Pilots are not always known for being snappy dressers. In fact, this is one reason we're always asking our spouses questions like, "Honey, does plaid go with a propeller hat?"
"No Bob, I always dress this way."
"Oh, that's right, I forgot, you're a pilot."
Cautious pilots, however, realize that there's more to dressing than looking good. The manner in which you dress can have a lot to do with the injuries you sustain in the event of a cockpit fire.
Napalm is a highly incendiary, jellylike substance used in warfare. It does its fiery and dirty deed by clinging (like jellies do) to that which it burns. But isn't this precisely what plastic does when it burns? Doesn't it burn and melt while transferring its flaming goo to its supporting surface? Indeed it does. Plastic acts very much like napalm in the way it burns. Certainly this is of no concern to you. After all, you don't wear plastic? or do you?
The bad news is that many people wear plastic. It's called polyester and, if it all suddenly disappeared, a large portion of the world's population would find themselves prancing around in their birthday suits.
Clothing made of polyesters burn like plastic. In other words, they burn and melt. The larger the percentage of polyester in the fabric, the greater the similarity to burning plastic. In a sense, if you're wearing high polyester blend garments and you're exposed to fire, you're wearing napalm (Figure 1).
Several years ago a young lady flight instructor was preflighting an airplane that had just returned from a training flight. The exhaust stack was still hot during her walkaround when she accidentally pressed her leg against it. Since she was wearing nylons, the fabric melted onto her leg, causing an irritating burn. It took several days to remove the burnt fabric from her skin. So be careful if you wear nylons during the preflight. (Hey guys, if you don't tell, I won't ask).
Now let's magnify the situation. Suppose you're in an airplane that has just crashed and you're exposed to fire. You're wearing high polyester blend clothing. What do you think will happen? Chances are that the fabric could melt onto your skin resulting in burns that are more severe than those you'd get from the flame itself.
If you want testimony to the dirty work of burning polyester clothing, just talk to any nurse at a hospital's burn ward. You won't like what you hear. Help yourself out and try to find garments having 35% or less polyester with the rest of the fabric being natural fiber. The lower the polyester, the better it is for you.
This is why the Airline Pilot's Association (ALPA) recommends that their pilots wear tight knit, long sleeve, low polyester blend garments. Cotton or wool is the fabric of choice (Figure 2). Yes, cotton or wool does burn, but it doesn't melt like polyester. Therefore, if you're exposed to fire, any burn damage to your body is sure to be much less when wearing garments made of natural fabric.
Additionally, tight knit cotton or wool garments burn much slower than those with a looser weave. I remember an uncle who wore a gabardine jacket during a winter backyard barbecue. After lighting the coals he walked into the house with his upper sleeve smoking. I thought, "Wow, uncle Bill will do anything to get a laugh." In reality, his wool jacket began to burn when it made contact with hot coals. Unlike polyester garments, however, it burned very slowly and didn't melt. The thick fabric acted as an insulator, leaving my uncle Bill completely unaware of his Joan of Arc impression. To this day he claims he was trying out a new smoking jacket.
Granted, wool is often uncomfortable to wear. Think of how uncomfortable those sheep must be! But you can't beat cotton as a comfortable fiber. Most, if not all of my clothing is made from cotton. Pajamas too ? even the feet!
Yes, you can find cotton clothing: shirts, pants, jackets, although you may need to shop around. If you're an airline pilot you may need to purchase regular, long sleeve 100% cotton dress shirts and have them tailored. The excess material from the sleeves can be used to build the epaulets.
Clothing isn't your only concern in the case of fire. Many years ago, a fellow flight instructor and his student crashed a small training airplane immediately after takeoff. A postcrash fire ensued (possibly caused by the master switch being left on during the crash). Sitting in the right seat, the CFI unbuckled his semi-conscious student, opened the left door and shoved him outside the airplane. The instructor tried to open his door but it was jammed. By this time a fire was building on the right side of the airplane. He pushed on the Plexiglas window and the plastic glass melted to his hands. He finally managed to crawl out the left side of the airplane but was rendered completely helpless because he no longer had use of his hands.
Losing use of your hands because of fire is sure to limit your ability to survive. That's why ALPA also recommends that their pilots carry a pair of leather gloves in their flight case. I'm completely serious about this. (I didn't say they recommend pilots have goggles and a leather helmet too, just gloves!)
In the event of an in-flight fire, pilots could slip the gloves on and have immediate hand protection. I'll let you debate the practicality of this recommendation. But rest assured that I always carry a small pair of leather gloves in my flight case. Leather is the perfect material for these gloves since leather doesn't burn well at all. Think about it. When was the last time you saw a cow catch fire? See what I mean? (Nomex is good too!)
For all of you who like to slip off your shoes before takeoff, well, let's nip that in the bud right now. Don't do it. Keep your shoes on until the airplane is airborne and put them on before you land. Why? Your legs are your getaway-sticks. If, during a postcrash fire, you burn your feet, you're immobilized. You've limited the most important defense mechanism you have: your ability to run.
That's why people in earthquake country keep shoes beside their bed. If a window shatters during an earthquake, glass on the floor could cut their feet, rendering them immobile. Shoes, of course, prevent that problem.
Yes, as I said a few articles back, the chance of a postcrash fire is very, very rare. Yet, it makes no sense to expose ourselves to greater danger by the way we dress. Besides, most people find natural blend garments to be much more comfortable than synthetics. Therefore, it behooves us to dress for inflammability. We benefit in greater comfort and the increased security of knowing that our clothing won't add to bodily damage in the rare event of a fire.
For more information on this subject, see "Aircraft Fires: Strategies For Survival."
Related Articles
