Aircraft cleaning processes not so ‘Covid safe’: CASA

Airlines have been warned that extra cleaning of planes during Covid might lead to damage in key areas like cockpits.

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority has shared an advisory from its New Zealand equivalent highlighting the “airworthiness risks associated with Covid-19 cleaning requirements”. Picture: Neson Almeida/AFP

Increased cleaning and disinfection processes adopted by airlines in the Covid crisis could be compromising the safety of aircraft, the aviation regulator has warned.

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority has shared an advisory from its New Zealand equivalent highlighting the “airworthiness risks associated with Covid-19 cleaning requirements”.

The advisory noted that operators are cleaning and disinfecting aircraft interiors far more frequently and in greater depth than would have been the case previously.

“This may include daily cleaning of areas of the aircraft which were previously only cleaned during scheduled maintenance checks, such as the cockpit,” the advisory said.

“Operators must ensure that any changes they make to cleaning procedures, or the cleaning products they use, do not pose a hazard to airworthiness.”

The directive went onto warn of the various potential issues caused by applying inappropriate cleaning products to aircraft surfaces such as “grazing of plastics, damage to sealants, perishing of rubber products, corrosion and the reduction in fire retardant properties”.

Aircraft operators were also urged to ensure people cleaning “sensitive areas such as flight decks/cockpits, cabin windows and where electrical or avionic equipment is installed” were appropriately trained and supervised.

“In the first instance, the aircraft manufacturer is the best source to provide recommendations on what they consider appropriate materials and procedures to use,” the advisory said.

Airlines were then referred to a 32-page manual on cleaning by the International Air Transport Association featuring lengthy checklists for cleaners to follow.

A CASA spokesman said the advisory was considered to contain relevant information for aircraft operators.

However a Qantas spokeswoman said the airline was already abiding by the IATA standards and aircraft manufacturer guidelines, with regard to cleaning products and processes.

It follows an updated cabin safety bulletin issued on Wednesday, highlighting the risks posed by a deterioration of skills due to long stand-downs of airline workers.

Since the Covid crisis struck, two-thirds of the aviation workforce has been stood down for weeks or even months on end, and 10,000 employees of Qantas, Jetstar, Virgin Australia and Rex are currently sidelined.

The bulletin warned more errors were likely, partly due to mental fatigue and workers should monitor their own performance and that of colleagues.

Flight Attendants Association of Australia national secretary Teri O’Toole said the warnings were timely with cabin crew facing arduous conditions due to constantly changing restrictions and regulations in the various states and territories.

A Qantas spokeswoman said they were mindful of the changed working environment to which employees were returning, and were providing extra training.

Virgin has established people support hotlines during stand down periods, and had engaged numerous experts to assist with potential mental health and wellbeing challenges.