Conclusions of The Contaminated Air Protection Conference, London 20/21 April 2005.
The British Airline Pilots Association (BALPA) invited every leading airline, aircraft manufacturer, engine manufacturer, lubricant manufacturer, regulators and every person who has ever had an input into the issues of contaminated air, whether independent or from industry to make a presentation at what was a very well organised conference by BALPA. BALPA also sensibly invited experts from issues which appear to have very similar medical effects to those being reported in crews and passengers, issues related to the Gulf War Syndrome and the Sheep Dippers.
Everyone who wished to present a paper was accommodated by the conference organisers BALPA. This only reinforces the conclusions drawn as a result of some 25 presentations made over the two days by the doctors, regulators, scientists, industry representatives and interested parties.
The conclusions were very clear, alarming, simple and included:
‘There is a workplace problem resulting in chronic and acute illness amongst flight crew (both pilots and cabin crew)’.
‘Further, we are concerned the passengers may also be suffering from similar symptoms to those exhibited by flight crew’.
‘Fume events are clearly being under reported’.
‘This, we conclude, is resulting in significant flight safety issues, in addition to unacceptable flight crew personnel health implications’.
‘Pregnant passengers are probably most at risk’.
'It is most likely the synergistic effect of the chemicals being breathed in by crews and passengers that is causing these medical effects.'
'Filters exist to remove most of these contaminants but airlines have not chosen to fit them'.
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