October 15, 2024
Dear Sisters and Brothers:
On September 17 & 18, 2024, Director Bud Brown and Flight Safety Committee member Kayla Felix attended an International Conference that was held specifically to address and share the latest information on all aspects of cabin air quality. This most important issue is something that can have ill effects on anyone who works in the cabin taking care of the traveling public, or in the hangar dealing with the problems of oil smells and other aircraft generated odors that have negative effects on our health. In both jobs, those odors/smells can have long lasting and impactful effects on our members’ health.
FS Director Brown highlighted some of his thoughts in a report to PDGC John Coveny, including the following: “Imagine that a man went to space in 1957 and landed on the moon 12 years later. The first reported issue of Flight crew becoming incapacitated due to inhalation exposure was in 1977 and he we are 47 years later still trying to solve the issue in this industry. This issue remains something that certain elements do not want to recognize, and they continue to exert undue pressure and influence to keep it buried below the true reality.”
For all Flight Attendants and Aviation Maintenance Technicians, this remains a serious safety concern on a daily basis as we go about our jobs, and everyone needs to become educated about it. Director Browns comments continued saying “The very products we work with on a daily basis all have warnings about the potential effects if inhaled, especially engine lubricating oil, which is leading cause of odors in the cabin. Printed directly on the oil container is the warning: Do not breathe mist or vapor from heated material. When the seals leak on these turbine engines, the oil enters the gas path to become super-heated and misted and subsequently enters the bleed air system and then into the cabin.” Director Brown continued with: “These vapors affect everyone differently and can cause up to and including death, so please be mindful as you go about your daily duties and keep this mind. If you are flying and smell this, inform the crew immediately. If you are in any of our multiple maintenance hangars or on the line, use proper PPE when you go to “burn out” those smells/odors or change the socks. Three short minutes is how long it takes before your sensory organs accept the odor as normal, and essentially you stop noticing it. When you are working on anything involving odors inside of the aircraft, where an approved respirator. Do the work safely until you are back in the fresh air. Open doors to aircraft, walk outside, then remove your respirator.” By practicing these simple steps, we can continue to ensure the safety of all of our District Lodge 142 members.
Sincerely and fraternally,
James M. Samuel
(Acting) President/Directing General Chair
Bud Brown Director – Flight Safety
