Communicable Disease Preparedness: Airline Cabin Inflight Ventilation Assessment

The National Research Council of Canada (NRCC) measured cabin ventilation on the ground and on a pre-defined flight profile. Measurements were conducted using a balometer and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) tracer gas. Additionally, human subjects/passengers wearing biosensors were flown to assess tidal volume minute ventilation rates under conditions experienced at operational cabin altitudes. Ventilation: The main purpose of these measurements was to assess airflow distribution and air change in the cabin through various phases of flight. Tidal Volume: The main purpose of these measurements was to confirm if the EPA Exposure Hazards look-up tables of ventilation rate by age and activity level are valid for the in-flight cabin environment. The flight data are being transitioned to a modeling development team, to improve parameterization of models for safety risk assessments of communicable diseases in air travel.