I always marvel at the hypocrisy of some people; while others are simply misinformed, otherwise reasonably intelligent people. Recently, I was on a TAM (Brazilian airlines) flight from Sao Paulo, Brazil to Buenos Aires, Argentina. As soon as the door was closed for departure, the Brazilian flight steward made an announcement that according to and approved by Argentine authorities, passengers must be decontaminated.
This decontamination entailed another flight steward immediately starting at the front of the aircraft with an aerosol can spraying into the ventilation system above the carry on baggage compartment; walking from the front to the back spraying one side and from the back to the front spraying the other side. Not a single soul on the aircraft could avoid the spray, especially the flight attendant sprayer. Oddly, the attendant had a latex glove on his spraying hand. Why? I have no idea, as he was walking in the “drift” the entire time.
To my knowledge, at least not to me, no one was advised before boarding the aircraft that they would be directly sprayed with a pesticide. No one had a choice in the matter. The lady in front of me tried to bury her head in her clothing, to no avail. Otherwise, everyone took the event in stride. Although, I must admit, the chemical left a taste in my mouth that lasted throughout the flight.
Not that the spraying bothered me. I am sure the Argentinean government thinks it is necessary. But, this is the same country that is trying to ban Roundup. Where is the logic? I can only imagine the reaction to an aircraft at the Boulder, Colorado airport about to depart and this spraying took place. I believe there would be chaos. I am not picking on Boulder, except it is somewhat a “free thinking” group of citizens. The same reaction would most likely occur at any American airport.
I am sure someone will read this opinion of mine about hypocrisy and the misinformed with an explanation. What has my attention is a direct application of a pesticide without the ability to opt-out, baffles me beyond any conception to why there is no outcry.
I have full faith and confidence the pesticide was harmless to humans. Actually, I do not know what they were spraying for, maybe lice? Using a Google search, the only place I found specific information was on Air Canada. This airline uses PSA Aircraft Insecticide, which is, either 2% Permethrin or 2% d-Phenothrin with the remainder of the spray HFA 134A as a propellant. The application is approved by the World Health Organization.
Any ag-pilot knows the family of permethrins is relatively harmless with the greatest cause of concern being an allergic reaction. I seriously doubt the average airline passenger has any idea of the content of the spray. Simply said, I cannot get over the acceptance of this direct spraying with no notification as compared to the complaints our industry receives. An aircraft can fly over a group of field workers with only water in the aircraft and I guarantee you someone would claim to be sick. I did not see any such claims on that flight to Buenos Aires. I guess everyone had an appointment for tango lessons that they simply could not miss because of being sprayed with a pesticide!
keep turning
