Jet Ventilation May Be Reduced

[Guest guest]

(I've always subscribed to the " if it ain't broke... " theory. If anything,

this committee should be investigating all the problems employees and

passengers have been having - not reducing the amount of fresh air - just my

opinion)

JET VENTILATION MAY BE REDUCED

The Arizona Republic

6-30-99

By Byron Acohido, Seattle Times

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Business

Largely because of efforts by Boeing, the standard for air ventilation

aboard commercial aircraft may soon be lowered dramatically.

The association that sets codes for indoor air quality is moving toward

lowering the required ventilation level for planes, after a committee's vote

in Seattle last week.

The voting, at the conference of the American Society of Heating,

Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, did not unfold quietly.

Two members of the committee charged with reviewing cabin-air standards

stormed out in protest when their request for more scientific data

was voted down.

Another committee member, Boeing air-quality expert Pat Waters, then

won quick approval of his proposal to reduce the minimum ventilation rate

by two-thirds, from 15 cubic feet per minute per person to 5.

The 15-cubic-feet-per-minute standard now in place applies to planes,

trains and buses. Most buildings in the United States and Canada provide

at least that much ventilation.

The reduction is subject to approval by a separate oversight committee,

which is expected.

But the tone of the Seattle meeting illustrates how contentious this

issue is becoming.

On one hand, aircraft manufacturers and airlines insist it is feasible

to operate cabin-ventilation systems at lower levels - thereby saving

money - without sacrificing comfort or safety.

But flight attendants complain that lowering the standard could pose

health risks to crews and passengers.

Their unions insist there are no comprehensive studies of the hazards

posed by the spread of illness via air circulating through aircraft cabins.

They also cite their suspicions that on some planes, toxic jet fluids

leaking

into ventilation systems are making people sick.

Alaska Airlines flight attendants have reported hundreds of instances

of people getting sick aboard the airline's planes, particularly MD-80s,

and they blame leakage of toxic fluids. Twenty-six flight attendants are

suing

the company.

Notably, one of the key supporters of lowering the ventilation standards

was a consultant who formerly worked for the flight attendants union.

Raynard Fenster was appointed to the committee two years ago, when he worked

for the Association of Flight Attendants. But he left the union about 18

months

ago and began consulting for Boeing.

''The problem is it appears there is not a correct balance of interests

on that committee,'' said Witkowski, the union's director of safety

and health. ''It's stacked in favor of industry, and that's the reason

they were able to railroad this through.''

Boeing environmental-controls engineer Space, a non-voting member

of the committee, argued there's no reason planes should have the same

ventilation rates as buildings.

Even at low rates, aircraft cabins exchange their air several times

an hour, compared to one or two times an hour for a typical building,

he said.

But committee member Walkinshaw, a Canadian air-quality consultant,

argued that it's the rapid buildup of contaminants in the constricted cabin

that's the real issue, rather than the number of air exchanges.

Walkinshaw said pollutants, such as germs from sick people or toxic

fumes from leaking jet parts, rapidly reach a hazardous concentration in

the constricted cylindrical space - much quicker than in buildings.

The fractious debate is unusual for ASHRAE, a 105-year-old organization

of 50,000 air-system experts who pride themselves on technical expertise.

But in Seattle last week, the technical arguments took a back seat

to politics. After several hours of debate, Walkinshaw challenged Space

to cite specific research supporting a change in the standard.

The discussion then hit a lull and seemed headed for a continuation

at ASHRAE's winter meeting in Dallas, which would give both sides time

to collect supporting technical data.

But those favoring a lower standard pushed for a vote.

Walkinshaw moved to postpone the matter until more data could be brought

forward in Dallas, but he was voted down. He and McNeice, a

health officer with the American Airlines flight attendants union, walked

out in protest.

''I didn't want to be part of a vote based on lack of information, so I

withdrew,'' Walkinshaw said.

The motion to lower the standard passed unanimously.