NEWS from BALPA

British Airline Pilots’ Association
Thursday 20th September 2007

PILOTS WELCOME TOXICITY REPORT ON CABIN AIR QUALITY

The British Airline Pilots’ Association (BALPA) today welcomed the report on airline cabin air quality from the Committee on Toxicity sponsored by the Department for Transport and Department of Health.

Captain Dr Tim Bamber, a BALPA member of the Aviation Health Working Group, said:

“BALPA, like other members of the Aviation Health Working Group, accepts the recommendations of the Committee on Toxicity. BALPA stands for professionalism and transparency and it is in this way that the research must be undertaken.

“We note the Committee on Toxicity judgement that exposures (either in general or following incidents) causing ill-health in commercial aircraft crews is inconclusive and we welcome the proposal for further work and monitoring to be undertaken, in particular as a priority to ascertain whether substances in the cabin environment could potentially be harmful to health. “

“We also welcome the proposal that this work should be designed to detect any potentially harmful substances, rather than focus on named substances.”

Captain Mervyn Granshaw, Chairman of BALPA, added:

“BALPA believes that all stakeholders in our industry need to work together to better understand the problem on contaminated air, and BALPA will press for this bipartisan approach to continue.”

For interviews or further information contact Keith Bill on 07968 528 527 or (020)8656 0860