by Paul Jankowski
Department of Homeland Security
Following the explosion of Pan American Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, in December 1988, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) initiated the Commercial Aircraft Hardening Program (CAHP). Its immediate goal was to develop a hardened container that could protect aircraft from another Lockerbie-type hidden improvised explosive device (IED).
Since 1991, the Transportation Security Laboratory (TSL) has conducted numerous explosive tests on wide and narrow body commercial aircraft to determine their vulnerability to terrorist-based explosive threats. In addition, TSL has been developing aircraft-based explosive mitigation technology such as explosion-resistant aircraft baggage/cargo containers (also known as HULDs).
Both SRA, a leading provider of technology and strategic consulting services, and Telair International, a desiger of complete on-board cargo handling systems, developed HULDs that are qualified in terms of blast resistance performance and FAA airworthiness certification.
SRA HULD Design
SRA uses a material called Glare in its HULD design. Glare is a “GLAss-REinforced” Fibre Metal Laminate composed of several very thin layers of aluminum interspersed with layers of glass-fibre, bonded together with a matrix such as epoxy. The panels are held together with an aluminum frame structure designed with a locking door mechanism.
Telair HULD Design
The Telair HULD design uses Kevlar, the same material associated with the development of body armor. Kevlar consists of fibers of a long molecular chain molecule with many inter-chain bonds that make the material extremely strong.
HULDs are currently being evaluated by TSA through implementation of a congressionally mandated HULD pilot program. HULDs are being flown in regular airline operational service to determine the economic and operational impacts of implementing HULD technology.
Subsequent to removal from flight operations, the HULDs are blast tested by TSL to ascertain the effect of operational service on continued HULD explosive mitigation performance. Based upon the success of the second generation optimized Telair HULD, a third generation Telair HULD is currently under development and slated for explosive validation testing in 2008. The program has been focused on determining and identifying the minimum size explosive that would result in immediate catastrophic loss.
The data collected in this research has been used to validate and refine explosives detection standards for checkpoints, checked luggage and air cargo.
In addition, methods and technologies that can be applied to current and future fleets of commercial aircraft to decrease the level of vulnerability to internal explosive effects have also been a topic of study.
The success of the HULD program is the result of the cooperative efforts of the Department of Homeland Security; the Federal Aviation Administration; the Departments of the Army, Navy, and Air Force; and the private sector.
Telair HULD during blast test of aircraft section (Click image to enlarge)
Non-blast resistant container for comparison (Click image to enlarge)
