Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!ucsd!ames!ncar!noao!arizona!naucse!rrw
From: rrw@naucse.cse.nau.edu (Robert Wier)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Re: Selling Electronics Kits: FCC Approval ?
Message-ID: <2600@naucse.cse.nau.edu>
Date: 30 Sep 90 04:25:24 GMT
References: <1990Sep20.014846.17687@hayes.fai.alaska.edu> <26fa8a08-429.1sci.electronics-1@vpnet.chi.il.us>
Organization: Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff AZ
Lines: 43

In article <26fa8a08-429.1sci.electronics-1@vpnet.chi.il.us>, cgordon@vpnet.chi.il.us (Gordon Hlavenka) writes:
> 
> >unique UL approvals, such as the dreaded Attack Test.  (How long does it take
> >to disable a system with a sledge hammer?)
> 
> I have worked on some equipment intended for use in the cabin of passenger
> airliners.  The FAA has a "Coke test"...  They dump Classic Coke on the
> equipment, let it rot overnight, and then do a functional test and a safety
> (shorts, smoke, etc.) test.
> 
> -----------------------------------------------------
> Gordon S. Hlavenka            cgordon@vpnet.chi.il.us
> Disclaimer:                Yeah, I said it.  So what?



 Now, that's really interesting.  One of my favorite books is
 E.K. Gahn's book "Fate is the Hunter", dealing with airline
 flying.  When it was brought to the screen, as usual the 
 movie treatment only superficially resembled the book, but
 this "Coke" action was a main part of the story.

 Turns out that there is an airliner crash.  The invesigators
 can't find out why the pilot of 2 engine aircraft turns off
 the second engine after the first is taken out by a bird.
 He then crashes, killing everyone except the stewardess.

 Turns out that there was a cup of coffee put on the one of
 the instruments panels.  When the bird hit the first engine,
 the coffee spills into the electronics, giving a false engine
 fire light and the pilot kills the second engine, then crashing.

 I always wondered if that was a real incident.  Maybe so.
 Or maybe the testing agency saw that movie, too? :-)


 - Bob Wier

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