Cabin Fumes from Non-Fire Sources

Description

Fumes from various non-fire related sources may sometimes be experienced within the cabins of passenger aircraft.

Sources

Most modern passenger aircraft are equipped with pressurised, climate controlled, cabins. In spite of the aircraft designers’ intentions, unwanted fumes frequently permeate the interior of the aircraft. Open doors and hatches as well as certain on-board sources can introduce fumes to the cabin environment. However the usual path of entry for fumes is via the aircraft pressurisation and air conditioning systems.

The majority of passenger aircraft utilise bleed air from the engine or Auxiliary Power Unit to pressurize and heat or cool the aircraft cabin. As a consequence, any contaminants introduced into the engine/APU compressor prior to the point from which the bleed air is extracted may result in the appearance of corresponding fumes in the passenger cabin and flight deck.

Accidents and Incidents

Cabin air contamination

Related Articles

• Passenger Cabin Fire
• Aircraft Fire Risk from Battery-powered Items Carried on Aircraft
• Smoke
• Lithium-Ion Aircraft Batteries as a Smoke/Fire Risk
• Cabin Air Quality and Contamination

Further Reading

• An analysis of fumes and smoke events in Australian aviation ATSB (Australia), 2014
• Study of Reported Occurrences in Conjunction with Cabin Air Quality in Transport Aircraft BFU (Germany), 2014
• Cabin Operations Safety: Best Practices Guide 3rd Edition by IATA, 2017
• FAA SAFO 18003: Procedures for Addressing Odors, Smoke and/or Fumes in Flight, 2018