From an FAS report (interesting read) on the potential use of shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles against passenger aircraft, a little bit of bureaucratese:
"the penalties of dropping incendiary flares on populated areas near airports are prohibitive."
Actually, the risk is near airports where planes are closer to the ground and, therefore, within range of shoulder-fired missiles. This means that planes would deploy flares close to the ground (near take off) and the flares will not have burned out before hitting the ground.
If the plane should need to pop flares while at cruising altitude, the flares will have burned out prior to hitting the ground. Therefore, there would be no problems dropping them on other populated areas.
Although I'd suggest that dropping any sort of objects on a routine basis from aircraft onto populated areas is likely to be a bit of a problem. The whole "blunt trauma" thing.
November 8 2003, 23:24:48 UTC 12 years ago
November 8 2003, 23:30:12 UTC 12 years ago
November 8 2003, 23:32:09 UTC 12 years ago
November 9 2003, 17:06:11 UTC 12 years ago
If the plane should need to pop flares while at cruising altitude, the flares will have burned out prior to hitting the ground. Therefore, there would be no problems dropping them on other populated areas.
November 10 2003, 10:14:44 UTC 12 years ago