Aveo Engineering, an LED aircraft lighting systems manufacturer, has launched a cabin and cockpit sanitising system named Veolite, which cleans aircraft interiors using specific wavelengths of light that target and destroy viruses, germs and moulds.
“Traditional interior sanitising depends on chemical sprays that leave residues and may damage surfaces, even after being wiped down,” stated Rick Lindstrom, CEO of Aveo Southwest. “Veolite technology is much easier to use and is more cost-effective: it requires less labour and training, plus it can be automated to sanitise only when interiors are unoccupied.”
According to the company, the technology is not new, as it has been used for decades in labs and pharmaceutical manufacturing, but Covid-19 has brought an urgent requirement to quickly and effectively disinfect passenger and crew areas in aircraft interiors. The Veolite system does this by employing several visible and non-visible ultraviolet light wavelengths (depending on whether the interiors are empty or occupied), concentrating the same type of natural disinfecting rays provided by the sun.
The visible UV-A ‘purple’ light is safe for continuous sanitising when the interior is staffed. The more effective UV-C wavelength can destroy the DNA of pathogens in as little as three seconds, but like the sun can eventually cause skin and retina damage. A recently developed technology known as ‘far-UVC’ has promise to be the best of both worlds: it is highly effective, yet safe for humans and animals.
To sanitise spaces that are not directly covered by the fixed lights inside cabins, cockpits, galleys, lavatories and other areas, Aveo has developed a handheld wand system with rechargeable batteries that provide 2-5 hours of use, depending on battery options. The wands can also be used separately, as passengers, crew, and luggage board otherwise unequipped aircraft.
