The Aerotoxic Logbook (ATLB) in English (EN)

The problem has been known since the 1950s - roughly 70 years and nothing has ever been done about it.  The air in the cabin is still ‚bled off’ (the engines) in airplanes - with the well-known possible consequences for flight safety and health, in particular that of  flight crew. We have the cultural history on 'Flying is safe' and the ongoing problems investigated at www.ansTageslicht.de/cabinair (EN).

Although the cabin air is 50% re-circulated in modern aircraft types, the basic problem remains unsolved. With one exception: the Boeing B787.  This is/was also the state of knowledge at the first big conference on this topic in London in September 2017. The presentations can now be viewed here: www.aircraftcabinair.com  

There are many reasons why no solutions are found: the targeted influencing of scientific discussions, the airlines’ economic interests, the links between politics and air transport industry and other reasons.

The ‚Aerotoxic Logbook’, launched in January 2017, is a first comprehensive documentation addressing the problem of potentially contaminated cabin air (www.ansTageslicht.de/Kabininenluft - German) and documents what is happening in this area.  Or, what is not happening. And why not. This German language blog (www.ansTageslicht.de/ATLB) is now also available in English and can be accessed directly via this permalink: www.ansTageslicht.de/ENATLB. And you should also have a look at www.ansTageslicht.de/fume-event-files - an "ABC" under permanent construction.

The information we collect in German is translated by Bearnairdine BEAUMONT who operates the network www.aerotoxicteam.com  and the blog www.aerotoxicsyndrombook.com/blog.

With the ‚Aerotoxic Logbook’ we want to achieve international networking,  bringing together all initiatives and activities to communicate about this unsolved problem and to initiate solutions. At the same time it is a scientific experiment: What must happen before a problem is addressed?

Other initiatives providing information on the contaminated air issue you can get here (right side).

October 1st, 2017

Expert condenses the cabin air problem in a scientific summary  

One who would know and  who’s knowledge cannot be denied has compressed the topic of potentially contaminated cabin air from 3 sides: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Dieter SCHOLZ teaches aircraft design, aircraft systems and flight mechanics at the University of Applied Sciences Hamburg (HAW). He worked formerly at Airbus, so he also knows the practice (not just the theory) and has been dealing with exactly this problem for some time.  

The title of his summary: The air in the cabin of passenger aircraft is not as good as often assumed - background, solutions and implementation thereof (in German)

September 20th, 2017

easyeasyJet will install filters for bleed air

Of all airlines the low-cost airline has decided to work with PALL Aerospace, which also manufactures the HEPA filters for re-circulated air in aircraft, to install such filters which are intended to keep out contaminants and are supposed to clean the bleed-air tapped from the engines,  in their fleet of aircraft within about one year.  As a result, the potential contamination of cabin air could be further alleviated or even prevented.

This was announced by the airline and the manufacturer at the London conference.

The air in most modern aircraft is first sucked in, then compressed, cooled and warmed again.  During the flight it is then mixed to about 50% with the already existing air (re-circulated air). The air which has been reused to 50% can be purified from hazardeous substances by these ‚HEPA’ filters. The weak point so far: the constant new air stream fed from the turbines. A good graphic is printed in the Sunday Times.

EasyJet’s and PALL Aerospace’s goals are ambitious. However, innovations are not possible without high goals and commitment. During the period in question, they not only have to undertake test flights,  but also have to submit the many applications seeking approval by the various aviation authorities.

The reason is not really clear why a low-cost airline should be first to go down this route. On the other hand, easyJet is currently facing 2 law suits from flight attendants: one in France (criminal charges) and a recent one in the UK.

Strictly speaking, easyJet is not really the first airline to have filters for the bleed-air from their engines. DHL's cargo planes are all equipped with these features: in the cockpit.