Something we often take for granted can make a huge difference in the quality of your flight: the air around you! Cabin air quality has been a hot topic of debate for years, and continued concerns from crew and passengers about aircraft air quality and associated health issues keeps this topic in the headlines.
Potential health risks
When you board an aircraft, you face a barrage of airborne health risks, including poor ventilation, the possible transmission of communicable diseases (on commercial and shared flights), the bodily stress caused by cabin altitude and pressure changes, air contamination events that result from leaky seals, and even possible pesticide exposure.
There are still many unanswered questions about how we can accurately and consistently measure cabin air quality, whether we can link illnesses to airplane air toxins, and, most important, how to improve cabin air.
Reducing your risk
Aircraft are generally not fitted with onboard air quality monitors, but that is changing. In the meantime, you can reduce exposure to potential toxins and communicable diseases simply by washing and sanitizing your hands often, especially before handling food and after using the restroom.
In addition, pay close attention to how you feel before, after, and during a flight and contact your doctor if you regularly notice headaches, dizziness, light-headedness, and similar symptoms when you fly.
But there are upgrades you can make in your own aircraft to improve your flying experience. Two British firms have worked together to develop new technology for just such a purpose. The device, called AirManager, kills most of the bacteria, viruses, biohazards, chemical contaminants, and pollutants — as well as nasty smells — and can be fitted during a routine overnight service.
Additional risk-reduction resources are available for air quality recommendations, including the FAA’s Cabin Air Quality Recommendations, which covers topics ranging from carbon-monoxide monitoring to ozone control.
Continued studies and advancements in cabin air quality mean improvements are right around the corner, letting us all breathe a sigh of relief.
Contact L & L International if you need assistance in purchasing or selling a private jet. You can reach our sales specialists today at sales@L-Lint.com, call us any time at +1.305.754.3313, or visit us online.