COVID-19 Prompts BBD Aircraft Cleaning Advisory

With the continuing spread of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), Bombardier yesterday issued an advisory to owners and operators providing information on disinfecting their Learjet, Challenger, and Global aircraft. The advisory is in response to “several inquiries on procedures to manage aircraft” that have traveled or will travel to affected regions.

“Given that COVID-19 is new, no one can yet test their aviation disinfectant products specifically against this strain of the virus,” the advisory states. “However, coronaviruses are part of the ‘enveloped viruses’ family, which includes other well-known and identified diseases such as influenza. Because of their proven effectiveness against other viruses in the same family, there is confidence that existing aircraft disinfection sprays will work on this new strain.” Bombardier further recommends using disinfectants that conform to Aerospace Material Specifications (AMS).

Guidelines—based on information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization, and International Air Transport Association—are also offered for cabin crew managing a suspected case of a communicable disease on board, as well as for maintenance crews and cargo and baggage handlers.