Contaminated Aircraft Cabin Air – An Aeronautical Engineering Perspective

There is sufficient evidence for a problem of contaminated cabin air: Engines leak oil by design and this oil can be traced on its way from the engine into the cabin. The short-term partial technical solution can be carbon filters: a) in the duct to the cabin and b) attached to the recirculation filter (both suitable for retrofit). The long-term full technical solution: A bleed-free architecture with direct air intakes and dedicated compressors (feasible only for newly designed aircraft).