Aviation Health Working Group minutes: 19 October 2001
AHWG/19-10-01/Note
Aviation Health Working Group Meeting
Friday 19 October 2001, Great Minster House, London SW1
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Present |
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Chair |
Michael Smethers |
DTLR/MLD |
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Secretary |
Peter Smith |
DTLR/MLD3 |
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Mike McGovern |
DH |
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Dr Bill Maton-Howarth |
DH |
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Tom Hamilton |
CAA/SRG |
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Dr Simon Janvrin |
CAA/Chief Medical Officer |
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Bob Meldrum |
HSE |
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Roger Wiltshire |
BATA |
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Peter North |
BAR UK |
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Dr Nigel Dowdall |
BA |
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Dr Tony Goodwin |
BALPA |
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Simon Evans |
AUC |
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Bruce D'Ancy |
BALPA |
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Sandy Mitchell |
BALPA |
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John Scurr |
Consultant Surgeon |
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Prof Mike Greaves |
University of Aberdeen |
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Willian Toft |
Cardiologist |
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John Belstead |
Ashford Hospital |
Item 1: Introductory remarks by the Chairman
1.1 The Chairman welcomed participants, particularly the four medical experts invited by DH. He noted that the events of 11 September had resulted in a rearrangement of Departmental priorities. A letter has been sent to the Secretariat of the House of Lords Select Committee, to inform Baroness Wilcox of developments in the Group to date.
Item 2: Discussion with DVT clinicians
2.1 John Scurr informed the Group of the status of the WHO DVT research initiative, explaining the broad objectives of the three protocols and the project management arrangements. He would largely be responsible for the epidemiological study. It was hoped to start the programme early 2002 and complete it within 18 months. The UK could expect to be admitted to the Advisory Board if it made a substantial contribution to the project. Although IATA was expected to co-operate fully in the practical outworking of the research, WHO had specifically precluded industry financial contributions in order to avoid any possibility of bias. DH questioned whether this was a correct principle to follow.
2.2 Bill Toft and Mike Greaves described their likely contribution to the laboratory work in terms of simulating aircraft cabin conditions. The proposed protocols will link with the work already underway in Australia. There was broad agreement that the WHO programme would to a large extent fulfil the recommendations set out by the House of Lords Select Committee.
2.3 John Belstead described the results of anecdotal research at Ashford Hospital, where many passengers arriving at Heathrow airport are taken. There seemed to be a higher incidence of DVT-related problems on long haul flights, which correlates approximately with a study based on Charles de Gaulle airport.
Item 3: Research
3.1Bill Maton-Howarth reported on a discussion with BRE on the extent to which the EU Cabin Air project will meet the House of Lords research recommendations. It was thought that a certain amount of additional work would be required. The AHWG Research Steering Group will meet shortly to finalise proposals for research on both DVT and cabin air quality.
Item 4: Health Advice to Passengers
4.1 DH informed the Group that the press announcement of the DVT guidance had been postponed. However, the Chairman said that details of the guidance had been circulated informally to airlines.
Item 5: Inflight Medical Emergencies
5.1 BATA to prepare an information paper giving the costs and benefits to be compared, both on the use of defibrillators and the number of deaths during flight, to enable the Group to prepare a draft Regulatory Impact Assessment.
5.2 John Belstead pointed out that airlines appear to have differing levels of emergency equipment, particularly non-UK carriers. It was noted that the FAA would be making the carrying of defibrillators mandatory by 2004.
Item 6: Noise
6.1 The new Directive on noise had reached Common Position and was expected to be adopted shortly. The Directive, which requires the new maximum level to be measured at the ear, will be implemented by the UK and be applicable to all flights from the effective date.
Item 7: CAA/HSE Responsibilities for Enforcing Aviation Health
7.1 A separate DTLR/CAA/HSE meeting is to be held to address this matter.
Item 8: Date of the next meeting
8.1 The next exclusive meeting will be on Friday 30 November. The next inclusive meeting will be held on Friday 11 January 2002. Provisional dates for meetings in the first half of 2002 are 22 February, 5 April, 17 May and 28 June.
MLD3
October 2001
