Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee, Estimates, 23 May 2006:

Senator O’BRIEN—In response to this committee’s inquiry into air safety and cabin air quality, the government undertook to establish a reference group. This group was to undertake a range of activities, including the continuing monitoring of cabin air quality issues. When was the air safety and cabin air quality reference group formed?

Mr Byron—I will have to take the precise question on notice. I can give you a perspective. I was actually an invited member of industry on that when it was formed. From recollection, it was in about 2002. But I will have to get back to you.

Senator O’BRIEN—When did it last meet?
Mr Byron—Again, I will have to give you the details on notice, Senator.
Senator O’BRIEN—Has the government formally abandoned the commitment it made to the parliament in June 2002?
Mr Byron—What commitment was that?
Senator O’BRIEN—That it would establish this committee.
Mr Gemmell—My recollection—it may be wrong—is this was primarily following incidents to do with the BAe 146 fumes in the cabin.

Senator O’BRIEN—And other passenger jet aircraft.
Mr Gemmell—Okay. I was going to say that my recollection is that it was primarily the BAe146. They did a lot of work. History now shows they actually eventually found out what the problem was and how to solve it in a technical sense, because in recent years there have been very few reports about fumes issues with the BAe146. I thought that, if they had fixed the problem, that may have been it. But, if their terms of reference were wider, they may be still going.

Senator O’BRIEN—I will read from the government response to the committee report:
The Government takes very seriously the issues relating to air safety and cabin air quality in the BAe146 and other passenger jet aircraft. The Government is therefore committed to addressing the matter by implementing the following two measures to address the issues raised in the Senate Committee’s report.

Answer:

The Cabin Air Quality Reference Group was part of the Government's response (tabled in June 2002) to the report of the Senate Committee on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport inquiry into BAe146 cabin air quality. The Group has met twice since its inception.

This group comprises representatives from relevant government agencies, airlines, and passenger and flight crew organisations, and is tasked with:

• following the progress of international research and working cooperatively with other countries, major regulatory bodies and those conducting related research to develop a harmonised view of the cabin air environment; and
• finalising any actions arising from the Government's response to the Recommendations of the Senate Committee Report.

Australia desires to improve air quality in Australian aircraft in a manner that is harmonized with international practices and is therefore monitoring advances in standards development in this area. The American Society of Heating Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) undertook to draft a standard for Air Quality Within Commercial Aircraft. The task has been made difficult by the diverse views of aircraft manufacturers, operators, crew and passengers, which are not always consistent or compatible. While the FAA, UK CAA and the European Aviation Safety Agency are also investigating the issues relating to cabin air quality, international standards development is largely in abeyance pending issue of the ASHRAE standard. The Cabin Air Quality Reference Group proposes to reconvene to consider the application of new standards as they emerge.

In respect of the BAe146, in April 2001 CASA issued Airworthiness Directive (AD) BAe146/86, Environmental Control System Inspection for Contamination, which requires action when fumes are suspected, and reporting when an oil fume problem occurs. Since the issue of the AD, problems with the BAe146 have been largely eliminated.