worked with. It's possible that the last time the water cannons were used was with foam, and it was just residue clearing out of the system.

It's also very common for an operator to forget to check whether foam is selected or not from the previous usage before pumping. It seems like foam is on 90% of the time when you aren't expecting it. Per my comment above, From the time you realize the mistake, it's still going to take 2-3 minutes to clear the remaining foam in the system.

Short story is that I doubt it's a simple as someone 'accidentally pressing the button for foam.'
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On any apparatus, especially these rigs, you have to select foam injection knowing that you're doing it and wanting it. Since most training evolutions are water only, its not like its common to have foam selected anyway; its the exception rather than the norm. So yes, I too wonder if there's something other than just a simple "switch error". The foam was selected because that's what someone wanted, whether that day or another day. As there was no rush......ie- not an active emergency....it shouldn't have been a heat-of-the-moment error, as there was plenty of time to get setup for this event.

And yeah, about a tank full of water to clear the lines is normal. Depending on how much foam was dispensed, could tell whether this was an error or not. And if the lines weren't cleared after the last foam usage, that in and of itself is huge problem for that department and whichever shift(s) were responsible, with regards to the ramifications to equipment of failing to do that.
 
BarbieDreamPilot said:
Interesting. Did either of you @MikeD @pressclick participate in these salutes? Are there SOPs?
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In the AF way back in the day. Nothing to anything.....shoot water in an arc over the airplane as it taxies by. Go and top off the tank at the hydrant. Go back in service. Done. It's more something for the firefighters to do than anything, breaks up the shift a bit.
 
Vector said:
Why would the send the Fire Department a bill?
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Ill probably butcher this and I can't remember if they used foam or just water but, the PDX ARFF was doing a canon solute for one of our CRJ 700s, engines running. The #2 motor took a direct hit from the Canon which destroyed it. Horizon sent them the repair bill which they eventually paid. Or something like that. @SurferLucas or @pete2800 or even @Cessnaflyer could tell it better.
 
CirrusMonkey said:
Ill probably butcher this and I can't remember if they used foam or just water but, the PDX ARFF was doing a canon solute for one of our CRJ 700s, engines running. The #2 motor took a direct hit from the Canon which destroyed it. Horizon sent them the repair bill which they eventually paid. Or something like that. @SurferLucas or @pete2800 or even @Cessnaflyer could tell it better.
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Just arc the water from the turret, and leave it there. Plane taxiies under the arcing water. Shouldn't be any direct water spray at any part of the aircraft, at least not under any kind of full operating pressure.
 
MikeD said:
Just arc the water from the turret, and leave it there. Plane taxiies under the arcing water. Shouldn't be any direct water spray at any part of the aircraft, at least not under any kind of full operating pressure.
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Sounds easy enough to me.
 
When I read about this last night, I shan't tell a lie, I laughed my arse off. What a FAIL.

Serious question though. In the days before the drought(no salutes at SFO or any Cali airport since it started), I would always see the crews set up and test the arc with several spurts of water well before the actual aircraft receiving the salute would arrive. Is this not a standard procedure elsewhere? I'm sure that would had saved much embarrassment to the department.
 
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