the first Myth: on the plane no fresh air
as shocking As it may sound, but in the cabin of the aircraft, flying at an altitude of 10 km, there is fresh air! To be precise, the air in the cabin is a mixture of fresh air coming from outside and recycled cabin air in a proportion of about 50% to 50%. Fresh air enters the cabin through the compressor of the engine, where the temperature reaches about 200-250 degrees. Of course, this hot air can not breathe, so it needs to cool to a comfortable temperature. With this task cope the turbo-cooler. When fresh air is cooled, it is sent to the mixer where it is mixed with recirculated air before it enters the cabin.
Myth two: We breathe the same air for the whole flight. The only difference is that it is constantly circulated through the air conditioning system
This is far from the truth. The air in the cabin of the aircraft is completely renewed every 2-3 minutes. So working air conditioning system that continuously mixes fresh air with recirculated. Every two or three minutes of the used air is removed from the aircraft, the part sent for re-purification and recirculation in an air conditioning system, after which it is again mixed with fresh air and fed into the cabin. For comparison, in the offices replacement of air occurs every 20 minutes. So the passengers of the plane, the stress in the Airbus, you breathe much cleaner and more fresh air than the office staff of the business center.
Myth three: the Plane is a closed space and, therefore, is the ideal environment for bacteria
In fact, the air in the plane is almost sterile, because the air conditioning system of the aircraft was originally designed so that passengers were breathing in flight with exceptionally clean air. All modern aircraft are equipped with highly efficient HEPA filters that remove up to 99.97% of all particles (even the size of the micro – and nano-), including bacteria and viruses.
In its action and effectiveness of HEPA filters the equivalents of protective masks high protection class (FFP2 and FFP3). These filters are used in hospitals, including in operating rooms. HEPA filters are the most effective filters for cleaning air from pathogenic environment to date. So you can not be afraid: the air filtration system in the plane does not give chances to a pathogenic environment.
Interesting fact: Airbus has conducted special studies and measurements of air quality before and after the flight using an A340 test aircraft. It turned out that after the flight, the air in the cabin was much cleaner than before.
Myth four: If the passenger in the back seat sneezes I will catch it because all the germs get into me
This is unlikely. In the cabin the air is always moving from top to bottom in the transverse direction, i.e. in the same block of seats on one row. In the lower part of the cabin used air is discharged through a special valve, then part of the air goes overboard, and the cleaning HEPA filters, which remove up to 99.97% of all particles, even micro – and nano-size, including bacteria and viruses.
Distribution of the air in the cabin in the transverse direction is considered more secure than longitudinal, because it prevents the spread of harmful particles and viruses between adjacent rows and creates additional comfort for passengers (to avoid drafts). The effectiveness of this air distribution has been proven in numerous tests conducted by Airbus in the special research laboratories in Hamburg, where they test advanced systems for the passenger cabins.
Myth five: a HEPA filter is all well and good, but who can guarantee that you change them regularly?
There are certain regulations to replace HEPA filters, which is an integral part of aircraft maintenance. These regulations are binding as any other types of technical works. After all, safety the aviation industry is paramount for both aircraft manufacturers and airlines.
