VIPA Joins the Global Cabin Air Quality Executive

In the interest of supporting the initiative to improve aircraft cabin air quality, VIPA has formally joined the Global Cabin Air Quality Executive (GCAQE).

The Global Cabin Air Quality Executive (GCAQE) is the preeminent body in the field.

Many of you may be aware of the many fumes events that occurred on the BA146  in the early 1990s. After one successful High Court case, two Senate Inquiries and a CASA run Expert Panel on Aircraft Air Quality (EPAAQ) , no improvements have been made.

Professor Chris Winder from the University of New South Wales published “Aerotoxic Syndrome” in 2010. Professor Vyvyan Howard, Dr Jonathan Burdon and Dr Susan Michaelis published a paper ” Aerotoxic Syndrome, a New Industrial Disease?” in June 2017 in Panorama, the World Health Organisation’s magazine. The latter is available for your perusal.

Fumes events have been around since the early 1950 when pilots on the new B52 suffered from exposure to fumes events. Boeing investigated the problem and a “Decontamination Program” document was published in 1953. Over 60 years later, all modern jet aircraft, excluding the B787, provide airconditioning and pressurisation from engine bleed air and the problems persist.

Most engine oils contain the organo-phosphate,  Tricresyl Phosphate (TCP). TCP has three isomers.  Tri P cresyl Phosphate, Tri M cresyl Phosphate and Tri O cresyl Phosphate. ( P=para, M = Meta O= Ortho).  Many “organophosphates” are potent nerve agents, functioning by inhibiting the action of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in nerve cells.

The International Aircraft Cabin Air Conference, sponsored by GCAQE, was held at Imperial College London in September 2017. All of the presentations were recorded. Experts from around the world presented the latest research.

For further information, you can visit the GCAQE website at: https://gcaqe.org