Ms Vamvakinou asked the Minister for Transport and Regional Services, upon notice, on 12 February 2004:

(1)In respect of the quality and safety of cabin air in Australian commercial aircraft can he confirm whether any Australian registered airlines regularly monitor cabin air quality on (a) domestic and (b) international flights.

(2)What air quality inspections are performed following reports of unknown fumes in aircraft cabins such as that reported on the Qantas Melbourne-Perth flight on 19 January 2004.

(3)What noxious fumes (a) might, and (b) have found their way into aircraft cabins during flights.      

(4)What new technologies, such as infrared testers or spectrometers, have been investigated to ensure regular mid-flight air quality monitoring.

Mr Anderson —The answer to the honourable member's question is as follows:

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) have provided advice as follows.

(1)(a) and (b) All instances of smoke or fumes in the aircraft cabin that adversely affect the quality of cabin air on Australian registered aircraft operating domestically or internationally, are categorised by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority as a `Major Defect'. In accordance with `Major Defect' reporting requirements, the operator is required to investigate the cause of the cabin air event, rectify any identified defect(s) and take action to prevent recurrence.

Details of the defect(s) are required to be communicated to CASA where the receipt of these reports is monitored. If defect trends are identified through this process, action is taken by CASA to alert the Certificating Authority of the reported defect, and through such means as Airworthiness Directives, maintenance requirements are imposed to ensure the safe operation of future flights.

Further information on the Major Defect reporting process is available in Civil Aviation Advisory Publication (CAAP) 51-1 or on the CASA website at www.casa.gov.au.

(2)For the majority of aircraft, there are no procedures, mandated by CASA or any other major Regulatory Authority relating to the performance of air quality inspections. However, aircraft manufacturers typically publish inspections and procedures to search for likely causes of unwanted fumes.

With respect to the operation of the BAe 146 aircraft, an Airworthiness Directive has been issued by CASA mandating inspections for contamination in the aircraft's Environmental Control System. AD/BAE/146/86 requires that at any time cabin air contamination is suspected to be associated with engine oil an inspection and subsequent reparation work are required. A detailed report must be provided to the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority (the aircraft's Certificating Authority) and CASA. A copy of tis Airworthiness Directive is available from the CASA website at www.casa.gov.au/avre/aircraft/ad/schedules/ad_display.asp?sched=over&toc=BAE146.

(3)(a) and (b) The majority of instances of fumes in cabin air of Australian registered aircraft during flights have emanated from various sources including from types of heated turbine engine and hydraulic oils; from airconditioning problems (such as heat exchangers after being cleaned with cleaning products); from fumes or smells from the galley or ovens; and from overheating or shorting electrical components.

(4)There are diverging views on the quality standard to be adopted for aircraft cabin air and international studies are currently underway to review emerging technologies and determine their applicability and appropriateness to the aviation cabin air environment.

The American Society for Heating and Refrigeration Engineers (ASHRAE) has been tasked to arrive at an agreed view, acceptable to the major aviation regulatory agencies, aircraft manufacturers, consumer groups, trade unions and various other interested parties. The final meeting to adopt the standard was held on 24 January 2004 at Anaheim, in the United States of America.

CASA, and the Cabin Air Quality Reference Group, established in accordance with the outcomes of the Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee report to Parliament on Air Safety and Cabin Air Quality in the BAe 146 Aircraft, are waiting for the agreed standard before undertaking measures to ensure compliance with this standard through in-flight data acquisition or other appropriate means.

 

 
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