Astra / Westwind Spring 2000

• What Are Those Burn Testing Documents For?
• Watch Your Valve Pairs...

What Are Those Burn Testing Documents For?

Flammability testing, or burn testing as it is called in the industry, is an often misunderstood regulatory requirement. Not understanding it correctly could cost you down the road.

If your aircraft interior was recently refurbished or modified, it is likely that you were given burn test documents by the completions center. These documents contain valuable certification information and you should keep them with the other modification/certification records pertinent to your aircraft.

Federal Air Regulations per 25.853 require that the materials used in corporate jet passenger cabins be “self extinguishing” when exposed to flame in order to enhance the safety of passengers. To meet this requirement, each material used in building or refurbishing an interior must pass certain tests individually, or as an assembly combined with materials on which they are applied. Samples of these materials are subjected to direct flame for a short, specified period of time. The burning material then must self-extinguish within a specified period of time to pass the test. Records of the test results and the origin of the material tested comprise the bulk of the interior burn certification documents.

Burn test certification is required of the entire aviation community. However, you may experience varying levels of compliance at completions facilities around the country. Burn testing is a complex and often confusing process, so you may want to ask a Duncan Aviation representative to explain more about requirements and regulations. Duncan Aviation is happy to provide as much information as you’d like about burn testing.

Aircraft owners have the burden of proof concerning burn testing. Burn testing documents provide the proof of certification required for an owner to demonstrate compliance and may be required in the future to:

1. Prove FAR compliance when an aircraft is being placed on a Part 135 certificate.
2. Prove FAR compliance for pre-buys (when an aircraft changes ownership).
3. Prove FAR compliance when an aircraft is being exported or imported.
4. Verify interior materials for future repairs or replacement.

Understanding the issue and asking questions up front could save you time, money and a lot of frustration.

Watch Your Valve Pairs...

Duncan has Astra/Westwind bleed switching valves p/n 3213894-4-1 & 3213894-5-1 available for exchange. Customers can now exchange 4-1 valves for 4-1s and 5-1 valves for 5- 1s. Customers who previously sent in 4-1s as a core were subject to an additional charge for AlliedSignal to update to the latest configuration. (Unfortunately, 4-1s sent in as cores are still subject to update charges.)

AlliedSignal issued SB 3213894- 36-1552 in July 1992 because of reports that cabin air supply inflow might have been insufficient at high altitude flight conditions. The remedy was to introduce the 3213894-5-1 valves, which increase the high stage regulation set point pressure by one psig to 21+ or - 2 psig.

In 1986, the 3213894-1-1 was converted to the 3213894-4-1 because the thermal reset authority of 1 1/2 to 2 psi was not sufficient at high altitudes. The thermal reset authority for the 3213894-4-1 was increased to 8 to 9 psi to provide sufficient control and blending of H/P and L/P bleed air. While the 4-1 and 5-1 can be paired together, the 1-1 should under no circumstances be paired with either a 4-1 or 5-1.

For more info, contact Chris Gress in LNK at 800.228.4277 or contact Pete Kilmartin in BTL at 800.525.2376.

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