Where is the debate today?
AOPIS was set up in 2001 by Australian crews seeking to bring greater awareness of the contaminated air issue to crews and passengers worldwide.
In doing so we made a DVD, ‘Contaminated Air – An Ongoing Health and Safety Issue’ which was sent to over 20,000 pilots worldwide by pilot unions such as BALPA, IPA and AFAP.
Today we have welcomed our 2000th member, a pilot from Dallas in Texas.
Over the last six years we have funded research and part funded the 2005 BALPA conference in London on these matters. Most crews however remain poorly informed on these matters as can be seen by some of those who have posted on this and other threads. Some also seek to misinform on the issue to protect the industry. Why protect an industry that fails to protect its workers? Yes, we all work in aviation but that does not mean we should not force change to ensure we all have a safe and healthy working environment. Chance can only be achieved by working together.
Today, the leading group in the world is the Global Cabin Air Quality Executive (GCAQE) with one of the AOPIS founders as head of research, Susan Michaelis. Susan is working towards a PhD in these matters and has written the first ever reference manual on these issues available from libraries, entitled the Aviation Contaminated Air Reference Manual. GCAQE represents over 450,000 crews worldwide in 3 continents specifically on issues of contaminated air and has managed to get over half a million US dollars worth of research going. A tribute to the two Co-Chairs, Tristan Loraine and Judith Murawski, one a former airline captain and one an industrial hygienist from AFA. Tristan and Judith have done massive amounts of work for crews globally on these matters. They sit on the ASHRAE SPC-161 committee and played a big part in ensuring the next generation of aircraft will all have contaminated air detection systems.
Whilst the GCAQE is doing all in can for crews, not all unions are members. For example, in the UK both IPA and Unions Unite (TGWU) are members of GCAQE but BALPA are not and have embarked on a poorly informed and mad agenda with the UK aviation industry treating them like ignorant children such is there complete lack of understanding.
BALPA do not fund research into contaminated air, BALPA do not enforce current H&S regulations and on issues of contaminated air are seriously failing its members. In fact 365 of AOPIS members are listed as ‘BALPA’. The BALPA representative at Government level even told an AOPIS founder once that the TCP in engine oils was the same as TCP in Boots the chemist, such was his complete lack of knowledge.
We urge BALPA to actually start protecting its members and not have ill informed people making deals with Governments which compromise crew health. We need to work together globally and BALPA is sadly an example of one of the most ineffective unions in the world on contaminated air working against not only AOPIS but the GCAQE, ITF and others.
What can you do today?
The problem has many sides but the following should be seen as points which all crews should action so we can all collectively benefit.
1. If you believe or suspect the air is contaminated you must use 100% emergency oxygen. Don’t compromise flight safety. If you are cabin crew TELL the pilots immediately.
2. All contaminated air events are reportable events so have courage and enter them all in the tech log (technical log) or defect log. That’s what we are all paid to do.
3. Report all events to the CASA, CAA or regulator in your country regardless of what your company tells you to do.
4. Ask your airline for a copy of their Risk Assessment in relation to inhaling contaminated air and please send us a copy.
5. If you are sick or suspect your ill health is linked to contaminated air contact the Aerotoxic Association (
www.aerotoxic.org) set up by a former Flybe Training Captain.
6. Write to your political representative and your regulator and ask them to ensure current regulations are actually enforced.
7. Don’t let engineers sign off a defect with ‘Please report further’ or ‘repair at company convenience’ If the air supply you are breathing is contaminated the aircraft is not airworthy.
8. Ask your company to use
NON TCP based synthetic lubricating oils, these have existed for over 30 years!
9. If your union is a GCAQE member ask them to have your blood sent to their research projects.
Happy flying, we are winning and yes……today again we asked for the UK Transport Minister to resign but all things come to he (she) who waits.
Philip Lyng
www.aopis.org