INT ER IOR S I NNOVAT ION cabin design
Dimmable
windows
for Airbus
Passengers who have enjoyed
dimmable windows on Boeing
airplanes will soon be able to enjoy
the experience on Airbus aircraft,
as the latest generation of Gentex
Corporation’s electronically
dimmable windows (EDWs) are
now being o ered by Airbus.
These electrochromic windows allow
passengers to alter the darkness
of the aircraft windows while
still enabling them to view the
scenery outside.
Gentex EDWs feature high-speed
transition between clear and dark,
and a new ultra-dark low-end
transmission. Compared to previous
designs, the latest EDWs darken
twice as fast and become 100-times
darker, e ectively eliminating more
than 99.999% of visible light,
according to the company.
The Airbus EDWs were uniquely
designed to be a single linereplaceable
unit in order to make
installation and maintenance easier.
They also feature a longer-lasting,
scratch-resistant dust cover.
“We worked together with Airbus
to integrate the latest dimmable
windows technology while further
enhancing it with an additional
specialty coating,” explains Gentex
president and CEO, Steve Downing.
“The windows benefi t aircraft
operators and passengers alike,
which ultimately enhances the user
experience for everyone on board.”
aircraftinteriorsinternational.com
156 MARCH 2020
Fall back in love with ying
Mirus believes that aircraft cabin design
can help aviation and air travel meet the
strengthening environmental focus.
Mirus is an aircraft seating company,
but it has taken a broader view to answer
growing environmental concerns in the
form of Project Aethon, a future aircraft
concept that incorporates a sustainable
mass transportation system with an
enhanced passenger experience.
“Our main aim for this project was to
hark back to a time when flying was an
adventure, when it was an experience
people looked forward to. In essence, we
want to help people fall in love with flying
again,” says Mirus’ industrial design lead,
Chris Robinson. “We hope Project Aethon
will act as a kick-starter to the industry
to think in revolutionary ways when it
comes to sustainability.”
An interesting launch is the Jade reading
light, claimed by Schott to be the first
aviation light ever made from glass.
The innovative light was designed with
PriestmanGoode, with an integrated
ambient light halo featuring a sleek full
glass cover that is as intuitive to use as
a smartphone. Thanks to capacitive touch
technology, swiping allows passengers
to adjust light position and brightness to
create their own illumination experience.
The homogeneous tempered safety
glass cover is robust, scratch-resistant
and shatterproof, and does away with
technical components such as joints,
arms and angles. Instead of relying on
bulky optical lenses for light transport,
this product powers thin fibre-optic light
guides with white LEDs, and thanks to
the spatial separation of LED and light
guides as well as the flexibility of fibre
optics, Jade has a mere 0.5in installation
depth, allowing for good integration into
a seat and easy front installation and
deinstallation.
Available in landscape and portrait
format, the light can be printed with any
decor, such as standard or metallic RAL
colours, to imitations of stone, fabric or
ornaments, or even 3D effects. Jade can
also be certified for all relevant aviation
and OEM requirements.
The light is shortlisted for the Crystal
Cabin Awards 2020.
THE FIRST GLASS
READING LIGHT
/aircraftinteriorsinternational.com