Purpose: This work provides an overview, from a Consumer perspective, on how the problem of Cabin Air Quality is being addressed through the development of an International Standard and hard laws. The author is neither a scientist, engineer nor pilot, but has had to engage with each of those disciplines and determine how a better outcome can be achieved for ordinary airline passengers and the air that they breathe. The paper concludes on the conflicts that arise from the development of standards against the growing imperative of hard-law creation. This growing imperative is set against the numerous conflicts between a desire to create a safer aircraft environment and agenda; it begs the ques-tion; are we still standing at a crossroads or is a new realisation dawning? --- Methodology: The author's extensive experience in the work of standardisation, political consumer lobbying, drafting legal solutions and dealing with direct Consumer contact, across two continents, has been critically examined to provide an overview and analysis of the current or potential benefits for Consumers. --- Findings: The issue of contaminated Cabin Air has developed an International 'Standards' circus, where politics, com-mercial politics and the possibility of solutions constantly challenge or its methodology and outcomes are challenged. There is a difficulty in a rule-based Standards-making system that fails to adequately deploy methodology and define adequately what constitutes a consensus. This paper continues to highlight those difficulties where the whole question of aviation standardisation remains in a state of flux. The alternative of a hard-law solution is not only on the horizon but is being developed by aviation-user activists. --- Limitations: This paper is limited to the work, view and opinions of one independent Consumer Campaigner. But the subject matter is also limited by the scant attention paid by many European Consumer Organisations to this work. Cur-rent EU Standardisation Regulation only recognises Consumer 'Establishment' Organisations. --- Practical Implications: This paper has important political and methodology implications for the future of European Standardisation, along with the range of standards created by the European Regulator (EASA) and the potential for their work on contaminated Cabin Air. It also raises important questions about the state and status of Aviation Regulation in the EU. --- Social Implications: The commentary in this paper has the potential to alert the EU Consumer Organisation Industry as to the complexity of issues on contaminated Cabin Air and the process of achieving Consumer protections either through hard-law or soft-law. It also has the potential to raise awareness amongst Consumer globally as to the nature of Cabin Air Quality. --- Value and Originality: The originality of this paper is founded in the experience of its author and its ability to highlight key issues that have the potential to lead to a solution to the long-standing problem of contaminated air within aircraft.
This is a publication from the International Aircraft Cabin Air Conference 2023 (Online, 27-29 June 2023)