/Nexus - 1702 - New Times Magazine/pages/0079/image.png)
Page Content (OCR)
Aerotoxic Syndrome: Aviation’s Best-Kept Secret Continued from page 20 sense of job satisfaction. As being wrecked as a systems failure is professional pilots, curiously the allowed to go largely unchecked and exposure to OPs in aircrew and_ only result we wish to see is safer airlines give no warnings as to the passengers in a "modern-day" jet flying and an end to the denial. ikely damage or risk which is now aeroplane. Within months, there nown to result from exposure. could be a routine blood test which Airlines' duty of care Yet many aviation professors and not only showed exposure but also So, at the moment, there are two doctors still doubt the pilots when told the owner of the blood the exact distinct features: the poisoning and they describe their symptoms. Even time of exposure. So, would any the cover-up. when they are invited to sit in a BAe similarity between serious ill health By now, though, we should realise 146 on the ground, breathing visible and the time of flying then be purely that there are technical fixes that oil fumes, they claim that this would coincidental? The airlines’ and could be adopted: be "unethical". authorities’ answer to this issue is to ¢ filter the bleed air; There are now three ongoing court prefer not to even talk about it, as if e fit toxic fume detectors; cases in the USA where both aircrew silence will make it go away. It is * remove OPs from jet engine oil. and passengers are suing Boeing for called denial. It is high time that airline bosses long-term ill health from aerotoxic The work pattern of continual mix be questioned about a basic duty of syndrome. and match of different flights care to their aircrew and customers, The UK Observer newspaper first prevents many aircrew from_ if only to check that they understand reported "zombie-like pilots and identifying their common illness. the significance of the emerging, passengers” in 1999; but, meanwhile, And there is a total failure on the unstoppable science. he Times has yet to mention the part of doctors to apply basic While the airline industry and subject even once, despite its being chemistry to a known practical issue. authorities would obviously prefer repeatedly debated in the British There is also a “can do" or “right the "slowly does it, incremental Houses of Parliament. While many stuff" attitude among pilots, where approach”, in the meantime an_ people may be aware of the subject, fan aneenlatinn teal wae anal ae nee ee ta exposure to OPs in aircrew and passengers in a "modern-day" jet aeroplane. Within months, there could be a routine blood test which not only showed exposure but also told the owner of the blood the exact time of exposure. So, would any similarity between serious ill health and the time of flying then be purely coincidental? The airlines’ and authorities’ answer to this issue is to prefer not to even talk about it, as if silence will make it go away. It is called denial. The work pattern of continual mix and match of different flights prevents many aircrew from identifying their common illness. And there is a total failure on the part of doctors to apply basic chemistry to a known practical issue. There is also a “can do" or “right stuff" attitude among pilots, where mission completion is vital not only to their airline but also to their Airlines' duty of care So, at the moment, there are two distinct features: the poisoning and the cover-up. By now, though, we should realise that there are technical fixes that could be adopted: ¢ filter the bleed air; ¢ fit toxic fume detectors; ¢ remove OPs from jet engine oil. It is high time that airline bosses be questioned about a basic duty of care to their aircrew and customers, if only to check that they understand the significance of the emerging, unstoppable science. While the airline industry and authorities would obviously prefer the "slowly does it, incremental approach", in the meantime an enormous amount of ill health is being misdiagnosed and lives are NEXUS ¢ 79 Continued from page 20 Continued on page 80 FEBRUARY - MARCH 2010 www.nexusmagazine.com