Leading US VIP completions specialist Associated Air Center of Dallas has ordered CTT Systems’ Cair cabin humidification for installation in an Airbus A319 during the first half of this year.
Cair, which humidifies the extremely dry air (3-5 per cent relative humidity) typical of first and business-class cabins without creating condensation, is fast becoming a standard feature of VIP aircraft. Earlier this month Hamburg-based Lufthansa Technik ordered the system for installation in a VIP Airbus A330 during the autumn. And in December another top US interiors provider, Gore Design Completions, specified it for installation in an A340 in the fourth quarter.
The latest order is Swedish-based CTT’s third from Associated Air in 12 months. “It clearly shows the high level of activity in this market and its interest in our system,” says CTT sales and marketing VP Ulf Liljenberg. In the past the US company has also selected CTT products for VIP Boeing BBJs and 767s.
Cair is designed to provide a pleasant relative humidity of 25 per cent to reduce the incidence of problems associated with excessively dry air - fatigue, jetlag, red eyes, dry skin, airborne virus infections. The system is based on energy-efficient evaporative cooling technology and includes measures that effectively rule out the transfer of bacteria within the aircraft.
CTT humidification is optional in Boeing 787 crew rest compartments and on the flight deck; in the Airbus A350 cabin, flight deck and crew rest compartments; and in A380 crew rest compartments.
CTT’s complementary Zonal Drying System is designed to counter harmful condensation on the cold inside surface of the aircraft skin. Benefits include reduced fuel consumption and thus emissions through the elimination of significant weights of accumulated water, less corrective maintenance and thus improved operational reliability, and better insulation performance. Corrosion is also reduced, leading to an improvement in aircraft residual value. Zonal Drying has been selected as standard on the Boeing 787 and as an option on the Airbus A350.
Recent major orders for Zonal Drying include one from Air New Zealand for installations in 13 Airbus A320s, 16 Boeing 737s, five 767s and eight 777s.
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