Have you ever stopped to think what you’re breathing while you’re cruising at 30,000 feet? Thanks to aircraft cabin air filters, you can rest easy knowing your health is in good hands when you’re traveling.
With the world’s growing concern for wellness and health advocacy, air filter systems are continuing to develop more modern, effective, and thorough systems to keep air quality high, no matter how long your flight is. At Global Filtration, we specialize in providing top-of-the-line PMA (Parts Manufacturer Approval) aircraft cabin air filters and work with only the highest quality manufacturers to ensure optimal air cleanliness.
Understanding Aircraft Cabin Air Quality
It’s a well-known fact that the air we breathe plays a huge role in our overall health and well-being. This is magnified when you’re on an aircraft as the space is smaller, there are more people, and the air filtration system is complex. Not only does air pressurization dictate the safety of passengers and the crew, but the quality of air can also lead to serious health consequences if not taken seriously.
There are two main types of cabin air distribution systems. Compressed air, termed bleed air, moves from the plane’s engine into the main cabin area. This type of air distribution primarily handles critical pressurization and air conditioning. The other type of air management system is recirculation. This system filters and recirculates cabin air back into the cabin. Often, these systems work together because recirculated air can reduce the amount of bleed air required, easing pressure on both systems and preventing overwork.
Why is Air Filtration so Important?
Air filtration on planes is vital for a number of reasons. The first and most obvious reason is its ability to prevent the spread of many dangerous and contagious pathogens and particles from the air. Along with preventing contagious illness, it can also help passengers with asthma from being violently triggered while in the air, creating a medical emergency. High efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters are known to remove 99.97% of dust, pollen, mold, bacteria, or any other airborne contaminants. These filters must be able to work at an incredibly fast pace. Full cabin air resets are completed every 3 minutes, typically, meaning the air is completely turned over around 20 times per hour. Because of this high turnover rate, filters must be working at optimal efficiency in order to prevent any particles from entering the cabin, including bacteria, pollen, dust, or even toxic fumes from the engine.
Consistent, high-performance air filters like our PMA filters make for a significantly more comfortable experience for the crew and passengers. Everyone can think back to a time when plane air felt stale and stuffy, making your flight an extremely uncomfortable experience. Air filters help keep the air cleaner, fresher, and easier to breathe. Making sure your passengers and crew are comfortable helps ease flight anxiety and minimize irritation. This creates a completely different flight experience and keeps passengers happy and healthy, no matter how long the flight.
Types of Commercial Aircraft Air Filters
Aircraft category and the plane’s intended use dictate the type of commercial aircraft air filters. While regulations and requirements may change depending on whether it is a commercial, corporate, or regional aircraft, the majority of filters share the same engineering. PMA air filters consist of a metal fiber filter, typically designed in a pleated design to help maximize filtration and airflow. This design lets air flow through the mesh while catching any harmful particles and preventing them from recirculating in the cabin. We recommend metal fiber filters because, unlike more traditional options, our FAA-approved filters will not shed micro glass fibers into your air supply. Global Filtration offers a large number of different filters to fit nearly every aircraft in use today, including Boeing, Bombardier, Dornier, Saab, and Learjet.
Custom PMA Filters for your Commercial Fleet
Unique fleets require unique solutions. Global Filtration has been operating for nearly three decades and has an expert knowledge base of all things FAA approval and PMA filtration. Regardless of what your fleet requires to satisfy its air filtration requirements, we can help provide custom aircraft cabin air filter options that deliver reliable, consistent results.
Maintenance and Regulation: Keep Your Air Filters in Shape
Like any piece of equipment, regular maintenance is the best way to ensure your unit keeps yielding the best results. Many commercial aircraft air filters are able to be reused, which is another reason to invest in high-quality filters that can be recycled over time. While some fleets may be scheduled based on flight hours, at Global Filtration, we always first recommend creating a dedicated, safe, and effective cleaning process that meets regulated standards. We provide top-tier filter cleaning services on demand to our clients. We use Stoelting ultrasonic equipment. This is vital for ensuring longevity, as buildup can greatly decrease air filters’ efficiency over time, leading to costly, preventable repairs or even replacements.
Must-Know FAA Regulations for Commercial Aircraft
We help our clients create designated maintenance schedules with our professional technicians, and we also understand all FAA regulations surrounding commercial aircraft air filters. Some must-know regulations include:
- Ventilation rate: Commercial aircraft must be able to cycle in 0.55 pounds of fresh, clean air per minute, per passenger to ensure proper ventilation.
- Air mixing: Most commercial aircraft use a mixture of recycled air and fresh air, most often a 50/50 ratio. This can vary based on engine, but the FAA regulates this ratio to ensure air is of the highest quality possible.
- Reporting requirements: Commercial aircraft file Service Difficulty Reports with the FAA when they find smoke, vapor, or odor within the aircraft. This helps us accurately understand where filters fail and how to improve them for future aircraft systems.
- HEPA filters: The FAA requires all commercial aircraft filters to be HEPA certified. This is especially important for recirculated airflow ventilation systems.
Working with a team of professionals like our team at Global Filtration is imperative for navigating these guidelines with precision and confidence, ensuring your aircraft fleet is ready to welcome passengers with fresh, clean air.
The Unseen Heroes: Aircraft Filters on Commercial Flights
Aircraft cabin air filters are truly the unsung heroes of nearly every flight that takes off each day. They regulate the pressure, protect passengers from airborne particles, and overall make for a much more pleasant journey. While they may oftentimes go unseen, investing in top-tier, superior PMA and HEPA-certified air filters will make a world of difference for your crew and passengers’ health and comfort for the duration of their flight. Commercial aircraft air filters are complex and delicate systems that require a true professional to source, install, and maintain, which is why our team at Global Filtration has been a principal provider for all sorts of air filters since 1995. Let us help you breathe easy with our air filter expertise and leave the days of stuffy, stagnant air behind you.
Contact us today for your commercial aircraft cabin air filter consultation!