The last I heard is that the company had a solution to the fume events (fixing the APU oil leek issue) and that the light was at the end of the tunnel.

However it seems like I just hear more and more stories recently about fume events.

I never imagened that a fume event was going to be my greatest health concern as an airline pilot.

Who knows what kind of permanent damage you will get even after taking two breaths of those toxic fumes.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/anne-arundel/bs-md-spirit-flight-bwi-20190424-story,amp.html


And still an issue with other airlines...

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.cnn.com/cnn/2019/03/29/us/united-flight-odor-trnd/index.html

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.usatoday.com/amp/3347699002

Are they doing anything about it? Do you guys have a committee addressing these incidents?

I am glad they went to the hospital to get checked out. I was js one day when there was a (small? again I wasn’t working and not even in the js so I’m not sure of the details) fume event and the ca kept saying nothing was wrong and the FA’s were new and on probation and nothing (as-far as I know because the next flight went out) was done. We are our own worst enemies sometimes. Hope the crew is ok and glad they are getting checked out.


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This is a major reason why I came to Spirit. We are, basically, the only US Airline that actually takes this seriously, recognizes it is a problem and are being proactive. We developed a checklist and procedure for this type of event. Finally we'll also going to be installing an The Pall Bleed Air STC filter.

I flew the Bus at another carrier and while they claimed it was taken "seriously" it was mostly lip service. We did end up with the checklist and procedure in our books, but that was about it.

I will say though, my last carrier (shortly before I left) did start to finally pay attention to the APU oil levels and hydraulic levels. A vast majority of these occurrences are due to over filling of oil and hydro.

There is a disconnect with what you see up front versus the actual sight gauges. Example - filling the APU at 75% sight picture, shows 100% full quantity up front on the SD. Well some mechanics would straight fill it up to full on the sight gauge (not understanding this concept at the time) and, 99% of the time, we would get a fume event shortly after. So they have figured out the correlation there. Similar issue with the hydraulics.

But yes, I am very happy we are the leader in this regard. It is a major major reason I came here. I have a lot of years left and don't need to stress out about this kind of crap. I had an event at my last carrier and, thankfully, was while taxing so immediate window open and went back to the gate. It smells exactly as described so no having to guess much about it. You'll know.

This stuff is real and not at all good for you. Don't let some management types tell you otherwise.

Here at his previous airline we also recently switched the entire fleet to Mobil 1 jet oil which doesn't contain the toxin the other oils have. Now when you get a fume event it just smells like a bit of oil and doesn't make you feel woozy.

Really? I remember the oil switch. I wasn't aware that there was an oil out there that didn't have any of the Tricresyl Phosphate. I know there are some oils that have a smaller percentage of it, but it pretty much has to have some of it (or a similar compound) to help with the tremendous high heat. If it indeed doesn't have it, then I would assume that is the next step for most every carrier.

I do hope that they get the Bleed Air filters installed over there as was stated in emails. My concern was, I would ask every mechanic I came across how its going, what they knew about it or what they heard. It wasn't very reassuring how many had no clue about it. This was months after it was announced as well.

Someone rattled off a few tails that got it installed, but still didn't say much about it or give a lot of detail. I will say though that once they stopped over servicing the fluids things did get a lot better so that is good for sure.

None of the new filters have been installed... They haven’t been approved by the FAA yet.


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Apparently it does still have some but its less. What I can say is you don't get the strong dirty sock smell any more.

No word on the filters. The whole thing seems to have died on the vine. When the FAs started requesting medical attention every time someone farts in the cabin management turned around and started playing the whole thing down as a job action. Haven't heard anything else about since last year.

Mobil jet II still has TCP..... according to the SDS and our case we just received. Is there another option for oil without it?

Both 2380 and Mobil Jet II contain TCP as an antiwear additive. It is added to aid in protection of metal parts in "extreme pressure" applications where there is potential for metal-on-metal wear.

Something like a plain mineral oil (I believe AeroShell Turbine Oil 2 would be an example) would not have TCP or TOCP additives.

However, the mil-spec for the AeroShell product is different than the Mobil Jet II product, so while viscosity may be similar, I'm not sure how close in application those oils would be. Ask your friendly neighborhood Airbus dealer.

My back of the napkin guess would be: There are NOT going to be synthetic turbine oils without TCP because those additives are what helps makes the oils competitive. Sort of like asking Progresso and Campbell's to make low-fat soup not taste like x$$ without adding a ton of sodium.

Sure, they could remove the TCP from 2380, and Campbell's could take out the sodium, but then everyone would buy Mobil Jet II & Progresso because one performs better & the other tastes better (even though one is Sarin nerve agent in a can and the other is heart disease in a can).