onboad spraying
Jun 12, 2012 | 12:21 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 2
onboad spraying
The last time I flew with New Zealand airlines they had a couple of agents walking down the aisle with a bottle of insecticide on each hand and sprayed indiscriminately on the top of the passengers' heads. I wonder if they are still doing that.
Jun 12, 2012 | 8:02 am
#2
Join Date: May 2009
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Last time I saw that on a flight (not involving NZ) was flying to South Africa in 1981, with a stop in the Cape Verde Islands. I think the sprayed both on arrival and before departure.
I think islands have learned from Hawaii, which did not have mosquitos (they claim) until a ship arrived with some mosquitos in the hull/bilge in the 1800s.
I think islands have learned from Hawaii, which did not have mosquitos (they claim) until a ship arrived with some mosquitos in the hull/bilge in the 1800s.
Jun 12, 2012 | 11:06 am
#3
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 118
I saw that on an EgyptAir flight from Cairo to LHR in the spring of 2009. It was done in a halfhearted way; one had the impression that the cabin crew didn't believe it accomplished anything and that they were doing it just so that they could say it had been done.
Jun 12, 2012 | 11:36 am
#4
Join Date: Jul 2003
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Six countries currently require pesticide spraying on all inbound flights: Grenada, India, Kiribati, Madagascar, Trinidad and Tobago and Uruguay. Another six countries: Australia, Barbados, Fiji, Jamaica, New Zealand and Panama require the use of residual pesticides.
I've never heard of the UK requiring it; perhaps there was a specific outbreak of something in 2009 or it could have been a spray other than pesticide.
Jun 12, 2012 | 2:31 pm
#5
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: New Zealand/ UK
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The page isn't dated so I don't know how current it is.
I've never heard of the UK requiring it; perhaps there was a specific outbreak of something in 2009 or it could have been a spray other than pesticide.
I've never heard of the UK requiring it; perhaps there was a specific outbreak of something in 2009 or it could have been a spray other than pesticide.
I haven't been sprayed when entering Australia or NZ for at least 10 years, possibly longer. Can't speak for the other countries mentioned.
Jun 12, 2012 | 5:15 pm
#9
Join Date: Aug 2005
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Have flown LAX > Australia and/or NZ about 12 times over the last 5 years on Qantas, Air New Zealand, and Virgin Australia and have never had the cabin sprayed. NZ customs is still strict to make sure there's no dirt/organics on hiking boots though.
Jun 12, 2012 | 5:42 pm
#10
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Yup. Got sprayed on a flight from JNB to Livingstone. I didn't look up and into it, but my eyes still burned for hours afterwards. Been sprayed since, but now I put the blanket or something over my head and face and keep my eyes closed. They don't seem to care.
Jun 13, 2012 | 10:24 am
#12
Join Date: Sep 2002
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The link in Wally Bird's post didn't say that Australia and NZ sprayed planes with pax aboard, it said that those were among the countries that require the planes to be sprayed periodically with a residual pesticide.
Jun 13, 2012 | 12:34 pm
#13
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 658
Here is another site that explains the spraying requirements of various countries, as well as gives the contact information for airline representatives who have information about the requirements:
http://ostpxweb.dot.gov/policy/safet...sinsection.htm
It should be noted that the residual method is done while the passenger is not on board, so one will most likely not notice when this is done.
http://ostpxweb.dot.gov/policy/safet...sinsection.htm
It should be noted that the residual method is done while the passenger is not on board, so one will most likely not notice when this is done.
Jun 13, 2012 | 1:18 pm
#15
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I've been sprayed within the last decade in Australia. IIRC they also require that planes be rotated somewhere for treatment that isn't done in the USA.