Seven Innovations for the Aircraft Cabin of the Future

HAMBURG, Germany, April 15, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

This week the aircraft cabin of the future can be experienced at the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg, Germany. Seven of the world's smartest ideas for the aircraft cabin were awarded on Tuesday, April 14^th with the "Cabin Oscar" - the Chrystal Cabin Award. Aviation companies like B/E Aerospace (USA), Embraer (Brasil) or Etihad Airways (UAE) show their awarded concepts at the international trade fair of the aircraft interiors from April 14 to 16. 

On Monday evening the international Judging Panel announced the winners of the Chrystal Cabin Award 2015 in Hamburg, Germany. B/E Aerospace, Embraer, SABIC Innovative Plastics, SII Deutschland, ViaSat, Etihad Airways and Hamburg University of Applied Sciences received the most prestigious prize in one of seven categories for their extraordinary cabin concepts and products. As the aircraft industry is known for its high standards, the job of the 24 jury-members was challenging: "Selecting the Crystal Cabin Award winners was a tough decision this year, as all finalists were of very high quality - ranging from renowned manufacturers to inspiring university concepts, which we will hopefully see flying soon", says Melissa Raudebaugh, General Manager Aircraft Experience at Delta Air Lines and Chairwoman of the Judging Panel. The 21 finalists were chosen from a total record of 68 submissions from 18 nations. They all show innovations passengers can experience in the upcoming generations of aircraft cabins:

Crystal Cabin Award 2014 - The Winners 

Premium Class & VIP: A380 Upper Deck by Etihad (UAE) 

One highlight this year was in the head-to-head A380-First Class race between two airlines from the United Arab Emirates. Etihad Airways won by a nose with its "A380 Upper Deck". Etihad is the first airline in the world to install a three room apartment in a commercial airliner, the "Residence by Etihad". Behind the Residence is the First Class Cabin with nine compartments and 70 Business Class seats.

Greener Cabin, Health, Safety & Environment: Solar Eclipse by B/E Aerospace (USA) 

A thin solar cell film is installed in the sun visor of the cabin window, providing passengers with electricity to charge their electronic devices during flight. Although the system is still under development, the manufacturer is already working on achieving production approval soon.

Industrial Design & Visionary Concepts: E2 Cabin Concept by Embraer (Brazil) 

The cabin for Embraers E2 generation of regional jets, is characterised by an innovative, easy maintenance design. The use of space is especially well thought-out. Special baggage lockers, for example, and a staggered seating concept, provide more space in the aircraft.

Passenger Comfort Hardware: SANTO Seat by SII Deutschland (Germany) 

The "SANTO Seat" (Special Accommodation Needs for Toddlers and Overweight Passengers) is beneficial for both passengers and airlines. The normally wasted space at the rear of the aircraft cabin, where the fuselage narrows, is used by a special seat, one-and-a-half times the width of a normal seat. The seat is ideal for overweight passengers and for passengers with small children. For these passengers, the seat is safer than a standard seat.

Passenger Comfort Systems: Exede in the Air by ViaSat (USA) 

The satellite-powered "Exede in the Air" solution brings a 12 Mbps internet connection to every seat, allowing passengers to stream films or shop online above the clouds without difficulty.

Material & Components: LEXAN XHR2000 by SABIC Innovative Plastics (UAE) 

The "LEXAN XHR2000" film has a transparency level of 80 percent, currently the highest possible level. Application possibilities range from windows to surface elements within the cabin, providing interior designers in particular with completely new possibilities.

University: Trash Compactor by Hamburg University of Applied Sciences (Germany) 

Marc Spille a student of aviation studies, in collaboration with Airbus, developed a mobile trash container which uses the vacuum technology of the on-board lavatory to compress trash bags into a space-saving format within seconds.

The Aircraft Interiors Expo 2015 

With about 530 exhibiting companies from 30 different countries the Aircraft Interiors Expo is the leading trade fair for the aircraft cabin. The global event showcases the entire range of interiors systems and services. Over 58 new exhibiting companies will be promoting ground-breaking new products and innovative technologies. More than 13.000 attendees are expected to attend. This year a new and exclusively designed USA Pavilion will provide an ideal platform for a range of smaller and medium size companies to promote their products and services - many of which are new exhibitors. The US Pavilion will also feature the U.S. Commercial Service Germany at the American Embassy in Berlin which, together with three Consulates General, provide a range of services and programmes to help American companies export goods and services to Germany.

Hamburg the world's leading cabin center 

The aircraft cabin is the fastest growing segment, including both technical and content aspects in aviation industries. At the heart of this dynamic development is Hamburg. A significant portion of the 40,000 jobs in the region's aviation industry are associated with the cabin sector. This makes the metropolitan region in northern Germany the most important location in the world for this growing market and the perfect place for the international trade fair as well as the innovation prize for the aircraft cabin. The three largest industrial employers in Hamburg's aviation sector - Airbus, Lufthansa Technik and Diehl - concentrate their cabin focus in the region. As a consequence, they have a prominent presence at the Aircraft Interiors Expo. Airbus has its global cabin development center at Finkenwerder in Hamburg. The company's presence at the expo is dedicated to new, efficient possibilities for space usage on short and long-haul aircraft. Lufthansa Technik is a leading player in the international market, not least because of its focus on VIP fittings in Hamburg. The company is exhibiting a comprehensive palette of products at its stand this year, ranging from the "Chair" luxury seat to patient transport facilities. Diehl Aerospace is presenting a fully functional cabin model at the trade fair. Apart from the big names, more than a quarter of the aviation jobs in Hamburg are with small and medium-sized businesses. They are represented by the supplier association, Hanse-Aerospace.

More information: 

• http://www.aircraftinteriorsexpo.com
• http://www.crystal-cabin-award.com
• http://www.hamburg-aviation.com
• http://www.marketing.hamburg.de

Contact

Matthias Beer, Hamburg Marketing GmbH
E: matthias.beer[at]marketing.hamburg.de
+49-40-300-51-582