You Might Be Shocked At What’s Under Your Feet When You Fly

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by Neil Bamforth

I used to work at Heathrow Airport in cargo. I know how it operates and, as a result, I prefer not to fly anywhere thank you very much. I was responsible for, amongst other things, checking that dangerous goods were safe to fly. The checks were important as 95% of dangerous goods fly on passenger aircraft. Yep. 95 % are under your feet when you fly.

Radioactive, flammable materials, infectious substances, spontaneously combustible, some explosives, poisonous materials, corrosives. You name it, when you fly, it’s all under your feet in the aircraft hold.

The reason is simple. Money. It’s a damn sight cheaper to fly it on passenger flights than it is cargo aircraft.

Certainly particularly high explosives or more volatile explosives are ‘CAO’ – Cargo Aircraft Only – but, 95% of dangerous goods go on passenger aircraft. I know. I checked they were safe to fly.

Once DG’s are checked as safe to fly the checker puts them on a ‘NOTOC’ – Captain’s notification – so the flight Captain can make sure he’s happy with what is in the hold and that’s it. Up you go with all that stuff in the hold of your aircraft.

Some years back an aircraft came down. The black box was retrieved and it was established that neither mechanical malfunction nor pilot error was responsible. The next check was the ‘NOTOC’.

It was discovered that an ‘AOG’ (Aircraft on the ground) engine which qualified as a DG was on the flight. The DG checker allowed it through onto the flight despite not checking it thoroughly as it had arrived late. He took a chance. Unfortunately there was fuel in the engine. It leaked and, somehow, as a result, the aircraft ended up hitting the ground from 20,000 feet. The deaths were in the hundreds.

DG checkers such as myself were often pressured by airlines to push ‘AOG’s through if they missed the flight ‘cut off’ as the grounded aircraft was costing them a lot of lost revenue. Back in my day, as a union rep, I said ‘No’ to the airlines and the management and that was it.

I knew my employment law along with the DG rules and the management didn’t mess with me. Also I protected union members who were DG checkers. It didn’t happen.

I’ve been out of that environment for many years and nothing has changed. Now the union isn’t so strong and many of my old workmates tell me DG’s are constantly being rushed through. The management and / or airlines say ‘Do it’ and it’s done. Nobody wants to lose their job.

Of course the appropriate authorities would deny this and, clearly, I have no concrete evidence as I am no longer in a position to acquire any but my old workmates are not being untruthful with me. What would be the point? I’m a driving instructor now. I no longer have any influence over my former employer nor the airlines in question.

Another worrying truth regarding Heathrow and, indeed, almost certainly, other airports.

In ‘cargo’ there is little genuine security. All cargo agents and cargo handlers are trained to what is known as ‘Level 5’ security. This means absolutely nothing.

Would any cargo agent or handler put themselves in danger to ensure airport security? Nope. You can train them until you are blue in the face but they are cargo agents and handlers and they aren’t going to put themselves at risk for you or anyone else.

When a cargo shed door opens at Heathrow there is, from that moment, direct access to ‘airside’ – ie aircraft, runways, passenger terminals etc. The only thing preventing a determined individual from gaining access is the cargo handlers in the cargo shed.

I’m quite sure they are all prepared to face down a determined individual armed with a gun or a suicide vest and prevent them access aren’t you? Yeah, right. On your bike matey. “I’ve a wife and two kids and I’m outta here!”

So my friends. When you check into your airport and wait securely in your passenger lounge remember this. The cargo area of your airport has nothing but cargo handlers and agents to prevent some lunatic passing through the cargo shed to airside (assuming the sheds have airside access of course, as many at Heathrow do).

Said lunatic(s) would then have access to aircraft, runways and you – supposedly secure in the terminal awaiting your flight.

Assuming no lunatic(s) have spoiled your time in the terminal, you then have to survive a flight with radioactive substances and flammable material and so forth under your seat in the hold that may, or may not, have been adequately checked.

I hope I have offered any nervous flyers some comfort here.

Safe journey. Personally, I prefer a boat. At least I might have a chance of swimming for it!

On the plus side, the cargo handling companies and airlines have their shareholders to worry about don’t they? After all, nothing must stand in the way of shareholder profits and management bonuses eh?

I’m a cynical old devil aren’t I?

Sadly, I know whereof I speak.

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About Post Author

Neil Bamforth

I am English first, British second and never ever European. I have supported Oldham Athletic FC for 50 years which has made me immune from depression. My taste buds have died due to too many red hot curries so I drink Kronenburg beer and milk - sometimes in the same glass. I have a wife, daughter, 9 cats and I like toast.
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Diane G.
6 years ago

I hate flying, too, but it is true that statistically it’s by far the safest way to travel per passenger mile. 😉

The “take a boat” solution reminded me of a conversation concerning the opposite choice. My Dad (a ship captain in the merchant marines) was talking to a married couple who were excited about their first trip to Europe. The wife told him she’d have loved to go by passenger ship but they were taking a plane instead because her husband couldn’t swim. To which my Dad replied: “Can he fly?”

😀

Neil Bamforth
Reply to  Diane G.
6 years ago

????????

Admin
6 years ago

Geez man! I had no fcking clue. Thanks. You’ve given me yet another reason to hate flying 🙂

Neil Bamforth
Reply to  Professor Mike
6 years ago

Flying is fine mate….it’s crashing that’s not so good ????

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