Improved Air onboard Aircraft

It is probably no surprise to business travellers that our bodies do not actually like being stuffed into a pressurised aluminium tube full of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), not to mention other passengers, and shot through the air at 960km/h for one hour, let alone 14.

That tube is pressurised to an altitude of 8000ft and has extremely low humidity — about 5 per cent — to help limit corrosion damage to the fuselage, but this takes a toll on passengers.

This is why airlines encourage us to drink plenty of water and leave the alcohol alone.

According to a comprehensive study — The Possible Effects on Health of Aircraft Cabin Environments — commissioned by the British Civil Aviation Authority, some passengers may experience mild hypoxia at altitudes of 8000ft, symptoms of which include reduced exercise capacity, fatigue, possible mild hyperventilation, headache, insomnia and swelling of the extremities.

While the effects are mild, they do combine with VOCs to cause varying levels of discomfort.

The enormous strength and non-corrosive properties of the new composites being used in the construction of the new Boeing 787 and Airbus A350 jets give designers the opportunity to eliminate some of the significant factors that cause jet lag.

Both aircraft will have a pressurisation altitude of just 6000ft and humidity levels of about 20 per cent.

But a lower pressurisation level is only one aspect to getting passengers to their destination in better shape, according to Michael Sinnett, Boeing’s chief engineer of systems for its 787 program.

“The challenge is to get VOCs out of the cabin,” Sinnett told Entrepreneur.

“We were really surprised that VOCs, more than humidity, affect how people feel at the end of a flight.”

Sinnett says aircraft manufacturers do a good job with particulates (airborne particles) using high-efficiency particulate filters but getting gaseous contaminants out of the air is more of a challenge — but one of real importance.

So in a world first for commercial aircraft, Boeing turned to Minneapolis-based Donaldson for a new filtration system for its 787 that will remove gaseous irritants and odours from the aircraft cabin, as well as allergens, bacteria and viruses.

Airbus will also use a similar system in its A350.

Another important factor in ensuring passengers arrive in better shape is the significant reduction being achieved in engine noise. In late October, Singapore Airlines introduced the A380 to passenger service with significantly lower noise levels, which it says will help passengers have a more restful sleep.

The A380 is one of a new generation of aircraft, such as the 777-300ER, 787 and A350, which boast significantly lower noise levels both for airport communities and the passengers