WASHINGTON
(AP) — The Federal Aviation Administration isn't doing enough
to find out whether people are more likely to catch the flu
or other diseases when they fly, a congressional report said
Tuesday. The report by the General Accounting Office recommended
more research into the health effects of the dry, recirculated
air inside commercial airplanes.
Many suspect that airplane air causes upper respiratory illnesses.
"It would be hard to find an airline passenger who has never
come down with a cold or a sore throat and runny nose after
flying," Rep. Peter DeFazio, the Oregon Democrat who requested
the report, said in a statement.
In 2001, a scientific panel recommended that the FAA collect
more data about cabin air. The FAA agreed to lead a research
program to determine the accuracy of perceptions that air
circulated inside airplanes causes discomfort or illness.
The GAO, Congress's investigative arm, said in its report
that the FAA's research plans are too limited.
"FAA has not yet developed a detailed plan with key milestones
and funding estimates for conducting the planned surveillance
and research program," the report said.
FAA spokeswoman Alison Duquette said past research has generally
shown that airplane air is cleaner than the air in most homes
and offices.
The FAA, though, is funding several studies, including one
to monitor air inside passenger aircraft cabins.
"It's a recurring concern that passengers and flight attendants
have," Duquette said. "We are pursuing doing actual data collection
aboard aircraft."
Currently, about 85% of large airliners use hospital-grade
filters — called high-efficiency particulate air filters —
which health experts say is the best way to protect passengers
from viruses and bacteria, the report said. A smaller percent
of planes that carry fewer than 100 passengers use the filters,
the GAO said.
The FAA doesn't require air filters, nor does it track whether
planes have them.
