Canada, 27 April 2012. Flying Colours Corp., a Canada-based refurbishment and conversion company, has begun work on an ambitious conversion of a Bombardier CRJ200 regional airliner. The business, which has so far converted 12 CRJ's to the 'ExecLiner' executive VIP format, is working with the private owner's designer Harry Schnaper - who has been featured in Architectural Digest's top 100 of the world's best designers - its lead in-house designer Kate Ahrens and its engineering team to create externally and internally what will be its most complex ExecLiner conversion yet.
The aircraft will incorporate a number of "firsts" which have involved extensive engineering and design innovation from the Flying Colours team. A clean sheet design shower will be included in the aft lavatory and will be the first time a CRJ conversion has had one installed. The aft cabin will be equipped with a pivoting bed enabling passengers to position the bed against the wall when not in use. The cockpit will feature Elbit systems' heads-up-display and Infra-Red Synthetic Vision System. To remove cigar smoke, galley smells and ensure clean cabin air at all times an integrated smoke extraction system has been designed by Flying Colours Corp. to remove smoke from the cabin while inflight.
The forward aircraft cabin features six electric seats, which have been manufactured in cooperation with AST Seating and feature options for recline, vertical adjustment, leg rests and include a memory pre-set option along with electric heating, massage features and controllable lumbar support options. There is also a compartment in the seats for holding iPads, just one part of an enhanced IFE system. The communications and aircraft IFE has been designed in conjunction with Esoteric, producers of SkyPad, the in air touch screen control system, and will enable users to browse all on-board media, control the IFE and adjust the lights, blinds and temperature in the cabin via an iPad. The system links to the SkyPad System Backbone and will be supported through a Viasat-Ku band for high speed internet access. To maximise the tailored IFE the headphones have been specifically designed for the aircraft by Ultrasone of Tutzing, Germany.
Other IFE features include dedicated video teleconferencing, a 20TB server holding over 7500 films and 52000 songs, a True North Phone System with five dedicated telephone lines and the ability to project presentations on all monitors at each seat, and even in the bedroom. A pair of matching pull-out desks for laptops in the main cabin has been configured to support Windows or Mac operating systems.
The extensive conversion features bathrooms with custom designed wood veneer cabinetry which is complemented by platinum plated hardware and Dornbracht plumbing fixtures. Touch screen controls ensure passengers are in control of IFE even while in the bathroom. The galley and annex area features wood inlays and platinum hardware alongside a convection/broil oven, microwave, refrigerator, freezer, blender and Nespresso machine. Dark granite countertops complement the galley courtesy of the preferred partnership status Flying Colours Corp. holds with LIST Components & Furniture GMBH of Austria. Sterling silver flatware, table accessories and serving pieces have been specifically made by Puiforcat, Paris, France, and table and bed linens are exclusively provided for the aircraft by Stella, New York, New York.
The certification will be based on an existing STCs held by Flying Colours Corp. but final certification will be completed through a new FAA STC. It is anticipated the aircraft will be finished in the spring of 2013 and will be available for limited charter through Maine Aviation Corp., based in Portland Maine.
The Bombardier CRJ 200 is a two-engine wide fuselage aircraft that features General Electric CF34-3B1 engines. To date there have been over 1,000 orders for CRJ100 and CRJ200 aircraft.
