The flight test was my first smoke detection and penetration test. The purpose is to verify that the baggage compartment smoke detector will detect smoke in 1 minute and that the smoke will not penetrate into the passenger cabin.
For the test, you produce actual smoke from a chemical reaction. One guy maintains the test machine in the baggage compartment (on these business jets it is aft of the cabin). Another guy stands up by the cockpit and gives a signal when the smoke is detected and alarms are sounded in the cockpit. My job (other than learning from Doug's training) was to watch that they were doing the test correctly and that smoke does not come into the cabin.
Overall, tests were successful. We completed three tests - one at 9,000 ft unpressurized, one at 35,000 ft normal cabin pressurization and ventilation conditions and one at 24,000 ft with minimum ventilation conditions and relatively normal pressurization.
I learned a ton - if only I had 10% of Doug's knowledge... which I am slowly accumulating. It was quite interesting to see how emergency decent is accomplished (basically put on the speed brakes and descend fast). Plus it is always fun to just stand in the cockpit entrance and watch everything going on to fly the plane.
Here are some pictures:
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| That's some blue sky at 43,000 ft |
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| That's one clean wing |
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| Northern Quebec at 35,000 ft |
Well, almost time for bed. It was an early morning today.
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