Embraer has released technical guidance to help customers properly define the transportation characteristics and payload requirements for Covid-19 vaccines.

The guidance is aimed for the EMB120 Brasilia, ERJ 145, E-Jets and E-Jets E2 families. Embraer says that currently, there are more than 100 customers flying a fleet of almost 2,500 Embraer commercial aircraft in more than 80 countries.

According to the manufacturer, its aircraft can transport over 100,000 vaccines depending on the aircraft configuration and containers used. The guidance details technical information such as how operators can load and unload each aircraft. The transport of Covid-19 vaccines requires temperatures as low as -70ºC, which are maintained using dry ice.

“Since the pandemic began, Embraer’s main concern has always been the health of its employees and partners, as well as contributing to society to overcome the impacts of the crisis. This technical disposition allows us to guide our customers, supporting each airline using Embraer’s products to transport the vaccines that will benefit the entire world in the fight against the virus,” said Francisco Gomes Neto, Embraer’s president and CEO.

The company recently released a service bulletin that allows ERJ 145 operators to install high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters which are standard on all versions of the Embraer E-Jets and E-Jets E2 families of commercial aircraft. The manufacturer says the technology is also available on Embraer Executive Jets, with the HEPA filter now standard on both the Praetor 500 and Praetor 600. HEPA filters are extremely efficient, capturing 99.97 per cent of airborne particles and other biological contaminants, such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi.

In another development regarding safety, earlier this year, Embraer also approved the use of MicroShield360, a preventive coating system that continuously inhibits the growth of microbes.