UK VIP helicopter charter company Apollo Air Services has added Aviation Clean Air's ionising airborne purification units to its fleet, and has become the UK supplier for ACA products. The technology is proven to deactivate 99.4 per cent of airborne viruses including COVID-19, meaning passengers and crew can be assured that the purified air they breathe and surfaces that they touch during the helicopter flight are safe.

Apollo can handle the full installation of the new system, from providing the equipment, gaining approval, and fitting the unit in the aircraft. Once it has been installed, Apollo can also test for elements. The Ionisation Purification System operates through the aircraft's existing environmental control system and can be fitted to any helicopter.

Passengers and crew will no longer have to wear masks or gloves onboard, and can sit back and enjoy their flight. The system uses positive and negative ions to improve interior air quality, eliminate odours and kill pathogens in the air and on surfaces, wherever they live throughout the cabin and cockpit.

In the COVID-19 travel landscape, health and hygiene have never been more important and are now key considerations in where and how consumers travel for leisure and business. Having the air purification provides considerable added value to each aircraft, and means in both the short and long-term, clients and crew can feel safe and protected from the virus and confident to travel once again.

Apollo's Steve Graham says: “We are delighted to be appointed the supplier of Aviation Clean Air's ground-breaking technology within Europe and the UK. It has never been more important to ensure clients feel safe and comfortable flying by helicopter and this new technology is crucial in gaining back customer confidence. We have installed the units to our own fleet and are encouraging our fellow helicopter owners and operators to do the same to help protect their clients and crew. We can manage the installation from start to finish from our maintenance base in Blackpool, so there's no need to worry about the fitting, testing and approval process.”

UK Aviation Services, a Part 145 based at Blackpool, fitted the ACA system to Apollo's AW109s.