The world’s First Real-Time, Poisonous Compound Sensor for Aircraft Cabins has been verified by UK’s National Physical Laboratory.

Following multiple successful in-house tests and the real-time detection of TBP, witnessed by Dr. Nicholas Martin of the National Physical Laboratory (NPL), VN Aerotoxic Detection Solutions Ltd (VN-ADS) announced today that it has successfully developed a real-time, poisonous compound sensor for use in aircraft cockpits and cabins.

For the past 5-years, VN-ADS has worked with NPL to ensure that their proprietary technology is independently validated and verified for its capabilities in selectively detecting individual Volatile, and Semi-Volatile, Organic Compounds such as Tributyl Phosphate, TBP, Tricresyl Phosphate, TCP and Triphenyl Phosphate, TPP.

VN ADS is now developing the sensor to detect other poisonous compounds found when engine seals fail, causing jet lubrication oil to be burned and toxic fumes to enter the aircraft cabin via the bleed-air / air-conditioning system.

NPL will once again deliver independent verification of the sensor’s capabilities. The sensors will then be tested in aircraft cockpits and cabins on live flights, prior to offering commercial poisonous compound sensor services to airlines, operators, and manufacturers in the aerospace industry.

Using the sensor on every flight will allow Pilots and cabin crew to know immediately ‘if and when’ poisonous compounds are present in the aircraft cabin air. They can then take appropriate action for the health and safety of themselves and their passengers, knowing that they have irrefutable evidence of a ‘Fume event’ taking place.

Whilst the health & safety benefits of using the sensor on every flight going forward are obvious for pilots, cabin crew and passengers, the ability to now sense poisonous compounds in real-time during flights, will undoubtably become an influencing factor when Judges decide the merits of the ever-growing number of legal actions initiated by pilots, cabin crew & their unions, claiming long-term health issues caused by Aerotoxic ‘Fume Events’.

VN-ADS CEO David Newman said:

“Despite Clean Air legislation being passed by the US Senate 2-years ago, and an investigative program set up by the Federal Aviation Authority, until this announcement no ‘Real-Time’ poisonous compound sensors exist.  As such for the past 50-years, the Aviation industry has been able to ignore / deny the growing problem of ‘Fume Event’ based aircrew health problems. That position changes today”.