Air investigation
raises doubts on safety of UK jet
In a report issued this week on an incident where fumes overpowered the
pilot of a BAe 146-300 jet, BASI said it was "particularly concerned"
that flight and cabin crews could become incapacitated by exposure to odours on
the aircraft. The safety authority also said the health implications of
long-term exposure to cabin air contamination for passengers and crews needed
to be examined.
BASI issued formal recommendations asking the Civil Aviation Safety
Authority and the aircraft's manufacturer, British Aerospace plc, to address
deficiencies allowing fumes to enter cockpit and cabin areas of BAe 146 jets.
The BAe 146 is a four-engine regional jet aircraft used by over 50 aircraft
operators around the world in passenger and freight operations.
There are about 35 BAe 146s in Australia with Ansett Australia, National Jet
Systems and Qantas Airways Ltd subsidiary Southern Australia Airlines the main
operators.
The BASI report follows an investigation into an incident two years ago when
oil fumes were released into the cockpit of a BAe146-300 freighter operated by
National Jet Systems.
BASI said following the release of the fumes, the pilot of the BAe 146
experienced difficulty in concentrating, followed by "jerky" control
inputs and the onset of vertigo and had to hand over control to his co-pilot.
"A number of flight and cabin crew members, employed by various
Australian operators on BAe 146 type aircraft, reported to the Bureau that they
and others were experiencing health problems," the report says.
BASI said it was "particularly concerned about the potential for
further BAe 146 flight and cabin crew to become incapacitated during flight due
to exposure to odours."
It said the causes of the fumes were identified as engine oil seal leakage,
hydraulic oil leaks, electrical component overheating and problems with food
heating facilities in aircraft galleys.
British Aerospace said cabin air odours in the aircraft were mainly due to
minor systems failures such as leaks from oil seals on the aircraft engines or
auxiliary power units.