The Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award

The Award was established in memory of Laura Taber Barbour to recognize outstanding achievement in the field of aviation safety — military or civil — in method, design, invention, study or other improvement.

The Award, administered by Flight Safety Foundation,
is presented in 2001 to

Joseph Andrew Wright Sr.
ARFF Technical Services

For leadership in developing and testing methods of suppressing aircraft cabin fires, and improving airport emergency-response capabilities.

As manager of the aircraft rescue and fire fighting (ARFF) research program for 10 years at the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Technical Center, Mr. Wright conducted many studies of flammability standards for aircraft cabin materials, seat blocking layers, smoke evacuation, cabin lighting, advanced extinguishing agents, and in-flight fires. His 34-year FAA career also included service as administrator of the agency’s Florida Emergency Training Facility, where he trained ARFF personnel from around the world and continued his research activities.

Mr. Wright conducted FAA’s first full-scale demonstration of the use of external equipment to extinguish an interior fire in a commercial aircraft (Boeing 707) during flash-over conditions. The demonstration was instrumental in FAA’s decision to fund this type of equipment at fire stations on airports providing commercial air carrier service.

Mr. Wright also assisted U.S. airport authorities in refining their emergency-response capabilities, testing new technologies such as thermal infrared cameras, and participating in accident investigations. Since his retirement from FAA, he has continued to share his knowledge of ARFF equipment and methods.

Flight Safety Foundation is pleased to recognize the achievements of Joseph Andrew Wright Sr., with The Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award.

FSF 54th annual International Air Safety Seminar
Athens, Greece
November 7, 2001

Stuart Matthews
President and CEO
Flight Safety Foundation

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