by: Jenna Beard On: 28, May 2020
As Covid-19 devastates families, businesses and societies around the world, the Aerospace & Aviation industry continues to be affected by the pandemic.
In the first few weeks of the crisis, carriers Ryanair and easyJet and Ryanair lost around 30% and 22% of respective business value, and Flybe went into administration citing the coronavirus as a major contributor to its collapse. In recent days, Brussels Airlines pilots discussed significant pay cuts, Air France announced fleet reductions and Rolls Royce reduced its headcount by 9,000. More than half – 60% – of the world’s airline fleets are currently grounded, leaving 18,000 commercial airliners on the tarmac or in hangars across the globe waiting for the lifting of lockdown restrictions.
In many aspects, international air travel will become unrecognisable in coming months. Airlines aim to increase airplane capacity and reassure passengers with radical new approaches to social distancing and hygiene. Banning the sale of food and other items in-flight, the removal of magazines, restrictions on queuing for toilets in-flight, increased air quality systems on board, border restrictions and regional ‘safe corridors, and quarantines for arrivals are amongst planned measures to keep the industry running and ensure customer and employee safety.
However, several airlines and aircraft manufacturing businesses are innovating to help the industry get back to business as quickly and safely as possible. Here’s how Luftavia are driving industry safety and success.
Luftavia’s Aviation Decontamination Revolution
An EASA-145 approved line maintenance organisation focused on efficiency, cost, and uncompromised quality, Luftavia are putting their expertise to good use to help the sector fight the pandemic.
The provider’s new lightweight decontamination equipment has been launched with the support of the Centres for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and approval of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the European Union (EU).
Following research into aircraft cabin and freight area decontamination, Luftavia have released electro-static technology equipment that provides:
- Fast and Effective Cleaning across Different Areas – Can decontaminate a wide-body aircraft cabin in under 30 minutes
- Convenience – Hand-held battery-powered guns that don’t disrupt other ground-handling services, and are easy to transport and use across different aircraft and worksites
- Protection for Passengers and Staff – Eliminates 99.6% of all viruses and bacteria
- Efficient Dry Treatment – Without the need to air dry or wipe down, the dry treatment is applicable for use across food, trays and a variety of surfaces in cabins, cockpits and galleys without risk of cross-contamination
- Public Recognition of Safety – EU Certificate of Conformity announces that the aircraft is safe to board following decontamination process.
Since March 2020, Luftavia’s antiviral sanitisation tool has been approved and rolled to several US airlines and multiple ground handling cleaning organisations internationally. A spokesperson for American airline Delta recently confirmed that most U.S. carriers have implemented a number of new cleaning and safety measures that ‘not only meet but exceed CDC guidelines’, including sanitising flights. Luftavia is committed to delivering the decontamination services to all airlines at its current airport locations.
Luftavia’s innovation is poised to encourage increased collaboration across the Aerospace industry. With unprecedented research and technology developments, airline leaders, airside safety operators, manufacturers and other suppliers can work much more closely together for the protection and growth of the industry.
Importance of Decontamination in Aviation
Luftavia’s new technology arrives at a welcome time for the industry. Decontamination is an urgent and rapidly growing area of concern for sector workers, crew, pilots and would-be holidaymakers and business travellers. American pilots are pressuring the United States Government to introduce disease prevention legislation after 300 pilots tested positive for the virus, many airline employees have been concerned around the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and governments around the world are debating controversial quarantine plans that are likely to differ across countries and regions.
Regulators have been quick to respond to employees The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has launched a new edition of its guidelines to prevent the spread of disease, which recommend ‘targeted and detailed prevention and control measures’ including aircraft cleaning and disinfectant products that have been approved for airworthiness. The European Union Aviation Safety Association (EASA) has released interim guidance on aircraft cleaning and disinfection that issued two Safety Directives for member states and third country operators that mandate the disinfection of aircraft after each flight arriving from high risk areas.
Advances in decontamination will best serve Aviation providers and customers long after COVID-19. From Hepatitis and Ebola to Salmonella and common influenza, other bacteria and viral illnesses can be transmitted to 60% of a building’s occupants in a few hours from a single infected person of surface. Infection is particularly easy to spread in densely-populated areas such as airports, airplanes and shuttle buses. Whilst not all infectious diseases are fatal, the thousands of illnesses spread every year damage the global economy – sick staff cost UK companies alone £77billion in lost productivity every year – delay projects and disrupt innovation. Decontamination tools will help lead the continued fight to improve health and safety across Aviation and all industries and societies.
Dry treatment such as Luftavia’s enables airline staff to protect themselves and customers without using bleach and corrosive or harmful chemicals. Despite rising antibiotic resistance and allergies, travellers can become increasingly reassured of their health and safety on board commercial and private journeys.
Empowering Social Distancing in Aviation
As innovators like Luftavia respond to the unprecedented global situation, VHR is also addressing the rapidly changing needs of the Aerospace and Aviation market. Many carriers and airports are introducing social distancing measures alongside sanitation requirements to reduce the spread of the virus in airport restaurants and shops, check in desks, baggage handling and security points.
With over 17 years’ experience delivering recruitment, staffing projects and workforce management solutions, VHR are helping to protect workers with versatile workplace equipment. Partnering with a seasoned business equipment supplier, VHR are offering easy-to-build equipment including desk dividers, retail screens and sanitiser stations to help airports and worksites get back to business whilst protecting workers.
