what do pilots do when an engine catches fire in the air?

Question

can the carosene be blocked from flowing into the engine so the wind can put out the fire?

Answer 1

They first quickly verify that there is a fire not just a failed sensor. Then they activate the fire suppressor that is built in and aims itself at the engine on fire. They follow a procedure that includes cutting off fuel to the burning engine. They spend a good chunk of their professional lives practicing dealing with this probability so they don't hesitate to step through their fire-suppression procedures as though their lives depended on it.

Answer 2

Follow the fire drill. As Rich Z says they don't hesitate to follow the drill, that includes second guessing the fire sensors, so he's wrong, they don't first check whether there's a fire; if the aircraft says the engine is on fire then it is. Many aircraft have landed with a bad fire sensor, that's a lot better than dieing with a good one and a well hidden fire.

Basically shut down the engine by cutting off the fuel and ignition then isolate the bleed air, hydraulic and electrical systems and discharge one of the fire extinguisher bottles. If it's a propeller engine (turboprop or regular piston engine) they also feather the propellor so it causes less drag.

The wind tends to fan the flames, but yes, they can cut off the fuel flow.

Answer 3

Depends on how many engines the plane has.

Usually the first thing they do is shut off the fuel flow to the engine. That usually puts out the fire.

Answer 4

They take the one in coach who paid the least, and send him out a small door that goes into the interior of the wing with a small fire extinguisher.

You fly coach at your own peril. That is why the seats are so cheap. I fly first class for that very reason.

I know this is true, because Al Gore told me, as he invented the airplane.

Answer 5

I think they climb out on the wing and stop, drop & roll on the fire.