New JP8 fuel additive to improve jet performance
     LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. (AFNS) Sep 22, 1997 ----- The 1st
 Fighter Wing is the first unit in Air Combat Command to integrate a
 new fuel additive, JP8+100, into its existing fuel inventory.
     "JP8+100 is basically a detergent added to clean the aircraft
 fueling system and allow its components to operate more effectively
 and efficiently at higher temperatures," said Staff Sgt. Mark Fraser,
 a fuels specialist on temporary duty here from Hill Air Force Base,
 Utah.
     JP8+100 reduces engine problems and increases engine productiv-
 ity, he said. As the engine component performance increases, so does
 the mission capable rate, since less time is spent on maintenance.
     The additive is similar to the detergents added to automotive
 gasoline, Fraser said, except that those additives simply clean fuel
 injectors. The jet engines also use JP8+100 to cool engine lubricat-
 ing oil, hydraulic fluid and aircraft subsystems.
     Fraser has been here since May so he can return to his home fuels
 unit with information on transitioning to JP8+100. The new additive
 will soon be used in Reserve F-16s assigned to the 419th Fighter Wing
 at Hill.
     The use of JP8+100 will be expanded to all bases with F-15, F-16,
 T-1A, T-37 and T-38 aircraft by the end of fiscal 1999. (Courtesy of
 ACC News Service)
 -----------------
        AirTran Airlines unveiled one of their aircraft at Hartsfield
 Atlanta International Airport at a news conference in Atlanta Wed-
 nesday, Sept. 24.   ValuJet Airlines began operating Wednesday as
 AirTran.
 --------
 By Diana Fairechild Special to ABCNEWS.com
   I've noticed the air on planes seems a bit stale sometimes. Is the
   air quality better in some parts of the airplane than others?
      Have you ever considered becoming a pilot? The cockpit has ten
 times more fresh air than the economy cabins. The next best alterna-
 tive is to upgrade - first class has three times more air than
 economy.
      Business class is often stuffy. The curtains in the front and
 back of this small section impede airflow. The worst place, of
 course, is a coach seat in a crowded flight_more people breathing
 in a confined space; less air for each passenger.
      Scientists have proven that vision is impaired with inadequate
 oxygen. The airlines, in their limited wisdom, want to ensure that
 pilots, at least, can see.  They won't admit it, though.  Airline
 management states that oxygen-rich cockpits are required only for
 the sake of expensive instruments on board.
     Hypoxia (lack of oxygen to the brain) results in forgetfulness,
 goofiness, fatigue, inability to concentrate, and a clammy sweat.
                         Inflight Potpourri
     What is in the air in airplanes? According to a 1994 Harvard
 University School of Public Health study, everything from germs, mold
 and yeast to acetone, isopropyl alcohol and compounds found in fuels,
 cleaners, plastic and grease solvents. You can breathe the same things
 in the air when you're on the ground, but in airplanes, it can be more
 concentrated.
     The best place to get fresh air on an airplane is where you
 sense that you can think clearly and breathe comfortably. No one can
 give you a specific seat number that will offer you better air be-
 cause aircraft configurations (inside seating plans) change and
 because some planes fly with leaky seals, broken air conditioners,
 and dirty filters. Sometimes you'll find the front of the cabin has
 more air. Other times it's the back of the plane. For the most part,
 it's where there are the least amount of people. Newer planes are
 sometimes more suffocating; designed for "fuel economy," most of
 them don't even have the individual air vents above each seat.
                            Getting Air
     On board you are free to change seats as long as you move
 laterally (business to business) or down (business to economy).
     Remember, it is important to tell a flight attendant if you ex-
 perience difficulty breathing.  The plane could have a "slow decom-
 pression," meaning it is slowly losing air, like a car tire that's
 always low. It's not something that's going to down the plane, but
 it does need to be fixed, so it's helpful to alert a flight
 attendant.
     You can also ask a flight attendant to convey to the cockpit that
 you'd like "full utilization of air." Though the standard operating
 procedure on many airlines is to fly with less, most pilots are will-
 ing to turn up the passengers' air when requested.
     If you have a special health problem that makes it difficult for
 you to breathe, you can ask for an oxygen bottle. There are about
 twenty portable bottles (on 747s), and there is no fee in these
 "emergency situations."
                            Breathe Deeply
     After landing, spend time in fresh air_city parks, botanical
 gardens, by the shore. You can also ask your hotel to provide you
 with an air purifier and a humidifier.
     Oxygen feeds the brain. Shallow breaths coincide with racing
 thoughts and fear. Deep breaths enhance relaxed, peaceful, creative
 minds.
     The Aviation Clear Air Act of 1996, created to monitor fresh air
 in commercial jets, was proposed in Congress but never passed. The
 1986 Airliner Cabin Environmental study, which recommended full
 utilization of air, was never enforced.
     Airlines that continue to treat airplane air as a budget-cutting
 ploy are neglecting the health of their passengers. The more recycled
 air they introduce, the more vulnerable travelers are to the spread
 of diseases.
     Editor's Note: Diana Fairechild filed a workers' compensation
 claim alleging she suffered health problems as a result of being
 overexposed to chemicals while working as a flight attendant. The
 case was denied by the Workcomp Appeals Board and Hawaii Supreme
 Court. She has a petition for review pending before the U.S. Supreme
 Court.
     Travelers' advocate Diana Fairechild circled the globe more than
 100 times during 21 years as an international flight attendant. She
 is the author of the book JET SMART and the Web site Healthy Flying.
 ----
--- DB 1.39/004487
---------------