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The key objective of ICE is to provide
airframers/airlines with step-change knowledge and innovations to address
the concerns about the unknown combined effects of cabin environmental
parameters, including for the first time cabin pressure, on the health of
passengers in commercial aircraft.
ICE addresses the widespread concerns about
the impact of flying on the health and well-being of passengers. Changing passengers demographics, the advent of ultra-long-haul
services, and specific health issues such as DVT and SARS, have all
combined to increase concerns. Earlier studies have been fragmented and,
significantly, have not determined the health-based optimum levels or
studied the synergistic effects of cabin environmental parameters, not studied
cabin pressure, hypoxia (often considered the most serious single physical
hazard) and possible links with DVT.
ICE will produce a step
change knowledge by investigating impacts of varying levels of parameters
on subjects using unique large-scale aircraft cabin environment facilities,
and will determine optimum individual and combined levels for human
well-being, validated by in-flight monitoring. From these, ICE will develop
radical predictive design models for airframers
and airlines to provide for the first time a means by which they will be
able to determine the health impact of their aircraft on their passengers.
The predictive model will not only consider
environmental parameters but also passenger profile, and flight
characteristics. If these indicate health risks, the user will be able to
vary individual or combined parameters to minimize risks to acceptable
levels in a technical feasible and economically viable manner. ICE will
also draft relevant standards, including the first scientifically based for
cabin pressure, and provide practical design guides and operational
recommendations in cooperation with stakeholders.
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