Airbus, Lindo partner on cabin disinfection for HEMS

Airbus in Australia Pacific, Airbus Helicopters and Australian health-technology innovator Lindo have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore the integration of antimicrobial blue light (aBL) disinfection technology into Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) platforms. The agreement establishes a framework for joint research and development into occupant-safe, continuous disinfection solutions that could be embedded within future aeromedical configurations of Airbus helicopters, supporting HEMS programmes in Australia and across the broader Asia-Pacific region. “We are pleased to progress our collaboration with Airbus, driven by a shared commitment to preventing in-flight infection,” said Robert Gangi, CEO & Founder, Lindo. “By investigating how occupant-safe disinfection technologies can be integrated into next-generation aeromedical platforms, we are taking a meaningful step toward reducing pathogen transmission in critical care transport, while maintaining the operational efficiency these missions require.” Critical care transport environments operate under intense time pressure, with high patient turnover and inherent infection risks. Advancing autonomous, continuous disinfection within these settings is vital for enhancing biosafety while maintaining the operational tempo that lifesaving missions demand. The initial phase of the collaboration will centre on feasibility studies, system integration and validation of aBL lighting solutions within Airbus Helicopters platforms, with a view toward certified aircraft integration in the longer term. The Lindo research and development programme is being led with design partners at Marker Design, with the continued support of the Victorian Government in enabling advanced manufacturing and technology development within the state. “HEMS crews across Australia operate in some of the most demanding conditions in the world, often at the very edge of what aeromedical aviation is designed to do. Supporting them means looking beyond the airframe to the cabin environment itself,” said Christian Venzal, Managing Director, Airbus Helicopters in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific. “That’s why this is an exciting step with Lindo. By bringing together global aerospace capability and Australian innovation, we’re exploring how the next generation of HEMS platforms can deliver not only faster, safer transport, but also a cleaner, more resilient clinical environment for patients and crews alike.” Airbus Helicopters is the global leader in the HEMS segment, with more than 3,000 Airbus rotorcraft, over 50% of the worldwide HEMS fleet, supporting emergency medical missions. In Australia and New Zealand, Airbus platforms including the H125, H135, H145 and the H175 underpin the majority of aeromedical operations, with the next-generation H160 and H140 set to further extend that capability in the years ahead. For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Matt Driskill at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Head of Sales Sally Passey at [email protected]