Aircraft Disinsection: A Guide for Military and Civilian Air Carriers (Desinsectisation des aeronefs: Un guide a l'intention des responsables des transports aeriens civils et militaires)

Aircraft disinsection is an important tool in preventing the introduction of unwanted pests into a country when an aircraft is returning to its home base. To prevent risks to air crew health, aircraft safety, and industry, Canadas Department of National Defence DND has reviewed the importance of aircraft disinsection and the potential problems associated with execution. Over the past two decades, various directives for air crew maintenance personnel, and preventive medicine technicians have been developed and updated periodically. This aircraft disinsection review is part of the latest effort to revise DNDs administrative orders on aircraft disinsection. Existing Canadian and foreign legislation, regulations, and recommendations dealing with aircraft disinsection were reviewed. This review also summarises the information that was gathered from various officials involved in the regulation of introduced pests, pesticide registration, and safe pesticide use. Aircraft disinsection technology has evolved over the years since its inception. Practical, up-to-date information on current technologies was gathered, through numerous meetings and correspondence, from researchers, private companies involved in aircraft disinsection, air force personnel, and representatives of civilian air carriers who are active worldwide. The end-result was the development of a current, standard operating procedure for disinsection of Canadian Air Force aircraft in the form of an Air Command Administrative Order. It may serve as a model for the Air Forces and air carriers of other NATO countries.