[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 70 (Friday, May 8, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E663-E664]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                RECOGNITION OF CONSTANTINE (GUS) SARKOS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. FRANK A. LoBIONDO

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 8, 2015

  Mr. LoBIONDO. Mr. Speaker, I come to the floor today to honor Mr. 
Constantine (Gus) Sarkos. When it comes to fire safety aboard 
commercial aircraft, Gus Sarkos is the primary expert and a national 
treasure.
  As head of the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Fire Safety 
Branch, Sarkos and his team have played an essential and critical

[[Page E664]]

role improving cabin and cargo safety in ways that have decreased the 
risk of injuries to airline passengers and saved lives.
  According to Dennis Filler, Director of the FAA's William J. Hughes 
Technical Center, ``Gus Sarkos does the science that becomes the fire 
safety standards adopted by the whole world.''
  His work testing materials and measuring the effectiveness of fire 
detection and suppression systems has led to more than a dozen 
significant changes to U.S. and foreign aircraft during the past three 
decades to stop fires and curtail the spread of blazes occurring in-
flight or during crash landings, increasing the chances of passenger 
survival.
  Most recently, Mr. Sarkos and his team have been examining and 
reporting on fire threats posed by lighter and potentially flammable 
materials now being used in airplanes, and by the combustibility of 
large quantities of lithium batteries that have been carried in cargo 
holds.
  As a result of his team's work, the Department of Transportation 
(DOT) no longer allows non-rechargeable metal lithium batteries to be 
shipped in the cargo holds of passenger jets. In addition, a number of 
U.S. airlines this year unilaterally announced they will no longer 
accept rechargeable ion lithium batteries because of tests done by Mr. 
Sarkos and his team showing that a buildup of gases inside bulk 
containers can lead to explosions and violent fires. The International 
Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the U.S. DOT currently are 
considering proposals to ban bulk shipments of these rechargeable 
batteries or to require safer packaging rules for air transport.
  Katherine Rooney, chief of ICAO's cargo safety section, said the work 
by Mr. Sarkos' group on the batteries and many other issues has been 
``absolutely invaluable.'' She added that passengers are ``in a safer 
situation thanks to the research they have provided.''
  During his long tenure, Mr. Sarkos has participated in and overseen 
the development of such post-crash aircraft fire safety improvements as 
new fire blocking seat cushions, heat resistant evacuation slides, 
burn-through resistant fuselage insulation, and interior panels that 
release less heat and smoke.
  ``The FAA's goal'', Mr. Sarkos said, ``is to minimize the likelihood 
of an aircraft fire in-flight or improve survivability during a post-
crash fire. If a fire occurs in-flight, the objective is to reliably 
detect, extinguish or suppress it until the aircraft can be safely 
landed. In the case of a post-crash fire,'' Sarkos said, ``the goal is 
to have materials that burn and spread fire more slowly, and releases 
less heat, so passengers have more time to escape.''
  Director Filler noted how the work of Mr. Sarkos and his team came 
into play in 2013 when Asiana Airlines Flight 214 crashed and caught 
fire while landing in San Francisco. Three people died of injuries 
unrelated to the fire, while 304 survived the crash. He said the fire 
was slow in developing in large part because of the fire resistant 
material in the aircraft, and as a result, people had the time to 
evacuate.
  Director Filler also cited a 2008 accident when a Continental 737 
veered off the runway in Denver, skidded into a ravine, lost its 
landing gear and left engine, and caught fire. All 110 passengers and 
five crew members had time to evacuate. In 2005, an Air France A340 
landed in Toronto during a severe thunderstorm, skidded off the runway 
and erupted into flames. While the fire eventually gutted the aircraft, 
all 297 passengers and 12 crew members survived.
  ``These are examples of three aircraft that caught fire and 728 
people survived largely because of the work that Gus and his team have 
been able to promote throughout the industry,'' said Filler. ``His 
efforts have provided added time for passengers to evacuate. In the old 
days, materials would have burned faster or caused passengers to inhale 
toxic fumes, and they would have died in the aircraft.''
  Mr. Sarkos said his work is challenging, but a source of pride 
because it has resulted in increased safety.
  ``The worst thing I ever had to do was meet with relatives of 
accident victims,'' said Mr. Sarkos. ``I am glad that in recent years 
that conditions have improved because of the work we have done and 
continue to do.''
  I want to publicly commend Gus for being named a finalist to receive 
the Service to America Medal a.k.a. ``Sammies''. Gus' vision, 
leadership, and dedication to saving lives is a testament to his 
invaluable public service.

                          ____________________