Page 17 - AAA MAY - JUNE 2015 Online Magazine

FEATURE AvIATION BuSINESS

into this partnership with Recaro Aircraft want the additional width as an option to
Seating – and we are already working a standard economy seat.
with them to bring our A320 Family The EBACE show at Geneva in May saw
customers an SFE economy seat option Lufthansa Technik’s present its “chair”
for the first time,” said Heino Ostermeier, family of seats for VIP and business
Airbus’ Senior Vice President of Cabin jets. “On board an airplane, the seats
Procurement. The seat will be available are the central interface between the
later this year for line and retrofit and is passengers and the cabin,” says Andrew
based on the successful BL3530 economy Muirhead, head of the Original Equipment
class seat. Innovation unit at Lufthansa Technik. “For
An interesting design that emerged decades, seats have mostly changed only
as the winner of this year’s Crystal in shape and colour. Today’s passengers
Cabin Award, in the “Passenger Comfort have much higher expectations at every
Hardware” category held at the Aircraft level, from the most basic to top-of-the-
Interiors Expo in Hamburg, was SII line seats. They expect the comfort and
Deutschland’s SANTO seat. SANTO stands convenience of an innovative cabin along
for “Special Accommodation Needs with the diversity they’re accustomed
for Toddlers & Oversized passengers.” to from home furnishings, and more
According to its maker, the SANTO seat freedom of movement in the cabin.” The
uses a one-and-a-half seat element, new seat has already cleared all 9g ETSO
including a fully retractable armrest that (European Technical Standard Orders)
makes use of the unused space between maximum payload tests required for
the last seat row and the aisle due to airworthiness certification. The sixteen
the fuselage contour. “The beneficiaries (16g) dynamic tests are expected to
of this concept are both operators and have been completed by now. European
travellers alike, as for a moderate Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) approval
surcharge, the safety of travelling infants for the seats is expected later this year.
can be significantly increased and the Lufthansa Technik’s new seat product
comfort of oversized travellers drastically will be available as European Technical
improved,” said Peter Miehlke, Business Standard Order (ETSO) equipment and
Unit Manager and shareholder of SII also with a complete Supplemental Type
Deutschland. The unique design allows Certificate (STC).
the SANTO seat to accommodate two Mercedes-Benz Style and Lufthansa
adults and a child seat, at the same time Technik announced in May that both
offering extra width for passengers who companies would partner to develop

SII Deutschland’s “Special
Accommodation Needs
for Toddlers & Oversized
passengers,” SANTO
seat, was a winner of this
Crystal Cabin Award, in
the “Passenger Comfort
Hardware” category
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