Aviation Health Working Group minutes: 16 May 2003

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Aviation Health Working Group Meeting

16 May 2003, Great Minster House, London SW1P 4DR

Present

   

Chair

Michael Smethers

DfT/MLD

Secretary

Michael Lee

DfT/MLD
 

Philip Stables

DfT/MLD
 

Dr Bill Maton-Howarth

DH
 

Tom Hamilton

CAA/SRG
 

Dr Simon Janvrin

CAA/SRG
 

Steve James

CAA/SRG
   

Graeme Henderson HSE

 

Roger Wiltshire

BATA
 

Sandy Mitchell

BALPA
 

Simon Evans

AUC
 

George Blundell-Pound

JMC Airlines

Apologies

   
   

Peter Smith DfT/MLD

 

Tony Evans

CAA/SRG
 

Nigel Dowdall

BATA
 

Peter North

BAR UK

Item 1: Minutes of the previous inclusive meeting (17 January 2003).

  1. The minutes of the last meeting were agreed as an accurate record.

Item 2: Chair's introductory remarks

  1. The Chair indicated that the members of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Travel Related DVT had not been able to attend the previous Exclusive meeting. Subsequently, the Group had requested a meeting with the Aviation Health Unit. It was agreed that the AHWG would support a meeting between the Group and the new Head of the Unit, once in post.
  2. The Chair reported that the ECAC Working Group on Air Passenger Health Issues (APHI) had met in Vienna on 19 March, chaired by Dr Robert Auffret. The next meeting is scheduled for 30/31 October, in Paris. The ECAC Legal Task Force is taking forward certain aspects of the work of the Working Group.
  3. The Chair reported that the profile of aviation health over the last few months had remained relatively calm. The Chair added that John Smith had secured an Adjournment Debate in Westminster Hall on 19 March on the 'Warsaw Convention and Aviation Health'.
  4. Roger Wiltshire informed the group of the recent case of a TV executive (Sara Newman), who died from deep vein thrombosis some time after flying home from a skiing accident in Canada in February this year. She was recuperating following surgery on a broken leg when she had a fit, but she failed to regain consciousness and the following day her family agreed for her life-support machine to be turned off. The Coroner said clotting usually occurs because of a period of immobility, probably in this case as a result of the flight or Miss Newman's surgery and subsequent week-long stay in hospital.
  5. Roger Wiltshire reported that the Aviation Health Institute (AHI) had placed an advertisement in Skyport magazine. This encouraged aircrew to contact AHI with examples of ill health, for research purposes.
  6. The Chair updated the group on the distribution of SARS leaflets by UK airlines, under the direction of the Department of Health. Graeme Henderson reminded the Group of paragraph 1.33 of the House of Lords Inquiry into Air Travel that recommended the Government "consider requiring UK airlines and their agents to retain all aircraft passenger information which could be useful in tracing contacts for a minimum of three months after all flights. The Government should seek to extend this requirement internationally".

Action: George Blundell-Pound agreed to check what information was kept on passenger details and seat numbers, and how long airlines retained this information.

Action: Alan Nafzger (DfT / CAD) would be asked to establish what ICAO had achieved.

Item 3: Research

Cabin Air

  1. Bill Maton-Howarth reported that although all measurements and analysis had been completed for the study, conclusions and recommendations had yet to be drafted. The final report was due within a month. Bill Maton-Howarth also confirmed that he would make a presentation at the BRE Conference (Air Quality in Passenger Aircraft - London 16/17 October). The AHU would be represented.

Action: Bill Maton-Howarth will convene a meeting of the Research Sub-Group on completion of the report, and ask BRE to present in some detail.

WHO Study

  1. In the absence of Peter Smith, Philip Stables reported that WHO are close to completing the pilot study, although early indications are that the statistical basis may not be adequate. The Chair stressed the importance of close monitoring of the progress of the study - HMG was contributing substantial funding and we need to be assured that it will produce high quality output. Philip Stables also spoke of the DVT study by the Wolfson Institute at Queen Mary, University of London on behalf of the British Heart Foundation. WHO have been encouraged to contact the Wolfson Institute in order to investigate whether there are avenues for collaboration.

Action: The Research Sub Group will consider ways and means of ensuring the WHO study is progressing satisfactorily.

Item 4: House of Lord's Recommendations - BATA report on progress

  1. George Blundell-Pound confirmed that at present there is only one Charter route flying B757s over 6 hours (Manchester to Banjul).
  2. Action: George Blundell-Pound agreed to resend his letter (dated 19 February 2003) to the Chair providing this information. Achieved.
  3. Simon Janvrin conveyed to the Group the news of BMIs' first treatment (using the Tempest Diagnostic Kit) of a passenger suffering a heart attack.

Item 5: Possible Research on Effectiveness of Health Information

  1. Bill Maton-Howarth reported that following AHWG comments, and a very positive meeting between BATA and BRE, a more detailed proposal had been provided. This had resulted in a broader and more flexible study, which would inform future research.
  2. Roger Wiltshire suggested that there had been two specific issues for which BATA had concerns: the proposed selection criteria for the focus groups did not specify travel by UK airlines (but that this had been satisfactorily dealt with I the revised proposal) ; and that the study would not stand up to statistical rigour, and would be inadequate for House of Lords recommendations. BATA would not be able to finance further research if this proved inconclusive.
  3. The Chair confirmed that BATA would not be committing to further involvement. There had been no representations from the House of Lords Committee Clerk, or Baroness Wilcox.

Action: BATA agreed to provide one half of the £25,000 funding for the research programme. The Chair asked Bill Maton-Howarth to ask Research Works to start the research.

Item 6: CAA Aviation Health Unit

  1. Simon Janvrin indicated that 16 May was the closing date for the post of Head of the AHU. Adverts had been placed in the British Medical Journal, and on aviation websites. Simon Janvrin expressed concern that there had not been as many applicants as expected. The planned interview date had been set for 15 June. The panel will comprise Simon Janvrin, Tony Evans, Michael Smethers and a HR representative from the CAA.
  2. The Chair said that, depending on the outcome of the Panel, it might be necessary to consider whether the range of adverts had been adequate, and if a part-time position would attract a higher number of applications.

Item 7: AOB

  1. Steve James reported that CAA had provided the CASA Reference Group with information on the BAe 146 aircraft, the AHWG, and the House of Lords Recommendations. The Reference Group plan to meet on 21 May 2003. Steve James suggested that there might be some fallout on cabin air environment issues as a result. He also provided news of a new website on Aviation Organophosphate Information Site - www.aopis.org .

Item 8: Dates of next meeting

  1. The next Exclusive meeting is scheduled for 18 July at 10:30, and the next Inclusive meeting for 19 September also at 10:30.

MLD3

May 2003