We review más deeply the importance of HEPA filters on commercial aircraft and its effectiveness against airborne viruses for passenger safety. Airbus main image.
On éLittle of coronavirus and at the doors of the reopening of operations toéareas limited in Ecuador And in many países, We will deepen how sure it is to fly in an avión regarding air quality.
Post written by: Capturesán Rodolfo Estrella
FAA Commercial Pilot
Twitter: @rodo_estrella
Although not all planes are the same, Among them they differ philosofíAs in sayingñor systems among which are pressurization systemsón, climatizationóN and air conditioning.
in previous deliveries, we talk about pressurization systemón and where the air that is comes fromá In cabin.
That is why we will now talk about the environmental system, This system provides fresh air aircraft for the cabin and inhabitantsáasses where crewón, passengers and sometimes cargo, because the load compartments alsoén are used for the transport of live animals.
As we mentioned before, in the majoríA of airplanes, The air that enters the cabin comes from compression stagesón at the Avi enginesón, This air is taken by Vácalled calls “of bleeding” and enter Presión to the AVI cabinón. Since the air when subjected to high pressures from the compressor increases its temperature, is redirected to air conditioning units, where this air is cooled, filtered and mixed with air that also entersén of impact shots directly from abroad and is admitted to the cabin afterés también de un processo de regulationón de takenón selected.
HEPA filters
Depending on the designño from aircraft, In general features this air that enters and in additionás is recirculated in a percentage that isá in around the 50% in cycles that change the air by about 20 a 30 times per hour, pass through filters called HEPA: “High-Efficiency Particulate Air”, These secún the Environment Office, Health and Safety of the United States in your document DOE-STD-3020-2015 indicates that they are able to retain even in a 99.95% impurities in the air that passes throughés of them in Tamañyou even 0.3 MicronséHighly efficient. These filters are made of several layers of artificial fibers randomly distributed inside the filter.. This makes the recirculating air have a high degree of purity..
Nevertheless, even though this air can be considered safe, The presence of polluting agents within a cabin causes pollutionóN or contagion can be given by close or direct contact between passengers, Therefore beá Always fundamental the permanant use of the mask throughout the durationóflight number.
For this, organizations such as the THERE IT IS They have generated observations and recommendations for operators and passengers on how to reduce the risk of contagion and transmissionón of respiratory diseases in airplanes, this in the form of the use of masks for each occupant, Simplified catering procedures where cabin crew have the slightest interactionón possible with passengers, limitedón of the passenger movement within the avión to the greatest extent possible and executing cleaning and disinfect proceduresón deep between flights, afterés of the landing and before the shipment of new passengers.
Así as wellén Measures that can take the airports prior to shipping as interviews with each person with respect to their health, taking temperature, observedón the síntomas, etc.
Even when the air we breathe inside an avión is safe in a large percentage, Care finally beá In the hands of the passenger himself, either for protectionón staff as well as helping the demoás passengers.
If the security measures are followed by all users, personal, crews and facilities, we will be able to effectively reduce the ability of COVID-19 to spread during a flight, but any security system, Purificeón, sanitationóNo filtering are not helpful if we are not disciplined.
