HC Deb 06 May 2003 vol 404 c610W
Stephen Hesford

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures(a) are in place and (b) are proposed to ensure passenger safety in terms of the efficiency of aircraft cabin air-conditioning and filter systems. [111038]

Mr. Jamieson

There are no Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) requirements for airlines to fit air filtration systems to aircraft air-conditioning systems. However, most modern large airlines are fitted with High Efficiency Particulate Air filters as a matter of airline choice.

Where filters are fitted, the CAA requires that airlines have in place a maintenance programme that ensures that air conditioning filters are used and maintained in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations and that, when specified by the aircraft manufacturer, these airlines implement a reliability programme that monitors system performance to ensure that it does not fall below the manufacturer's limits.