By Amy TaitThe US Department of Transportation has approved the use of a carpet cleaning engine cleaner to resolve the carpet cleaning problem in the cabin of a passenger plane.
The company that makes the engine cleaner, Bedrocan, says it will be available to commercial airliners in 2019, although it has not yet announced an exact date.
It was developed to address the issue of a vacuum-cleaning engine that doesn’t get enough oxygen from the air.
Airline pilots who have experienced a vacuum cleaner vacuum cleaner problem have complained about the issue since 2015.
It was reported that the problem was causing long-term oxygen deprivation to cabin crew members, but it was unclear if the problem could be solved with a carpet cleaner.
“This is a very significant step forward in the development of a solution to the carpet cleaner vacuum issue, and it is a great first step in the ongoing development of this technology,” said Mark Bower, CEO of Bedroca.
Airports and airlines have been testing the engine cleaners since 2015, but there has been little improvement in performance and comfort.
The FAA is still assessing whether the new carpet cleaning solution can solve the problem of oxygen deprivation in the cockpit.
“The airplane is an amazing piece of machinery,” said JetBlue pilot Gary Miller, who lives in Florida.
“It’s a little bit complicated, but I think it’s the best way to solve the issue.
We have to see how this is going to work.”
The FAA has given Bedrocam until February 2021 to submit a proposal for its carpet cleaner solution.