Given the particularly bad flu season (see related story, page 26), GermFalcon’s germ-killing device is well-timed. The device uses ultraviolet-C light, the kind used in hospitals, to disinfect airplane cabins.
“Airlines pick up trash and wipe up spills because they know passengers will complain, but they are not required to routinely clean, wipe or disinfect cabin surfaces,” said GermFalcon Chief Executive Elliot Kreitenberg.
Germs in Space
Kreitenberg, who started the company in 2014, said GermFalcon still faces adoption challenges. It’s riding some positive momentum, including now having a commercially available product and winning the 2018 NASA iTech competition. It anticipates getting its first orders from international airlines in March. It’s focusing on international now because countries like Argentina and Japan have disinfection requirements for in-between flights. Kreitenberg said it’s proving a challenge to convince domestic carriers because they’re not required by law to disinfect cabins.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s sanitation standard for airlines goes into minimal detail. It’s “flexible and performance-oriented,” according to a joint aviation safety and health report with the Federal Aviation Administration. For short flights with minimum service and short turnaround time, the requirement for cleaning between flights is that it should be done with minimum passenger disturbance.
The company is funded with $500,000 from family and friends.
Kreitenberg said it was “really cool” to participate in the competition, an initiative by NASA’s space technology mission directorate that works with entrepreneurs to develop technologies. GermFalcon is the winner of the medical breakthrough category.
He said GermFalcon will collaborate with NASA to further develop its airplane sanitization device to be used in space. The GermRover will be a zero-gravity ultraviolet disinfection device for the international space station.
Hard-to-Reach Germs
GermFalcon isn’t doing anything new in harnessing short wavelength, ultraviolet light to kill germs. There are several portable UVC light wands for home use promising to kill bacteria and viruses in the kitchen or bathroom.
In fact, most new-model planes have high-efficiency particulate air filters that capture 99.9% of tiny particles, like bacteria and fungi, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. So what’s new?
Kreitenberg said the company went through several iterations before perfecting the model: a device no larger than a flight attendant’s food and beverage cart with two robotic arms that unfold like wings to shine ultraviolet-C lamps to exposed surfaces to kill bacteria and viruses. The retractable wings are designed to extend to sanitize the entire row, as well as adjust to reach sink, countertop and toilet in the lavatory.
The device comes with a protective screen to shield the user from the UVC light.
Kreitenberg said it takes approximately three minutes to sanitize a 180-seat Boeing 737. “You kill about 99% of the germs. The slower you go, the more effective you are. We recommend going slower during a time like this flu season,” he said.
Capital Needed
GermFalcon manufactures its device with Advanced Digital Manufacturing LLC, also known as ADM Works, in Santa Ana.
Kreitenberg said ADM Works was instrumental in helping him develop a functioning prototype.
ADM Works President Javier Valdivieso said the company “is like an incubator for new ideas.” It provides both office space and product design and development services to GermFalcon.
Kreitenberg said the company is seeking $3 million to support commercialization and sales and marketing.
