Story ID: 343
Cabin Comforts in the Spotlight
By: James Wynbrandt
Caption: OEMs and MROs display the latest in interior design stylings and upgrade options.
Word Count: 1315
From the state-of-the-art cabins in new business aircraft to the full spectrum of options for refreshing legacy platforms, the best of interiors and completions work is on display at LABACE 2017. Here are some of the outstanding examples of aircraft and specialists to put on the short list for close inspection at this year’s show.

Brazil’s own Embraer is highlighting its midsize 12-passenger Legacy 500, boasting the largest cabin in class and a range of more than 3,125 nm with four onboard. The flat floor, six-foot-tall space has four fully berthable seats, low noise level and best pressurization in class, ensuring passengers arrive feeling refreshed. A new technology for both the Legacy 500 and Legacy 450 is the “upper tech panel,” a backlit touchscreen valence that provides pertinent flight status information, ambient lighting and ergonomic access to cabin controls, noted Embraer’s Ricardo Santos. Information on distance traveled, altitude, time to arrival, and local times at departure and destination and more are visible at a glance, so other apps and activities needn’t be interrupted to access a moving map. The new feature also provides additional LED halo mood lights.

Textron Aviation is showcasing more than half a dozen of its Cessna and Beechcraft models here at the show. Meanwhile, the U.S. manufacturer has expanded its in-house completions capabilities as it builds larger platforms like the forthcoming Citation Hemisphere—the company’s first large-cabin business jet. Textron now designs and makes its own seats, cabinetry and other cabin elements, said Christi Tannahill, senior v-p, turboprop aircraft and interior design. Leading the display is the mid-size Citation Latitude, certified in 2015. Cessna offers half a dozen personalized interior style choices for the Latitude, all with standard galley and lavatory. Also here are the Citation CJ3+ and M2; the Beechcraft King Air 350i and C90GTx and Cessna Grand Caravan EX turboprops; and the Beechcraft Baron piston twin.

This year Boeing Business Jets (BBJ) unveiled the BBJ Demonstrator to show off the interior design possibilities of the eponymous executive airliner’s cabin comforts and styling. Designed by Germany’s Unique Design, with the completion performed by Switzerland’s Amac Aerospace in 12 months on time and on budget, the 13-passenger Demonstrator cabin takes full advantage of the expansive interior space, incorporating both working environments and room to relax. The bespoke furnishings and fine materials are complemented by state-of-the-art technical equipment including taxi and caution system cameras.

Gulfstream Aerospace is showcasing here in São Paulo its large cabin G550 and mid-size G280. The G550 offers a flexible cabin design with up to four distinct living areas including a private stateroom, conference area, entertainment space, and dedicated crew rest area. The G550 also offers forward or aft galley options―the only aircraft in its class to offer such flexibility. For interior styling, buyers can select from soft, hand-tailored leathers, thousands of exquisite fabrics and dozens of unique wood finishes offered in Gulfstream’s design studios, said Tray Crow, director, interior design.

The midsize G280, at 6’3”, has the tallest cabin in class, and offers three select floor plans to configure the cabin for work, entertainment, rest, or a combination. As on all Gulfstreams, advanced sound suppression, 100 percent fresh air and low cabin altitude provide maximum passenger comfort and well-being.

With the Global 7000 scheduled for service entry next year, Bombardier Aerospace has introduced the Premier cabin for its in-production Global 5000 and 6000 long range jets, borrowing ideas developed for the 7000. Next-generation seats, developed and built in-house, incorporate enhanced ergonomic features such as higher armrests, sculpted backrests and re-sculpted cushion upholstery for increased lumbar support, all combined with stylish elements like hand-stitched finishing and sleek side ledges. The Premier Interiors’ furnishings, like the Global 7000’s with touches like recessed cup holders and discreet cabin-comfort controls on the divan, are as beautiful as they are functional, noted Tim Fagan, manager for aerospace industrial design. “We want these pieces to look like a piece of furniture that was purchased and brought into the home,” he said.

Dassault Falcon is presenting here its flagship 8X, bookended by its entry level Falcon 2000S. With over 30 possible layouts, the 8X offers the industry’s most flexible cabin, Dassault believes. Compared to typical business jet cabin altitudes of 6,000 to 8,000 feet, the Falcon 8X maintains a 3,900-ft. cabin at 41,000 feet, in concert with a very low 50 dB noise level, minimizing travel fatigue. The latest version of the FalconCabin HD+ cabin management system provides control over the environment from anywhere in the cabin via Apple devices. The system includes an app that enables passengers to call up a virtual moving map of any area around the aircraft simply by pointing an iPad in its direction. An optional Skybox wireless media server offers vast iTunes video and music storage capacity.

The new Pilatus PC-24 twin-jet complements its rugged STOL (Short Takeoff and Landing) performance with a refined interior the Swiss company calls “Crystal Class,” designed to evoke the qualities of Swiss crystal: beauty, uniqueness and versatility. The flat floor cabin can be outfitted in seven different configurations, including three executive versions (six, eight and six-/eight-seat quick change configurations), with galley and forward or aft lavatory options. Moreover, the lav is externally serviceable, a first for a jet of this size. Ten-passenger commuter, combi (forward club-seat cluster and aft cargo), cargo, and medevac layouts are also available. Passengers will be comfortable in any configuration or operating location thanks to the environmental cooling and heating system from U.S.-based Air Comm.

The modular, all-leather seating in the flexible cabin of Cirrus’s newly certified SF50 Vision Jet can be arranged for four to six passengers, plus the pilot. Aimed at the owner-flown market, the configuration provides easy access to the cockpit. The airframe’s bulbous shape also provides ample headroom and accommodates relatively large windows, providing expansive views from all seats. Seatbacks taper to narrow headrests, enhancing the sense of interior space, and easing cabin entry and exit. High-end automotive touches include USB ports and distinctive upholstery stitching. Automatic pressurization technologies and options like rear climate controls for every seat add to comfort, and Premium interiors and Xi Customization options are also available.

Attendees interested in upgrading the cabin of a legacy aircraft can learn about their options from aftermarket refurbishment specialists including Duncan Aviation and StandardAero.

Duncan Aviation's aircraft interior design team reports a marked increase in requests to personalize aircraft interiors, a distinct change from the more generic and conservative trends seen since 2009. Among the distinctive touches: brighter colors, custom carpets in larger-scale patterns, and custom seat designs that use two-tone leathers, quilting, welt cord and contrasting stitching to provide more unique patterns and looks. Unique lighting is also being used, including colored and color-changing upwash and downwash lighting in the cabin as well as highlighting certain design and interior elements with colored light. Spots for lighting highlights include cup holders, galleys, wine coolers and even lavatory elements. Alternative finishes, such carbon fiber material, painted finishes and metal and leather on cabinets are also used more often.

“There’s less 'rip and replace everything',” said StadardAero's Don Milum, director of technical sales for avionics and completions. “People are trying to maintain and polish, or fix existing woods and changing soft goods. There’s a little more caution and re-diversion of investment, shifting some investment to connectivity, to valance panels, carpet, possibly reconfigure the CMS systems.” Design wise, “things are moving much more toward sleek and slim. More brushed stainless steel versus gold plating from ten, fifteen years in the past. Ultramodern, clean and crisp.”

Customers are also requesting small technology upgrades, like having the ability to project information from on iPad onto a cabin monitor, moving maps with 3D graphics, and fresh cabin control systems.