Disinfection procedures on Emirates Flights?

[reflex99]

Hello All,

I am an Australian doctor trying to help a patient who has severe allergies and I am seeking information on Emirates Disinsection procedures between London and Dubai and then Dubai-Sydney.

It is very hard to find the right person to talk to at Emirates so I was hoping that someone here who actually flies on the planes might have the information.

Specifically:

1. Does Emirates use a Blocks Away or Top of Descent Spraying for insects between London and Dubai? Perhaps none is used?
2. Flying into Australia, there has to be some disinsection, so does Emirates use the Preboarding, Blocks Wway or Top of Descent Sprays on the Australian leg of the journey?

Any supplementary information that you might have regarding procedures or products would be most useful. e.g. is the product used "Callington" in a Blue can, or Green Can?.

Again thanks for allowing me to intrude on your community to ask these questions.

Bill

[magicmorris]

We spray the cabin after doors are closed in Dubai, for all flights to Australia. No spraying is carried out from Australia, or from Dubai to London.

Im not 100% sure of the spray we use, but Im sure its in a bluey/green can!

[northern-light]

I think we have recently made changes to the way we spray our aircrafts. On my last few Australian flights we opened all hatracks, toilets, doghouses etc, and sprayed the cabin pre-boarding.
No spraying required into Dubai or the UK.

Im not sure what type of insecticide we use, but im flying tonight, so i will have a nose around and see if i can find out!

Hope this helps.

[Leito]

I haven't done a flight to Australia in a long time, but as far as I remember we spray before pax boarding, about 10 min or so, I can't remember what type of cans but by the time the pax board the whole thing is gone, I doubt that your patient will suffer, don't forget that the door is open also, so there is some fresh air coming into the cabin.
He can board last if he wants to make sure that less residuals of the spray is left in the air.

No more spray into the UK, that has changed about 2 years ago.

I hope that this helped and that your patient enjoys the flight. :ok:

[gadgetman]

It's the Callington Haven Knockdown spray. Here is the manufacturers PDF: http://www.callingtonhaven.com/_assets/knockdown.pdf

The aircraft is supposed to be sprayed no more than 1 hour prior to pushback, so is generally done immediately before boarding of passengers begins with 3 cans of 100ml each. (Aircon packs are switched off, one door open only during the spray as well).

I've never had anybody have any kind of reaction to the spray, beyond the look of horror on the crew's face as they frantically try and cover the cup of coffee they are holding as the spray comes down the cabin.

On board allergy medications include antihistamines, epinephrine, (including epipen auto-injectors) promethanzine and dexamethasone.

Hope that helps.

[reflex99]

Thank you all so much

It's amazing - I had spent days trying to find the right person to ask in "Administration" and here it is the information straight from the source!

I really appreciate your help.

Can I be cheeky and ask one more question? It seems many of the US Airlines are no longer supplying oxygen to passengers who request it and insist on the Personal Oxygen Concentrators (POC). Does Emirates still provide this service on flights to Australia?

Thanks again.

B

[mellymoo]

I know with the US that is to do with the 9/11 incidents regarding the O2.

Emirates, normally make the patient see a doctor beforehand to ensure that they are fit to fly, and if the passenger needs oxygen for whatever reason it must be stated on the form. Sometimes, the airline will make them see an Aviation Doctor beforehand as well, normally oxygen has to be pre-ordered before flying and can be on a constant flow/on demand out of Oz they will have to put on extra oxygen which I dont know whether there is a charge as some of the areas in Oz there arent hospital facilities within so many miles of the plane flying - eg bush areas. Best thing you could do is contact the Emirates office directly and they will advice the best thing for the patient.

[passy777]

The maufacturer will likely supply a more detailed Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) when requested which will highlight all of the products potential hazards including any precautions that may be required during use or storage.

Here is an example from a rival product as the one highlighted does not appear to supply a MSDS from their website (assuming there is one of course).

http://www.flybusters.co.nz/site/flybusters/files/images/MSDS/Safety%20DataSheet%20-Pre%20Flight%20Spray%20(Pre%20Departure)_.pdf

[come_flyin]

Hi. Im a Purser with Emirates and flights out of Australia we do not spray the cabin at all. From Dubai to Australia we do spray the cabin but this is done before customers board. To and from the UK from Dubai we no longer spray the cabin at all.

Emirates does supply supplementary oxygen in either pulse or constant flow at a rate prescribed by a doctor (e.g. 2Lt/min, 4Lt/min, or constant, etc). You need to ask to speak to the medical department in order to get this arranged. The crew are all trained on the supplementary oxygen so there should be no trouble at all. The only problem i have encountered is the mask type so be specific - do you want a face mask or the nasual tubing? Be specific in your request. Most passengers find the nasal tubing best (can't remember the medical name for it), especially for long flights as it doesn't interrupt with them consuming food and drinks.

Hope this helps. If you are still having trouble trying to find help let me know and i can find it out very easily for you.

[nicolai]

the nasal tubing ... (can't remember the medical name for it)

Nasal cannula, I believe.

[reflex99]

Thanks again to all for this excellent information - it really does help.

B

[forget]

(I added a new word to my vocabulary!)

Me too. I thought it was a spelling mistake, looked it up, and learnt something.

Mods, correct your correction. :)

[Boomerang_Butt]

Yes disinsection is a word, the spraying I thought was primarily for bugs of the insect kind, not the germ kind.

In a previous company we used the sprays back into Australia, but this was discontinued as we were told they now apply something in the hold which takes care of the needs for manual spraying. No idea what it was though or how it gets into the cabin.

Nasal cannula is correct, most people on long-term oxygen use them as they are more comfortable & more relaxing for the patient... especially if having something covering their face makes them anxious. I think it does depend on the condition though, so I suppose the original poster would know which is best to use in this case.

[reflex99]

Yes I had to learn the word "Disinsection" as well ... I have only ever seen it referred to in relation to aircraft quarantine....

[sandiegousa]

Just flew from Dubai to Ahmedabad, India (Sept 27, 2012) - the fumigation process took place with the plane full of passengers, doors locked and we were pushing back from the gate. We were instructed to close our eyes and that was it. I inquired with the crew as to what they were spraying for, the answer was "small bugs, like lice" wow! The gal also stated that they do the same procedure when flying from Dubai to Australia.

[cart_elevator]

Try an airline with residual disinsection. At Qantas all aircraft have residual disinsection - this means the aircraft is treated at set times with a long lasting treatment, removing the need for crew to spray the aircraft.

The only port we were ever required to spray the cabin going into was Mumbai, as the Indian government are about the only one that doesn't recognise residual disinsection - go figure :p

[michaeljpotter]

EK has also introduced a certain type of germ/insect killer in the holds. There was an inter company article about it a while ago so I cant remember the exact details but its done when the aircraft goes for a C Check if im not mistaken.