Fire-control systems

There are 4 types of Fire Control Systems on commercial aircraft: (1) lavatory bottle extinguishing system, (2) on board portable extinguishers, (3) cargo compartment systems and (4) engine fire protection systems.

All lavatory bottle systems, cargo compartment systems and engine fire protection systems being installed today use halon 1301. All on board portable extinguishers being sold today use halon 1211. The popular belief is that the likelihood of seeing a halon free new commercial aircraft in the next five or perhaps even ten years is remote. The industry (1) knows it has enough halon 1301 to last for many years, (2) believes that there are no regulatory bodies ready to force the issue on this chronically financially ailing industry and (3) knows very well that all the systems employing alternatives to halons - with the exception of the lavatory bottle - will cost more, weigh more and take up more space on the aircraft.