Schiphol tests innovative device to filter air on the apron

Credit: Schiphol.

The apron of an airport is a noisy and polluted place to work. Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam is working to change this through a pilot study using an air filtration system to reduce ultrafine particles on the airport’s apron.

The innovative air filtration system will be installed next to Pier D and is one of the ways in which the airport is working to improve the working conditions for their airport workers.

The air filtration device has been developed by Van Wees Innovations and creates airflows that ensure ultrafine particles clump together to form larger particles that can then be filtered. During this pilot on the apron, the airport will be investigating whether this machine also works indoors.

Successful pilot at fire station
Last year, Schiphol conducted a successful pilot with this device at a fire station next to the runways. The device cleaned the air almost fully. However, because the building is in use 24 hours a day, with windows and doors being opened, the reduction during the trial came to an average of 75%.

Patricia Vitalis, Executive Director Schiphol Operations at Royal Schiphol Group: “Everyone has the right to a healthy place of work. That’s why we keep on developing and investigating ways to improve the air quality on the apron. This innovation is new in the aviation sector.  We’re also thinking outside the box, doing experimental research and looking at promising solutions used in other sectors.”

Other initiatives
Schiphol wants to offer employees a healthy workplace and improve the quality of life in the local environment. To achieve that, the concentrations of ultrafine particles at Schiphol must be reduced. Accordingly, the airport is busy implementing the requirements set by the Labour Inspectorate. This includes introducing a green zone around the piers, in which plane engines may no longer start up, by the end of 2027 at the latest. Together with partners from the TULIPS consortium, Schiphol is also advancing research into the use of mist to remove ultrafine particles from the air. Furthermore, modified departure procedures have been introduced at two gates with high concentrations UFP.