Photo: Sky News.
https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-easyjet-grounds-all-flights-due-to-covid-19-pandemic-11965516
‘PASSENGERS and cabin crew are being put at risk by British Airways because of shoddy hygiene, it has been claimed.
Worried staff are known to have complained that the aircraft are not being deep cleaned, hand sanitiser and gloves are in short supply – even though staff are expected to handle dirty cups, glasses and trays – and crew are forced to be in close proximity with each other and passengers.
It is understood that crew members are also expected to rest in bunks fellow members have exited just minutes before, using the same pillows and mattresses.’ - Source -
https://www.thenational.scot/news/18342566.british-airways-staff-fear-poor-hygiene-putting-risk/?ref=fbshr&fbclid=IwAR3Aryen9otbqN_Mn3CF7Ye3KKIY1Bw2VaLc26S8TRSU8V7gc_KDGmmd5k4
From Bearnairdine Beaumont- www.aerotoxicteam.com
The official recommendation all around the Western world is that the public should not wear protective face masks. Several Airlines have threatened their crews if they wear masks with sanctions and have shamelessly claimed in quickly made video clips that their HEPA filters are enough and that they remove “even the corona virus“. They claim that the cabin air is as safe, even “sterile“ as the air in any operating theater. However, even operating theater staff always wear surgical masks, with or without coronavirus, but for them they are effective?
There is no scientific support for either statement regarding the claimed lasting effectiveness of the HEPA filters nor is there any that masks worn by non-professionals are “not effective“.
Quite the opposite:
Papers about effectiveness of wearing masks:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HLrm0pqBN_5bdyysOeoOBX4pt4oFDBhsC_jpblXpNtQ/preview?fbclid=IwAR38xeyIWupMex_vjQTKnGiJOXNDnljugl5o2PTr5EkR6IGcJ3livR5YsGU
Aircraft Filter Claims: Misleading?
https://www.aerotoxicteam.com/guest-articles.html
Who in their right mind even needs a scientific paper to know that wearing a mask is better than not wearing one during a global pandemic? Especially where “social distancing“ is not possible, as can be seen on still FULL flights – endangering crews and passengers.
In other news:
EASA release guidelines on 26 March - when most of Europe is already on lockdown and the majority of flights are already cancelled and many aircraft are grounded. Too little, too late?
https://www.paddleyourownkanoo.com/2020/03/28/european-aviation-regulator-issues-urgent-new-rules-to-protect-cabin-crew-always-wear-a-face-mask-and-remain-in-hotel-room/
Airbus claims - 2017:
‘Effective cabin air conditioning is a major factor in maintaining passenger comfort, with advanced environmental control systems maintaining an airy, yet draft-free, environment. The air in the aircraft cabin is completely replaced every two to three minutes with filtered outside air and filtered recirculated air.
The fresh air flow rate is important for comfort and odour suppression. The Airbus Air Management system ensures a high rate of fresh air* flow which is properly adjusted according to cabin layout, and delivers more fresh air per passenger on widebody aircraft. On the ground, Airbus’ unique Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) converter keeps cabin air free of the kerosene odours around the airport.
A further contributor to passenger well-being is the suppression of unwelcome microbes in the cabin environment. Cabin air distribution is designed to eliminate fore and aft flow of air. Hospital grade HEPA filters remove 99.99 per cent of particulate and organic matter, including microbes, from the air which is recirculated. Furthermore Airbus’ lavatory designs feature antimicrobial surfaces and touchless controls, to further reduce the spread of microbes.’
See page 5 -
https://www.airbus.com/content/dam/corporate-topics/publications/backgrounders/APEX-2017-Main-Cabin-Backgrounder.pdf
*This Air is drawn through the aircraft engines using the Bleed-Air system where the air can become contaminated with oil or hydraulic fluid.
Details of Airbus’ VOC Catalytic Converter can be found on page 6 onwards:
https://www.airbus.com/content/dam/corporate-topics/publications/fast/FAST37.pdf
If Airbus’ claims are true, why have EASA recently issued guidelines for cabin crew? Also, why are there so many fume events on Airbus aircraft which include noxious chemical smells and fumes many of which have caused injury to passengers and crew?
As shown on the previous update:
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control:
‘At the beginning of the influenza A(H1N1) pandemic in 2009, air travel was the cause of the introduction of this new virus into countries not primarily affected, and aeroplanes are likely to be a major vector when the next pandemic occurs.’
https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/seasonal-infl
Perhaps the claims made by Airline manufacturers and Airlines are not accurate?
Positive news - Easyjet & Virgin Atlantic:
https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-cabin-crew-will-join-doctors-and-nurses-in-staffing-new-nightingale-hospitals-11965506?fbclid=IwAR1K5ux2apRiPX4CDvOdbkJOYAUemqrDlRWoTD23__x5an5GUN0y7gtq5zw
And the not so positive:
British Airways - 25 March:
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/11248590/ba-must-work-contact-coronavirus/
British Airways - 26 March:
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/11257034/british-airways-crew-stand-down/
But hopefully many crew from British Airways legacy fleets (who are trained in aviation medicine) will volunteer to help the NHS too. For those from BA’s newer Mixed Fleet who have been stood down without any pay, we hope you find an alternative and worthwhile career or a stop-gap to help you through these very difficult times.