MEMORANDUM

 

TO:                             ALL BAe-146 PILOTS

 

 

FROM:                       LAWRIE COX – Senior Industrial Officer

 

 

DATE:                        5 December 2002

 

 

SUBJECT:                 Fumes/ Air Quality/ Medical impact

 

 

 

The Federation is writing to all members employed on the BAe146 aircraft as a result of continuing concerns regarding exposure to oil fumes.

 

You will all be aware that this issue has caused a great deal of controversy in recent times; however late October saw a development which affects us all. A pilot employed by National Jet Systems was terminated by the Company following a mediation hearing before the Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC).

 

The pilot concerned had been directed by the Company not to report for duty since January 2002. The Company had originally placed the pilot on sick leave due to reported exposure to oil fumes in the aircraft. This was objected to and the Company ultimately agreed that it had directed the no work arrangements. On this basis the pilot had his sick leave re-credited.

 

At the request of the Company the pilot attended a medical consultation at Company expense. The resulting report cleared the pilot fit and healthy for continuing duty but recommended that the pilot not be exposed to the fume contamination. It was the medical advice that “If you cannot provide a safe working environment then you will be placing him at further risk.”

 

On this basis the Company put forward alternate employment on the Dash 8 which disadvantaged the pilot in July 2002, the pilot explained his concerns about the offer and the Company did not pursue the matter.

 

At the Company initiative the matter was referred to the AIRC for mediation during the hearing exploration was made of the Dash 8 offer from July 2002. The Company did not make any alternate employment offer at this meeting. Following refusal by the pilot to volunteer a resignation the pilot was terminated from National Jet Systems.

 

Why do we write to you?

 

Following on from this action we are pursuing an unfair dismissal proceeding for the pilot. The real issue for you is the ongoing issue of fumes in the BAe146.

 

It would be very easy for us to say that this aircraft should be immediately grounded on safety grounds. We are aware of the impact of such an action that this would cause in our industry and also to the travelling public who appear largely unaware of the effects of the fumes in the cabin.

 

We do not know the full extent of this issue other than to say we have serious concerns in the short term of impact on the medical certificates of current crew through long term exposure and more importantly where there has been incapacitation of a crew member during flight. Obviously that becomes a safety of flight issue and should have our regulators (CASA) extremely nervous.

 

To date we have been involved in bringing this issue to light in the public sense through the Australian Parliament Senate inquiry as well as ongoing participation in the reference group set up by the Minister for Transport Mr Anderson.

 

Further we have encouraged the ongoing education of the issue with the people who are ultimately responsible. Like all such issues we will be accused of scaremongering however on this issue we have compiled material over time that clearly indicates there are problems associated with both short and long term exposure. The commercial interests on the other hand have spent a great deal of time trying to keep the issue quiet.

 

Our hand has now been forced when a pilot who is fit and healthy to fly has his employment terminated on the basis of not being able to provide a safe working environment. The implication this now has for all operating crews is enormous.

 

Crew members need to consider their personal position carefully. There are a number of pilots who have confidentially advised of short term effects from time to time and others who have regularly been seeing either a GP or specialist. We advise you to consult the medical people as to whether you should be placing yourself at further risk. The Federation is not a medical specialist and as such cannot provide such advice.

 

We can look at some of the more practical aspects and make the following suggestions in the event of further incidents:

 

  1. Immediately go to oxygen masks


  2. Consider the impact upon cabin crew and passengers as to whether they should also be on oxygen and do not hesitate to drop the emergency masks


  3. Get the aircraft to the nearest alternate and evacuate


  4. Arrange to see medical specialists who have backgrounds in chemical exposure


  5. Make a report to the Company


  6. Make a report to ATSB within 48 hours

 

As stated at the beginning this is an issue that we are all struggling with due to conflicting technical and medical opinions. We are providing this advice to you so that you can assess your personal situation. There are pilots and flight attendants who have been affected to the extent of not being able to fly and in some cases cancellation of medical certificate. This has a dramatic impact upon those involved and we will attempt to keep you up to date with the information.

 

If you have any queries on the above please call Lawrie Cox at the Federation office in Melbourne (03) 9699 4200.

 

 

For and on behalf of the

Australian Federation of

Air Pilots