Sunday 15 October 2000

BAe attacked on jet safety risk By Tim Clark and Martin Bentham

BRITISH Aerospace aircraft with dangerous oil leaks have been flying for more than 10 years, according to an Australian Senate committee, which accuses the company of an "incredibly casual" attitude to safety. In a report, the Australian committee says that the BAe 146, three of which are used by the Royal Flight to carry the Queen and the Prime Minister around the world, is "not airworthy" and should be grounded. The report says that leaks, which cause cabin air to be contaminated with toxic vapour, have occurred on more than 700 occasions. In at least two cases the problem was so severe that pilots became incapacitated.

The committee's finding comes less than two months after Michael Meacher, the environment minister, announced a British inquiry into the same problem in response to complaints from pilots and Mps. More than 300 BAe 146 aircraft are in operation worldwide, including at least 100 in Europe. Among airlines that use the four-engine jet are British Airways, KLM and Aer Lingus.

It is estimated that as many as 40,000 passengers and aircrew could be at risk. British Aerospace, which is now known as BAE Systems after a merger last year, denied that safety was being jeopardised. It said the BAe 146 was "one of the safest aircraft in the world".

The Australian Senate report alleges that faulty engine seals allow fumes from a lubricant oil to enter the aircraft cabin through the air conditioning system. The oil vapour contains the chemical Tricesylphosphate (TCP), an organophosphate that is thought to cause disorders of the nervous system.

Senator John Woodley, the Australian committee's chairman, said the contamination breached three international aviation regulations and accused British Aerospace of failing to take safety concerns seriously enough. He said: "In the light of what British Aerospace has known for at least 10 years, and probably longer, about the leaking oil fumes I think that their behaviour and response to this problem has been incredibly casual."

The Senate report was commissioned after more than 100 Australian aircrew complained of a smell like "old burnt socks" in the cabin, followed by a number of symptoms such as dizziness, vomiting, head pressure, and irritation to the eyes, nose, and throat. There have been similar problems elsewhere, including an incident last November in which the two pilots of a Swedish BAe 146 were forced to put on oxygen masks. The captain's report described a "feeling of sickness", adding that he "very rapidly became worse and worse, feeling dizzy and groggy despite the oxygen".

Both the Swedish air accident investigation board, which described the incident as "extremely serious", and the airline consider that a crash would have occurred if the pilots had failed to put on their oxygen masks. British pilots have reported similar problems.

Shane Enright, a spokesman for the International Transport Workers Federation, said passengers were also at risk. He gave a warning that some could be experiencing the effects of toxic poisoning months or even years after inhaling the fumes.

Paul Tyler, the Liberal Democrat MP for North Cornwall, is campaigning on cabin air safety. He said the Australian report was the first official confirmation of the risks of contamination on the BAe 146, which should prompt the Government to consider grounding the aircraft.

He said: "Organophosphates are very dangerous chemicals and if they are entering the cabin in vapour form it could have very serious consequences. There have been cases where pilots have been on the verge of blacking out and have needed oxygen. There are also cumulative neurological and physical effects, which could also be very dangerous. We cannot afford to take risks any longer."

Mike Peters, a spokesman for BAE Systems, said flights would continue. He said: "The BAe 146 is one of the safest aircraft in the world. It is in service around the world and is fully certificated in every country. It would not have a certificate to fly unless it had met the stringent regulations which are set in each country."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/et?ac=000122257519214&rtmo=LlLldttd&atmo=FFFFFFtX&pg=/et/00/10/15/nbae15.html

-- Carl Jenkins (Somewherepress@aol.com), October 15, 2000