Description

Smoke from crude oil fires can spread over a large area, well beyond the source of a fire(s). Commonly, the smoke will form a thick layer of dense, dark cloud, with a top of 5,000 to 10,000 ft.

Smoke from a crude oil fire is composed of:

• Oil particles
• Soot
• Gases with a high sulphur content

Effects

• Severe Turbulence can be expected in a pyrocumulous cloud and the cloud may contain ash from the fire.
• Operation of engines and aircraft systems should not be immediately adversely affected by the smoke, but prolonged exposure will lead to airframe and systems contamination.
• Smoke or Fumes in the flight deck or cabin may result in breathing discomfort and /or irritation of the eyes.
• Reduced forward visibility in the cloud and reduced visibility due to contamination of windscreens.
• Reduced range of nav/comm radios
• Possible contamination of pitot static system causing unreliable airspeed indications

Defences

• Crew/Passenger to don oxygen masks and smoke goggles as appropriate.
• Monitor engine parameters and note and report any parameter shift to maintenance.
• Try to fly clear of the cloud, either by climbing or descending or avoiding the cloud laterally.

Solutions

• Avoidance; see Notice To Airmen and SIGMET warnings.

Further Reading

Airbus

• Airbus FCOM Bulletin 804/1 - "Operation in areas contaminated by crude oil smoke": Jan 2005.