Here is a report from the latest CHIRP.
Does this sound familiar to anyone or perhaps it would be easier to ask if anybody hasn't experienced these symptoms?
I’ve been an Airline Pilot for several years, and from quite early on found I was often feeling fatigued, and I assumed it was due to the unusual work schedule that I wasn’t used to before. As time went on, I found that my levels of fatigue were increasing, and was beginning to feel my short-term memory was getting worse, it was getting more difficult to concentrate, and generally I was really not enjoying the job anymore. It wasn’t until about a year before I stopped flying, that I began to realise this was probably not normal, and a few months later began to experience neurological problems including tremors, muscle twitches, speech problems, light-headedness and worsening fatigue and cognitive problems. I had heard that bleed air could get contaminated by engine oil that contains TCP, an organophosphate and neurotoxin, and I suspected that breathing day-to-day background levels was causing my health problems. I had an opportunity to change aircraft types, and I hoped after the change to the new type, my problems would disappear. As it happens they worsened, to the point I had to stop flying due to concerns for my health, and the safety of the aircraft. As I investigated the issue, my suspicions were reinforced as I found there were many more people who had had similar experiences, and that the airlines and CAA are aware of the concerns of aircrew on this issue, but do not want to acknowledge the problem, and have only carried out half-hearted and endless research that never manages to come to any conclusions. I keep hearing about people who have become sick after flying and are suffering long-term health problems, and I believe there are many other pilots, cabin crew and passengers that have been similarly affected, some of them possibly not knowing why, as this problem is still not widely known or acknowledged. I also believe there are aircrew who have some of these symptoms, and are still flying, presumably due to financial pressures, and because they don’t want to lose their livelihood.
This is a serious problem for flight safety, and it’s time for the Airlines and authorities to tackle it head-on. Fume detectors and bleed air filters could be fitted, and I believe there is a jet engine oil available that doesn’t contain toxic organophosphates. Safety (and people’s health) first.
If you need help it's available at
www.aerotoxic.org If you don't - lucky you, just hang on in there!
DB