Caeli Nova, a new entrant in the aerospace sector, has announced that it is launching Cordillera, a new passenger emergency oxygen system.

The company says that application of Caeli Nova’s patented breathing technology will deliver improved safety and overcome existing limitations when operating the planet’s most challenging routes, such as those over high terrain regions.

It claims that Cordillera will enable airlines to operate the most direct air routes, reducing fuel and emissions while delivering a number of wider operational benefits for airlines and shorter flight times for passengers.

Caeli Nova CEO, Tim Wakeford (pictured above), said: “Current regulations limit airlines’ ability to operate the most direct air routes, such as L888 over the Himalayas. Cordillera, which uses our patented breathing technology, allows an aircraft to safely divert at a higher altitude to a suitable airport following a decompression event. As a result, airlines can operate the most optimal routes. In addition to keeping passengers safe and delivering cost and sustainability benefits, continuing the flight at a higher altitude offers the flight crew a safer operating environment in the demanding post-decompression flight phase.”

Caeli Nova received initial design organisation approval from EASA in December 2020 following an eight-month process. Throughout this period, Caeli Nova has also worked closely with the regulator to undertake research and development of its technology. With design authority in place, the company can now continue development and installation of its first product, Cordillera, under its own Supplementary Type Certificate (STC). Cordillera has been developed in the UK with an exhaustive research and development programme co-funded by Innovate UK, the UK’s innovation agency.

Wakeford added: “Cordillera has undergone extensive testing with both medical and regulatory supervision. The results are a clear demonstration that Cordillera will provide the safe, innovative resolution of a long-term operational limitation.”

Cordillera can be easily retrofitted into in-service commercial or military passenger fleets with minimal downtime and first installations have been scheduled for the end of 2021.