Nowadays, if Sinatra’s hit song “Come Fly with Me” suddenly brings chills down your spine, don’t worry, you’re not alone.
The pandemic has made many people scared to travel, bringing the airline industry to a standstill – with no signs of it returning to its previous flying capacity.
But as we ease into this new normal, travel companies are getting innovative. The goal is simple (and shared globally): Get us all safely traveling again.
Yet, many people will still be hesitant to fly…
…And not just because it’s somewhat terrifying to sit in a metal tube thousands of feet in the air when you think about it. Nope – air circulation has suddenly become public enemy #1 in the skies.
Even though most airplanes have strong air filtration systems, most airplane’s AC units simply can’t filter out hundreds of people’s air particles for a long period of time… especially when it’s already hard to maintain social distance.
That’s why innovation firm Teague has created an “air curtain” that will go above each passenger’s seat to prevent the spread of germs.
Wait, how can air be a curtain?!
Simply put, this plastic 3D-printed device can easily be attached to the airplane’s existing air vents overhead. It will then create an invisible “barrier” of air that will manage the airflow between all passengers.
This curtain, called the AirShield, controls cabin airflow by creating a barrier of air around each seat. This disrupts the normal circulation of air, which reduces the chances of cross-contamination.
Any time a passenger breathes, coughs, or sneezes, the AirShield will contain the droplets within the “cone” of air coming from above. It does this by redirecting it downwards, then out of the vessel via the plane’s filtration system.
When can we expect to see them on planes – and can we use them for other things?
The AirShield device is currently “in anticipation of rapid deployment,” the company said in a statement. This means it’s in the prototype and engineering development phase, which is the final step before public testing.
Luckily, it’s cheap and easy to install – in fact, it can even be put on overnight!
The company claims the air blade technology in AirShield can also be used in dense places such as gyms, offices, and restaurants. Clearly, this is a big step in helping everyone transition back to a more “normal” version of life.
Creators of AirShield hope to put people at ease in the air – while promoting a sense of safety from viruses by lowering the risk of transmission between passengers.
So, would you trust the “air curtain” to keep germs from spreading? Or are you planning on staying grounded for the time being?
Let us know what you think in the comments below!
richard Stead says
very interesting. I will read more of these messages. The world is a great place and getting better in spite the the climate extinction crap.
Tony says
Prove it!!!! This assumes that vents above every seat is open and true return air vents are so located as to pull the air stream down and away for nearby passengers. So how does the airline insure both the airstream vents remain open, are properly aimed and return air vent are open and not blocked?
carpediem821 says
Dyson fan technology a balloon passes from one to the next ?
Pailine Ranscombe says
A great idea, but I have asthma. And the airflow could bring on an asthma attack.
Bert Gölden says
Wir benötigen keine technischen Innovationen zum Schutz vor Viren. Ein stabiles Immunsystem kann sich gegen alle Viren und Bakterien erfolgreich wehren.
We do not need any technical innovations to protect against viruses. A stable immune system can successfully defend itself against all viruses and bacteria.
Victoria says
I don’t trust this, this is how the virus is spread , by air, if it was sucking air up and filtering it maybe , but no. I hate the air that blows down on me in a plane. Just wear a mask, and don’t travel sick. Also don’t cough or sneeze unprotected . Simple.