OVERVIEW - AIR-FORCE POLICY ON HALONS

Halons have been used for decades by the Air Force for a variety of fi re protection applications. Their unique combination of effectiveness, low toxicity, ease of use, cleanliness, and low manufacturing cost ap pear to make them ideal for many situations. Unfortunately, they also deplete the earth's protective ozone layer and, consequently, their pr oduction is being phased out globally under the Montreal Protocol. Uni ted States legislation implementing the terms of the Protocol required an end to production of ozone depleting chemicals (ODCs) by the year 2000. In November 1991, the Air Force issued a policy requiring an end to ODC purchases by the end of 1997. In February 1992, President Bush announced an even more accelerated phaseout to 1995. The Montreal Pro tocol is expected to be amended to reflect the more aggressive US phas eout date. This accelerated date increases the urgency of the Air Forc e's search for ODC alternatives, especially for mission critical uses for which no alternatives have yet been identified. The search is comp licated by the fact that the requirements an alternative must meet are unique to their specific application. This paper will provide an over view of the most important Air Force halon uses and review Air Force s trategies for ensuring mission continuity until alternatives can be de veloped.