Halon and its newer alternatives are effective aircraft fire extinguishing agents. Things you bring with you in the cabin can make a fire much worse.

The idea of an inflight fire rightfully scares the bejabbers out of pilots. Uncontrolled combustion in a confined space is ugly enough—adding altitude and speed to the mix can make a fire lethal in short order. It’s no wonder that pilots dealing with an inflight fire have jumped out of their aircraft even though they had no parachute.

An inflight fire may be one of the most dangerous situations any pilot may face. The difference between safely extinguishing a cockpit fire or perhaps losing your airplane and your life hinges on three factors: having a fire extinguisher on board, knowing how to use it, and having it easily accessible. Although the Federal Aviation Regulations do not require general aviation aircraft to carry one, common sense would suggest a fire extinguisher should be standard equipment in every aircraft.

Forget consumer-grade stuff: A portable Halon extinguisher is the way to go, and products from H3R Aviation lead the market.

An in-flight fire is most pilots' greatest fear, surpassing even a mid-air collision. Although relatively rare, the unique combination of combustible materials and ignition sources available in the typical personal airplane means an in-flight fire must be dealt with quickly and decisively. Doing so usually means disabling systems to deprive the fire of its fuel or ignition sources and employing a fire extinguisher to smother it. A quick landing, even if off-airport, may be necessary.