LIGHTING R E V IEW
A sunny start
STG Aerospace recently completed a
research project with Delft University
of Technology (DUT) in the Netherlands
and one of its industrial design Masters
students, Jasper Van Hijfte, focusing
on how to make aircraft entry lighting
more inviting and boarding less stressful
for passengers. The emphasis was on
‘human centric’ lighting and passenger
interaction, with soft blue and white
lighting effects replicating the sky on a
sunny day, and dynamic lighting creating
a moving cloud effect.
This research is being used to
investigate a direction in which galley
lighting could further improve the
passenger experience. The project also
served as Van Hijfte’s thesis, which
explores opportunities for a retrofit
entry light concept for short-haul flights,
with a focus on the forward entry area
of the aircraft. The test environment
aircraftinteriorsinternational.com
070 NOVEMBER 2019
was a decommissioned B737-500,
with analyses methods used including
literature and observational studies, and
interviews with passengers and crew.
The findings were used to create a
design concept, with several design
iterations used to verify the functionality
of the product and to create a final
lighting design proposal that the
research partners are confident can
reduce passenger stress – and happy
passengers can even lead to shorter
boarding times.
Etihad’s unique A380
For its A380 schemes, Etihad‘s design team
redesigned the ceilings in first class and the
PSU channel in business class to accommodate
light panels that cast the Lights of Abu Dhabi –
a dappled light on the floors and walls, similar
to moonlight cast through a palm tree.
The effect is soft and makes the spaces feel
larger… but it isn’t created by those large light
fittings, as they do not generate sufficient light
to cast an image on the floors. Instead they
cast a gentle light that fools the eye, while
a second Gobo light projects the image.
“Lighting is an area you can own,” says Fiona
Morrisson, Etihad’s VP of guest experience
when the scheme launched. “The goal was to
play with lighting and use it to our advantage
and make the entryways less sterile. This is not
an Airbus catalogue item and it makes it our
aircraft. The light was a major investment but
when you walk in you’ll go, ‘Wow.’”
A portal to the sky
Boeing has really answered the ‘wow’
brief with Skylight, which applies the
latest flexible OLED display technology
to create an atmosphere where the
passenger can become fully engaged with
the magic of flight. With its view ports
and complementary lighting, Skylight
enables unique visual experiences from
any seat in the cabin.
Skylight’s scenes can be tailored to
every phase of the flight, from boarding
to disembarking.
The value to airlines lies in Skylight’s
ability to act as a unique differentiator
for first class and business class
passenger areas by showing customerspecific
content.
Installation in the aircraft is a lowimpact,
plug-and-play premium pod
upgrade, with the lattice design housing
cabin support systems such as oxygen
drops. The design is modular so that it
can be reconfigured to conform to various
seating arrangements.
/aircraftinteriorsinternational.com