Pilot publishes plane fumes book and documentary
10.12.07
In a new book a plane crashes at Newcastle Airport after pilots breath in toxic chemicals and pass out at the controls. The author of the book, a former pilot, feels it is only a matter of time before it happens in real life.
Former pilot Tristan Loraine, 45, retired through ill health last year after repeated exposure to air contaminated by jet engine oil severely affected his ability to fly. He was given a £200,000 pay-out and used a large amount of the cash to publish a book called Toxic Airlines and film a documentary - Welcome Aboard Toxic Airlines - set at Newcastle Airport.
Mr Loraine, from Horsham, West Sussex, who flew in and out of Newcastle regularly during his career, claims he suffered varying degrees of contamination on at least 75 percent of the Boeing 757 flights he piloted. He says he even once had to carry out an emergency landing at the airport because the fumes were so overpowering.
He said: 'I flew as an airline pilot from the age of 17 before retiring last December as a result of exposure to contaminated air during my career. I started writing the book when I was sick, to tell the world this story. Twelve doctors have said I am ill from contaminated exposure . . . if I am not safe to fly how can they say there is not a problem?'
'I was given £200,000 from my airline and immediately used it to set up the film production company to tell the world what is going on. The documentary will have a limited release at the cinema and has received some fantastic reviews.
Mr Loraine wants the airlines to fit filters on their planes. He said: 'There is no detection system on the planes, yet some of these chemicals are odourless so there should be a warning. Most homes have smoke or carbon monoxide alarms. Crew and passengers are being exposed to this every time they fly and are not told anything. There are young children being exposed to these toxic chemicals.'
'People in the aviation industry have known about this for 40 years and have just been covering up. The British Government knows about this but they are just protecting the aviation authority's interests. I know people who tell me they are not well but they have got to pay bills so they just carry on flying.'
Add to: del.icio.us | Digg it | Newsvine | NowPublic | Reddit
To book newcastle airport hotels or newcastle airport parking at the lowest price, click on these links to two great newcastle airport parking and newcastle airport hotels price comparison pages.
