Inconvenient facts have always been “inconvenient”

“Whenever a new discovery is reported to the scientific world, they say first, ‘It is probably not true.’ Thereafter, when the truth of the new proposition has been demonstrated beyond question, they say, ‘Yes it may be true, but it is not important.’ Finally, when sufficient time has elapsed to fully evidence its importance, they [...]

Has the BBC censored “Aerotoxic Syndrome”?

In 2008, the BBC made a Panorama programme about contaminated air in airliners called Something In The Air? However what should have been a balanced look at the issue turned out to be somewhat biased.
When asked by the BBC if he thought any aircraft accidents had occurred as a result of pilots breathing in toxic [...]

NHS Direct search: organophosphate poisoning (result: zilch)

Are you suffering mood swings, feeling grotty, got brain fog and been flying recently? It could be down to organophosphate poisoning from the air conditioning system on the plane – a flaw to which all commercial jetliners are susceptible.
But search for organophosphate poisoning on NHS Direct and the result will be:
Nothing found.
Oh well, organophosphate (OP) [...]

787 Dreamliner test flight delayed again

Boeing said on Tuesday that it would delay the first flight and delivery of its new 787 Dreamliner aircraft. The company said a new schedule for the first test flight and delivery would be available in "several weeks".
In a statement, Boeing explained that the latest delay was "due to a need to reinforce an area [...]

Flying abroad for your holiday? Beware the threat to health from toxic fumes

So you’ve been working hard all year and you’re looking forward to a much needed holiday. Somewhere hot and sunny would be nice. Time with the family, recharge the batteries, relax and have fun. Sounds good.
That’s what Emily Graeme thought when she and her family flew to Florida, unfortunately she spent most of her well [...]

Twins’ health seriously damaged after breathing in aircraft fumes

“I was perfectly healthy when I boarded that flight and have been perfectly unhealthy since I got off that flight,” says 45 year old  Valerie  Vaughn. Now she and her twin sister Victoria Holsted are taking Southwest Airlines to court.
The twins were passengers on Southwest flight 1705 from Los Angeles when the passenger compartment of [...]

Arnie’s plane forced to land after smoke fills cockpit

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s plane had to make an emergency landing when smoke was discovered in the cockpit.
A spokesperson said the jet was about 10 minutes away from landing at the Santa Monica Airport when the pilot reported smoke coming from an instrument panel.
The pilot took immediate action and made what was described as a [...]

Dreamliner update…but it’s only a rumour

The Dreamliner is now set to take to the skies by 30th June. Will they or won’t they? I’m taking bets.
http://www.etravelblackboard.com/showarticle.asp?id=93615&nav=130

Top doc says smoking should be banned from cars when children are passengers – but noxious “fume events” on aircraft are far more hazardous…

Adults should be banned from smoking in cars when children are passengers, the new head of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health has said.
Professor Terence Stephenson said children deserved protection.
“You can’t inflict this on your colleagues any more. Why should we treat our children’s health as a lower priority?” he said.
Professor Stephenson, who [...]

A breath of fresh air? The Boeing Dreamliner is about to take to the skies

Dreamliner takes to skies complete with electrically filtered air.