Study of the microbiological environment within long- and medium-range Canadian Forces aircraft

Area of Science:

• Aviation safety
• Infectious disease control
• Aeromedical transport

Background:

• Military and civilian transport aircraft may be required to evacuate patients with highly virulent communicable diseases.
• Understanding contaminant spread within aircraft cabins is crucial for infection control during aeromedical evacuations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess smoke patterns and non-pathogenic organism dissemination in Canadian Forces transport aircraft.
• To evaluate the suitability of different aircraft types for aeromedical evacuations involving infectious patients.

Main Methods:

• Observation of smoke patterns to visualize airflow.
• Quantitative evaluation of non-pathogenic organism spread in a Boeing 707 and a C130E (Hercules).
• Attempted recovery of respiratory tract viruses during transatlantic flights.

Main Results:

• Smoke patterns indicated infected patients should be isolated at the rear of the aircraft.
• Contamination in the Boeing 707 was largely confined to the rear, except in unpressurized conditions.
• The C130E (Hercules) showed contamination spread throughout the entire aircraft.
• No respiratory viruses were recovered from transatlantic flights.

Conclusions:

• The Boeing 707 is the preferred aircraft for aeromedical evacuations due to contained contamination.
• If the C130E (Hercules) is used, a portable, self-contained isolation care unit is mandatory to prevent widespread contamination.