InFO’s value in collecting good FUME data
Below is an FAA Information for Operators (InFO24013) defining procedures for carriers to report fume or smoke events during passenger flights. Whether these events are toxic or not has been a topic of major debate globally. The InFO was published pursuant to a Congressional mandate. This Journal has posted several reviews of this controversy (a sample of them):
The new technology of Teledyne’s ACES may lead to an answer to the contentious Cabin Air Debate
When will we know if Cabin Air is fair or foul ???
A segment of the aviation community is convinced, beyond any doubt, that the cabin air quality is a substantial risk:
- Aircraft Air Quality – Protecting Against Contaminants
- What To Do If You Encounter Contaminated Cabin Air
- Air Safety, Health and Security Department – Association of Flight …
- After Crew is Sickened, AFA-CWA Renews Call for Cabin Air Testing
- Spotlighting Cabin-Air-Quality Concerns ALPA Presses for Fume Event Mitigations
A group has held annual conferences on this subject:
By way of films and presentations from expert global independent and industry speakers, the 2024 Aircraft Cabin Air Conference will provide a vital update into the subject matter. The 2-day in-person conference will provide a wide selection of presentations and talks. These will range from the historical beginnings of contaminated air, previous research, the flight safety implications and findings, medical aspects of exposures, current research and policy making, review of ICAO, IATA, EASA, IFALPA, ITF, GCAQE and FAA positions and guidance related to the issue, the new GCARS reporting system or discover the very latest news in the development of less hazardous oils, sensors and air cleaning technologies to detect and filter contaminated air.
As suggested in the two above Journal links, there is a substantial contingent of interested parties that is reluctant to take a position without a more definitive record about these events:
Air Quality and Comfort in Airliner Cabins
The Airliner Cabin Environment and the Health of Passengers and Crew. NIH
Sources of Onboard Fumes and Smoke Reported by U.S. Airlines
FAA on Cabin Air Quality
Cabin Air Quality and Contamination
US Mission to ICAO Fact Sheet – Cabin Air Quality
Taken as a whole, the most consistent message is that more research is needed. The FAA and OSHA signed an MOU which coordinates research on this contentious debate.
The FAA InFO SHOULD create a more uniform method of collecting this important data (see below) and hopefully these reports will address the concerns to the satisfaction of all parties. However, the GIGO standard of making reports and analyzing the numbers could diminish the research value of these SDRSs.
Cockpit and Mx personnel are familiar with Service Difficulty reports and even then the details recorded have SOME VARIABILITY which reduces their reliability in identifying problems. Cabin crew has even less exposure to filing § 121.703(a)(5) forms. Airlines would be well advised to meet with all of those who should fill these SDRs and establish (with an outside expert?) standard terminology to describe the important details of these events. A4A might improve the quality of these InFO responses by setting common terms for all of its members.
http://www.faa.gov/other visit/aviation industrv/airline operators/airline safetv/info/all infos
An InFO contains valuable information for operators that should help them meet certain administrative. regulatory, or operational requirements, with relatively low urgency or impact on safety. The contents of this document do not have the force and effect of law and are not meant to bind the public in any way. This document is intended only to provide clarity to the public regarding existing requirements under the law or agency policies.
SUBJECT: Voluntary Reporting of Fume or Smoke Events Onboard Passenger-Carrying Aircraft Operating Under Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations ( 14 CFR) Part 121.
PURPOSE: This InFO serves to provide information on the standardization of Part 121 service difficulty reports (SDR) for smoke, vapor, or toxic or noxious fumes utilizing the Service Difficulty Reporting System (SDRS) per § 121.703(a)(5).
BACKGROUND: The current SDRS program contains the ability to record reports of smoke, vapor, or toxic or noxious fumes events. CONGRESS HAS RECENTLY MANDATED CHANGES TO EVENT REPORTING THAT REQUIRE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON CABIN AIR QUALITY REPORTS.
DISCUSSION: Air carriers should ensure their procedures capture the following data in SDRS cabin air quality submissions:
- Identification of the flight number, type, and registration of the aircraft.
- The date of the reported fume or smoke event onboard the aircraft.
- Description of fumes or smoke in the aircraft, including the nature, intensity, and visual consistency or smell (if any).
- The location of the fumes or smoke in the aircraft.
- The source (if discernible) of the fumes or smoke in the aircraft.
- The phase of flight during which fumes or smoke first became present.
- The duration of the fume or smoke event.
- Any required onboard medical attention for passengers or crew members.
- Any additional factors as determined appropriate by the Administrator or crew member submitting a report.
Typically, the dropdown fields on the submission will capture Items A, B, and F above. Items C, D, E, G,H, and I will need to be entered in Item 4, Problem Description. All relevant fields in the SDRS submission should be utilized.
Recommended Action: Part 121 operators conducting passenger carrying operations should familiarize themselves with the information contained in this InFO.
Contact: Questions or comments regarding this InFO should be directed to the Air Transportation Division – Operations Group at (202) 267-8166 or 9-AFS-200-Correspondence@FAA.Gov,
Distributed by: Flight Standards
