IIRC it seemed as though years ago it was ground up bone matter, etc. that foam was made of. Al ----- Original Message ----- From: <WAGST@xxxxxxx> To: <AIRLINE@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Sunday, September 25, 2005 4:46 PM Subject: Re: Jet Blue incident - foam? > As a guy who works in the ARFF business, here is my 2 cents worth.. > The foam used by ARFF crews these days is called AFFF (Aqueous Film > Forming Foam) and is used to suppress vapors from fuel (it's the vapor > that > actually burns). That is what the stuff (AFFF) was made for. It is mixed > at a 3 > or 6% mixture with water, which means that it does not hang around for > long > on pavement, It would run off the runway much as rain water would, > therefore > not providing any protection. Remember also that those big "crash trucks" > only > carry so much agent, agent that might be needed for fire suppression and > rescue activities after the a/c arrives. If you use up all of the AFFF > before > the guy arrives, and then need the stuff, you'll have a big problem on > your > hands.. > I have not heard of "foaming" a runway being done in the United > States > for decades. Just is not done anymore.. > Tom >