HAMBURG, Germany, 16 April 2015. A panel of judges at Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg, Germany, awarded seven of the world's smartest ideas for the aircraft cabin of the future with the Chrystal Cabin Award. An 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 won the most prestigious prize in one of seven categories for their extraordinary cabin concepts and products.
"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.
With about 530 exhibiting companies from 30 different countries the Aircraft Interiors Expo is the leading trade fair for the aircraft cabin, officials describe. The global event showcases the entire range of interiors systems and services.
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. The three largest industrial employers in Hamburg's aviation sector - Airbus, Lufthansa Technik and Diehl - concentrate their cabin focus in the region.
