UP F RONT
1. ALL NIPPON AIRLINES ANA HAS
SIGNED UP AS THE FIRST CUSTOMER
2. THE CLAMSHELL OVERHEAD BINS
ARE EACH 30IN WIDE AND 23IN
DEEP, WITH A 13IN OPENING
SUPPORT
NETWORK
In preparation for delivering the first
SpaceJet M90 in 2020, Mitsubishi
Aircraft Corporation (MAC) has
significantly matured its commercial
aircraft capabilities in recent years.
The company has worked closely with
governmental partners to establish a
certification system for Japan and has
also begun type certification flight
testing in Moses Lake, Washington,
US with both the Japan Civil Aviation
Bureau (JCAB) and the FAA. MAC is
also growing key functions including
customer support, sales, marketing
and new product development, as
well as opening a new US
headquarters in Renton, Washington.
“The regional market is attractive,
full of untapped growth potential,”
said Alex Bellamy, MAC’s chief
development officer. “There is no
reason that their experience as
passengers should not be as good
as or better than on a mainline flight.
The SpaceJet family provides the
missing link in a kerb-to-kerb
experience for the next generation
of travellers, while bringing a higher
level of value to a neglected and
undervalued market segment.”
aircraftinteriorsinternational.com
022 SEPTEMBER 2019
INNER SPACE
Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation has revealed
the interiors of its SpaceJet, including a
floor-to-floor scheme from Safran Cabin
The Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation (MAC)
marketing team has been getting
creative ahead of the 2020 launch of its
regional jet, rebranding the MRJ to
SpaceJet, and devising taglines of ‘space
where it matters’ and ‘a new standard in
regional air travel’. The aircraft is due for
launch in 2020 and is available in two
models: the M90 (previously known as
the MRJ90), with a 1.3m shorter M100
variant to follow, based on the MRJ70.
Whichever model is chosen, the focus
has been on enhanced passenger
comfort for the regional jet
market, as well as achieving
the lowest operating
costs in its class.
The SpaceJet M100
has been designed
for global markets,
FUTURE IDEAS
Safran Cabin was a finalist in the 2018
Crystal Cabin Awards with a cabin baggage
management system for overhead
compartments. Similar to the green arrows in
some multi-storey car parks, lights above the
overhead baggage lockers indicate free space
for cabin baggage. The concept also includes
and it can be flexibly configured for other market
needs up to 88 seats in a single-class configuration.
For the US market, the aircraft is optimised to be
scope clause compliant in a 65-76 seat, three-class
cabin configuration.
The marketing team has also created a few
superlatives for the aircraft, including the M100 offering
“the most spacious and comfortable cabin in its class”, “the
widest and tallest cabin in its class” (276cm x 202cm), “the roomiest
economy seat” (18.5in wide) and “the most overhead bin capacity”.
Looking at the latter point, Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation (MAC) has
signed an MoU with Safran Cabin to provide next-generation ECOS
(Efficient Cabin-Open Space) overhead pivot bins, developed by ZEO,
Safran’s in-house cabin design and innovation studio. The bins are
greater stowage capacity for cases, to
reduce “cabin baggage anxiety”.
In early 2020, MAC’s parent company, MHI is set to acquire the CRJ programme from Bombardier in a US$550m deal
2
1
similar to the ECOS units found in other narrow-bodies
such as the A320, but customised to suit the particular
aesthetics and structural engineering requirements of
the Spacejet.
The bins can help regional passengers avoid waiting
at the baggage carousel by accommodating one roller
bag per passenger. Safran claims the ECOS bins have
60% more baggage capacity than some older bin designs,
with a swivelling clamshell design that creates more
internal stowage space by eliminating overlapping
panels in the bins, while retaining the external
dimensions of more conventional bins, to maximise
cabin space. Passenger functionality is
also improved with a new latching
concept for the bins.
“As we developed the
SpaceJet M100, we spoke to
the top airlines and many
customers. One of the
priority pieces of feedback
we received is that they
want more space for
carry-on bags”, explained
Henry Tam, MAC’s head of
new programme development.
“We decided that the best way
to accomplish that is with a pivot
bin, and the team at Safran was able
to work with us on the design and create a
very spacious solution”.
MAC’s MoU with Safran Cabin also covers full-scale
integrated interiors for the Spacejet, including galleys,
lavatories, PSUs, sidewalls, ceiling panels, and other
customer experience components.
/aircraftinteriorsinternational.com