Inoperative Potable Water on
US Airways Aircraft
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AFA-CWA
Air Safety Health and Security Committee is collecting
data on Inoperative Potable Water systems
onboard US Airways aircraft and we need your
assistance. |
Please send the following data on
flights worked as a crewmember, that were
flown with passengers and without potable
water. Thank you!
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Flight Attendants Fighting for Safe Airplane Water
AFA-CWA leaders say a proposed Environmental Protection
Agency rule intended to safeguard drinking water onboard
airplanes leaves too much power in the hands of the airlines and
puts flight attendants and passengers at risk.
A few years ago, galley and lavatory water
samples collected and analyzed by the EPA suggested that about
15 percent of aircraft had water supplies contaminated with
coliform bacteria (most of which are not harmful to humans, but
a few are, including a strain of E. coli
that produces a powerful toxin
and can cause severe illness, ( http://www.epa.gov/safewater/contaminants/ecoli.html).
More recent samples, collected by only a few airlines and not by
the EPA or another independent agency, suggest contamination
levels may now be less than 3 percent.
Unfortunately, these airline-obtained samples are being used
in part to justify new rules proposed by the EPA to ensure
airline water is safe. In response, AFA-CWA Air Safety, Health
and Security Director Chris Witkowski stated, "We recommended to
the EPA that before proposing an airline drinking water rule it
should first obtain and analyze data from all of the airlines'
self-tests, and also conduct its own independent tests. It was
premature for the agency to issue this proposed rule based on
preliminary testing data of unconfirmed validity."
The EPA tests followed a Wall Street Journal investigation of
airline water in 2002, which followed-up on tests run by a
13-year-old
California student
as a science project. On a family trip to
Australia and
New Zealand,
the teenager took tap water samples from nine airplanes and
found that seven samples contained E. coli, fecal
coliform or salmonella.
The fact that EPA's tests showed contamination occurring at a
rate five times higher than the airlines' own tests is clear
evidence that independent testing is essential, Witkowski said.
But so far EPA has said only that it "may" conduct audits "as
deemed necessary" to ensure that airlines are complying with its
rules. "EPA must mandate routine, independent audits to ensure
the public that water on airplanes is safe for all uses," he
said.
The public has until July 8 to submit comments on the EPA's
29-page "Proposed Aircraft Drinking Water Rule." AFA-CWA is
gathering input from flight attendants and preparing a detailed
response.
INOPERATIVE POTABLE
WATER ON
US
AIRWAYS AIRCRAFT
A Must Read dated
January 28,
2008, advised US Airways flight attendants of the
company’s actions regarding an Administrative Order of Consent (AOC)
from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). As you have
experienced, a direct result of this potable water testing
program is aircraft being dispatched without operative potable
water.
The company is not providing to AFA-CWA
the flight numbers and names of flight crew members who are
operating these flights or who have operated these flights in
the past. The help and information you provide will be a
valuable factor in the ability of AFA to address this issue.
Thank You,
Gary Richardson, MEC President
Dorene Fredette, MEC ASHS
Chairperson
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Committee Members
Ken Perron
Dauna Slater
The purpose and scope of the Air Safety,
Health and Security Committee is to interface with US
Airways and the AFA National Air Safety and Health Department on
matters pertaining to cabin and Flight Attendant safety and
health.
Section 26 of our AFA contract sets forth-specific
responsibilities, which creates a binding agenda for ASH. Please
take a moment to read that section.
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If you ever become involved in an incident, accident, or have
a safety concern, we now have a proper protocol to address these
issues. AFA strongly recommends that our fellow flying partners
take a proactive posture in all matters of safety and health.
If you are asked to participate in any form of diffusing or
debriefing by AWA Management, FAA, or NTSB you are entitled to
Union Representation during this process. We strongly recommend
you exercise this right. The above parties are aware of this
contractual right and they do respect it.
If you encounter an unsafe or unhealthy working condition, or
have a question for ASH, please call the Union office and ask to
be transferred to Mailbox 16. You may leave a voice message and
a committee member will return your call as soon as possible.
Please keep in mind that all committee members are line flight
attendants.
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