Page 32 - AAA APRIL - MAY 2017 Online Magazine

SHOW REPORT

Carving a Niche

MRO Middle East and aircraft Interiors Middle East (aIME)

By Atul Chandra

tHe 2017 edition oF Mro MiddLe eAst Joe Leader CEO, Airline Passenger Experience category for the new ‘Octaspring Lightweight
and Aircraft Interiors Middle East (AIME) Association (APEX). Hence, there will be Seat Cushion’. Speaking to Asian Airlines
lived up to its billing as one of the premier a greater focus on increasingly advanced & Aerospace at AIME, Marjan Trobis CEO
trade shows in the region, with more than 300 aircraft mood lighting, airline specific scents in Boxmark said, “We have developed a new
exhibitors and 4,500 trade visitors attending the short term and in the medium to long-term kind of foam called ‘Octa Spring’ and we have
the two-day event at Dubai World Trade Centre. we will see the emergence of photorealistic received very good feedback for it. Airbus
AIME which is the sole aircraft interiors event LED cabin ceilings/walls, self-darkening is looking at the developments related to
in the Middle East provided an insight into the skylights/sidelights and artificial intelligence ‘Octa Spring’ very closely. We will finish the
latest trends in aircraft interiors and in-flight pico protectors. Commenting on the need for porotype by the end of 2017 and development
entertainment (IFE). Discussions and talks airlines to quickly adapt to what he calls the should be completed by the next two years.”
held at the event, highlighted the advances ‘Hyper-Connected Airline’, Leader says, “Change “We would like to bring the quality and
made in the passenger experience by airlines and technology either destroy airlines or comfort of our leather upholstery from the
over the last few decades. Commonplace become an inflection point to gain advantage.” auto industry to the aviation industry. We
today, in-seat video on demand is now close to have been very successful over the past three
a quarter of century in existence, after it first Boxmark years and have already started supplying to
appeared on jetliners in the early 90’s. While One of the participants at AIME was Austrian big aviation groups. You can find our seats in
the other passenger related advancements leather seating supplier Boxmark, which was the high-end aircraft and we are developing
over the last few decades, have focussed on showcasing its aviation seating offerings. seats with Lufthansa for First Class Cabins
tangible aspects such as; full-flat business Studio Moderna BI/Boxmark d.o.o and their and working with Recaro Aircraft Seating
class seats, wi-fi connectivity on aircraft, LED cooperation partners Airbus & Stelia, have and Zodiac Aerospace for Business Class
lighting, the coming years will see a greater also emerged Crystal Cabin Award 2017 and Economy Class seats,” he says. The
focus on the intangible aspects according to finalists in the ‘Material & Components’ company also showcased its “Luxury

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