When should the aircraft’s fire extinguishers be used?

Using the aircraft’s fire extinguishers is warranted when there is a fire on board that can be safely approached. This situation is critical because fire extinguishers are designed to rapidly suppress flames, preventing them from spreading and causing greater harm to the aircraft and its occupants. Responding promptly to a fire with an extinguisher can help protect lives and maintain control of the situation.

In practical terms, the flight crew must evaluate the location and size of the fire to determine if it is safe to use the extinguisher. If the fire is small and manageable, using an extinguisher can be effective. It is important to act swiftly, as fires can escalate quickly in the confined space of an aircraft.

Other options, such as responding solely to smoke in the cabin or a passenger's sense of smell, may indicate a potential fire hazard but do not constitute an immediate need to use the extinguisher. Proper assessment of these situations is vital, and immediate use of extinguishers is reserved for confirmed fires that can be approached safely. Additionally, using extinguishers only during landing is not a correct approach since immediate action is often required in-flight to prevent a small fire from developing into a serious emergency.