Aircraft Disinsection, Nationwide
Pre-embarkation aircraft disinsection for US departures to destinations that require it: a WHO-approved aerosol treatment of the empty aircraft, before boarding, at your departure airport. We travel to the aircraft anywhere in the United States, and it arrives compliant with the certificate the destination authority expects. It’s the specialty we’re known for, run through our dedicated division, Pure Aircraft Disinsection.
Our dedicated disinsection site: pureaircraftdisinsection.com →
Treatment happens on an empty aircraft, before boarding, at the departure airport.
What aircraft disinsection is
Disinsection is the treatment of an aircraft interior with an approved insecticide to kill mosquitoes and other insects that can carry disease across borders. It is provided for under the International Health Regulations and mandated by many governments on arriving aircraft, to stop vectors such as the Aedes aegypti mosquito (dengue, Zika, yellow fever, chikungunya) from arriving on a flight. The governing standard is the World Health Organization’s Aircraft Disinsection Methods and Procedures, 2nd edition (2023).
Why it matters: get it wrong and an aircraft can be held, treated by authorities on arrival, or turned around. Pure Aviation Detailing performs pre-embarkation disinsection, nationwide, so the aircraft leaves the US already compliant.
Disinsection is not disinfection.
Disinfection targets pathogens: bacteria and viruses on surfaces. Disinsection targets insects. They are different treatments under different rules, and a disinfection certificate does not satisfy a disinsection requirement. If a destination requires disinsection, the aircraft needs an insecticide treatment recognized by that authority, and a certificate to show for it.
Pre-embarkation disinsection, at your departure airport.
Our crew treats the aircraft interior, cabin and holds, with a WHO-approved, US EPA-registered 2% permethrin aircraft aerosol while the aircraft is empty of passengers, before boarding, at the departure airport. The aircraft is ventilated, boards after the required wait, and arrives compliant. No one has to spray an occupied cabin at the gate.
The treatment is valid for one flight sector and is performed on the unoccupied aircraft at the departure port. The flight deck receives an aerosol application as part of the treatment. A disinsection certificate is issued on completion for the destination authority.
| Method | WHO pre-embarkation, cabin and holds |
|---|---|
| Insecticide | WHO-approved, US EPA-registered 2% permethrin aircraft aerosol |
| Passengers | None aboard during treatment |
| When | Before boarding, at the departure point before the flight |
| Validity | One flight sector |
| Re-entry | Aircraft ventilated; boarding after the required wait |
| Certificate | Issued on completion, for the destination authority |
Our process
Tell us your trip
Destination, departure airport and date. Send the itinerary and we take it from there.
We confirm the requirement
We check what that country and route require and tell you exactly what applies to your aircraft.
Our crew travels to your aircraft
We are nationwide and mobile. No repositioning to a specialist facility; we come to the ramp.
We treat the empty cabin and holds
Before boarding, to the WHO pre-embarkation method. The aircraft is then ventilated for the required wait.
We issue the certificate
The disinsection certificate for the flight, ready for the destination authority, with the paperwork handled.
Aircraft we service
We perform pre-embarkation disinsection on everything from turboprops and light jets to super-midsize, heavy and large-cabin aircraft. Business jets are our specialty, but we treat every airframe to the same standard.
Already done, on an empty aircraft, before anyone boards.
The alternatives, pre-departure and on-arrival, both mean spraying a cabin with passengers seated, sometimes at the arrival gate, at the operator’s expense and on the authority’s timetable. Pre-embarkation means the treatment is complete before boarding, on an unoccupied aircraft, and the aircraft arrives with its certificate in hand.
Tell us your route and we will confirm exactly what your aircraft needs.
Destination, departure airport, dates. We confirm the requirement, come to the aircraft, and handle the certificate.
Where pre-embarkation sits among the WHO methods.
The WHO 2nd edition recognizes four ways to disinsect an aircraft. Top-of-descent spraying, once common, is retired under the 2nd edition and replaced by pre-departure. Here is how they compare.
| Method | How it works | Passengers aboard? |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-embarkation | Aerosol at the departure port before boarding | No. Our service. |
| Residual | Long-lasting surface treatment applied on the ground | No |
| Pre-departure | Aerosol after passengers board, before push-back | Yes |
| On-arrival | Aerosol after landing, under supervision | Yes |
Disinsection for US flights to Australia, New Zealand, Italy, Greece and more.
Pre-embarkation is a WHO standard method, accepted by a wide range of countries that require disinsection on arriving aircraft. We handle disinsection for US departures to destinations including:
Pre-embarkation is performed at your US departure airport and covers that flight, so it fits non-stop flights from the US. Almost any aircraft in the continental US is reachable within 36 hours, much of the central US same day, and Hawaii, Alaska and US territory departures are arranged on a scheduled basis. For multi-stop international routings, and for a small number of destinations that require an on-arrival treatment we do not provide, we confirm the specifics when you send your trip.
Australia and New Zealand carry operator paperwork that should be started early. We help operators meet both countries’ requirements; contact us to plan ahead.
Documentation, handled.
On completion you receive the disinsection certificate for the destination authority, and your crew records the treatment on the General Declaration from the details we provide. We take care of the documentation for the route, in the format the destination accepts, so your crew is not assembling paperwork on the ramp.
We go where the aircraft is.
United States nationwide. We travel to the aircraft; there is no repositioning to a specialist facility. We can often accommodate short-notice requests, so contact us with your dates.
We work with private and corporate flight departments, charter and management companies, and trip-support and handling companies arranging international departures for US-registered aircraft. Every treatment is performed by our own team, never a subcontractor or franchisee, so the standard on your aircraft is the one our name is on.
Pure Aircraft Disinsection, pureaircraftdisinsection.com
Aircraft disinsection runs through our specialist division, Pure Aircraft Disinsection: we come to your aircraft, anywhere in the US. The dedicated site covers how the treatment works, the destinations we serve and the US departure airports we come to.
Popular departure points with dedicated pages: TEB · JFK · BOS · IAH · MIA · MDW · LAX · LAS · PDK · FLL.
Visit Pure Aircraft Disinsection →
Disinsection questions, answered
What is aircraft disinsection?
The treatment of an aircraft interior with an approved insecticide to kill mosquitoes and other insects, required by many countries on arriving aircraft to stop disease vectors crossing borders. The governing standard is the WHO Aircraft Disinsection Methods and Procedures, 2nd edition (2023).
Is disinsection the same as disinfection?
No. Disinfection targets pathogens; disinsection targets insects. They are different treatments under different rules, and a disinfection certificate does not satisfy a disinsection requirement.
What does Pure Aviation Detailing provide?
Pre-embarkation disinsection: a WHO-approved 2% permethrin aerosol applied to the empty aircraft before boarding, at your US departure point, so the aircraft arrives compliant. We come to your aircraft, nationwide.
Can passengers be on board during disinsection?
Not for pre-embarkation. It is done on an empty aircraft before boarding, which is one of its advantages over spraying at the arrival gate. The aircraft is ventilated and boards after the required wait.
Do I need disinsection flying to Italy from the US?
Yes, Italy requires it on arriving flights from the US. Tell us your trip and we will confirm exactly what you need.
Do I need disinsection flying to Greece from the US?
Yes. Greece made disinsection mandatory in September 2025 for aircraft arriving from mosquito-risk countries, including the US. We treat the aircraft at your US departure airport before boarding and provide the certificate.
Which countries require disinsection?
Many do. We handle disinsection for US flights to destinations including Australia, New Zealand, Italy, Greece, India, Bangladesh, Jamaica, Chile, Barbados and the Cook Islands, among others. The specifics depend on your exact route, so send us your itinerary and we will confirm what applies.
How fast can you get to us?
Within 24 hours across the central US, and within 24 to 36 hours almost anywhere in the continental US, day or night, with no last minute or overnight fees. For Hawaii, Alaska and US territory departures we arrange scheduled service, so reach out as soon as your trip is on the calendar.
How far in advance should we book?
Same day to next morning across the central US, and within 24 to 36 hours almost anywhere in the continental US. Scheduled bookings made with four or more days of notice are guaranteed for the scheduled departure, and Hawaii, Alaska and US territories such as Puerto Rico are served on a scheduled basis. If you are flying to Australia or New Zealand there is operator paperwork that should be started early; contact us and we will guide you.
Do you offer disinsection outside the region?
Yes. Disinsection is a nationwide, mobile service. We come to your aircraft anywhere in the US, separate from our regional detailing coverage, with all travel logistics handled on our end.
Is the treatment safe for passengers and crew?
The product is a WHO-approved aircraft insecticide, applied only to the empty aircraft. The aircraft is ventilated before boarding and boards after the required wait, and there is no spraying with passengers aboard.
What do we receive after the treatment?
A disinsection certificate for the destination authority, plus the treatment details your crew records on the General Declaration. We take care of the rest of the documentation for the route so your crew is not assembling paperwork on the ramp.
Where can I find aircraft disinsection information for my route?
Requirements are set by each destination country and they change. Rather than working from a static list, send us your route and dates. We confirm whether disinsection applies, which method the destination accepts, and what your crew needs to carry. That check is part of the service.
What are the aircraft disinsection requirements for international flights?
The common thread is treatment with a WHO-approved insecticide, documented by a certificate the crew can present on arrival. The details vary by destination. We apply the pre-embarkation method with a US EPA-registered aircraft aerosol at your departure airport and provide the certificate, so the aircraft arrives compliant.