Gunter Endres/LONDON
WHAT WOULD YOU do if you are a pilot and you smell lemons in the cockpit? You would most likely to assume that the cabin staff is serving a gin and tonic, or cleaning the toilets, and you would ignore it. What you probably will not do, although you should, is grab the oxygen mask and land at the nearest airport.
The pleasantly refreshing citrus fragrance could be coming from a pressurised container of Rainboe windscreen rain repellent, leaking a highly toxic compound (Freon 113) - which is on the International Air Transport Association's (IATA) dangerous-goods register, but not restricted for shipping on aircraft. This can induce euphoria, nausea, eye, skin and respiratory-tract irritation, central-nervous-system depression, anaesthesia, cardiac sensitisation and, in high concentrations, lightheadedness and even unconsciousness.
If you are flying in an older aircraft, you may still be carrying the unscented version and can experience all or some of these noxious side effects - without warning.
Following concerns raised by the International Pilots Association (IFALPA) Dangerous Goods Committee, airlines are beginning to advise pilots that, if a strong lemon scent is noticed, they are to initiate the appropriate safety measures and land at the nearest airport.
According to the US Airline Pilots Association (ALPA), some airline pilots in the USA were not so lucky. There have been incidences of pilots overcome by fumes from a leaking cockpit-container and suffering respiratory problems, says Larry Farris, chairman of US-ALPA's and IFALPA's Dangerous Goods Committees.
One pilot, subsequently grounded for a year because of the ill effects of the rain repellent, has taken out a lawsuit, primarily to highlight the product's toxicity. The canister clearly lists the possible effects of the repellent if inhaled, but pilots complain that their airlines have not made them aware that a strong lemon smell has been introduced to aid detection in the event of a leak.
On a recent flight from Europe to North America, the flight crew became aware of a leakage some 45min after leaving Brussels and turned on the oxygen system while returning to Brussels.
Production of Rainboe is to cease, not for reasons of pilot safety, but because of its ozone-destroying properties. A substitute rain-repellent is being developed, but is likely to contain similar chemicals, with the exception of Freon 113, says IFALPA.
Rain repellents were introduced for use during heavy precipitation on low-visibility approach, but are no longer a requirement for Category II/III operations. IFALPA argues that they should now be phased out altogether or, at the very least, be removed from transoceanic flights.
Source: Flight International
