48 Hours

Dec. 19, 1996 - Click either image below to watch a video of the Dan Rather interview

After hearing about our report to the FAA on our Fuel Tank Explosion and Hydrodynamic Ram project, Dan Rather interviewed BlazeTech's Technical Director, Dr. Albert Moussa, for the CBS news magazine 48 Hours. Their interest was in the report's implications to the TWA Flight 800 disaster.

Plenary Lecture on "Fluid and Heat Transfer Issues in Aircraft Fires and Explosions"

Dr. Albert Moussa will be speaking on "Fluid and Heat Transfer Issues in Aircraft Fires and Explosions" at the 5th WSEAS International Conference on Fluid Mechanics, January 25-27, 2008. Visit the WSEAS website for more details.

Presentation on "Survivability/Vulnerability Considerations in Unmanned Aerial Vehicles"

Dr. Albert Moussa will be speaking on "Survivability/Vulnerability Considerations in Unmanned Aerial Vehicles" at the NDIA 24th Annual National Test & Evaluation Conference in Palm Springs, CA in February 2008. See Agenda at the NDIA website. Hope to see you there.

Air France Concorde Disaster

After the Air France Concorde disaster in 2000, Dr. Albert Moussa was interviewed and quoted by a number of European newspapers and journals regarding a study conducted by BlazeTech in 1996 for the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Office of Aviation Research.  The report on this study is titled "The Potential for Fuel Tank Fire and Hydrodynamic Ram From Uncontained Engine Debris," and was published in 1997. In this study, BlazeTech evaluated the potential for fuel tank damage caused by impact of foreign debris. After penetration of the fuel tank wall, the debris travels through the fuel and raises the pressure therein, causing tearing of the tank wall, much in excess of the initial penetration hole. This process is referred to as hydrodynamic ram. It is believed to be responsible for the large fuel release and the subsequent fire during the Concorde disaster.

The importance of this report has been recognized and referenced by numerous organizations concerned with aircraft safety and the Concorde Disaster. For example, AIRwise News states that the report "contains a wealth of information regarding the hazard to vital aircraft systems posed by debris from exploding tires."

BlazeTech is developing an innovative technology FuelShield™ to protect fuel tanks against such occurrences. This technology will also protect a fuel tank against the ullage explosion that occurred in TWA 800.

The New York Times

Highlight of TWA Flight 800 article featured in The New York Times

BBC

In 1997, Dr. Albert Moussa was interviewed by the BBC on the subject of the TWA 800 accident. He gave the BBC a demonstration of how nitrogen inerting can protect the ullage of an aircraft fuel tank against fuel vapor ignition.

Click the image below to watch a video of the BBC interview

Other News

On July 27, 1999, during the International Joint Power Generation Conference and Exposition in Burlingame, CA, Dr. Albert Moussa was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers "in testimony of the high regard of your associates for the deep appreciation of the society for your valued services in advancing the engineering profession."

In 2000, Dr. Venkat Devarakonda was elected Chairman of the subcommittee on Fuel Properties and Characteristics in the FACT Division of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

Mass High Tech

"BlazeTech software prepares for the worst by looking for vulnerabilities" 10/13/2003
by Elizabeth Dinan

American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)

Dr. Moussa - AIAA Distinguished Lecturer In July 2004, Dr. Moussa has been invited by the AIAA to join their Distinguished Lecturer program. The AIAA has 68 Sections throughout the US. The Distinguished Lecturers address section members at their monthly meeting to talk about topics of current interest. Dr. Moussa will talk about aircraft fires and explosions drawing upon a 3 day course that he teaches to industry and government. The abstract of his one-hour presentation follows: While commercial air travel is an extremely safe mode of transportation, aircraft fires and explosions can occasionally occur with catastrophic consequences. Based on real-world examples, computer analyses, and ground testing, Dr. Albert Moussa will provide an overview of the main types of in-flight and post-crash fires involving aircraft engine, fuel tank, cabin and cargo areas. He will describe how fires start and grow as well as the effects of contributory human (flight crew responses) and environmental factors. Finally he will detail how recent accidents have led to stricter safety recommendations by the NTSB and requirements by the FAA and such as the use of a fire blocking layer in seats, improved fire detection and suppression systems and fuel tank inerting. This is a multi-media presentation illustrated with slides, computer model output and short video clips.