Flying a plane should come with a hazard warning, according to researchers, after a study found a link between contaminated air and the health of the crew. A new study led by the University of Stirling is said to be the first of its kind to look in depth at the health of those suspected to have been exposed to contaminated air during their work. It showed a clear link between being exposed to air supplies contaminated by engine oil and other aircraft fluids, and a variety of health problems, researchers said. The scientists examined more than 200 aircrew and found many had been exposed to a number of substances through aircrafts’ contaminated air. They uncovered a clear pattern of acute and chronic symptoms, ranging from headaches and dizziness to breathing and vision problems. <br/>
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On a flight out of Shanghai, the pilot of a US airline radioed air traffic control seeking a higher altitude. But, said the pilot, Jim Karsh, he could not understand the controller’s reply. “We tried 6, 7, 8 times to have him repeat,” Karsh said, then “we canceled our request.” Airline pilots say that understanding controllers who work in Chinese airspace can often be difficult. “The amount of English they speak is geared solely to controller lingo,” Karsh said. The problem is not confined to China, according to a just-published study for the British CAA. An inability to communicate in English is widespread and a safety threat the industry is not taking seriously enough, the report says. Miscommunication can be as much of a hazard “as an engine fire, a broken landing gear or an avionics failure,” said Barbara Clark, the author of the study. <br/>
Rolls-Royce Holdings is seeking ways to upgrade its engines for Airbus' A380 as the planemaker attempts to win orders for the slow-selling superjumbo jet. “We are contemplating what we can do over and above with Airbus,” Eric Schulz, Rolls-Royce’s head of civil aviation, said. “As soon as we mature a new technology we have a tendency to go back and roll it back to the product. We have done quite a lot of this already on the Trent 900.” Previous engine improvements have lifted fuel performance by as much as 1.5% with each package, Schulz said Monday. He declined to predict further savings that a new upgrade might provide. In 2015, the engine maker scooped up an order on 50 jets from the superjumbo’s biggest customer, Emirates. <br/>
Boeing unveiled a new version of its bestselling 737 aircraft Monday, injecting life into a faltering civil aviation market at the air show in Paris. After years of booming orders driven by increased air travel and more fuel-efficient planes, passenger jet manufacturers are bracing for a slowdown in demand while they focus on meeting tight delivery schedules and ambitious production targets. In a sign of their more modest expectations, some companies have cut back on staffing and catering at this year's Paris show and made less space available for the media. But Boeing generated a burst of activity on the opening day by launching the 737 MAX 10 to plug a gap in its portfolio at the top end of the market for single-aisle jets, following runaway sales of the rival Airbus A321neo. <br/>
A bipartisan group of senators is fighting to maintain commercial air service in rural communities after the Trump administration called for eliminating federal support for such a program. In a letter to the administration Monday, a group of lawmakers led by senator Deb Fischer expressed concern over the president’s budget proposal, which would cut all funding for Essential Air Service (EAS). The 40-year-old program helps give small towns and remote communities access to air service, where it can otherwise be difficult to support financially. “Without this support, many rural areas may no longer have access to air services,” the letter says. “This would significantly reduce support for rural communities in our states. A reduction in support could lead to a reduction in services and ultimately in jobs for rural America.” <br/>