Spraying the passenger cabin

[NineEighteen]

Hello,

I recently flew to Sydney via Singapore and the cabin crew sprayed some kind of anti-bacterial(?) into the passenger cabin prior to us disembarking. I don't recall if it was in Singapore or in Sydney but I don't think it was both. I just wondered what that's all about. I've flown quite a lot, although mostly to the US and back and it's happened a handful of times but not often.

I understand that it's an attempt stop germs migrating to that destination country but surely it's a half hearted attempt at best?

Many thanks in advance
0918

[Jn14:6]

It is an Australian requirement.............which should explain all!

[oggers]

There may be reasons other than 'germs'. For instance an insecticide spray that is meant to kill something the government does not want hitching a ride to as yet unaffected regions may be a rational part of an overall program of containment.

[G-ARZG]

https://abcnews.go.com/Travel/story?id=118829&page=1

[VC10man]

Am I right in saying that this spray is organophosphate? If it is, it is a very dangerous substance and I don't like it sprayed in my face. It can affect the nervous system I believe.

[wiggy]

It’s a World Health Organisation (WHO) requirement into/out of certain destinations and it has been a requirement going into Australia for years, so half hearted or not is something that is taken pretty seriously by the powers that be and it has to be done when regulations demand it.

It’s usually done to prevent disease (e.g. dengue fever, malaria ) carrying insects leaving an area or insects getting into a country that might cause problems for e.g, the local fruit and vegetable industry.

Not sure what the composition of the spray is, the WHO have a list of acceptable chemicals for use on passenger aircraft.

FWIW the cabin crew are usually required to hand over the empty sprays on arrival to the inbound port authority officials to show spraying has been done ....and in the case of Oz we used to have to confirm over the radio with company prior to landing that spraying had been done “in accordance with Australian requirements”, it is certainly not something done on a whim or just because the airline feels like it and there can be serious sanctions if it is found to have not done properly....

[chevvron]

Mosquito spray.
Going to Mauritius in April '78 with BA on a 747, the cabin was sprayed in the Seychelles both before we opened doors and after closing doors, then again before opening doors at Plaisance.

[RedhillPhil]

Just been LHR --DEL ---- LHR. Cabin sprayed with insecticide before departure after door closure both times. Virgin 300/301 with a Dreamliner both times. Very nice, very nice indeed.

[PAXboy]

Some countries have been insisting on this for decades. I recall this the first time I travelled to Africa in 1965. Over the years there has been much discussion (including in PPRuNe) about the efficacy of this. Personally, I think it's pointless. Bugs can get into your suitcase whilst you're packing to leave and the cargo bins can carry all sorts. Spraying the cabin is, to my mind, a bureaucratic exercise. If I'm on a flight where they are going to do this, I cover my face, nose and mouth with a good cloth and keep it there for as long as I can after the CC have passed down the aisle.

[bizflyer]

I'm intrigued by this, I had heard tales of it being done. I have flown into Australia perhaps 55 or 60 times arriving in both Sydney and Brisbane, on every occasion bar one with SQ. I have never seen - nor do I recall - a spray being used in the cabin.

[Buswinker]

1) it’s usually a synthetic pyrethroid not an organophosphate based pesticide (usually permethrin)

2) a range of protocols are in place, including residue spraying (ie the aircraft is sprayed say weekly while empty), spraying before arrival while pax present, or a combination of both. The cargo holds are also treated but I believe that is usually residue based.

Anyone who thinks they’re not being exposed to a pesticide because a hostie doesn’t walk through the cabin with a spray can has missed an important point

also of course it’s not 100% effective but it’s deemed effective enough to make a significant dent in the problem, which is real and not imagined. Very little in this life is 100% effective and yet we still do plenty of those things. Antimalarials are a prime and relevant example. Do people not take them when going to malarious countries because they’re *only* 90% effective?

[wiggy]

Lots of detail of Australia/New Zealand regs, procedures, various methods of compliance, etc, here:

http://www.agriculture.gov.au/SiteCollectionDocuments/biosecurity/avm/aircraft/aircraft-disinsection.pdf

..and if you get it wrong:


.”Failure to comply with the department or MPI disinsection requirements will result in the aircraft being sprayed on-arrival prior to passenger disembarkation and cargo being unloaded”.

Embarassing when that happens (wasn’t me but I know somebody who has been in that situation - I gather that when the doors were opened in SYD and the waiting officials found out what disinsection had been forgotten they told the crew to *** get on with it, slammed the doors shut, and waited some considerable time before allowing the doors to be opened again - the passengers, some of whom were at the end of a two sector 24'ish hour journey were less than impressed)...:\

[ZFT]

Certainly occurs every time on TG departing BKK for UK ( and others)

[PDR1]

I've had it on various flights - the last one I remember was flying back from Cairo on new year's day 2011 (but I had other things on my mind that day).

PDR

[PAXboy]

We used to get it in South Africa on every trip but then they stopped. A couple of trips ago - it was done.

[India Four Two]

When I first travelled to Australia, the spraying was done after landing, by Quarantine blokes marching up the aisles in their stubbies (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stubbies_(brand) ) and knee-high socks.

Nowadays, it’s done by the CC before landing.

Once when waiting for the spraying to be completed, my Aussie seat-mate said “Of course, they only do this when there are Poms on board.”

[chevvron]

Once when waiting for the spraying to be completed, my Aussie seat-mate said “Of course, they only do this when there are Poms on board.”
And how do they know there are Poms on board? Because when they shut down the engines, you can still hear 'whining'.https://www.pprune.org/images/icons/46.gif

[WASALOADIE]

The real POME's are the Australians (Prisoners of Mother England). At one time the requirement for entry in to Australia was having a criminal record, now you can't get entry if you have one.

:)


Flack Jacket and Hard hat donned.

[Lordflasheart]

.............
When I first travelled to Australia, the spraying was done after landing, by Quarantine blokes marching up the aisles in their stubbies (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stubbies_(brand) ) and knee-high socks.


One in each hand, arms up in the ‘surrender’ position.

"Multi shot Aircraft Insecticide, 2% di-phenothrim. Inert propellants. 340 g. - Advise passengers of your intention to spray " - Aerosol spray can, 120mm tall, 65 mm dia. in it’s stockinged feet .... " (1980’s data.)

We took to asking the Quarantine blokes how they felt about being exposed to their own spraying, every ‘however many’ aircraft, every single day - the answer was initially a slightly puzzled - “Err, yeah, see wotcher mean mate …”

Soon after it sensibly became -..... .... done by the CC before landing.
Well, gas masks wouldn't have looked good. And the airline then had to provide the spray cans as well.

LFH

....

[happybiker]

Landed in Delhi a number of years ago and the cabin was sprayed before landing. Aircraft taxied to the gate and when the door opened a swarm of mosquitos entered to feed off the fresh arrivals. Is the spraying to ensure that the local mossies have no rivals when the aircraft arrives!!

[theredbarron]

Some countries have been insisting on this for decades. I recall this the first time I travelled to Africa in 1965. Over the years there has been much discussion (including in PPRuNe) about the efficacy of this. Personally, I think it's pointless. Bugs can get into your suitcase whilst you're packing to leave and the cargo bins can carry all sorts. Spraying the cabin is, to my mind, a bureaucratic exercise. If I'm on a flight where they are going to do this, I cover my face, nose and mouth with a good cloth and keep it there for as long as I can after the CC have passed down the aisle.
First came across it flying from LAX to HNL way back in the late 60s. It was a Hawaii State requirement.

[evansb]

Same thing in the mid-1970's flying from Fiji to Honolulu in a DC-8. Cabin sprayed prior to departure.

[India Four Two]

One in each hand, arms up in the ‘surrender’ position.


LFH,

A precise description. It brings back memories of sweat-stained armpits! I do remember being warned that the spray was "approved by the WHO" but that we "might like to cover our mouths and noses"!

[tvasquez]

Interestingly I remember this as far back as 1979. Trans International DC-8 from Hawaii to Guam... they sprayed the cabin before opening the doors.