Pexco Aerospace’s AirShield technology has now received STC certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for use on the A320 family of narrowbody aircraft.
Pexco, which is in discussions with airlines across the US, Europe, and Asia to install AirShield on A320 aircraft in early 2023, says the product can be retrofitted and works in harmony with existing HEPA filtration systems to create protective air barriers between and around each passenger in the cabin. This results in restricting unwanted germs and odours from entering their personal space.
The company says it completed one of the most comprehensive independent assessments of cabin airflow using more than 60 million data points of computational fluid dynamics to maximise the design and performance of AirShield.
On-wing tests were collaborated with major airlines and aircraft lessors such as American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Alaska Airlines and Avolon.
Anthony Ciringione, Vice President of Sales & Marketing of Pexco Aerospace commented: “In the last twenty years the global airline industry has faced SARS, Swine Flu, MERS, as well as COVID-19 and influenza. If history teaches us anything, there will be another airborne pandemic or epidemic – it is only a matter of time. We need a fresh approach to passenger wellbeing in the cabin, implementing long-lasting and proven innovations that improve hygiene onboard today, so it is effectively prepared for what will come tomorrow.”
An independent passenger survey of leisure travellers in the United States revealed that 91% agreed that AirShield makes them feel like an airline is taking care of them, and 89% would feel more comfortable flying with AirShield post-pandemic.
