The first two installations of the F/List Syntec flooring system have taken place on two Pilatus PC-24 Super Versatile Jets.
The inaugural floor installation was undertaken at the Pilatus facility in Broomfield, Colorado, on a new PC-24 owned by a private customer. The second installation took place at Pilatus’ headquarters in Stans, Switzerland. Both the private customer and the OEM chose to install the Syntec tiles in the high-traffic entryway areas to optimise durability, practicality and add contemporary style.
An alternative to carpet, Syntec consists of individually pre-manufactured tiles that are fixed to aircraft floors using a newly developed mounting system. Evolved from the award-winning F/List stone flooring product, the laying system streamlines the installation process.
The company says the solution enables easy access to the fuselage for inspection and maintenance; and design changes. Repairs can be made by exchanging single tiles, rather than removing the complete floor. The firm also said that ease of installation and replacement minimises potential damage to surrounding monuments, reduces refurbishment costs and supports asset value retention by enabling numerous flooring upgrade options.
Manufactured by F/List at its headquarters in Thomasberg, Austria, the Syntec tiles are designed to provide a robust, stain-resistant surface that is easy to clean and maintain, while meeting all aviation fire-retardant requirements.
Each suite of tiles is produced to match specific customer requirements and is delivered to the aircraft OEM or completion centre with a customised manual to ensure the flooring is laid in the correct sequence. The rectangular or square pieces, or a combination of both, can be customised to produce a multitude of design options and surface finishes, including wood looks.
“Our customer was looking for an elegant and different aesthetic for his aircraft,” said Ignaz Gretener, vice president for general aviation at Pilatus. “The flooring also had to be easy to clean, beautiful and, as the aircraft flies regularly, strong enough to handle the heavy footfall of the crew and their boots. The style and panache of the Syntec flooring, combined with its ease of maintenance supported the decision to integrate it into the entry way design.”
“It brings another level of sophistication to the aircraft interior by complementing the neutral tones of the carpet, monuments and leather seats, while adding practical functionality,” added Gretener. “These are the reasons we also decided to outfit our own demonstrator aircraft with the flooring, and we are already seeing a very positive reaction from customers to this option.”
A further three European Pilatus customers have already requested installation of the Syntec flooring in their newly purchased PC-24 aircraft, to be delivered in the first quarter of 2022.
“When we developed the Syntec product we wanted to provide a cost-effective flooring solution to customers, that supported practicalities like cleaning, ease of maintenance, longevity and operational costs, yet offered the possibility of even more design choices,” explained Anita Gradwohl, group director of customer relations and sales at F/List.
The Syntec system is designed to create simple, elegant styling, or more complex herringbone, parquet and planking designs, as well as intricate patterns. “We wanted to create a product that inspires the imagination,” said Gradwohl. “Our clients look to us for originality, innovation and concepts that make their aircraft interiors stand out. With the Syntec flooring we are meeting those expectations with a versatile product that supports all the requirements in terms of resilience, beauty and comfort.”
