A RESEARCHER at a Scots university has lifted the lid on “fume events” on commercial aircraft, where oil leaks into the engine compressor, the source of cabin breathing air in the vast majority of modern aircraft.
Dr Susan Michaelis – a former airline pilot in Australia – started as a visiting researcher at Stirling University’s Occupational and Environmental Health Research Group after she was medically retired following exposure to the toxic air.
She said the air passengers and crew breathe on most jet airliners, except the B787 Dreamliner, is what is called “bleed air”, which is taken from the flow entering the engine and piped into the cabin unfiltered. It can then lead to a condition known as aerotoxic syndrome.
Michaelis said her research has shown it can become contaminated by engine oil containing chemicals called organophosphates, which leaks at low levels in all flights when pressurised air from the engine is used to seal the engine oil system and bearing chambers.
Her research is backed by a documentary, Everybody Flies, by former British Airways captain Tristan Loraine, to be screened at Glasgow’s Everyman Cinema on March 9. This will be followed by a Q&A session with Loraine.
Michaelis told The National her problems started when she was flying in Australia: “I was flying from the mid-1980s and once on the on the BAe 146 out of Canberra I immediately smelled oil.
“It was so regular on changing power and air supply and they told me that I’d get better as soon as I was out of that environment.
READ MORE: Coronavirus: British Airways cancels dozens of flights to Milan
“"I was the first officer so I knew what I was doing and I would get sick short-term, then go out into the fresh air or settle down in the cruise and I was fine.
“After two-and-a-half-years I could no longer do the job because it was getting worse and worse ... not realising I wouldn’t get better after that day, 23 years ago.”
She added: “I wanted answers because I’d worked hard for my flying licence and so on and I needed answers.”
Her search took Michaelis, who has 5000 hours of flying time under her belt, to the University of New South Wales and then to Stirling.
Along the way she has qualified as an air accident investigator, published many papers on fume events, as well as giving presentations around the world.
Michaelis said that based on research, in terms of clean cabin air supply, standards and compliance guidance are “inadequate” and she has made a series of recommendations, including a specialist task group.
READ MORE: ACS Aviation flight school aims for the sky as turnover soars
The industry has said there is no evidence that fume events cause lasting harm.
However, the union Unite is behind 10 cases which are heading to court later this year.
In a statement, the Civil Aviation Authority said: “The overall conclusion of independent studies and evidence reviews is that there is no positive evidence of a link between exposure to contaminants in cabin air and possible acute and long-term health effects, although such a link cannot be excluded.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here