UP F RONT
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aircraftinteriorsinternational.com
010 JUNE 2019
1. ELYSIUM FEATURES AN
EXTENSIVELY REDESIGNED
CENTRE CONSOLE, AND A CENTRE
DIVIDER THAT NOW DEPLOYS
HORIZONTALLY
2. THE SEATBACK HAS A CLEAN,
COHESIVE APPEARANCE
FRENCH CONNECTION
A new high-density business class seat has entered the market,
following a swift but impressive project between Air France, Stelia
Aerospace and Design Investment. Here’s the story behind Elysium…
The newest addition to Stelia’s seating range
is Elysium, a forward-facing lie-flat business
class seat based on the Equinox2D model. The
project began in April 2017 when Air France,
together with its design partner, Geneva-based
Design Investment, were looking for a new
business class seat to form the centrepiece of
the €140m refurbishment project for its 15
A330s. The importance of the customisation work
should not be underestimated, as Alexandra Collins,
director of Design Investment explains: “The seat
represents the main touchpoint with the passenger
and as such turns into a messenger of the brand.”
Air France and Design Investment found the Stelia
engineering team open to discussion on what changes
to the seat platform would be a feasible and to
establishing a collaborative approach to such a project.
“At the beginning it was all about harmonisation and
simplification of a product that is technically sound but
did not correspond to the desired look,” recalls Collins.
The studio wished to simplify shapes and visually
noisy elements, and Stelia’s engineers offered their
understanding of the functionalities and details of the
platform to work out what was feasible. The biggest
part of the customisation work focused on the centre
console, which has been made less bulky in appearance
to make the in-seat experience feel more open, while the
privacy screen was enlarged, and changed from a pulldown
unit into a unit that deploys horizontally.
A lot of detail work also went into the project. For
example, a cocktail table has been integrated into the
meal table, and an illuminated personal stowage area
and soft upholstered footwell introduced. The seat has
also received a general restyle, with a sleeker look for
the reading light, seat control unit and IFE handset, and a more
cohesive look for the retractable armrest.
With the initial design drafted and approved in principle by
Air France and Stelia, a full-size mock-up was created so that
the seat design’s dimensions and comfort could be physically
gauged, as well as its overall appearance.
With the general product outlined, more partners and
suppliers became involved. “Working in isolation on such a
program does not lead to success. We believe that open discussions
and exchanges are essential, even for the smallest changes,” says
Collins. “Collaborative development is based on four pillars: being open
minded, respectful, competent and reliable. When a team has an
attitude that respects the four pillars, the development of a complex
project like an aircraft seat can be feasible in a short timeframe.”
The application of those pillars saw the Equinox2D become a quite
different product in a mere 17 months, from first design intent to
installation on the aircraft, with first flight on an Air France A330 in
February 2019. Creating Elysium was an open, collaborative project;
so much so that a base version of the seat, named Elysium, is now
available as a Stelia catalogue product. Other airlines need not worry
about Air France’s involvement, as the seat has many trim and finish
customisation oportunities to ensure their brands are differentiated.
WHY EQUINOX2D?
Stelia’s Equinox 2D seat was chosen
partly because the forward-facing
layout is efficient in terms of seat
count and is well-suited to retrofits.
Equinox2D does not offer 100% direct
aisle access (the 36-seat cabin is
2-2-2 – the same as with the outgoing
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seats – but Air France and the studio
felt that a customisation project that
not only replaces angled beds with full
lie-flats but also improved the seat
architecture and space arrangements,
as well as updated styling, would
transform an off-the-shelf product
into a distinctly Air France seat.
TIMELINE
Project start: 04/2017
First article inspection
(FAI): 12 /2018
First flight:
02/2019
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