Ottawa and Toronto, April 6, 2021 – Canadian-based operator of Dash 8 aircraft, Hydro-Québec, has introduced cabin disinfection procedures between flights utilizing the autonomous robot, RAY. It is the first use of a cabin disinfecting procedure using ultraviolet-C (UVC) light delivered by an autonomous robot on in-service regional aircraft and follows Hydro-Québec’s acquisition of the robot from designer and manufacturer aero hygenx inc. Hydro-Québec, Canada’s largest electricity producer, operates three Dash 8-300 and Dash 8-400 aircraft manufactured by De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited (“De Havilland Canada”).
RAY delivers high-frequency UVC light that destroys up to 99.9% of pathogens – including the COVID-19 virus. The use of UVC light reduces the need for frequent chemical-based disinfection that could impact aircraft interior surfaces and sensitive equipment, and leave residues that may come into contact with passengers and crew. The payback period for RAY is less than 12 months and operators will see significant savings compared to when using chemical disinfectants. In collaboration with De Havilland Canada, RAY has been optimized for use on the Dash 8 Series aircraft.
“With the COVID-19 pandemic surging on, it is important that we utilize effective and efficient disinfection techniques to ensure a pathogen-free cabin. We believe that RAY will be beneficial to our operation while providing a high level of confidence to employees who fly on our Dash 8 shuttle to the hydro-electric generating sites,” said René Collin, Manager – Air Transport, Hydro-Québec.
“Rapid, consistent, and chemical-free disinfection of air and surfaces is vital for employee and passenger safety in the fight against pandemics,” said Arash Mahin, Chief Executive Officer, aero hygenx. “We are mindful of the industry’s economic challenges and are confident that RAY will deliver significant cost savings for aircraft operators from the onset. We are grateful and fortunate to have the support of De Havilland Canada, an aviation industry visionary, in helping us adapt RAY to assist the industry in these challenging times.”
“The completion of development and testing of an innovative, chemical-free disinfection method at a rapid pace is a testament to the agility and versatility of the aero hygenx and De Havilland Canada teams who worked alongside each other to adapt RAY to cater to regional aircraft operations,” said Robert Mobilio, Vice President, Engineering and Quality, De Havilland Canada. “The vision was to create a solution that would provide immediate benefits to the entire regional aviation industry during the ongoing pandemic, as well as in the post-pandemic era where enhanced disinfection is expected to be a mainstay. Hydro-Québec is a highly accomplished, long-standing Dash 8 operator and we are happy to have them on board as launch customer for RAY.”
Optimized for use on Dash 8 Series aircraft, RAY has a compact body while still delivering the required UVC dosage and 360° coverage throughout the cabin, lavatories and crew area. The disinfection procedure between flights on Dash 8 Series aircraft can be completed in under five minutes, and no time is required to allow chemicals to dissipate before crew and passengers can board the aircraft, as is the case when chemical disinfection methods are used. Data analysis and reporting is available via the cloud-based HygenX Stream.
About Hydro-Québec
Hydro-Québec generates, transmits and distributes electricity. It is Canada’s largest electricity producer and ranks among the world’s largest hydropower producers. Its sole shareholder is the Québec government. The company uses mainly renewable generating options, in particular large hydro. Its research facilities, collectively called Institut de recherche d’Hydro-Québec (IREQ), conduct R&D in energy-related fields, including energy efficiency and storage. www.hydroquebec.com
About aero hygenx
aero hygenx is headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, where it has developed and manufactures its revolutionary autonomous UVC robot called RAY. Its founders and executives have a passion for the aviation industry and a combined 80+ years of experience in safety and quality management, airline operations, software, electrical engineering and electromagnetics. The company’s vision is to instill confidence in passengers to travel again and set a new precedent in the transportation disinfecting industry. www.aerohygenx.com
De Havilland, Dash 8, Dash 8-100/200/300 and Dash 8-400 are trademarks of De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited.
About De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited
With more than 5,000 aircraft delivered, De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited (De Havilland Canada) is well established across the globe and our talented team of aviation professionals is dedicated to advancing our near-100-year reputation for excellence in innovation, production, and customer support. Our aircraft operate reliably in some of the world’s harshest climates and provide vital connections between rural communities and urban centres – transporting essential cargo and millions of passengers annually. Our aircraft also support a wide variety of special mission operations including aerial firefighting, search and rescue, medical evacuation, reconnaissance, and coastal surveillance. Visit: https://dehavilland.com
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