A Calgary company says it has the technology to prevent Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and other viruses from being spread in an airplane.

AeroMechancial Services has developed a filter with help from the University of Calgary. It's designed to prevent diseases from being spread by airline ventilation systems.

"We take out the existing air duct system in the aircraft, modify it, put our technology into it and take and radiate the air with ultraviolet light radiation," explains Darryl Jacobs of AeroMechanical.

Jacobs says current ventilation systems in aircraft mean up to 150 pathogens — bacteria and viruses — can be airborne.

The company claims "Air Q" could bring that number to zero.

"The ultraviolet light breaks down the proteins on a virus or a pathogen, and kills them."

The company says it has also developed strong disinfectants to kill the network of viruses found on surfaces, such as armrests and food trays.

Douglas Merck, a microbiology professor at the university, says the technology is available to eliminate the spread of disease on aircraft.

"I think it's a very viable type of technology," says Merck who says the problem of pathogens could be eliminated on planes within six months.

AeroMechanical Services is working with Health Canada to get approval for Air Q and it's already in negotiations with several airlines.