Collins Aerospace has developed Lilac-UV, an ultraviolet (UV) lighting option that can sanitise aircraft interiors nearly anywhere a light is installed inside a cabin. The lamps emit what the company describes as a “slight” violet light that disinfects the illuminated surfaces within seconds or minutes, depending on the lamp configuration and the specific pathogen affected.
Lilac-UV uses technology developed by Boeing, adapted for inflight operations as part of a licencing agreement with Collins. The system can be applied in lavatories, galleys, flight decks, cargo bays and throughout the cabin, and has an intelligent dosage controller that can be set for scheduled cleanings or manual applications during or between flights. The system also has an occupancy detector for enclosed spaces, to ensure that areas such as the airplane lavatory are only subjected to UV when a passenger is not present
“Our design allows for installation anywhere in the cabin, with minimal or no hardware design changes, enabling users to switch to a higher power lamp or change the number of lamps based on application,” said Bridget Sheriff, vice president of engineering at Collins Aerospace. “The intelligent controller automatically adjusts to manage power consumption and offers scientifically proven disinfection of spaces during and between flights.”
The Lilac-UV sanitising light is a finalist in the ‘Clean & Safe Air Travel’ category of the 2021 Crystal Cabin Awards. Cynthia Muklevicz, vice president of business development at Collins Aerospace said of the design, “At the heart of this project is the desire to continue to build the public’s trust and confidence in air travel as passengers return to the skies. Collins and Boeing share the common goal to redefine air travel, a commitment to collaboration and the technical research and development expertise to bring this game-changing, hygienic technology to market for the benefit of air-travellers around the world.”
