Concerning the brake pads, they suffered extensive damage on the outer layer where asbestos was found and when it was time to replace them, the worker was in direct contact with the asbestos dust gathered there. An additional risk was found when parts glued to the airplane needed to be removed. In this process, the deteriorated adhesives would release microscopic asbestos particles in the worker’s environment.
The diseases related to asbestos exposure were proven to have grim repercussions on the unfortunate people that have worked on these sites. And what’s worse is that the symptoms of diseases like mesothelioma or asbestosis develop in 10 to 40 years and failing to get a proper diagnosis in time leads to fatal results.
Aircraft workers were also present in the military, being responsible for inspecting, servicing, and repairing the equipment of the aircraft. They would troubleshoot and maintain the structure and the engine of aircraft, as well as other components, such as weapons and electronic warfare. Since numerous aircraft components were manufactured with asbestos before 1980, people who served in the military are now at high risk of developing a serious disease as a result of exposure. For this reason, we strongly advise veterans to undergo periodical medical examination, as they may unknowingly struggle with a disease such as asbestosis, lung cancer, or pulmonary fibrosis. Veterans who served in the U.S. Air Force and the Navy were inevitably exposed to asbestos between 1920 and 1980.
Aircraft types mechanics might have encountered
- CH-47 Chinook
- CH-54 Tarhe
- UH-1 Huey
- AH-1 Cobra
- UH-60 Black Hawk
- OH-58 Kiowa
- C-130 Hercules
- B-52
- KC-135
- F-4 Phantom
- F-111
- C-141
Relevant job titles
- engineman
- engine apprentice
- aircraft service technician
- aircraft mechanic
- aircraft servicer
- aircraft interiors technician
- aviation fire control technician
- aircraft painter
- cargo agent
- final assembly mechanic
- fuel tank mechanic
- ground service agent
- overhaul and repair mechanic
- ramp agent
- heavy equipment mechanic
- maintenance mechanic
- jet engine mechanic
- aircraft handler
- fuel specialist
Asbestos-related cancer eligible for filing a claim
If you developed one of the following cancers as a result of occupational exposure, you are eligible for compensation. If you are too ill, a family member can help you with the legal process. In the unfortunate event that you pass away before recovering compensation, your surviving family members will receive compensation on your behalf.
If, however, you struggle with non-cancerous pleural diseases such as asbestosis, pulmonary fibrosis, pleural plaques, pleural effusion, diffuse pleural thickening, COPD (emphysema & chronic bronchitis), pleurisy, lung nodules, lung spots, asthma, pneumonitis, tuberculosis, rounded atelectasis or lung scarring, please seek a second or even a third opinion as the rate of misdiagnosis is very high among the victims of asbestos exposure.
Companies that exposed aircraft workers to asbestos
- Flexitallic Gasket Company
- Halliburton Company
- Pan American World Airways Inc.
- Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings
- Northrop Grumman
Berkeley, Missouri - Missouri
- McDonnell Douglas Corporation
Buffalo, New York - New York
- Bell Aircraft Corporation
- Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation
Chicago, Illinois - Illinois
- Consolidated Aircraft Corporation
Glendale, California - California
- Hughes Aircraft Company
- Lockheed Corporation
Providence, Rhode Island - Rhode Island
- Textron, Inc.
Labor union members are also eligible
Asbestos products handled by aircraft workers
The aerospace industry has been using asbestos extensively up until the 1980s for its remarkable resistance to high temperatures, electricity, and friction, as well as for the mineral’s durability and sound absorption properties. Aircraft workers were exposed to asbestos by interacting with components such as torque valves, electrical wiring, brakes, gaskets, and cockpit heating systems. When these products were being repaired, fibers of asbestos would be released into the air due to friction. Additionally, asbestos was incorporated in the adhesives and epoxies which were frequently employed by aircraft mechanics as well. Friable products would also release asbestos fibers when they were disturbed.