PR A ETERRA
Embraer has also been working on implementing open-pore veneer,
as seen in some cars. “It’s real wood and feels soft to the touch, as well as
being lightweight and durable,” says Beever. The veneer is protected by a
water-soluble finish rather than varnish, so no harsh chemicals or VOCs
are used and the wood can be recycled at the end of its life in the cabin.
BEAUTIFUL BY-PRODUCTS
The company has chosen wood from the Pupunha, a palm cultivated for
its fruit in the Amazon. “The veneer is a by-product from the fruit
industry, so it’s ecologically sustainable,” says Beever. “We’ve tested and
we are able to use it.”
“The Pupunha fruit is really delicious,” adds Daniel Bachmann,
corporate communications manager at Embraer. “The fruit is the core
of the tree, so there’s a lot of material that would otherwise be wasted.”
The other woods used for the bulkhead tree would be pieces left over
from Embraer’s manufacturing processes. “We can also use reclaimed
wood – for example oaks blown over by hurricanes,” says Beever. “We
will use materials from Florida and Brazil, where our facilities are.”
The seats are upholstered in an organic cotton bamboo composite
that has not been dyed, to avoid the use of chemicals. “Bamboo fabric
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030 JULY 2019
The recycled
plastic needs to
be polycarbonate
rather than acrylic,
which has a high
oil content
COSTS AND
CUSTOMERS
Embraer doesn’t have a cost for the Praeterra interior yet, but
Jay Beever says the extra craftsmanship involved – for example
with the Mokume-gane marquetry – would increase the cost, as
would the custom carpet. “This type of execution can be done but
it won’t be a baseline-price aircraft,” he says. “It would have to
be custom quoted but those who really appreciate this aesthetic
and ethos would want to pay for it.”
Beever didn’t design the cabin with a theoretical customer
in mind, but definitely sees demand for sustainable or ethical
luxury, pointing to the vegan leather offered in Tesla’s cars as
an example. “We want to fall in line with that, but also do it the
executive or private jet way – with the kind of craftsmanship
and artwork that you would not see in an automobile,” he says.
“We’re trying to set a new way of doing things. I don’t have a
customer right now who’s asking for this kind of thing, but when
they see it they’ll see the value of it.”
FIBRE OPTIC LIGHTING PROVIDES
A STARRY SKY AESTHETIC TO
COMPLETE THE NATURAL SCENE
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