Britain’s pilots are hailing Boeing for introducing ‘bleed free’ engines on their new long range ‘Dreamliner’ B787 aircraft – and are urging Airbus and other manufacturers to follow Boeing’s lead.

‘The use of ‘bleed free’ engines will mean that cabin air – both in the cockpit and passenger areas - can no longer be contaminated on occasion by pyrolysis products of engine oil, an issue we are currently campaigning on,’ said BALPA chairman Captain Mervyn Granshaw.

‘We hope that other manufacturers will follow Boeing’s innovative lead and investigate whether air supply systems not requiring bleed air from the main engines can be incorporated. If they do not follow Boeing’s lead and eliminate the major source of contamination of cabin air, pilots will want to know why.

‘Pilots worldwide have been concerned about contaminated cabin air for over 20 years and the issue will be the subject of a major international conference organised by BALPA, in April. The Boeing initiative comes at a very important time.’

Editor’s notes:
1. The conference on contaminated air will be held at Imperial College, London, on April 20 and 21 this year.
2. BALPA represents over 8,000 of the 10,800 professional airline pilots in the UK.