Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will investigate the potential impact on health arising from the seeping of emissions from engine lubricants on to the flight decks of aircraft. [197528]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The Government do not want anyone’s health to be at risk when travelling by air, and are leading research in this area. In 2007 we commissioned a world first research project to try to capture substances released during transient fume events. The first stage of this work was to identify and test equipment capable of sampling any potentially harmful substances in cabin air. The report into this first stage work was published by Cranfield university on 21 February after peer review. It is published on the Department's website. The next phase of work is to use the equipment identified to capture real-time fume events; this work is being developed.
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures are in place to prevent the incapacitation of pilots and co-pilots arising from the seeping of emissions from engine lubricants on to the flight decks of aircraft. [197529]
Jim Fitzpatrick:
Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) investigations into reported incidents have resulted
in measures to minimise occurrences. For example, overfilling engines with oil
can result in oily fumes. The CAA has worked with aircraft operators, and with
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engine and aircraft manufacturers, to ensure that revised oil filling
instructions are made available. Mandatory procedures have been put in place to
ensure aircraft systems are examined and, where necessary, rectified and
cleaned before further flight. To minimise the effects on pilots, the CAA has
published advice to operators that, in the event of a suspected air
contamination in the flight deck, pilots should consider the use of oxygen
equipment.