
Picture of Dr Susan Michaelis

Picture of Dr Susan Michaelis

Picture of Dr Susan Michaelis

Picture of Dr Susan Michaelis
ABOUT SUSAN
Dr Susan Michaelis is a former Australian flight instructor and airline transport (ATPL) pilot with over 5,000 flying hours, now recognised as a leading and uniquely qualified global aviation health and safety consultant and PhD researcher in the field of safety in the workplace - aircraft contaminated air supplies and hazardous substances.
UK based Dr Michaelis, holds an MSc in Air Safety and Accident Investigation and is a qualified Air Accident Investigator and has widely briefed industry, governments, military, regulators, academics, scientists, doctors, experts, lawyers and unions on the bleed air topic.
Dr Michaelis was awarded the top MSc academic award in 2017 for her work on how oil leaks past seals in turbine engines. She holds NEBOSH and COSHH qualifications in health and safety and the use of hazardous substances and is a member of IOSH and the International Institute of Risk and Safety Management (IIRSM).
West Sussex based, Dr Michaelis is also an Honorary Sensor Research Fellow at the University of Stirling in Scotland.
Susan received a British Citizens Award (BCAhon) in 2023, for her 25+ years of work on the contaminated air issue.
ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND
EDUCATION & AFFILIATIONS
Visiting researcher: University of Stirling, Scotland
PhD: Safety Science, UNSW, Australia - 'Health and Flight Safety Implications From Exposure to Contaminated Air in Aircraft' (2010)
MSc: Air Safety and Accident Investigation - Cranfield University, UK (2016)
Fundamentals of Accident Investigation: Applied Aircraft Accident Investigation, Cranfield University, UK (2011)
COSHH Assessor Training Course: (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) (2011)
NEBOSH: National General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety (2010)
B Bus (Marketing): Chisholm Institute of Technology, Victoria, Australia (1982)
PHD AND MSC
Michaelis, S. (2010) "Health and Flight Safety Implications from Exposure to Contaminated Air in Aircraft", UNSW, Australia UNSW PhD
Michaelis, S. (2016) "Implementation Of The Requirements For The Provision Of Clean Air In Crew And Passenger Compartments Using The Aircraft Bleed Air System", Cranfield University, UK. Cranfield MSc Thesis
AVIATION EMPLOYMENT
2011 to Present: Aviation Health & Safety Consultant, Michaelis Aviation Consulting.
2006 – Present: Head of Research, GCAQE- Global Cabin Air Quality Executive – voluntary / p/t (2013 – 2016)
2007 – 2011: Aviation Contaminated Air Consultant
1989 – 1997: ATPL pilot, Australia (medically retired 1997)
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Awards
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MSc (2016) Cranfield University Course Director’s top MSc student award, June 2017
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CAA Sir Donald Anderson Memorial Trophy, 1988: Awarded by CAA (CASA) for academic merit towards gaining CPL.
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GCAQE Flight Safety Award 2018
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British Citizens Award (BCAhon) 2023
Aviation Certificates
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Airline Transport Pilot: ATPL
BOOKS
PUBLISHED PAPERS
CONFERENCES & PRESENTATIONS
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Air accident bureau incident reports - Case study review - Aircraft Cabin Air Conference (2021)
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Cabin air quality: Safety analysis and certification - Aircraft Cabin Air Conference (2021)
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International Aircraft Cabin Air Conference, Imperial College London (2019)
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Combustion and Aerosols Society conference, Cambridge University (2019)
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Iceland Flight Safety Symposium, Reykjavik, Iceland (April, 2018)
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SAE - AC9: Environmental Control Systems: Fort Walton Beach (2018)
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International Fluids & Sealing Conference (2018)
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International Conference on Occupational Health - ICOH/Accident prevention (2018)
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International Aircraft Cabin Air Conference, Imperial College London (2017)
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International Conference on Occupational Health - ICOH/Epidemiology (2016)
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EU Commission: Occupational Diseases in the EU: New/Emerging Workplace Risks Conference (2013)
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SAE: E 34 Propulsion Lubricants Committee (2013)
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German Aerospace Society – DGLR/ HAW (2012)
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NYF – Norwegian Occupation Hygienists Society Conference (2012)
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Royal Aeronautical Society (2007, 2012)
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ITCOBA: CAQ Workshop (2011)
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German Bundestag: Expert witness (2011)
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UK Air Safety Working Group/ PACTS (2011)
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Norwegian SAFE (Offshore Oil Workers Union) (2013, 2010, 2008)
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OCCC – One World Alliance (2008)
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CASA EPAAQ (2008)
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IATA: Aviation Health Conference (2008)
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Flight International: Crew Management Conference (2007)