Brief Description of the Drawings

Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in combination with the appended drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a schematic cross sectional view through the body of an aircraft, showing components of an air handling system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged partial cross section illustrating a portion of the embodiment of Figure 1 in greater detail;

Figure 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating the operation of the present invention during normal cruising flight;

Figure 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating the operation of the present invention during taxi and ascent;

Figure 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating the operation of the present invention during descent from cruising altitude and taxi after landing;

Figure 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating the operation of the present invention during ground purging of the system;

Figure 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating the operation of the present invention during an in-flight fire event;

Figure 8a shows a gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis plot of a ventilation air sample taken in a jet transport aircraft during flight (Temperature approximately 20C);

Figure 8b shows a gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis plot of an envelope air sample taken in a jet transport aircraft on the ground at approximately 35C;

Figure 9a shows a gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis plot of a head space sample of a jet engine lubricating oil at 100C;

Figure 9b shows a gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis plot of a head space sample of a jet fuel at 90C;

Figure 9c shows a gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis plot of a head space sample of an aircraft hydraulic fluid at 90C;

Figure 9d shows a gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis plot of a head space sample of a general purpose cleaner used in aircraft at 90C.

Figure 9e shows a gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis plot of a head space sample of an anti-corrosion treatment sprayed on metal surfaces in the envelope (- 5C).

It will be noted that throughout the appended drawings, like features are identified by like reference numerals.