Duncan Aviation's engineering and certification services and parts manufacturer approval departments have created an installation package for the Aviation Clean Air (ACA) ionisation system for Challenger 300 and 350 aircraft. The packages include everything necessary for installing the ACA ioniser system, including the STC, the ionisers and PMA parts kits.

“Although our facility in Lincoln, Nebraska has been modifying the air ducts for the installation, any of our three main facilities at Battle Creek, Michigan; Provo, Utah and Lincoln or many of the company's 27 satellite shops, are able to perform the necessary modifications prior to installing the ACA ioniser system,” says manager of avionics install and avionics line Pat Mapes. “When we say the kit includes everything, we mean every screw, nut, bolt and switch necessary for the installation.”

The teams have also created ACA ionisation installation packages for the Global models. Kits are currently available for those aircraft and can also be installed at any of the three main Duncan Aviation facilities or satellite shops. Additional STCs and PMA kits are in work for the Falcon 2000 and 7X models and should be available in the coming months.

“There's been great interest in the industry for the ACA system,” Mapes continues. “Our sales teams are fielding calls from customers who are interested in other makes and models of aircraft, too. This system is designed to neutralise harmful pathogens, including those that cause COVID-19, so if customers want peace of mind as they fly, this is the system for them.”

Designed to be installed in an aircraft's existing environmental control system, the ACA ionisers operate in the aircraft's ductwork. The ionised hydrogen molecules neutralise pathogens and remove allergens and unpleasant odours, including those from pets, cigarette and cigar smoke, engine exhaust, cooking, lavatories and VOCs (volatile organic compounds).

In May 2020, testing conducted by independent lab Innovative BioAnalysis found the ACA ioniser effective at rendering harmless the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19. The lab test showed that 99.4 per cent of the virus particles were inactivated within 30 minutes. The system has been tested and proven to kill the coronavirus that caused SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), as well.

The ACA ioniser also deactivates other viral, bacterial and fungal pathogens, such as those that cause the common cold, flu (swine, avian and so on), MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), C. diff (clostridium difficile), E. coli (Escherichia coli), pneumonia, polio and mould.

Duncan received an ACA STC for Global models in August.