Lufthansa Technik is presenting its chair family of seats for VIP and business jet aircraft at EBACE 2015. The range has now passed all the 9g European Technical Standard Order (ETSO) maximum payload tests required for airworthiness certification. The range is now undergoing 16g dynamic tests, which are scheduled to be complete by May 29, 2015.
Lufthansa Technik said that the critical dynamic tests have been completed, and that the remaining tests are less critical from a structural point of view, but necessary to determine the installation envelope. Upon successful completion of the 16g tests, all test reports will be presented to European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for approval. Lufthansa Technik believes 9g and 16g certifications will be granted in late summer 2015. The company will make the chair available not only as ETSO equipment but also with a complete STC to minimize risk and work for customers.
Aircraft interior designers can adapt the seat’s style, structure and functionality. For example, it can be implemented as everything from a basic office chair to a fully reclining lounger. The chair concept was developed in cooperation with Jacques Pierrejean, founder of Pierrejean Design Studios.
“This seat is my friend,” said Pierrejean. “It dresses differently depending on the comfort I need, the situation I’m in and the culture I’m living in. The chair concept gives cabin interior designers an unequaled degree of freedom.”
“On board an aircraft, the seats are the central interface between the passengers and the cabin,” said Andrew Muirhead, head of the Original Equipment Innovation unit at Lufthansa Technik. “For decades, seats have mostly changed only in shape and color. Today’s passengers have much higher expectations at every level, from the most basic to top-of-the-line seats. They expect the comfort and convenience of an innovative cabin along with the diversity they’re accustomed to from home furnishings, and more freedom of movement in the cabin.”
“chair makes it possible to rethink cabin design,” said Oliver Thomaschewski, chair product manager at Lufthansa Technik. “It’s a completely new design approach intended to give designers unprecedented flexibility in choosing the perfect chair configuration and arrangement for any cabin floorplan. The chair family concept offers thousands of configuration options.”
The seats are made in Germany in cooperation with Dräxlmaier. All chair configurations are based on a primary seat structure. To this, various elements can be added, including; seat backs of various heights and with custom-contoured ribs; customized upholstery in any desired thickness; and armrests.
May 18, 2015
