Aircraft Downwind Hazard Distance After a Chemical Attack
Abstract
This report describes the development of a rule for the standoff distance from a chemical warfare contaminated aircraft for the Air Force counter-chemical warfare concept of operations (C-CW CONOPS). The 10-foot rule that was originally developed in the C-CW CONOPS described the precautionary procedures used to safely approach a painted, chemically-contaminated vehicle surface at varied times after the chemical warfare agent (CWA) attack. In order to make the 10-foot rule applicable to areas larger than a vehicle surface area, the 10-foot rule needed to be revised. The revision of the 10-foot rule focused on the impact of approaching chemically contaminated painted metal surfaces that were larger than the original vehicle surface area covered in the 10-foot rule, to include rules for safely approaching the contaminated item at different times after the attack. As part of the 10-foot rule revision process, a range of aircraft in the Air Force inventory were examined to generate the spatial extent and geometry to be used in modeling the downwind hazard areas around the aircraft. Further, a parametric study was conducted that used representative contamination densities and patterns, as well as representative aircraft paint combined with wind speed, relative wind direction, and the Pasquill Stability Category (PSC) over the range of anticipated conditions. The results of the parametric study identified the relative risk associated with operations for one-hour at various times (after the attack) and distances from the simulated contaminated aircraft. This report provides time-phased rules of thumb for operations in proximity to contaminated aircraft (and other large contaminated painted metal surfaces larger than 10m2).
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 08, 2007
- Accession Number
- ADA468458
Entities
People
- Claudia Spita
- Richard E. Mcnally
Organizations
- Leidos