Shortly after take off in a BAe 146 a few years back the # 1 called to say that ‘There’s a fire in the rear toilet’ – as best as she could see. The passenger cabin was filling with visible white smoke fumes.
The cockpit kept clear and we the pilots saw nothing.
We landed back as soon as possible - after which it became clear that the smoke was caused by a dodgy bleed air valve, not from a fire in the rear toilet nor condensation.
The problem would appear to be allowing professional aircrew to differentiate between condensation and smoke in a quick, logical and accurate way.
Why is there is still no detection method for identifying the foul fumes that are occasionally introduced into the confined space from faulty bleed air systems; apart from the aircrews and passengers noses and eyes?
Bunkrest is right – discussion about this subject is not welcome and the long term health effects of the fumes very poorly understood; my health deteriorated rapidly after this event.......Don’t start me.
DB
