PAX Tech AIX 2022

JUNE 2022 | www.pax-intl.com

MRO, Interiors & IFEC

BREAKING BARRIERS Taking tech to new heights

AIX HAMBURG

We make digital life easier on board an aircraft.

KID‘s mission is to build the connecting platform - achieving maximum customer value and ensuring a secure environment on-board. Passion, team spirit and a sustainable mindset is our motivation to deliver the best every day. www.kid-systeme.com

EDITOR’S LETTER

PAX Tech Mississauga, Ontario Canada Tel: (1 905) 821-3344 Website: www.pax-intl.com

PUBLISHER Aijaz Khan E-mail: aijaz@globalmarketingcom.ca

EDITORIAL OFFICES Rick Lundstrom, Editor-in-Chief 723 Jefferson Street, NE Minneapolis, MN 55413, USA Tel: (1 612) 354-2343 Mobile: (1 612) 859-4502 E-mail: rick@pax-intl.com Jane Hobson, Editor Tel: (1 416) 997-3914 E-mail: jane@pax-intl.com Jayson Koblun, Deputy Editor Tel: (1 289) 456-9059 E-mail: jayson@pax-intl.com Ash Khan, Social Media Coordinator E-mail: ash@pax-intl.com

ART DEPARTMENT Jessica Hearn, Art Director E-mail: jessica@globalmarketingcom.ca

PAX International and PAX Tech are published a total of 10 times a year by

Change is coming A

fter two years of pandemic precautions and preoccupation with the future of airline travel, it seems it is melting away almost as quickly as it began.

As this issue of the magazine was preparing to go to print, no fewer than three legacy carriers announced their plans to end this year with entirely new cabin looks and they quickly changed focus to the tasks at hand.

First out of the blocks in 2022 was a comprehensive cabin design by Finnair which included a new long-haul interior decorated and designed with new inflight entertainment features.

At the heavily attended Arab Travel Market major airlines like Emirates were wowing visitors with a full Premium Economy offering, while Etihad Airways announced that before the end of the year it would introduce an onboard refresh. Not to be outdone, the redesign

by Air France of its 777-300 fleet promises to bring back the airline’s distinctive brand signature on the first flight into New York. It won’t be as historic as

Charles Lindbergh’s first flight into France, but certainly more comfortable.

Most of the offerings will be too late for the summer season that promises to see growth in numbers and revenue.

How much? The travel company Hopper has been tracking airline ticket fares, which are up 34 percent from 2019 due to the obvious drivers of worldwide inflation and increased fuel cost. But also, the group said that surging demand and less capacity industrywide has been a factor as well.

Given the long-overdue nature of this year’s Aircraft Interiors Expo, I suspect many anxious attendees have booked early and avoided the recent fare increases. As I’ve done in recent years, I’ll be flying Icelandair to Hamburg. This year’s June date will help me avoid the Midwestern snowstorms and weather delays that in the past have had me spending nights in Reykjavík and Chicago. When the wheels are down in the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, a long-awaited change will finally seem to have come.

PAX International, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. International Distribution.

Subscriptions: $200 for one year; $300 for two years; $400 for three years. Art and photographs will not be returned unless accompanied by return postage. The views expressed in this magazine do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the publisher or editor. All rights reserved. Nothing may be reprinted in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher. © PAX International magazine

Rick Lundstrom Editor-in-Chief PAX Tech

ISSN 1206-5714 Key title: Pax International

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CONTENTS

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Features PROFILE

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ETIHAD AND ECOLOGY From its base in Abu Dhabi, Etihad has been pushing the sustainability envelope and recently launched a new aircraft built around the latest eco features OH-SO-SOCIAL IdeaNova Technologies has released a slate of inflight entertainment products during the pandemic to bring socializing into the cabin

CABIN INTERIORS

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26 MRO, Interiors & IFEC

Taking tech to new heights

20 22 ON THE COVER: Airlines and suppliers are tapping into the metaverse. Read about Qatar’s QVerse and more from Emirates and Unum Aircraft Seating on page 20

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DEPARTMENTS

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DIMENSION AND DESTINATIONS Moving map supplier Flightpath3D will bring new features to this year’s AIX designed to help airlines promote their routes and give passengers a view of their journey like they have never seen NON-BINARY IFE In this Industry Q&A, Juraj Siska, CEO at IdeaNova Technologies, weighs the pros and cons of seatback screens versus PEDs

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COLOR IN THE CABIN By early 2024, the new LED system from Collins Aerospace will be in service, bringing with it the promise of a greater range of color and smart technology

SEATING

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ELEGANT ECONOMY TSI Seats tells PAX Tech how its Economy Class Milligram fills a void in aircraft seating

EDITOR’S NOTE

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NEWS

EVENTS

WHAT’S HOT FACTS & FIGURES |

THAT’S SO ‘META’ PAX Tech shares how airlines and suppliers are headed toward the metaverse

LIGHTING

AIX HAMBURG

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FOCUS ON FRESH In this cabin hygiene report, PAX Tech talks to four companies about the importance of cabin cleanliness in all areas

IFE

JUNE 2022 | www.pax-intl.com

BREAKING BARRIERS

ALL FOR ONE Tapis Corporation, ABC International and Unum Aircraft Seating discuss the parts at play to bring the best products and services to market for the same common goal

JUNE 2022

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DEFYING GRAVITY Unum Aircraft Seating makes the case for why now is the time for Zero Gravity JOURNEY TO GERMANY After a three-year hiatus, Aircraft Interiors Expo returns to Hamburg this June as the industry winds toward a restart

WOULD YOU COMPROMISE ON YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM? Better protected from virus and colds.

Better wellbeing. Better comfort.

Cabin air dehydrates people. A long distance aircraft requires active humidification in order not to be more dehydrating than any place on earth. Discomfort with dry cabin air include fatigue, jet lag, red eyes, dry skin, more susceptible to virus diseases, etc.

HUMIDIFIER ONBOARD TRANSFORMS THE EXPERIENCE.

NEWS

IFE

AIRLINE

SAUDIA launches new IFE: Beyond SAUDIA Airlines revealed its new inflight entertainment system, Beyond. Beyond will add to SAUDIA’s onboard experience with more than 5,000 hours of HD content.

According to a May 9 press release, Beyond features the largest Islamic content available inflight, and passengers can be notified of prayer times throughout their journey. A Kid Mode allows younger passengers to enjoy a selection of their favorite cartoons, movies, and games.

Emirates unveils Premium Economy Class at Arabian Travel Market Six A380s from Emirates fleet are equipped with the Premium Economy Class

Beyond will be installed gradually onboard SAUDIA’s fleet by the end of 2022

Emirates unveiled its Premium Economy Class at the 2022 Arabian Travel Market and said it will begin to sell this cabin in June. Featuring luxurious seats and more legroom than before, Emirates’ Premium Economy Class will be available to Emirates travelers on select high-traffic A380 routes. Emirates currently has six A380s equipped with this new experience.

The cream-colored leather seats have a pitch of up to 40 inches, are 19.5 inches wide, and recline eight inches into a comfortable cradle position. Each seat has a 13.3-inch screen with up to 5,000 channels of music, movies, TV, news, and other content.

SUPPLIER

Recaro’s Economy Class seat flies on Etihad Recaro Aircraft Seating’s CL3710 entered into service on March 31 when Etihad Airways’ A350-1000 aircraft took its maiden flight. The CL3710 seat features a 13.3-inch HD screen with integrated USB charging ports and a personal electronic device (PED) holder.

Etihad’s signature fixed-wing headrest has been incorporated into the Economy Class seat, which perfectly adapts to passengers of different heights and builds while maintaining optimal neck support. In addition, the lightweight seat design underlines the sustainable values of both Recaro and Etihad by reducing fuel burn, which results in lower inflight carbon emissions.

Etihad Airways will use its new fleet of A350-1000 aircraft, equipped with the CL3710, on short- to medium-haul routes initially, before expanding to serve long-haul routes by the summer.

Etihad will offer the CL3710 on long-haul flights by summer 2022

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NEWS

IFE

Flair taps Super Channel for IFE Flair Airlines and Super Channel are joining forces to provide more than 200 hours of content via its inflight app. Garth Lund, Chief Commercial Officer, Flair Airlines, said Flair has hand-picked content that includes popular television shows and films. Flair passengers will be treated to a range of Super Channel programming including Hollywood hits like LaLa Land and intriguing documentaries such as The State of Texas vs. Melissa and Catching a Serial Killer: Bruce McArthur.

Super Channel’s content will be accessible on Flair’s inflight app

SUPPLIER

Pexco’s AirShield reduces shared air between passengers Pexco Aerospace has acquired AirShield from design company, Teague. Pexco spent two years taking AirShield from concept to an air management system proven to reduce shared air between passengers. Pexco’s AirShield is installed over the top of existing passenger air vents and works with existing HEPA filtration systems in the aircraft cabin.

AirShield helps personalize passenger airflow, re-directing purified air around and in-between each passenger to create protective air barriers. Using both computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and on-wing tests aboard 737 and A320 aircraft, Pexco’s AirShield technology reduces shared air particles between neighboring passengers in an economy cabin by 76 percent.

AirShield is expected to be certified with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) by July 2022

IFE

InflightDirect secures multi-year earbud contract with Aeromexico InflightDirect has been selected for a new multi-year earbud contract with Aeromexico.

“We have been selected to supply a low-cost solution for the present economic time. Not only is it a cost-effective earbud model, it is packed into an environmentally friendly kraft paper bag with custom graphics,” said InflightDirect President and CEO Thomas G. Mockler.

Mockler added that with costs increasing daily for materials, transportation and all aspects of production and distribution, InflightDirect is pleased to provide this item to not only satisfy passengers while traveling but satisfy passengers’ budgets.

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The earbuds from InflightDirect

WHERE TRADITION MEETS INNOVATION Content Management

Payment

Social Bash

Secure Streaming

NEWS

IFE

AIRLINE

New Air France cabin to fly in the fall Air France has unveiled its new long-haul cabin, reasserting the French-style art of travel in an aircraft look that will debut this fall. This seat’s design is based on the 3 “F”s – Full Flat, meaning that the seat transforms into a real bed almost two meters long, full access to the aisle and enhance privacy.

A new sliding door allows passengers private space out of sight from others in the cabin. To create a greater sense of privacy for passengers traveling together, the seats located in the center of the cabin are equipped with a central panel that can be lowered by pressing it down. The seat also features a wide 17.3-inch 4K HD anti-glare screen with a noise-reducing headset and several electric sockets. A Bluetooth connection allows passengers to use their own headphones.

Design elements include a backlit winged seahorse, embodying the company’s founding myth and history. The seat’s padding adds softness and a feeling of coziness. Wool, brushed aluminium, full-grain French leather were chosen

by Air France for the manufacture of its seats. Each seat is also embroidered with the airline’s trademark red accent.

Progressively rolled out on 12 777-300s staring in September, each aircraft will be equipped with 48 seats in Business Class.

Each aircraft will be equipped with 48 seats in Business Class

AERQ’s AERENA at AIX AERENA will facilitate greater passenger engagement onboard the aircraft

AERQ will showcase its digital platform AERENA at the 2022 Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg this June.

AERENA is AERQ’s modular and open IT platform for commercial aircraft.

“AIX is the perfect opportunity to further introduce AERENA. It is not only a key event in the aviation industry, it has also an exceptional meaning for us. We are headquartered in Hamburg, and it is our first AIX attendance on site since AERQ was established in 2019,” said Son Yob (Louis) Pak, Co-Managing Director at AERQ. According to AERQ, AERENA will facilitate greater passenger engagement onboard the aircraft. The platform’s open software architecture allows instant onboarding of third parties. And airlines can choose applications, media content, and graphical user interface (GUI) and create their onboard product easy and fast.

AERQ is a joint venture with LG Electronics and Luthansa Technik.

IFE

Lufthansa Group selects FlightPath3D for onboard maps Lufthansa Group has chosen FlightPath3D’s map to be installed across its long-haul fleet. The first launch will be installed on the Groups’ A350, 787, 747-800, and A330 aircraft.

“We’re privileged to be adding the Lufthansa Group to our growing list of customers and helping them to deliver an outstanding passenger experience across their multi-OEM IFE fleet,” said FlightPath3D President Duncan Jackson in a May 2 press release.

FlightPath3D CEO Boris Veksler said the company’s solution is available on any IFE architecture and any OEM

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Ice platform. The Group is expecting to install the map on the fleet later this year.

FlightPath3D’s map will be installed across Lufthansa Group’s long-haul fleet

PROFILE

Etihad selected the Super Diamond seat from Collins Aerospace for the Business Class Cabin

ETIHAD AND ECOLOGY From its base in Abu Dhabi, Etihad has been pushing the sustainability envelope and recently launched a new aircraft built around the latest eco features

by RICK LUNDSTROM

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he first week in May, the airline that dubs itself “the national carrier of the United Arab Emirates” operated more than 40 flights to test operational efficiencies, technology and procedures that are designed to reduce carbon emissions.

The program conducted by Etihad Airways coincided with the international observance of Earth Day, and airline officials said the maneuvers could be the most extensive sustainability flight testing program ever conducted. Most of the tests involved flight operations. Testing variable speed during cruise, reducing flaps at landing, decreasing taxi time, and, in a symbolic act for Earth Day, cutting cabin lights for one minute.

However, many of the airline’s latest efforts will touch the passenger in more direct ways. The most recent example is the delivery of its newest aircraft, the A350-1000, which is front-toback a nod to efforts by the industry to tackle the challenges of operating more sustainably and is now being prepared to join the airline’s long-haul fleet with flights to the United States.

At the end of March, the first flight of the Sustainbility50 from Abu Dhabi took selected passengers on a launch

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route to Paris. Inside the aircraft was a design effort focusing on privacy, technology and the latest energy saving features. Etihad is operating the aircraft on short- to medium-haul routes to familiarize the crew with its operations and build up the necessary hours in the cabin.

The Sustainability50 program was announced at the Dubai Air Show in 2021. Powered with a Trent XWB engine from Rolls Royce the widebody burns approximately 25 percent less fuel and CO2 emissions than twin-aisle aircraft of previous generations.

“Etihad’s work with partners, including Boeing, GE, Airbus and Rolls Royce supports the organization strategic objectives to achieve a 20 percent reduction in emissions intensity in its passenger fleet by 2025, cut 2019 emissions by 50 percent by 2035 and reach zero emissions by 2050,” Vincent Frascogna, Area General Manager US and Canada.

Etihad is also continuing its work with Boeing on its Greenliner program allowing its entire fleet of 787s to be used as flying testbeds for a range of sustainability initiatives

by Etihad and its industry partners. Boeing is working with

The CL3710 seat from Recaro has 13.3-inch monitor

Etihad in a comprehensive research program, that started with a delivery of a new signature 787, specially themed to highlight the sustainability partnership of the two companies.

Through the years of 2020 and 2021 Etihad worked the Greenliner program, implementing sustainability initiatives which it tested and developed. In October of last year Etihad flew its most sustainable flight reducing its CO2 emissions by 72 percent in absolute terms compared to an equivalent flight in 2019.

High touch sustainability

In the front cabin of the new A350-1000, inspired by the shadows cast by the emirate’s palm trees, is an emphasis on a look that simulates natural light. A “dark-mode interface” on the inflight entertainment system has been designed to reduce light pollution within the aircraft. Forty-four passengers can fit in the Business Studio with privacy features, wireless charging, Bluetooth pairing and 18.5-inch monitors. Etihad has selected a customized version of the Super Diamond seat by Collins Aerospace for the Business Class cabin of the A350-1000 In Economy Class the 3-3-3 configuration brings additional comfort and legroom with CL3710 seat from Recaro Aircraft Seating. Etihad officials say the seat was selected for its reliability and minimal maintenance costs. Passengers in Economy Class have a 13.3-inch monitor and a fixed wing head rest which weighs in at 51 kilograms for triple seat. The seats are produced at Recaro’s facility in the United States.

Etihad has initiated several sustainability programs for the aircraft cabin in recent years and plans more before the end of the year. The airline has replaced magazines and manuals with electronic versions and has Etihad worked with gategroup company deSter on the new line of service ware

The Sustainability50 A350-1000 took its first flight in March

transitioned into digital boarding passes. In 2019 Etihad committed to removing 80 percent of its single use plastic from its cabin operations by the end of this year.

By the end of 2022, the airline will have done much to achieve a plastic free cabin with a bold plan to bring back rotable tableware with the help of supplier deSter. Many of the products are made from high-quality recyclable plastic. The trays, serving plates and lids are part of what the airline said is a “closed-loop recycling system.” At the end of their lifecycle they are collected, washed, ground and reused to make replacement products. The airline will also return to stainless steel cutlery in Economy Class.

Also in the cabin, will be Etihad’s efforts to use technology to calculate the amount of water usage on each flight, to reduce consumption.

For more initiatives, the airline is reaching out to its passenger base through a rewards program called Etihad Guest Conscious Choices and another program called Corporate Conscious Choices. The programs allow frequent fliers to earn tier miles by choosing to fly with less baggage or offset the emissions on their flights.

In addition to the many supplier and airframe builders Etihad works extensively with the UAE government. The Environmental Agency – Abu Dhabi has supported its single-use plastic reduction efforts with the Ministries of Climate Change/Environment and Ministry of Energy is working with the airline to transition to cleaner fuels.

Tadweer, Abu Dhabi’s Center for Waste Management is working with the airline to source alternative fuels from waste. Semi-government entities such as Agthia have also supplied the airline with products and services.

Single-use plastics will be virtually phased out of Etihad cabin operations by the end of this year

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PROFILE

Oh-so-social IdeaNova’s WeWatch feature

Juraj Siska, CEO, IdeaNova

IdeaNova Technologies has released a slate of inflight entertainment products during the pandemic to bring socializing into the cabin

by JANE HOBSON

F

or most people, the last twoor-so years have been spent connecting with friends, family and colleagues largely in an online space.

For those ready and able to travel again, socializing is more important than ever – and IFE suppliers are watching closely.

IdeaNova Technologies has added a raft of features to its Inplay IFE platform throughout the pandemic to help satisfy passengers’ craving for connection.

“Travel is largely back to normal, especially for domestic travel in the USA, where passengers are eager to get back to discovering new destinations and reconnecting with friends and family,” Juraj Siska, CEO at IdeaNova, tells PAX Tech. “Technology is ready to make travel even more enjoyable, taking it to a level travelers expect based on their on-the-ground experience.”

Inplay from IdeaNova is a single platform for playback of all DRM (Digital Rights Management) and non-DRM content on PC, MAC,

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and mobile devices. It has advertising capabilities so airlines can monetize video content through dynamic preroll and mid-roll ad insertion.

Inplay has many features, including the recent introduction of Inplay Payment. The product allows passengers to make offline credit card transactions and pay directly for IFE that is not included in the standard package or what is more likely, for onboard products or services sold by airline. It allows for secure and constant instant payment.

“People are used to online shopping and this is no different – you’ll just be thousands of feet in the air while doing so,” says Siska.

Inplay is designed in a modular format, Siska explains, so airlines can add it to their existing IFE platform as a component. The airline can customize the language, and for customers already using Inplay components, Inplay Payment is a small module inserted into the overall infrastructure.

In February IdeaNova introduced the Inplay Captive Portal (ICP).

Passengers can launch IFE with the click of a button. Also modularly built, airlines or IFE vendors may introduce it as a component to their existing IFE platform. The product can also be displayed in preferred language and supports a wide array of devices for click-through-connection and manual access of IFE portals for legacy systems.

With the goal of making flying feel more interactive, Inplay Bash bundles all the social features of the platform together. Using various features, passengers can transition between chat, video chat, WeWatch and web conference.

The WeWatch feature lets passengers enjoy content simultaneously from respective seats. Along with synchronized group viewing, they can use the chat feature to decide on the movie or show, share favorite moments and stay connected while viewing.

Any passenger can initiate the Video Chat feature with the click of a button, helping to limit face-to-face interaction while staying connected. Passengers can also interact with crew via Video Chat.

“Passengers can enjoy favorite movies and TV shows together via the video chat, allowing for better engagement between friends and family while taking advantage of IFE content, maintaining the social aspect of flying,” Siska explains, adding that, “it also helps create safe communication between passengers and crew.”

“The purpose of these new products is to make their experience more enjoyable, while respecting social distances and overall convenience that many of us are accustomed to on the ground,” says Siska.

CABIN INTERIORS

All for one Tapis Corporation, ABC International and Unum Aircraft Seating discuss the parts at play to bring the best products and services to market for the same common goal

Alan McInnes, Vice President Business Development, Unum Aircraft Seating Tapis’ Ultrasuede fabrics are partially plant-based and lightweight

I

nteriors companies are all about efficiency and convenience for their airline customers. The supply chain hiccups in the last two years have proven this to be even more crucial whether it is cabin materials and textiles, seating or interior and refurbishment services.

PAX Tech interviewed three companies on the services they offer that stand to bring customers multiple benefits.

Lighten the load

Fuel prices play a part in many of the decisions that airlines make, including selecting interiors materials and fabrics.

With fuel prices expected to continue to rise and the industry trending toward sustainable solutions, Tapis Corporation is busy on both fronts.

“Tapis has always focused on saving weight and developing lightweight products and fabrics. It’s built into the DNA of our products,” says Jason Estes, Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing.

“But we know as technology continues to advance and the industry has a demand for it, we can make our products even more lightweight and sustainable.”

The company has goals of including plant-based and renewable materials within its products by 2030. The Ultrasuede product is already partially plant-based and TapiSuede is made with 88 percent recycled polymers.

Tapis sources products from natural resources that can be easily restored.

“We are taking small steps to bring renewable and plant-based products to the industry while keeping it lightweight,” explains Lauren Kenealy, Marketing Manager at Tapis, adding that the company believes that sustainable innovations play a large role in the future success of commercial aviation.

“We want to be small stepping stones that become a part of the big picture,” she says. “We are in a market that is often targeted for not being the most sustainable. So, we want to create products that aid in the development of sustainability. We don’t want our material to weigh any more than it needs to.”

When air travel starts returning to normal, Tapis says it hopes to see industry innovations continue to excel – and to see what lightweight products will hit the market.

Jason Estes, Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing, Tapis

Rodolfo Baldascino, Chief Commercial Officer at ABC International

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CABIN INTERIORS One-stop shop

Before the onset of the pandemic, ABC International began to pivot from exclusively a cabin branding specialist to a global player in the world of cabin interior and refurbishment services.

Established in Naples, Italy in 2008, the company began with a major focus on the strategic importance of cabin branding and its effect on passenger retention for its airline customers. As the airlines became more successful and passenger expectations evolved, ABC embraced the realization that differentiation in the marketplace would give it a competitive edge.

With new Chief Commercial Officer Rodolfo Baldascino at the lead, ABC offers a range of interiors products and services.

“We are aware of the unlimited opportunities in the cabin refurbishment market but also of the daily challenges that airlines professionals are facing to maintain a high-quality cabin standard and find ‘off the shelf ’ solutions,” Baldascino tells PAX Tech.

Operating as a one-stop shop, ABC provides quick turnaround and turnkey solutions for airlines, MROs and lessors by including EASA minor mod approval, design, certification and production.

The company supplies curtains, carpet and seat cover kits efficiently from its warehouse, and produces bespoke cabin interiors parts such as windscreens, class dividers and closets in a timely

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and cost-efficient manner by relying on its network of suppliers and DO-PO agreements. With 21J privileges, it can approve new LOPA (layout of passenger accommodations), PSU (passenger service unit) rearrangement and installation of provided parts.

“Our clients tell us what they need in the cabin, and we deliver the ready-toinstall solutions, saving them the stress of sourcing parts and handling several suppliers at once,” says Baldascino.

ABC has opened a new office in Dublin to support its growth. The engineering department operates under distinct divisions including R&D, design, approval and certification. In Dublin, specialists manage tailor-made products along mandatory engineering milestones: initial design review, design freeze, production and certification, first article inspection and installation.

“Every single department of our organization plays a specific role in each project,” says Baldascino. “The skills and background of our people deeply come from both airlines and aviation industry.

We have a deep awareness of the business model process of airlines, MRO and leasing companies; we know where and what to offer to them across their value chain to bring a simple but concrete contribution to their added value creation.”

Love for local

Alan McInnes, Vice President of Business Development at Unum

Aircraft Seating, tells PAX Tech how the use of localized supply chains brought success in the design of its Unum One Business Class seat.

“We could source more costeffectively by relying on suppliers around the globe, but in Business Class seating you’ve got a sector with high complexity and low volume of parts.

To ensure we meet the demand of our customers, we wanted to retain as much control of our seats and the design process as possible,” McInnes says.

Business Class seat manufacturing relies heavily on resourcing several parts and elements to create the shapes for different seat models. The challenge is exasperated by the variability in the number of seats per Premium, or Business Class cabins. The front row has a different standard than the back row; the left and right side variants are also different; as well as the seats in the rear, explains McInnes.

“There are a lot of moving parts,” he says.

To avoid delays, Unum relied on its local supply chain and has brought the composites in-house, what McInnes calls “de-risking.”

“We are not trying to come up with a new concept, the industry has a lot of really creative and intelligent people working on new concepts. We want the control to deliver quality products on time and a commercial seat that fulfills market needs,” he says.

CABIN INTERIORS

Focus on fresh In this cabin hygiene report, PAX Tech talks to four companies about the importance of cabin cleanliness in all areas

by JANE HOBSON

Polygiene can be added to any substrate – polymer, powder coatings, paint and lacquers, paper, textiles and ceramics

C

abin hygiene is evolving quickly to help ensure passengers and crew feel confident in the cabin. Airlines are working tirelessly to ensure a clean and safe environment, and this cannot be achieved without the help of the companies innovating hygiene solutions for all areas of the aircraft: air, water, surfaces, lavatories and galleys.

In this cabin hygiene report, PAX Tech interviews four companies on how these areas can be kept clean.

Got galleys?

Despite demand for its products reducing nearly 80 percent during the pandemic, Onboard Logistics’ Engineering Director Tommy Walsh tells PAX Tech there is an uptick in demand again as airlines seek solutions for keeping galleys organized and managing waste.

Peter Landquist, VP Senior Advisor Sales CTT Systems AB

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“The Germ Guy” Jason Tetro, representative for Polygiene’s Biomaster antimicrobial technology

Polygiene Biomaster antimicrobial technology is ideal in lavatories and everywhere else in the cabin

The company has recently unveiled the Flex-e-Frame 3R’s waste collection system. The three Rs represent: reduce weight, reusable frame, recycle when done.

The Atlas standard frame can convert a meal trolley into a waste trolley, reducing overall weight of the trolley and freeing up space for the airline to carry revenue-generating products.

Onboard Logistics partnered with galley insert equipment manufacturer Korita Aviation to develop a trolley that has the waste bin removed. A set of rungs are installed on top of the trolley to hold the Flex-e-Frame 3R’s in position.

Using the Flex-e-Frame 3R’s can reduce the weight of a waste cart by up to eight kilograms, depending on the airline, Walsh says.

The reusable plastic frame holds the waste bag open and fits into an Atlas standard waste trolley with rungs at the top.

The whole system can be assembled in the flight kitchen or onboard by the crew, and at the end of the duty cycle, it is fully recyclable.

“Most airlines use a meal trolley to distribute a disposable meal service, and then a waste cart to collect waste. In the environment of weight reduction to save fuel, using two trolleys for the same service makes no sense,” says Walsh. “Using our waste management system can eliminate the requirement for the waste trolley.”

Onboard Logistics offers the total Airline Waste Management System. It consists of the Flex-e-Clip, Flex-e-Drawer, Flex-e-Frame 3R’s and best-seller Flex-e-Bag.

Onboard Logistics’ total Airline Waste Management System includes the Flexe-Clip, Flex-e-Drawer, Flex-e-Frame 3R’s and best-seller Flex-e-Bag

Touchless touch-ups

International Water-Guard introduced its Healthy Lav offering last summer, a range of touchless lavatory solutions and water disinfection technology to help passengers stay safe and feel comfortable in the cabin.

The offering includes a touchless faucet, touchless flush, the ‘HE’ (high efficiency) lavatory water heater and the UVL1 LED water disinfection unit. The HE Heater is a weight-saving, high-performance drop-in replacement for many existing lavatory water heaters. IWG HE Heaters have FAA PMA certification so it is eligible for install on the majority of Airbus and Boeing airframes without the need for an STC. The UVL1 carries out the vital task of ensuring that the aircraft water is free of harmful pathogens. It uses LED lights that emit ultraviolet light in the UV-C spectrum rendering pathogens unable to reproduce and therefore harmless to humans. The UVL1 is compact, lightweight and is straightforward to install just upstream of a spigot, faucet or galley water supply line.

The Healthy Lav offering is available in separate components or as a complete line-fit or retrofit package. To assist with integration, all touchless products and the UVL1 can be powered from IWG’s Lavatory Control Module so just one new power input into the lavatory is required.

Something in the air

A focus on the immune system has been extensive through the pandemic. For commercial aviation, this is particularly top of mind since aircraft cabins have very dry air, says Peter Landquist, VP Senior Advisor Sales CTT Systems AB, provider of aircraft humidity control systems.

In CTT System’s report entitled Importance of Aircraft Cabin Humidity – from a scientific point of view, the company interviews several scientists on the effects of low cabin humidity on the immune system and well-being.

“Low humidity harms the mucous membranes in our airways which reduces the primary defense against airborne pathogens and potential infections,” said Professor Bertil Forsberg, environmental medicine at Umeå University in Sweden, in the report. “Dry air, as in the aircraft cabin environ-

ment with Relative Humidity (the measure of water vapor content of air) dropping down to five to 20 percent, therefore increases the risk of exposure to viable virus particles and other airborne pollution – and consequently, infectious diseases.”

CTT’s Humidifier Onboard and Anti-Fuselage-Condensation systems aim to create a healthy cabin environment.

“It solves the humidity paradox in an aircraft: too dry cabin, too wet fuselage,” Landquist says.

The Humidifier Onboard solution adds humidity to the cabin to elevate the passenger experience by maintaining the body’s natural moisture balance and preventing rapid degeneration of the immune system. It helps prevent dry eyes, nose, and skin and helps improves rest, sleep and taste. Humidifier Onboard can be line-fit and retrofit, installed in the cabin zone it is meant to target and available for 787, 777, 777x, A350 and A380 aircraft.

Earlier this year, the company signed a development agreement with Airbus Corporate Jets (ACJ) for Humidification Onboard systems for the new ACJTwoTwenty family aircraft.

The pair also have an existing contract for the ACJneo family.

“These agreements mark a milestone, a new era in Business Jet Aviation. Private jet premium travelers expect to arrive refreshed with intact immune system, otherwise the risk of infection at your arrival destination is simply too high,” says Landquist.

Proven protection

“It’s no secret that germs are everywhere and when it comes to pathogens, the best place to find them is where humans are grouped,” says “The Germ Guy” Jason Tetro.

Tetro works with Polygiene representing the company’s Biomaster antimicrobial technology. With a background in healthcare, Tetro has been researching and promoting infection prevention and control in the cabin for more than 20 years.

Biomaster antimicrobial technology from Polygiene uses silver to reduce the microbial load and naturally inhibit the growth of microbes. It can be added to any substrate – polymer, powder coatings, paint and lacquers, paper, textiles and ceramics – essentially anything in the cabin.

“Silver predates anything we currently use when it comes to antimicrobial activity and has continually proven to be one of the most effective passive antimicrobial agents out there. When used in the right form at the right concentration, it’s highly effective against microbes and odor while posing no concern to humans,” Tetro tells PAX Tech.

Silver has two forms, one being the hard block, as in 925, and the other, a salt. The block is inert but the salt, which is used in Polygiene’s Biomaster, reacts with the molecular wall of microbes and inhibits energy production and DNA replication to render the organism harmless. The salt also neutralizes odor by binding volatile compounds that lead to unpleasant smells, like sulfur. It turns them into unnoticeable, odorless, microscopic minerals.

Tetro says, “based on studies, the germiest places on the aircraft are the headrest and seat pocket. Having antimicrobial technology such as Polygiene’s Biomaster can help airlines and passengers ensure they are as clean as possible between routine cleanings.”

Tetro explains this is called targeted hygiene. “Polygiene helps ensure the microbial load remains low when and where you cannot clean,” he says. www.pax-intl.com

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IFE

Airlines and inflight entertainment providers are beginning to see that some aspects of the metaverse are here to stay

THAT’S SO ‘META’ PAX Tech shares how airlines and suppliers are headed toward the metaverse

by JAYSON KOBLUN

T

ell a superhero fan that you don’t know what the metaverse is and you are going to get a strange look. Tell your Friendly Neighborhood Airline and you just might get a virtual lounge or cabin tour from a metahuman cabin crew.

Household brand Facebook rebranded to ‘Meta’ last year marking an important move into social technology, and many airlines are not far behind in their pursuit of staking a claim in the metaverse.

Emirates and Qatar Airways have both introduced meta tech to give passengers a look inside the cabin before boarding. Supplier Unum Aircraft Seating tells PAX Tech it has plans to bring virtual reality (VR) components to Hamburg this month. Airlines and suppliers are beginning to see the benefits of metaverse – and they want in.

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What is metaverse?

An April 2022 article published by WIRED says metaverse represents a massive shift in how people use tech.

“To help you get a sense of how vague and complex a term ‘the metaverse’ can be, here’s an exercise: Mentally replace the phrase ‘the metaverse’ in a sentence with ‘cyberspace.’ Ninety percent of the time, the meaning won’t substantially change. That’s because the term doesn’t really refer to any one specific type of technology, but rather a broad (and often speculative) shift in how we interact with technology,” said Eric Ravenscraft at WIRED. Augmented reality (AR) is technology that enables people to interact with virtual objects and information in their direct field of vision. This might look like pointing a smartphone at the street and it providing more information on the names of businesses or intersections. And, Epic Games, the force behind the popular video game Fortnite, has started hosting live concerts within its digital world. Most recently having hosted an Ariana Grande concert last August that players could watch as their own customized avatar.

The University of Toronto describes VR as the use of computer technology to create a simulated environment that can be explored in 360 degrees. Unlike

traditional AR, VR places the user inside the virtual environment to give an immersive experience.

“We are at the beginning of the next chapter for the internet,” said CEO Mark Zuckerberg at Meta’s launch.

New universe venture

Qatar Airways recently tapped into the metaverse with the launch of QVerse in April, a VR experience for visitors to the airline’s website.

Website visitors can virtually tour the Premium Check-in area at Hamad International Airport (HIA) and check out cabin interiors of the airline’s fleet, including the Business Class Qsuite and the Economy Class cabin.

It is all accessible on personal electronic devices.

According to the April 2022 press release, Qatar is the first global airline to introduce a metahuman cabin crew, offering a digital interactive passenger experience.

“With physical boundaries beginning to be challenged by the metaverse on an increasingly larger scale, it is exciting to embrace a technology that enables all travel enthusiasts to enjoy a unique immersive experience of our award-winning products and services,” said Akbar Al Baker, Qatar Airways’ Group Chief Executive.

The experience was developed using Epic Games’ Unreal Engine, an advanced real-time 3D creation tool, and MetaHuman Creator, a cloud-based app for creating high-fidelity digital humans.

“Qatar Airways is the first global airline to introduce a metahuman cabin crew, featuring a digitally-created high-fidelity 3D human model named Sama – whose name is of Arabic origin and translates to sky,” said the release.

In September 2021, Emirates launched what it called the first airline VR app on the popular Oculus Rift platform, designed to allow travelers to explore the cabin from home.

Via the app, passengers can explore Emirates’ fullyenclosed Gamechanger First Class Suites, the airline’s

signature A380 Onboard Lounge, and get a look at the cabin view around their seat from the comfort of home.

“Available on emirates.com to anyone with an Internet connection, via the Emirates app, and now on the Oculus Store for Oculus Rift users, Emirates has taken the next step in its ambition to reach and engage audiences around the world with cutting-edge VR technology,” said a September release.

And this spring Emirates announced plans to launch additional virtual brand experiences in the metaverse, including collectible and utility-based non-fungible tokens (NFTs).

Non-fungible means it cannot be replaced with something else.

Bitcoin is fungible – it can be traded for another, but when trading an NFT, something different is acquired in return.

The airline is repurposing its Emirates Pavilion at the Expo 2020 site to create a center for innovation where it will bring these future-focused projects of the metaverse to life.

“Dubai and the UAE are blazing the way in the digital economy, having a clear vision supported by practical policies and regulatory frameworks in areas such as virtual assets, artificial intelligence, and data protection,” said HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates airline and Group, in the April press release. “It is fitting that our future-themed Emirates Pavilion at Expo is being repurposed as a hub to develop cutting-edge future experiences aligned with the UAE’s vision for the digital economy.”

Unum Aircraft Seating is set to exhibit at Aircraft Interiors Expo in June and told PAX Tech it is bringing VR tech of its own to encourage visitors to get up-close and personal with its Unum One Business Class seat, launched in March.

“I am personally so excited to be in Hamburg again for AIX after all this time,” said Alan McInnes, Vice President of Business Development at Unum. “We are bringing along some VR goggles we have set up to allow visitors an up-close look at Unum One.”

Qatar Airways is the most recent airline to tap into the metaverse having launched QVerse in April

Emirates is repurposing its Emirates Pavilion at the Expo 2020 site to create a center for innovation

www.pax-intl.com

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IFE

DIMENSION AND Lufthansa will outfit its long-haul fleet with Flightpath3D

DESTINATIONS Moving map supplier Flightpath3D will bring new features to this year’s AIX designed to help airlines promote their routes and give passengers a view of their journey like they have never seen

by RICK LUNDSTROM

W

Duncan Jackson, President of Flightpath3D

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alk up and down the aisles of modern passenger jet and view the flickering screens at each seat, and it would not take much of a scientific study to determine that the moving map is still one of the most popular features of any inflight entertainment system.

The latest versions render a view of the world below in vivid, multi-dimensional ways. The images, in colorful 3D technology use information from the aircraft’s flight data recorder and ARINC communications. And though it is viewed by the passenger in much the same way as the movies or television, the work behind getting the images

to the screen is vastly different and potentially more sensitive than boarding the latest Hollywood blockbuster.

“Doing maps is hard,” says Duncan Jackson, President of Flightpath3D in Lake Forest, California. “It is not easy. There are political constraints that have to be changed. You have to customize it for the political perspective of the airline in terms of what restricted territories they recognize.”

If that is not a thorny enough challenge all by itself, there are multiple languages that must included to make passengers feel comfortable on an airline that may have a vast route system. As a supplier of software for moving maps, Flightpath3D often works with legacy IFE systems, some which have hardware that can be nearly 20 years old. A consistent experience must be delivered to multiple aircraft types. As the IFE experience evolves, the same companies that bring moving maps to the seatback also must supply the same functions to a

In addition to providing position, Flightpath3D’s moving maps can provide destination information

passenger’s personal electronic device.

All those challenges and more presented themselves to Flightpath3D with its most recent customer. Lufthansa German Airlines will install the Flightpath3D software product on four aircraft types initially and progress throughout its long-haul fleet. It is a large, mixed fleet that requires Flightpath3D to operate on legacy systems with Panasonic and Safran hardware.

“The map product is intensely used among our passengers onboard, enhancing their experience by offering them an innovative interactive 3D flight map adds value to our passenger journey,” said Susanne Wawer, Lufthansa Group IFEC Product Manager in the May announcement of the contract with Flightpath3D. Jackson says what impresses Lufthansa is one of the company’s newest features that it will be showing for the first time at AIX. It gives the passenger a cockpit view with perspectives of the aircraft’s position in several orientations along with altitude, airspeed and other important statistics. The feature is flying on several of the 70 airline customers that have selected a Flightpath3D product. Total installations of Flightpath3D now surpass 4,000 aircraft.

The other new feature that Flightpath3D will showing visitors in Hamburg is an interactive and immersible replacement for what was the route map with the spider web of curved lines that has been a regular fixture in the seatback magazine. With Flightpath3D’s smart travel guide, users can select an airline destination and can call up

travel information, professional reviews and find out the top places to visit.

“This is a new kind of smart video platform that feels more like an Instagram reel or TikTok,” says Jackson. With it, he says airlines can use the time a passenger has on board to get them interested and excited about their destinations.

Though the company still was able to outfit more than 700 aircraft last year, the pandemic downtime allowed it to focus on moving product features forward.

Work was done on browser-based technology that brings moving maps and features to a passenger’s personal device.

One of the main concerns of airline customers that Flightpath3D found is the need for passengers to keep up to date on a fast-changing travel environment.

“We recognized that the industry is in a position where it has never been

more important to articulate what routes are open and where you can fly,” Jackson says. Features in Flightpath3D allow passengers flying into a destination like New York to access all the working routes an airline operates out of the city allowing them to explore the airline possibilities from the seatback.

“This is the time you are wrapped in the brand of the airline and that is the moment for the airline to tell you about all the places they fly to and inspire you to visit other places,” Jackson says.

Flightpath3D was formed nine years ago. The difficult nature and challenges of supplying moving maps has also made it a specialist supplier that prides itself on its on-time delivery and the ability work across multiple systems.

“The reason airlines choose Flightpath3D is because we are the experts,” Jackson says.

Flightpath3D uses information from the flight data recorder and ARINC communication

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IFE

NON-BINARY IFE In this Industry Q&A, Juraj Siska, CEO at IdeaNova Technologies, weighs the pros and cons of seatback screens versus PEDs

by JANE HOBSON

M

any airlines are retrofitting aircraft with seatback screens, but use of personal electronic devices (PEDs) inflight are also on the rise.

Each option brings its pros and cons, which begs the question, how should airlines choose?

In this Industry Q&A, PAX Tech asks Juraj Siska, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at IdeaNova Technologies, about the benefits of PEDs versus seatback screens.

Juraj Siska, CEO, IdeaNova

PAX TECH: Before we jump right in, is one option better than the other when it comes to PEDs and seatback screens?

SISKA: Well, a hybrid version that has the ability to deliver content to built-in seatback displays and PEDs offers the most opportunity to satisfy the most passengers. But, if the hybrid combination of seatback and personal devices is not an option for inflight entertainment, airlines should consider an array of variables before committing to one type of entertainment: cost, maintenance, updates, convenience and more.

PAX TECH: Cost is top of mind for most airlines right now. Is there a more cost-efficient option between the two?

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PAX TECH: What considerations should be taken into account for airlines wanting to stay current with their IFE offering?

SISKA: Streaming media has gone through tremendous changes in the last decade due to its availability at home and on personal devices via platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, Peacock and Hulu. Technology has stayed in lockstep with new innovations. Delivery of content directly to the PED browsers eliminates the need for native application, and the ability to deliver more content on a similar bandwidth through modern video encoding standards such as HEVC, AV1 and VP9.

More content and higher quality of content (4K, HDR) will require more bandwidth and better decoders. The streaming media industry is likely to experience more changes as a result of new video coding standards (VVC for example), and adaption of big technology vendors to new standards and trends. These changes occur rapidly and are quickly reflected in personal devices. Custom displays mounted into an aircraft seat will become static and quickly obsolete unless airlines can synchronously and seamlessly mirror these movements in technology trends.

Personal electronic devices and seatback screens each have pros and cons for airlines and passengers

SISKA: Equipping aircraft with seatback displays is not an inexpensive proposition. The cost of retrofitting the aircraft, maintaining hardware and updating software are important considerations.

In addition, airlines incur the additional cost of fuel due to added weight. If each display and accompanied wiring weighs about 0.5 pounds, on a 300-passenger aircraft this translates into 150 pounds of additional weight. Plus, most passengers carry a personal device – or two – anyway.

Another less obvious contributing cost is the maintenance of display units.

Airlines are likely to pay several times more for high quality displays equivalent to what’s available on the personal device market. And new features, such as hardware decoders, are likely to cost airlines both money and time before these can be delivered for passenger use.

PAX TECH: How can airlines expect to keep the IFE updated with these two options?

SISKA: IFE should not lag behind the technology trends of the streaming media industry. New features that enable customers to rate the content, the ability to bring highly desirable content to the passenger based on personalized selections, interacting with other passengers and socializing while watching content are just some emerging trends.

Seatback displays are likely to miss out on these trends as they are typically built as monolithic, stationary systems managed by a single vendor. The aforementioned features are usually the product of a rapid innovation cycle that is not always possible for seatback screens.

However, onboarding new features to PEDs is simpler as the final delivery model is either browser-based or via an airline-built native application. Inbrowser content delivery has been dominating the Internet for the last 15 years, and with the advent of rich application technologies, such as ReactJS, it is likely

here to stay. But even native applications facilitate deployment of new features more rapidly than built-in displays.

They do not rely on airline operation teams to update the system – passengers automatically get the new features with a simple update of their app.

PAX TECH: Let’s talk convenience.

Some passengers opt not to use seatback screens for several reasons. What do you think is the most convenient form of IFE for passengers, and what can airlines do to satisfy preferences?

SISKA: While earlier considerations might favor PEDs, the debate of PEDS versus seatback screens might lead to a split decision.

Some passengers enjoy the convenience of the built-in display that is readily available for them. It eliminates the worry of connecting to inflight Wi-Fi, battery life of their own device, and just pure placement of their PEDs in a convenient, hands-free position.

On the other hand, there are passengers that are more comfortable with their own devices, their customized configuration. They may consider the seatback displays less sanitary. Many have brought their favorite Bluetooth headsets onboard and may not be willing or able to connect them to the seatback.

Also, especially on a window seat, the sun glare may require turning the display to be at an angle. This can be easily achieved with a personal device – but not with a seatback screen fixed to one position.

The convenience factor is a consideration that might change from passenger-to-passenger, demography-todemography, or region-to-region. However, the decision does not have to be binary. Airlines are often left with more than one choice. They can equip seatback entertainment for first class cabin or certain routes where they anticipate that passengers would welcome seatback displays. Destinations where passengers are more likely to be comfortable with their own devices could use IFE delivered to PEDs. This hybrid model can not only improve passenger rating and coveted airline loyalty, but can also serve as a platform for rapid onboarding of new features or a fallback scenario in case the seatback entertainment fails. In the IFE world, one simple rule seems to work well: “The show must go on.” www.pax-intl.com

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LIGHTING

Color in the cabin The Hypergamut lighting solution will be flying in early 2024

A

dvancements in lighting technology and the science behind it are opening up an array of solutions that promise to help the complex task of making passengers feel comfortable in an environment like an airline cabin, which is distinctly foreign to the natural world.

Passengers moving through the airport, to the cabin and into the air often experience a low-level anxiety just by partaking in air travel. With the help of LED lighting, what they can see in the dimmed cabin can have a positive effect on mood and sleep. The cabin becomes bathed in seemingly endless combinations of amber, purple and cyan.

The latest offering in cabin lighting improvements will be flying in early 2024. The unnamed airline customer has selected the Hypergamut lighting system from Collins Aerospace. Visitors to this year’s Aircraft Interiors Expo can browse the finalists displays of the Crystal Cabin Awards where the system has been listed.

“Hypergamut is the culmination of years of research, a number of technical developments and cabin lighting innovations that have been brought from concept to aircraft implementation,” Eric Johannessen, Technical Fellow at Collins Aerospace tells PAX Tech.

The products’ name was picked because the six primary LEDs used offer the largest color gamut possible, says Johannessen. Traditional systems normally offer around four LEDs; and

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By early 2024, the new LED system from Collins Aerospace will be in service, bringing with it the promise of a greater range of color and smart technology

by RICK LUNDSTROM

Subtle changes in color in an aircraft cabin can improve how passengers see food and cabin fixtures

with two more there is an expanded range of color in many combinations.

To make the system work, Hypergamut taps into flight data.

“Spectral weighting modes” within the system determine how lighting is best optimized throughout the boarding process, on into mealtimes, cruising, cleaning and relaxation.

“These spectral modes go beyond the hue, saturation and relative brightness of the system, influencing the feel, look and perception of the cabin,” Johannessen adds.

As a result, Hypergamut can improve the appearance of materials, food,

fixtures and the cabin itself. The subtle influence of light also goes to work on passengers, utilizing wavelengths that fall within a true circadian spectrum, which is the light range that influences the sleep cycles in humans.

Johannessen says that Hypergamut can be integrated into existing cabin lighting infrastructure and retrofitted with established methods. The highefficiency LED system require less power to produce similar lighting levels. “At the same time, full power can be achieved to produce an extremely bright and crisp interior, improving the look, feel and perceived age of the cabin.”

Any change comes from the inside.

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SEATING

Elegant economy TSI Seats tells PAX Tech how its Economy Class Milligram fills a void in aircraft seating

by JAYSON KOBLUN

A

irline seating manufacturers are continually on the lookout for ways to improve passenger experience and comfort while helping the airline watch its bottom line and move toward environmental sustainability. The mindset is the same for Istanbul-based TSI Seats. The company will unveil its Economy Class Milligram seat at Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg this month.

TSI Seats started in 2011 when Turkish Airlines and Turkish Technic decided to design, manufacture, modify, and sell aircraft seats and spare parts. Suat Sağıroğlu, General Manager at TSI Seats, tells PAX Tech how it saw a void in the industry that could be filled by creating Milligram and why it is launching at AIX. “AIX is the most important event for our sector and it is very exciting that the AIX will take place faceto-face this year,” says Sağıroğlu.

Slated to be ready by mid-2023 for A320 and 737 aircraft, it is the perfect time to familiarize the industry with the new Economy Class seat, he explains.

Milligram is a lightweight seat as its name suggests, and favors optimal comfort, two things that were important to TSI in its development.

“As an aircraft seat manufacturer, we know that airlines try to lighten their planes without sacrificing passenger

comfort in an industry where costeffectiveness is paramount. Reducing weight by even one gram can provide significant advantages,” says Sağıroğlu.

The most important of these advantages, he says, is that it enables airlines to operate more sustainable flights. A lighter aircraft consumes less fuel, reducing carbon emissions.

“When aircraft manufacturers are trying to produce lighter and more efficient aircraft, one of the products that can be changed inside the aircraft is the seats. At TSI Seats, being aware of this need, we have accelerated our efforts to produce lighter seats.”

A first time for everything

Milligram is made from carbon and aluminum for durability and light weight. The design and engineering team prioritized sustainable materials for all of the non-metallic components.

“We have focused on greener, more sustainable materials in Milligram’s construction,” says Sağıroğlu. “Everything from biodegradable resins, recyclable thermoplastics, and natural fibers.”

Some small, non-critical components of the seat are sourced from recycled materials now entering their second life as part of Milligram and the company partnered with ELeather for its sustainable, engineered leather for the seat cover.

Living large

“Passengers like to be comfortable on flights and often comment on an aircraft’s living space. Our new Economy Class seat will provide operational efficiency without sacrificing comfort,” says Sağıroğlu. “Passengers can feel a 31-inch pitch, even at 28-inches.

Passengers can also enjoy comfort with the revolutionary backrest design and space under the seat for hand luggage.”

Milligram has a distinctive style, which lends the seat an eye-catching and compelling appearance, and airlines will have the option to retrofit current seats.

“Thanks to the use of innovative technologies, the unique design of Milligram skillfully reconciles sophisticated contouring with a high degree of comfort and living space. Through its unprecedented features, which are characterized by elegant proportions and a modern mix of materials, Milligram is a revolutionary achievement in the aircraft seating market and that makes it the next generation of economy seating,” says Sağıroğlu.

TSI Seats tells PAX Tech it will reveal more details on Milligram’s features and specs at AIX.

Suat Sağıroğlu, General Manager, TSI Seats

TSI Seat’s Milligram is made from carbon and aluminum, adding to its durability and maintaining its light weight

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CREATING GALLEY SPACE WHERE IT DOES NOT EXIST

Flex-e-Bag in conjunction with

Flex-e-Clip

Flex-e-Drawer and introducing

Flex-e-Frame 3 R’s Reduce (waste, weight), Reuse, Recycle

SEATING

DEFYING GRAVITY Unum Aircraft Seating tells PAX Tech why now is the time for Zero Gravity

by JAYSON KOBLUN Airlines can thank NASA for the inspiration behind Zero Gravity

W

hen Unum Aircraft Seating’s CEO Chris Brady was preparing to launch the company in 2020, he wanted to ensure its products were comfortable, sustainably made, and would make a big splash in Business Class seating. Unum One was introduced in March and features an infinitely adjustable range of seat positions with its Zero Gravity position across both single- and twin-aisle aircraft.

Brady, who led Acro Aircraft Seating from 2004 to 2019, says Unum spent two years developing Unum One. “The remarkable thing about this seat is how it has surprised me. Early on in the development process it looked great on paper, then the first cardboard space models were exciting, but now the real thing has blown me away,” said Brady in a March 24 press release.

According to the company, Unum One is a fresh take on a traditional herringbone layout and has a “passenger-focused” design.

Passengers can lie flat, have direct aisle access, privacy and a large single-piece table. The outward-facing herringbone layout works on narrow-body A321 and 737 aircraft and on wide-body A350, A330, 777, and 787 aircraft.

behind the tech. Collins Aerospace, Bombardier, and Emirates have similar seating options available that reduce body pressure. Even car manufacturing companies such as Nissan have integrated Zero Gravity into their seats.

Alan McInnes, Vice President of Business Development at Unum, tells PAX Tech that a passenger’s comfort is an individual experience and the most comfortable position available is the one that works for you.

“Flying is an unnatural phenomenon for humans, so anything you can do to aid comfort contributes to a passenger’s wellbeing,” he says. “Zero Gravity is when a passenger’s knees go above the hips and get cradled. So, your muscular and skeletal systems are perfectly supported, supremely comfortable, and rested. And there are studies explaining that the position can aid in digestion as well.”

Unum partnered with Acumen for the industrial design elements of Unum One, and relied on industry advice and proven best practices from SabetiWain Aero-

space, SCHROTH Safety Products, and Bühler Motor Aviation to design the seat.

The infinitely adjustable range of seat positions are made possible by the number of actuators hidden inside the seat (part of a device or machine that helps it move). Actuators move the seat pan up and down, leg rests, and any other pivot points a passenger wants to customize to their liking. With passengers bringing a broad range of heights, weights, and builds onboard, having nearly limitless adjustability makes for a more comfortable passenger.

“There is no such thing as a comfortable seat because comfort is based on personal experience. Only the user of the seat can or cannot be comfortable.

Some airlines offer seats with pre-set actuators which don’t always lend itself to a comfortable experience,” says McInnes. “With Unum One, any passenger of any percentile can find a position that works for them.”

Unum One will be on display at Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg from June 14 to 16 at Booth 6E56.

The most comfortable position

Zero Gravity refers to the feeling of weightlessness passengers feel when seated on Unum One, but airlines can thank NASA for the inspiration Unum One is a fresh take on a traditional herringbone layout and has a “passenger-focused” design

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Idea first.

From outline to airline.

www.bucher-group.com

Aircraft Interior Solutions

WHAT’S HOT

WHAT’S

HOT!

After a longanticipated wait, the Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) returns to Hamburg. Here is a preview of some of the companies that will be exhibiting at the show



Kleerdex Custom Translucents – Sekisui Kydex: SEKISUI KYDEX will exhibit new products such as; Kleerdex Custom Translucents, a fully compliant, decorative translucent thermoplastic; KYDEX 5555 RCL, an exclusive recycle grade material and; Crystal Cabin awardwinning Infused Imaging technology designs and custom decorative textures.

Booth: 5D40. www.kydex.com



Venture Premium Class Seat – Jamco Corporation: Jamco will feature its Venture Premium Class Seat with the Personalized Sound Zone (PSZ) innovative entertainment feature for commercial aircraft, a collaboration between Jamco and NTT Sonority. The PSZ allows for embedded speakers in each individual headrest to create a sound zone that surrounds each passenger’s head area.

Booth: 6E11. www.jamco.co.jp



Unum One – Unum: Unum will debut Unum One at AIX. Unum One offers an outwardfacing herringbone with a lie flat bed and direct aisle access for twin and single aisle fleets.

Unum One delivers an infinite number of seating configurations including the well-supported Zero Gravity position.

Booth: 6E56. www.unum.aero



High-capacity satellite network – Viasat: As passengers are beginning to expect Wi-Fi in the air to perform similarly to what they get at their homes and offices, Viasat’s highcapacity satellite network has been able to deliver that kind of connected experience. At the same time, airlines are looking at ways to add value in other ways beyond just connectivity.

Booth: 3A10. www.viasat.com

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

SAROS Beverage Maker – Ipeco: Ipeco will be showcasing its latest SAROS Beverage Maker. Key features include the ability to brew 1.5 liters of beverage to 88 degrees Celsius in less than four minutes and patented light bar technology unique to the SAROS range which clearly displays brewing status; however, flowthrough heating which facilitates non-stop brewing is the game-changer. Booth: 5B50. www.ipeco.com



Antimicrobial protection – Polygiene: Polygiene offers 24/7 antimicrobial product protection and freshness for aircraft interiors.

Polygiene’s partners treat all kind of surfaces and products from wall coverings and cabin seating to door handles and more. Visit Polygiene at AIX and discover why it matters who touched a surface last and how it can help improve cabin interior hygiene with its durable antimicrobial product protection.

Booth: 7A35. www.polygiene.com

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Testing rigs – Tenneco Systems Protection: Tenneco Systems Protection has been focusing a lot of its recent developments around the challenges associated with fluid compatibility, arc and enhanced fire resistance. Tenneco is proud to share with its existing and future customers its most recent testing rigs acquired together with reports on new products recently released. Booth: 6F131. www.tennecosp.com

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Everhub – Inflight Dublin: Inflight Dublin is a global provider of IFE content and wireless solutions working with more than 50 airlines. Inflight Dublin’s wireless IFE solution, Everhub, is the only end-to-end solution delivering hardware, software, content and ancillary services all under one roof.

Booth: 2E20. www.inflightdublin.com

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WHAT’S HOT

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RISE Power – Burrana: Burrana empowers airlines to enable extraordinary passenger experiences, enhance revenue and operational efficiencies and minimize operational expenditure. RISE Platform features launching at AIX: RISE Power - 15W USB-A, easy upgrades to 60W featuring rich usage data and reporting. RISE Overhead - largest available screen (13.3 inches) with 4K HDR quality.

Booth: 4C44. www.burrana.aero

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Flight Deck Entry Video Surveillance – AD Aerospace: AD Aerospace, pioneers of aircraft video surveillance with solutions including Flight Deck Entry Video Surveillance (FDEVSS / CDSS), and passenger cabin surveillance, will be exhibiting at AIX for the first time in 2022. New and existing technologies will be presented including an aircraft-wide, fully IP/ Digital System.

Booth: 4A03. www.ad-aero.com

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ThinAir Ka1717 – ThinKom Solutions: ThinKom is debuting a flat-panel phased array for regional jets. The new ThinAir Ka1717, engineered to meet stringent weight, drag and space requirements, will provide an IFC experience previously only achievable in mainline fleets. The open-architecture system, agnostic to all Ka-band GSO and NGSO networks offer maximum flexibility.

Booth: 4D43. www.thinkom.com

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Customized leather – Wollsdorf Leather: Wollsdorf Leather can customize leather in many different ways including: chromium tanned, chromiumfree tanned, BrighTan, a vast number of embossings, endless color options, standard or lightweight options, and finishing options. Wollsdorf Leather has been producing bovine leather in its full-integrated tannery in Austria for more than 30 years.

Booth: 6A99. www.wollsdorf.com

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WHAT’S HOT

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ViralOff technology – Muirhead: Muirhead developed the world’s first lightweight, full substance leather with ViralOff technology – re-engineered for the next- generation of aviation. Made with a unique, durable, micro-light core, it is up to 33 percent lighter than standard leather without sacrificing thickness or strength. With integrated Active Hygiene, 99 percent of bacteria and viruses are eliminated from leather surfaces within two hours.

Booth: 6E96. www.muirhead.co.uk

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Engineering, certifications, maintenance – RECAERO: RECAERO is an EASA part 21J and 21G approved organization whose engineering team develops bespoke solutions. RECAERO’s services cover engineering, certifications, maintenance documentation and manual supplements, as well as internal manufacturing and surface treatment capabilities for a single-contact-approach.

Booth: 6D70. www.recaero.fr

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LEO connectivity solution – AirFi: Not all airline passengers need or expect an on-the-ground experience from inflight connectivity. AirFi’s LEO connectivity solution is designed to give airlines the core benefits of a connected fleet, with less investment, less aircraft downtime, and less complexity than broadband solutions available. To enable the service, AirFi simply places a pen-sized antenna inside one window on each side of the plane. In a patent-pending feature, AirFi uses mesh networking to ensure the LEO connected AirFi boxes can constantly manage and direct devices to the receiver with the strongest signal, thus balancing the system’s workload for optimal performance.

Booth: 4B38. www.airfi.aero

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Full portfolio – Boeing: Boeing offers an integrated, end-to-end cabin solution, with a portfolio of full-lifecycle products and services supporting new production aircraft and retrofit modifications. The combined expertise and innovation of Boeing EnCore Interiors and Adient Aerospace offers more options, greater capacity and improved quality and delivery of seating, galleys, monuments and more.

Booth: 1UC52 and 1UD30. www.boeing.com

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JUNE 2022

EVENTS

by JAYSON KOBLUN

The industry will gather for AIX at the Hamburg Messe for the first time since the pandemic began

Journey to Germany After a three-year hiatus, Aircraft Interiors Expo returns to Hamburg this June as the industry winds toward a restart

by JANE HOBSON

T

hree years is a long time not to see colleagues, partners and friends. This month, Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) returns to Hamburg for a much-awaited in-person event from June 14 to 16.

“AIX is where the cabin of the future takes shape,” Polly Magraw, Event Director for AIX tells PAX Tech.

The event is known as the world’s largest marketplace for the cabin interiors industry, bringing together the global supply chain and aviation community to network, collaborate and share the latest ideas. At the time of publishing, Magraw says there are approximately 300 exhibitors signed up for AIX, nearly 90 percent the size of the show in 2019.

The year’s AIX will feature the same segments attendees have come to expect, such as the Exhibit Hall, Passenger Experience Conference, networking party,

CabinSpace LIVE and more. Some of the topics of focus include understanding the macro trends happening now and how they affect business, how to select services to meet changing passenger demands, and a range of issues and challenges facing the industry.

PAX Tech Editor Jane Hobson will moderate the Women Behind Aviation segment that will examine the role and potential of women in the industry.

“There is a huge amount of excitement building around the exhibition; people have really missed the opportunity to network, learn and share ideas during this period,” says Magraw.

As a proud Media Partner for the event, PAX Tech will be in attendance and distributing editions of the AIX issue during the show.

Polly Magraw, Event Director for AIX

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FACTS & FIGURES

Hamburg homecoming The Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) returns to Hamburg this summer for the first time since COVID-19 began. Known for its major port for cargo and cruise ships, as well as for hosting several international trade shows, Hamburg is open again with few restrictions, boasting sights, nightlife and festivals for all to enjoy. Here’s to a summer to celebrate Hamburg!

DOM

The Hamburg Summer DOM 2022 returns without restrictions, combining fair rides, culinary treats and special events

1907

Hagenback Zoo is home to 210 animal species, and is known for separating animal enclosures by use of moats instead of fences.

It opened in 1907 and now features a four-story Tropical Aquarium and Eismeer polar section

CATCH SOME RAYS The Elbe river doubles as Hamburg’s city beach, stretching three kilometers from Övelgönne’s historic vessels to Teufelsbrück wharf

Nightlife returns The famous street Reeperbahn in the heart of St. Pauli, known for its nightlife and red-light district that entertained many in the 1960s, is reopening at full capacity without any COVID-related restrictions

8.7 million

8.7 million TEU (20-foot standard containers) passed through the Port of Hamburg in 2021, up 2.2 percent compared to 2020 signaling return to pre-COVID numbers

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JUNE 2022

As of writing, 77.5 percent of the German population is fully vaccinated and most COVID restrictions have been lifted across the country

Stadtpark is the third largest park in Hamburg at 1.5 million square meters. Through the summer it is a popular gathering place for barbeques, swimming, concerts and visits to the Planetarium

This shopping avenue has department stores, fashion boutiques and small retail with cafes and other food and drink along the way, now open without restrictions |

PERCENT

1.5 million square meters

The Mönkebergstrasse

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77.5

200

The International Summer Festival returns in August at full capacity.

This cultural highlight features an international program of dance, theater, performances and music from 200 artists

THE DESTINATION FOR THE CABIN INTERIORS INDUSTRY Aircraft Interiors Expo is back in Hamburg from June 14–16, 2022. The world’s main marketplace for cabin interiors is where the global industry can meet to collaborate, find solutions to challenges and design the cabin of the future.

Find out more at: aircraftinteriorsexpo.com/PAX5 Co-located:

Organised by:

Passenger

®

Experience CONFERENCE

READERSHIP AWARDS 2022

RETURN TO HAMBURG! From onboard caterers to amenity programs, and from connectivity to the latest in aircraft cabins, the PAX Readership Awards will once again recognize those in the industry that stand out from the crowd.

The award winners will be announced on June 15, 2022 at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Hamburg.

Award winners will be featured in a special spread, as well as in our e-Newsletter.

PAX-INTL.COM