AIX 2024: Collins Aerospace Unveils Helix Narrow-Body Aircraft Seat
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Collins Aerospace (Collins), a subsidiary of RTX, has launched its new lightweight Helix economy-class seat for single-aisle jets operating on medium-haul routes at the 2024 Aircraft Interiors Expo (EXPO) in Hamburg.
“Helix seating was developed with three key pillars in mind – comfort, reliability and sustainability,” said Christophe Blanc, Collins Aerospace’s VP and General Manager of Aircraft Seating. “The contemporary design increases passenger living space and under-seat stowage, while the seatback is optimized to accommodate a greater number of integrated in-flight entertainment (IFE) solutions, literature pockets and full-sized meal trays.”
Collins confirmed that IFE screens up to 13-inches can be integrated into the seatback.
According to Alastair Hamilton, VP, Sales & Marketing for Aircraft Seating at Collins Aerospace, with Helix the company has “been able to provide about one kilogram of weight saving per passenger.” He explained that this has been partially achieved through the “thoughtful material selection” of composites with a high strength-to-weight ratio.
Furthermore, the increase in under-seat stowage space was achieved by “borrowing some of the proven benefits from long-haul seats and integrating portions of that design ethos into the narrow-body Helix seat,” Hamilton continued. These include a reimagined seat frame that optimizes passenger seatback angles – which simultaneously improves cushion integration and enhancing the seats ergonomics – as well as the introduction of a more efficient seat track configuration.
Hamilton confirmed that “preliminary development and testing is complete,” with initial technical coordination meetings scheduled to take place with OEMs later this year. The company’s press releases stated that Collins currently engaged with a number of airline customers to introduce the Helix main cabin seat into their narrow-body fleets.
Elsehwere at the show, Collins Aerospace also showcased its MAYA business-class suite concept in collaboration with Panasonic Avionics. For more news from the 2024 Aircraft Interiors Expo, click here.