Aircraft

Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority has appointed a chair to lead a new group to study the issue of cabin air quality.

Dr Michael Bollen, a general practitioner for 25 years who has chaired a number of medical committees and studies in Australia, is working with CASA to appoint members of the Expert Panel on Aircraft Air Quality, which will review potential crew and passenger health issues related to aircraft cabin air quality. It will make recommendations on whether further research is required or any action should be taken. The panel will submit its final report by the first quarter of 2010.

In Australia there has been considerable awareness of the cabin air quality issue and possible long-term health effects. Numerous incidents of crew incapacitation involving fumes, most notably on the BAe 146, resulted in an Australian Senate inquiry in 1999.

More about contaminated cabin air at flightglobal.com/toxiccabins