Ensuring Air Quality in Your Aircraft

Duncan Aviation is now installing a pathogen-removing, air-cleaning component from ACA (Aviation Clean Air). This component is designed to work with an aircraft’s existing environmental control system as an active air- and surface-purification system. 

Active means it’s not passive like an air filtration system that works only when air passes through it. As your aircraft flies, the ACA system cleans and improves air quality throughout the aircraft by killing harmful pathogens and neutralizing odors and allergens.

Because it’s not a static air filter, the system actively kills viral, bacterial, and fungal pathogens. ACA’s independent testing has found the system effective against pathogens that cause the common cold, flu (swine, avian, etc.), MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), C. diff (clostridium difficile), E. coli (Escherichia coli), pneumonia, polio, and mold. In May 2020, an independent test by Innovative BioAnalysis found the ACA ionizer effective against the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

In addition to pathogens, the ACA component also neutralizes potentially harmful gasses caused by fuel emissions, other VOCs (volatile organic compounds), and offensive odors caused by cooking or cleaning, cigar smoke, stagnant air, and lavatories. Pet odors are also neutralized. The system also reduces the static electricity in your aircraft that’s caused by the low relative humidity of the cabin air.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

The ACA system uses a process called NeedlePoint Bi-Polar Ionization (NPBI). Ionizers like this work by emitting charged particles that attach themselves to pathogens, destabilizing and then deactivating them.

“If you want to kill a virus, you have to destabilize it,” says Epidemiologist Dr. Rachel Sippy from SUNY Upstate Medical University and the University of Florida. “A charged ion damages the virus’ envelope so the genome is exposed, deactivating the virus.”

The ACA system includes multiple ionizing components that are installed in an aircraft’s existing environmental control system. The bi-polarizing units emit electrically charged molecules, which are harmless and naturally present at all times in our environment. These molecules attach themselves to pathogens in the air and on surfaces throughout the aircraft, as well as in the air handling system itself. Unlike a one-time chemical treatment, the ACA unit provides continuous treatment of the air and aircraft surfaces when running.

INSTALLATION STCS

Duncan Aviation has developed Supplemental Type Certificates (STCs) and installation packages for the Aviation Clean Air (ACA) ionization system for several aircraft. The installation packages include the ionizers and Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA) parts kits developed by Duncan Aviation.

“We want to make it easy for our clients to keep the air in their aircraft as free of harmful pathogens as possible” says Nate Klenke. “Our development of multiple STCs with PMA installation packages along with the experience we’ve gained from multiple installations makes Duncan Aviation an excellent choice for the installation or a source for the STCs and PMA packages.”

Duncan Aviation will continue to develop ACA ionization packages for several additional makes/models.

“When we say the package includes everything, we mean every screw, nut, bolt, and switch necessary for the installation,” says Manager of Avionics Install Line Pat Mapes. “There’s been great interest in the industry in the ACA system. Our sales teams are fielding calls from customers who are interested in this system because it is designed to neutralize harmful pathogens like those that cause COVID-19, so if customers want peace of mind as they fly, this is the system for them.”

The installation of the ACA packages can be done at any of Duncan Aviation’s three main facilities (Battle Creek, Michigan, Provo, Utah, or Lincoln, Nebraska) and at many of the Duncan Aviation Satellite Shops located throughout the United States.