After various
international airlines & airports, it’s Boeing Co. that is looking at
Ultraviolet (UV) technology to combat the Covid-19 pandemic.
The company is
developing a hand-held wand that emits ultraviolet light to neutralize bacteria
and viruses, part of a suite of methods to disinfect flight deck surfaces and
controls, as well as surfaces throughout the cabin. The wand would eliminate the
need for using alcohol or other disinfectants that could damage sensitive
electronic equipment, explained Rae Lutters, Chief Engineer for Boeing’s
ecoDemonstrator Program as reported by Fox Business.
Here, it is important
to throw some light on Florida’s Atlas Aviation incident, reported last month, where
the instrument panels of two of its Cessna 172 aircrafts were damaged due to
improper use of disinfecting liquids or sprays. The incident occurred while the
aircrafts were rented and led to costly repairs. This re-instills the fact
that UV technology could become an alternative to disinfect aircrafts and other
expensive machinery.
Boeing is looking at
licensing the wand technology and hiring third-party companies in the fall to
begin manufacturing for commercial use. It has been working on the technology
with 13 different airlines. Doug Christensen, a Boeing Technical Fellow,
leading testing of the wand prototype, asserted that there’s a ‘very strong
interest’ from various carriers in a bid to restore public’s confidence in
flying again.