Page 27 - AAA MARCH-APRIL 2012 Online Magazine

FEATURE INTERIORS

costs for the airline – with highest safety and the lower circle defines the cargo
standards,” he adds. One simple thing the area,” he says. This, says Cherry, gives Design is a
company has done is to put the “literature widebody comfort in a single-aisle combination of all
pocket” on the upper-rear side of the seat, aircraft, and gives extra room at mid-
to give passengers additional legroom. body height, unlike many other designs. the aspects, but
“We have developed the cabin taking “Our design with its four blended radii having clearly in
into account that we have to ensure cross-section optimises every square mind that the main
maximal comfort at any configuration,” inch around the passenger (at the head
even with the seat in front reclined, adds and shoulder) where it counts,” he says. goal is to propose
Tiefenbach. Other smarts like using Like ATR, Bombardier also uses seat an even more
materials which are easier and simpler to backs shaped around the passenger to comfortable cabin
maintain or repair, such as LED lighting optimise legroom.
and new PSU panels all contribute to to the passenger
passenger perceptions of quality. Noisy Neighbours, Flashing Lights at the optimal
Airbus is also looking at smart design You have been there. The person in the
and improved materials to additionally seat across the aisle has the movie costs for the airline
target the other big issue for passengers flashing in the corner of your eye, his – with highest
– the guy in the next seat. reading light on – and is asleep, snoring. safety standards
“A lot of innovation has already been As Boeing’s Payloads Chief Architect, PJ
seen with Premium class seating (such as Wilcynski accurately puts it, cabin design – Pierre Tiefenbach,
full flat bed, herringbone configurations, is a balancing act. ATR’s Customisation Director
ying-yang configurations and so on,” says “The needs of airlines to manage their
Hrnkova. This helps give more personal costs and generate revenue are balanced
space whilst keeping the important with meeting passenger requirements
payload and passenger allocation and expectations,” he says. “Boeing’s
numbers viable for profitable operation. effort is to provide interiors that address
“Coach class is also benefitting from the full range of airline and passenger
new technologies in terms of material requirements, from first class passengers
and design,” she adds. “Seats are lighter, on traditional network airlines to budget
more comfortable and with optimised minded economy class travellers on low
space allocation and lot of features for cost carriers.”
passengers, which take away the mass- Wilcynski says Boeing has used custom
transportation feel.” Something many design house Teague since 1946 for both
passengers appreciate in the A380 cabin, industrial design and custom designs
by all accounts. to take advantage of Teague’s exposure
One slightly different approach comes to design beyond aviation. “There is a
from Bombardier, which approaches generally negative view of the economy
its cabin design from an engineering class experience which underscores the
standpoint, rather than only using smart need for interior designs that increase the
materials to solve a problem.
“We modified a successful engineering
formula to widen the cabin area where
it counts, near the seated head and Whose Design? “Cabin lining, stowage and systems
shoulder area,” explains Sam Cherry, “We believe Boeing, together with are designed by Airbus in-house
Director, Product Strategy, Bombardier Teague, through their many years of designers. However galleys, toilets,
Commercial Aircraft. Cherry says that working together provide the best and rest compartments are designed
typical single-aisle aircraft are typically cabin designs that lead to a superior with suppliers so customers (get)
and preferred passenger experience.”
harmonised and consistent design
circular in cross section, giving maximum “For new cabin interiors, ATR language. “We opted for an integrated
room near the cabin floor – just where it partnered with Italy’s renowned design approach between Bombardier
not needed. Giugiaro design firm. It is very and C&D Zodiac designers. This
“We use what we call double-bubble; important for us to consolidate state- helps utilise best practices from
the resulting cross section is best ofthe- art levels of passenger comfort other aircraft programs to enhance
described as four blended radii (where) and design.” passenger comfort.”
the upper circle defines the cabin area
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