An August 1995 article in Smart Money magazine brought about direct confrontation from the airlines through several pilots. In the end, their challenges proved empty, and the credibility of my assertions was corroborated. Here is the sequence of exchanges between me, the pilots, and the press.

Smart Money Quote

"The pilot is able to control the amount of fresh air that flows through the cabin and often recirculates as much as half the air to save fuel. So if you're feeling a little stuffy, take the advice of Diana Fairechild, a retired flight attendant and author of Jet Smart, 'Kindly ask a stewardess to ask the pilot for "full utilization of air.'" Then they'll know you know the airline terms and the pilot can flip a switch." [note: if pilots act like they don't understand the term "full utilization," you can say this in a way where they can't possibly misunderstand, i.e., Dear Captain, May I have less recycled air and more fresh air, please? May I please have the same air quality you are breathing in the cockpit.]

Pilots Challenge

August 14, 1995, Smart Money forwarded this letter:

"I read your article with great bewilderment. I have over 25 years experience flying large passenger airplanes and I've never heard the term 'full utilization of air' so I asked the other five guys with me that night on the flight deck if they had (three were deadheading). None of them had either--that's over 120 years of experience!

There is no such switch for the pilot to flip, at least on the airplanes we fly and are familiar with (MD80, DC-8, B747, B727, DC-10). We haven't a clue what you're talking about and we suspect neither does the informant who passed you the bogus information."-- Jerry Brown

Reply to Smart Money

"During my 21 years as an international flight attendant, I became very familiar with the procedures used by the airline industry to promote fuel efficiency by reducing the air in the passenger cabins.

"On 747s, the 'switch' that cuts back the passengers' air consists of three toggles on the engineer's instrument panel which control the three air packs, aka the Environmental Control Units (ECUs). The Boeing 747 Airplane Operating Manual dated Jun 8/90, under 'Normal Procedures: Pack Operation' (section 02.35.04), states that 'Although two pack operation is encouraged whenever possible...the third pack will be utilized, regardless of load, on the first report of passenger discomfort from the in-charge flight attendant.'

"The two international airlines I worked for (PanAm and United) always made it clear to the flight attendants that the only way to override the standard operating procedure of reducing the passengers' (and the flight attendants') air was if someone complained. When I complained, I was told that 'someone' only meant a passenger. Whenever a legitimate 'someone' (a passenger) experienced difficulty breathing, we would relay the message to the pilots using the exact term in question -- that we were requesting 'full utilization of air.' Our 747 pilots then told me that all three air-pack toggles would then be flicked up, to the 'on' position.

Government Report

"The National Academy Press 1986 report to Congress, called The Airliner Cabin Environment (page 43), states that when the pilots cut back on air to save fuel, they (the pilots) receive about ten times more air than their economy passengers. The existence of this practice was corroborated on May 18, 1994, by the testimony of Congressman Jerrold Nadler at the Aviation Subcommittee 'Cabin Air Quality Hearing.'

"Additionally, in a study of office buildings with a large percentage of recycled air, scientists found that the transmission of contagious diseases such as TB increases significantly when a large percentage of air is recycled. I find no reason to believe otherwise of commercial jet passenger cabins.

"My book Jet Smart describes why passengers require better air when they travel. The 155 footnotes can provide you with additional references about how you can travel more safely and with greater health."

USA Today, the next day

"Ask the pilot for full utilization of air if you have difficulty breathing or thinking, or develop clammy skin. It could mean you're not getting enough air."-- Diana Fairechild, author of Jet Smart" 

USA Today called and questioned the validity of my information. USA Today said they'd had complaints from pilots.

I read them the letter I had written to Smart Money. The USA Today reporter said "That's fine. Thank you very much."

A couple of days later, USA Today called again, and this time asked if it was possible that some pilots didn't have control over the passengers' air supply?

I said I thought this type of thing was always a management decision. However, on every flight, the control of the air supply is at the discretion of each Captain. 

More Pilots Heckling

August 29, 1995:from Smart Money

"'Diana Fairechild (author of Jet Smart) fails to mention some proper technical aspects of aircraft. To begin with, the cockpit can be absolutely miserable in terms of air quality. Large windows, which have a greenhouse effect, along with computer instrumentation which radiates heat, and limited ventilation combine to make the cockpit the hottest and stuffiest place on the aircraft. These conditions make the pilot most effected by poor air circulation.

"If the pilot could 'flip a switch' for 'full utilization of air' as Ms. Fairechild asserts, there would not be an air quality problem. 'Kindly asking the stewardess to ask the pilot for full utilization of air' will not solve the air quality problem on board the aircraft. Only the engineers that build the aircraft can do that."-- Captain Steve Brainerd, American Airlines  

Reply to Smart Money

On September 2, 1995, Smart Money asked me to reply to Captain Brainerd, and here is what I said:

"I have read your letter to Smart Money. Since I have already written a very detailed reply to another pilot who wrote to them, I suggest you ask Smart Money for a copy of my August 16th letter.

For further information, it would be best to check directly with Boeing Company in Seattle. You could ask Boeing to tell you its recommendations for the air packs." 

PROOF

On September 10, 1995, while surfing around the Internet, I came across an article by Dr. Tony Goodwin of the British Airline Pilots Ass'n. This clearly is the issue.

The article is on the subject of hearing loss among pilots, and one paragraph describes how many pilots turn off the passengers' air-conditioning units (packs) simply because they find the packs noisy. I forwarded this paragraph to both Smart Money and to USA Today:

"The cooling vents came in for much criticism, the more complicated aircraft with larger computers apparently requiring most ventilation. Many ruses were employed by pilots to lessen this problem, the usual one being to switch off one of the ventilation packs. When the perspiring cabin crew [cabin crew = flight attendants] got wise to this, the engineer would remove the screw securing the control knob to the central pack. It could then be positioned to the on position while in fact turned off." 

On September 11, 1995, Smart Money was convinced. "That's quite an interesting bit of information which certainly bolsters your case," they Emailed me.

FROM READERS

"The tide is surely changing. I know that when I'm up front, those recirculating fans are always switched off. (On the 767/757's, the recirculating fans are normally ON, meaning they take 50% of the air that would be exhausted overboard and shoot it BACK into the cabin.) I reach up and disable the recirculation system by turning the fan(s) OFF (one must be left on in the 757 to enable avionics cooling). When both recirculating fans are disabled, no 'used' air is fed back to the cabin: it's vented overboard. You can feel and hear the difference immediately." - Anonymous 767/757 Pilot

"Your crusade is on target. You are providing a great service since most people don't even know what hit them. To think, that a pilot and the airline would risk the health of everyone on the plane for $80 per hour. Heck, let them put a fifty cent surcharge on the ticket and give us better air!" -Abe Anhang

"Thank you for the information regarding oxygen on flights. I have just returned from my trip across the country flying United Airlines on four planes. When I boarded each plane, I asked the flight attendant if the plane would be using full utilization. Every single attendent had no idea (or acted very well) as to what I was saying. Then, I talked with the captains, and they said (all four captains were males) that yes, the flight would be full utilization of air." -Colleen Johnson, 11-96

"I stumbled onto your homepage. It is nice to finally know who has been promoting this incredible fabrication about airliner cabin air flow being reduced to save money. I have been flying passenger airliners for 20 years and I challenge you to show me the switches on the Boeing 727, DC 9, DC 8, or MD 80 that are used to decrease airflow to the cabin. Each of those aircraft has only two air conditioning packs. Other than an equipment failure, both of them must be utilized at all times. Period. They are required for the safe pressurization of the aircraft. Additionally, the cockpit receives only a minimum amount of air from either pack, with slightly more available from the left one. The majority of both goes to the cabin. I cannot tell you how frustrating it is to have passengers, who have read your pap, demand that we provide more air when the plane is producing maximum air conditioning. Fortunately, it only happens on very hot days and short legs. When you find those switches, please email me. -Captain Tom Seever, Delta Airlines 

FROM DIANA

I forwarded Captain Seever's letter to another commercial airline pilot (who prefers to remain anonymous so as not to jeopardize his job, but who is sympathetic to the plight of airline passengers). This is his reply to Captain Seever:

"Mind you, some of my best friends are Delta guys; still, there are some -- every company has them -- who should've just stayed in the military. If he isn't simply having a bad day, Tom might be one of these. A kinder, gentler soul would have pointed out that air recirculation is something found on newer planes. For one, both the 767 and 757 recycle air, and I'd be willing to bet the 777 does the same. Sure, the fossils Tom mentions don't, but their time-in-service (at least in nations with indoor plumbing) is nearing an end. A browse through the 757/767 manual will show that the manufacturer assures pilots that they do not breathe the same, recycled swill piped into the cabin. About the older planes: the name of the switch on the 727 is the Cargo Heat Outflow Valve; which, if my dwindling memory serves me correctly, accounts for a 39% change in airflow. Granted, improper use of the switch can turn a Doberman below into an intimidating, 100-pound, ice sculpture. But, forcing that additional 39% thru the cabin outflow valves can really help our human friends on hot days with little or no effect on the animals (if any) stored in forward cargo. As for the Long Beach aircraft mentioned, If It Ain't Boein', I Ain't Goin'. 'Nuff said.'" 

MORE LETTERS FROM AIRLINE EMPLOYEES

"I am an Aircraft engineer for the B767 and B777. I read your homepage, and although I think that the question -- if recirculated (used) air can be turned on and off -- is already answered, I still want to make a comment. On the B767 and B777, normally the recirculation fans are turned ON which means that used air is sent back to the cabin again. But there is a switch (in fact there are two) to turn those fans OFF (and then no "used air" goes into the cabin). It is possible to turn OFF the Recirculation on the B767 and B777. I also want to tell you that you have a very good homepage. Thanks." -Christian Veit

"Diana I am a flight attendant for 25 years and have been active on our online airline forum for several years airing my concerns with pilots and management re: the air quality on our equipment. I have found that pilots can be our friend or our worst enemy. Many choose to ignore us when it comes to cabin air quality, disregarding our requests for better air and continuing to operate the air pacs on "low flow." As you know, aircraft air conditioning systems were not designed to operate efficiently at these reduced flow levels. I read with interest your linking of the cabin air quality and air rage and I think you are right. -J.K., flight attendant

"I really like your website, especially about the pilots and cabin air issue. You bravely held your point." -A.I., flight attendant

2007 LETTER FROM A PASSENGER

"Recently I was flying to London from Seattle via Dullas on United. Half way across the country I had trouble breathing. Three flight attendents assisted in my revival. They got me a oxygen bottle. I was immediatly relived. To continue to London they said I needed a perscriptioin for oxygen and had to pay $50 for a oxygen bottle. On rtn trip $50 to NYC then $50 to Seattle for oxygen. I was naive. That event scared the heck out of me. My brother, who was traveling with me, was angry at United. Getting off the plane in Seattle he brought it up with the captain. The captain replied his air was different than ours in the cabin. He stated he could not sit back there with us and glad he did not have to. Thanks for your website. It helps to know I am not alone. Thank you, Vince"