How much do these engines affect the air inside and outside the plane? Photo: Julian Herzog / Wikimedia
Air pollution issues are in the news for air travel lately. A British union of airline workers is preparing a lawsuit over toxic chemicals they say are getting into cabins through the ventilation systems, and the U.S. government has said it intends to regulate aircraft air pollution in much the same way it does power plants.
The British union Unite has 17 members about to sue on behalf of 20,000 others. Last February, a coroner ruled that a British Airways pilot's death involved fumes circulating in planes, and that they posed a hazard to frequent fliers and crew. The problem has been traced to a system used by almost all airlines except the 787; it uses compressed air from the engines to pressurize the cabin—but apparently it can malfunction and pass toxic particles into the cabin air. MORE from the Telegraph (UK).
The other issue, external emissions, is a longer-term one. The Obama administration's intent to regulate will not take place in his term, as the first proposed regulations will be published in 2017 or later. There is also a proposed initiative by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to address emissions worldwide, but its standards would be implemented starting in 2020.
Neither the U.S. nor the ICAO standards would apply to planes now flying or on order; they would apply to future models. Since airlines typically get 20 years or more out of planes, this is a very long-term challenge. For a more in-depth look, click HERE.
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