28 April 2020: In the current COVID-19 wake where pathogenic infection is a threat many companies are adopting preventive measures like air purifiers. Duncan Aviation has gone one step forward and has installed a chemical air purification system from Aviation Clean Air (ACA) in its three main facilities and satellite shops throughout the country.
How is this purifier different from the others?
- The component is an active air- and surface-purification system.
- Unlike the passive air filtration system, it is active.
- It improves air quality, kills harmful pathogens and removes odours and allergies.
- As it is not a static air filter it kills viral, bacterial, and fungal pathogens such as those that cause the common cold, flu, pneumonia, polio, and mold.
- It is also tested and proven to kill the original coronavirus that caused SARS.
- It neutralizes potentially harmful gasses caused by fuel emissions, other VOCs (volatile organic compounds), and offensive odours caused by cooking or cleaning, cigarette and cigar smoke, stagnant air, and lavatories.
- Pet odours are also neutralized.
- It also reduces the static electricity in aircraft that's caused by the low relative humidity of the cabin air.
"The science behind the ACA ionization process can seem complex as it happens on a molecular level," says Duncan Aviation's Senior Avionics Sales Rep Steve Elofson. "In laymen terms, pathogens and odours are often airborne and eventually land on surfaces within an aircraft interior. The ACA component, in a process involving cold plasma, causes a chemical reaction that changes the positive and negative ions, severing hydrogen bonds on the cell's surface. Without these bonds, the pathogen will not be able to mutate or reproduce and will quickly die. They are no longer a threat to people, and most smells become odourless."
There are two relatively small components that are installed on the two main cabin air distribution ducts. The components are housed in a black anodized aluminium box and weigh 1.34 pounds (607 grams) each.
"Due to the access required, an ideal time to install this powerful little system is during a scheduled maintenance or refurbishment event," said Elofson. "But because it takes less than 2 weeks to install, it can also be done as a stand-alone event."
Duncan Aviation has installed this component in the Gulfstream aircraft and are working on certification paths for other makes/models.