Moderators: richierich, ua900, PanAm_DC10, hOMSaR
readytotaxi wrote:http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-41685266
I should imagine that this is a common problem on most airlines, nice that they offered an upgrade to a better class of bed bug. Head lice and other crawly stuff is out there, just like hotel rooms. How often is cabin space deep cleaning done I wonder.
MalevTU134 wrote:readytotaxi wrote:http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-41685266
I should imagine that this is a common problem on most airlines, nice that they offered an upgrade to a better class of bed bug. Head lice and other crawly stuff is out there, just like hotel rooms. How often is cabin space deep cleaning done I wonder.
With every D-check...or when seats are changed for new ones. Which makes you scratch your head, of course...
AR385 wrote:In the decades I´ve spent flying on multiple airlines in multiple places I´ve never had a problem with bed bugs or lice. So this must be a rare ocurrence. I am sure airlines fumigate their aircraft when even the slightest suspicion of a problem with these critters is reported, After all, fumigation should be very effective on an ariliner since it is a hermetically sealed environment.
aerolimani wrote:Bedbugs are remarkably hard to kill. They've only been relatively absent from our world because of DDT. Since DDT was banned, they've been slowly coming back. They can live in very difficult to access spots. The little seems in the walls of an aircraft would be a good spot.
Chemicals are not particularly effective on them. Heat works well. 55°C for several hours is usually what is required, and is often done to homes and hotel rooms that have an infestation. Would it be safe to heat the interior of an aircraft like this? I imagine warming up all that plastic would leave a lingering smell.
s4popo wrote:AR385 wrote:In the decades I´ve spent flying on multiple airlines in multiple places I´ve never had a problem with bed bugs or lice. So this must be a rare ocurrence. I am sure airlines fumigate their aircraft when even the slightest suspicion of a problem with these critters is reported, After all, fumigation should be very effective on an ariliner since it is a hermetically sealed environment.
That requires a certain number of hours/days for the plane to be out of service, and that costs $$$$.
MalevTU134 wrote:With every D-check...or when seats are changed for new ones. Which makes you scratch your head, of course...
aklrno wrote:aerolimani wrote:Bedbugs are remarkably hard to kill. They've only been relatively absent from our world because of DDT. Since DDT was banned, they've been slowly coming back. They can live in very difficult to access spots. The little seems in the walls of an aircraft would be a good spot.
Chemicals are not particularly effective on them. Heat works well. 55°C for several hours is usually what is required, and is often done to homes and hotel rooms that have an infestation. Would it be safe to heat the interior of an aircraft like this? I imagine warming up all that plastic would leave a lingering smell.
If that's all it takes, the solution is easy. Park it at Mojave for a day. Problem solved.
Wacker1000 wrote:MalevTU134 wrote:With every D-check...or when seats are changed for new ones. Which makes you scratch your head, of course...
What do they do if the aircraft never had a D-Check?
smi0006 wrote:For countries that require quarantine sprays at top of decent, or residual sprays done during maintenance- eg NZ and Australia, do these sprays and the residual treatments not kill them?
MalevTU134 wrote:smi0006 wrote:For countries that require quarantine sprays at top of decent, or residual sprays done during maintenance- eg NZ and Australia, do these sprays and the residual treatments not kill them?
Those sprays have the effect of holy water. They cannot possibly reach and penetrate even a small portion of all the crevices, tears, folds and what have you in the fabric, leather, plastic and other materials onboard.
aerolimani wrote:aklrno wrote:aerolimani wrote:Bedbugs are remarkably hard to kill. They've only been relatively absent from our world because of DDT. Since DDT was banned, they've been slowly coming back. They can live in very difficult to access spots. The little seems in the walls of an aircraft would be a good spot.
Chemicals are not particularly effective on them. Heat works well. 55°C for several hours is usually what is required, and is often done to homes and hotel rooms that have an infestation. Would it be safe to heat the interior of an aircraft like this? I imagine warming up all that plastic would leave a lingering smell.
If that's all it takes, the solution is easy. Park it at Mojave for a day. Problem solved.
That's actually not a terrible idea. As long as it sits long enough for the heat to penetrate the upholstery. Pest control people force hot air into upholstery and mattresses to ensure penetration.