B/E Aerospace Shows Off Seats, Lighting and Nespresso
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APEX Insight: B/E Aerospace kicked off the 2016 Aircraft Interiors Expo with a press tour of their latest and greatest interior cabin products. APEX Media toured the Meridian and MiQ seating options, sipped on some Nespresso and peeked inside the Tri-Mode chiller, and watched the aurora borealis on the manufacturer’s Viu lighting system.
Seats on Show
APEX Media got a first look at Meridian, a new line of economy-class seating that features an upper literature pocket and tablet holder option and will launch on Southwest Airlines’ new 737 fleet this spring. Tom Plant, general manager for B/E Seating Products, described how Meridian balances superior living space and comfort with weight-conscious design: “It’s easy to come up with a seat design that is either lightweight or just focuses on living space or passenger comfort. The really clever part … is the successful combination of all three elements into one seat design,” Plant says.
Also on display was B/E Seating Products’ scalable MiQ seat. Offering extended recline capability and pitches from 38 to 45 inches, the next generation successor to the Millenium brand has been selected for installation in over 700 aircraft by 11 airlines, including American Airlines and Sichuan Airlines.
The SWISS Boeing 777 Oasis high-density first-class suite, which entered service in January 2016, was on display, along with the new Oasis Evo suite. Labelled as “the ultimate in luxury,” the Evo suite includes a 32-inch screen, a dining table that accommodates one guest and a customized touchscreen that allows passengers to adjust the seat and lighting according to their personal preference.
High-Quality Roasts
B/E Aerospace has worked closely with Nespresso in order to perfect the temperature and pressure that’s required to “provide coffee in the air that tastes the same as a cup of joe from a high-quality coffee shop on the ground,” according to Brian Schmalz, B/E Aerospace’s VP, Marketing and Sales.
We took a peek inside the Tri-Mode chiller, a refrigerator, freezer and beverage chiller all-in-one, which has the only transparent door available in the industry. In addition to giving the chilller an elite look, the see-through door allows crew to keep the it closed as much as possible and gives airlines the option of a self-service environment.
Cabin Lighting in Viu
Matt Dunn, VP and general manager, explained how the Viu lighting system allows for more uniform and customizable cabin lighting: “Viu has a tight bend radius through the curves and can flex up to 90 inches. It can be installed anywhere, so it’s really up to the designer in terms of what they want to do with it.” APEX Media was treated to view of the sunrise and the aurora borealis before the press tour wrapped up. The Viu lighting solution is nominated for a Crystal Cabin Award.