There’s a new device that could prevent coronavirus spread on planes. The simple device can easily slip on air vents, reducing the danger of transmission.
The new AirShield device made by a tech company based in Seattle namely Teague. The company says the latest device can enhance the flow of air. This will help reduce the extent of COVID-19 on planes. They say this air creates a protective barrier around passengers.
When sitting on a passenger seat, you may have noticed the Passenger Service Unit above it. This is where the 3D printed device will be. The unit will have a reading light as well as vents usually; the term for these vents is air gaspers. These gaspers are responsible for sending air downward on your seat.
Just as how usual planes work, each passenger lights can also control the velocity or direction of air coming from air gaspers similarly. With the AirShield working, the flow of the air into blades makes sure respiratory droplets stay within the space of one individual. This saves a person on the next seat from breathing in harmful droplets. This could successfully prevent coronavirus from spreading.
Anthony Harcup, senior director of airline experience at Teague, calls the usual method of airflow on planes; effective. He says their device only helps boost effectiveness.
He explains people are not aware of how safe aircraft are. On a usual flight, the air runs through “high-efficiency particulate cleaning filters (HEPA)”. These extract 99.9 percent of dangerous content. Therefore making the air as safe as can be.
It means that the air you breathe is returning purely fresh from the gaspers. This mechanism expects to prevent coronavirus.
Airshield is among many designs coming up to assist people during the pandemic. New designs include flashy suggestions. One of them aims to introduce lying flat double-decker seats instead of middle seats. These seats are imaginings to comfort fliers from the coronavirus pandemic.
Harcup says there has been a huge support. This included design, engineering, and basic support for these issues. Efforts to get people flying publicly again are underway. He thinks it will be useful if people grow comfortable with air travel. Better prospects will present for the industry also for the world if so happens.
Over the past months, losses are piling up over airlines everywhere, notes Harcup. Thus he concludes that airlines would be more open to newer ideas. Only if these ideas will help comfort passengers without them having to spend a lot of money.
Earlier, on May 5th, The International Air Transport Association (IATA) expressed the seating patterns. They say they don’t support middle seat removal. The association represents air carriers globally. Therefore, their statement is significant. Especially for those trying to provide better ideas for plane comfort.
IATA’s director general and CEO thinks riding planes of middle seats will raise costs. He says airlines are struggling to survive thus raising costs would not be an option.
Patent clearance given to Airshield this month; marks the beginning for Teague. Potential manufacturers and commercial discussions are in plans for Teague with airlines soon.
Harcup says it’s difficult to name the cost. The price of purchasing and installation he also did not say. Regardless, he is confident about the creation. Air shield is not only affordable but also a lucrative offer for airlines.
He says in roughly four to three months, flight testing may start again. He explains how the purpose to create such a thing was because the production time is very small. Their production uses 3D printers which make work rather fast Harcup says Airshield isn’t a reinvention; it is a make-do of what’s already available.
