And 86.56486% of FT "truths" are made up on the spot.

Back in June '04 I was on an Hawaiian Airlines flight that got sprayed upon arrival in SYD. Bit of a shock as it had been a very long time since I'd seen that happen (and never again since).

Not quite true!

I have frequently flown back and forth between Australia and Europe/USA since 1992 on various airlines (MH, TG, QF, SQ, OS, CX....) and the aircraft was sprayed on each and every arrival into Australia.

On this website you will find a detailed document outlining the current (May 2004) protocels for disinsection of aircraft entering Australia and New Zealand.

http://www.affa.gov.au/content/publi...1058EA34886322

So these are the facts on this matter!

The spraying of aircraft cabins prior to entry to Australia is controlled by Australian Government regulations and enforced by AQIS (Australian Quarantine Inspection Service). Prior to 1990, all aircraft cabins had to be sprayed before entry to Australia. After 1990, AQIS offer two methods to ensure the bugs are kept out of Australia, and it is up to the airline to decide which method they want to use:

• Spray the cabin during the flight - can be done any time after door close and used to be done at top-of-decent, but can be done upon landing.
• Treat the cabin with an approved persistent pesticide (such as Permethrin). The cabin needs to be treated at regular intervals (something like every 45 days).

So if the airline operates the aircraft regularly to Australia, and they can keep the necessary records, there is no need to spray the cabin (and the passengers) each flight. Obviously this is the option undertaken by Qantas and Air NZ. In fact, most airlines that operate regularly to Australia use the second option. However, they probably don't treat their entire fleet - only a subfleet that is used on services to Australia. So if there is a need to change the aircraft for one that has not been treated in the right timeframe, there may still be a need to spray the cabin during the flight.

This is a good reason to fly to Australia with an airline that uses the persistent pesticide method of treatment.

Here's another view.

http://www.kefir.net/spray/buzzwormairspray.htm

Maybe the second-hand tale was a little exagerrated and maybe the passenger wasn't talking about a flight to Australia, but the spraying happens. I flew between LHR and DEL last year and was doused in both directions. As the OP mentioned, no chance to escape. Why they felt it necessary to de-bug a flight that left LHR in late February I'll never know. The FAs said that WHO "ordered" it, which is a lie. WHO says it's OK but it's a government decision. I know I looked like a hypochondriac but I hid under my blanket when the FAs came through. They were NOT masked and I felt sorrier for them. One former FA has a site on this, but I can't find it right now. I do remember one case of the spraying being fatal to someoen with asthma.

Later I asked my son, who flew to Australia in 2000, if they'd been sprayed and he said no- but there are also techniques to treat the aircraft when no one is aboard which can be just as nasty- sometimes the seats are still wet when the pax get into the plane.

For those who really want to read through the requirements, it can be found here from the AQIS web site.

Have yet to read of someone seeing men in Star Wars suits and masks and back packs spraying folks with Anthrax via fire hoses or whatever the OP 'overheard' occurs on all flights to OZ.




Glen

Actually reminds me more of Ghost Busters than Star Wars, but that is another story .

The Singapore Girls will spray your noggin on flights from South Africa to SIN, as you are sitting there sipping your cocktail.

They do provide a napkin to cover it up.

Since 2000, a small portion my flights to or from the following continents have included the aerosol treatment:

Africa (multiple times)
Central America (once)
India (multiple times)
South America (once)

I haven't been able to figure the rhyme or reason to the sprayings, so NM's description of the two methods makes a lot of sense to me.

My BA flight to LHR-(SIN)-SYD in December included spraying. One FA did have a dust mask on as she did the spraying from a cannister (not a tank).

I stand corrected. Apologies.

To cover the noggin or the cocktail?

Can I ask who here has actually had these experiences happen first hand as second hand information is dodgy at best (ever played chinese whispers).
I have flown in and out of Australia over 100 times and the only spraying that I have ever experienced was in 1999 on KLM and they use a pesticide which is delivered through the air conditioning so no people walking around with a spray can (though I have heard of this happening once to a friend flying SA from Africa), I definately don't recall anyone in space suits spraying out the cabin unless they did it mid flight while I was sleeping and quietly parachuted back to earth before we landed

Had not noticed the "trip home FROM Australia" before in the 3rd hand gossip account in OP.

I can categorically say on 100s of flights FROM Australia I have taken over the past 35 years I have NEVER been sprayed.

By a FA, or even men in Star Wars suits.

theawesome1 has been conspicious by his/her absence during this thread I notice.