Suicide Squad.

[Just-Jude]

Have ISIS blown up another plane over Egypt with a Ground to Air missile? Who is supplying these weapons? Has air travel now become the most dangerous mode of transport?

[Hypognosis]

This DM story…

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3600761/Body-parts-seats-luggage-MS804-search-crews-Horror-relatives-discovery-EgyptAir-jet-parts-dashes-hopes-loved-ones-survived.html

… contains a snippet from the ACARS data but it is in photographic form and thus not google-able, so I'll type it out, here

00:26Z 3044 ANTI ICE R WINDOW
00:26Z 561200 R SLIDING WINDOW SENSOR
00:26Z 2600 SMOKE LAVATORY SMOKE
00:27Z 2600 AVIONICS SMOKE
00:28Z 561100 R FIXED WINDOW SENSOR
00:29Z 2200 AUTO FLT FCU 2 FAULT
00:29Z 2700 F/CTL SEC 3 FAULT

The news article 'cuts to the chase' and focuses on the smoke in the lavatory but it occurs to me that the only windows which need anti-ice would be the cockpit windows and, perhaps anti-ice is a pre-requisite to opening the sliding window, when it is -40°C outside. This is a really desperate attempt to clear smoke from the cockpit, I fear.

The rush of air forces the smoke into the ventilation system and the lav has a smoke detector because it is not watched over continuously by crew or passengers.

We'll need a proper expert to answer what the fixed window sensor is there for.
The DM article explains FCU and SEC 3 but it is so long, I forget where. Faster to search the internet for the jargon terms.

Article also mentions a recent return to point of departure, with an engine fault. 'Bleed air' provides cabin heat but can feed smoke into the ventilation system, in the event of a serious engine fire. I am more inclined to believe that smoke inside the avionics is more likely to have come from the inside than to have percolated in, from the cabin.

[Hypognosis]

@JJ

//Has air travel now become the most dangerous mode of transport?//

Statistically, no. But mass trasportation means that you put your life in someone else's hands, are in a state of inability to influence events and it is possible to get into an unsurvivable situation.

On dry land, in a car, walking, cycling, we're comfortable in the knowledge that, should anything go wrong, we will have individual control over the situation, can steer out of it. Being responsible road users, it would always be someone else's fault if anything terminal occurred.

[THECORBYLOON]

Another report says the "smoke" could be fog caused by a sudden decompression if the cockpit windows had been blown out for example.

[237SJ]

Yes, you can get a mist when there is a sudden decompression and it can set the smoke detectors off.

[Hypognosis]

Correction:

Engine bleed air is for de-icing wing slats and the leading edge of the engine cowling. Nothing to do with cabin heat, other than via a heat exchanger.

Windshield and cockpit side windows are electrically heated, as are the pitot tubes. See "pitot tube icing" for why they are important.

http://www.smartcockpit.com/docs/A320-Ice_and_Rain_Protection.pdf

I have deliberately not posted a link to Airbus' site, assuming it is already under strain.

[237SJ]

Not really sure what bleed air and anti ice has to do with anything Hypo - maybe best to wait for the black box info

[Hypognosis]

@237SJ

Not "maybe best" but "definitely best" to wait.

About a year, for the full report. The press are now accustomed to the avoidance of pointless speculation. Their respective readerships may even react negatively to any sensationalism. It appeals to the problem-solver in all of us but even I must admit that there is a ghoulish element to it, which I dislike about myself. Let's leave it to the professionals.