The seats in a custom aircraft's interior are as important as any other component. And whether we are working on VIP or mission seating, we strive to reach that perfect balance of comfort and compliance. Our goal is that every passenger is both safe and comfortable enough to enjoy the flight.
Achieving the perfect balance isn't easy, but it is necessary. We need to consider everything from crashworthiness and certification requirements to ergonomics and vibration management. There is an awful lot that goes in to designing the perfect seat. It all starts with safety.
Safety and Compliance Are Non-Negotiable
Both mission and VIP seating must meet stringent regulatory crashworthiness standards. For example, we must adhere to 16g dynamic requirements under FAA/EASA rules. We also need to meet:
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Fire and flammability rules.
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Head injury and restraint criteria.
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Integration constraints.
It is important to note that our systems are engineered as modular interiors that use existing seat tracks and hard points. We must keep loads within certified limits while simultaneously reducing weight to preserve performance margins. And all of this must be done in strict compliance. The ultimate goal? Passenger safety.
Hygiene and Decontamination
Safety compliance covers yet another area a lot of people don't think about: hygiene and decontamination. Especially where mission seating is concerned, we take steps to make sure things are easy to clean and disinfect. For example, we design seating and surrounding cabinetry with smooth and accessible surfaces, some of which are anti-microbial.
VIP and mission seating must still meet fire, smoke, and toxicity (FST) requirements. So we cannot sacrifice FST to achieve better hygiene and decontamination standards. We need to find a way to accomplish all three and still produce seating our customers will enjoy.
Comfort and Ergonomics
With the safety and compliance requirements met, our designers turn their attention to comfort and ergonomics. On the comfort side of things, VIP seating is engineered with:
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Thick, contoured cushions.
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Supportive back geometry.
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Extra width to reduce pressure points and fatigue.
We use custom upholstery and premium foams to create VIP seating that is ergonomically comfortable yet still tough enough to endure the punishment of repeated flights. All our VIP seating is built on certified 9- or 16g seat structures for maximum safety without compromising comfort.
Mission seating is a bit different in that there is less focus on luxury. But passengers still need to be comfortable. Mission seating still needs to enhance workflow. To that end, we design mission seating around what crews actually do in the cabin.
We pay attention to workflow and reach envelopes. We design seating that can be rotated and repositioned, quickly adjusted to increase or reduce recline, and integrated with medical equipment mounts. It is all designed to give crew members the mechanical support they need for good posture while still allowing them to provide life-saving care.
Techniques to Bridge Both
As previously stated, designing VIP and mission seating that is both compliant and comfortable is not easy. But we employ a variety of techniques capable of bridging both types of needs.
One of those techniques is modularity. By working with existing aircraft seat tracks and our catalog of modular components, we make it possible to reconfigure an aircraft interior within a couple of hours. Modules and mission seating can be configured together to create an optimal workspace during flight.
To achieve that perfect balance, we start with the certification envelope and work inward. We employ a variety of design techniques and material choices to come up with seating that is simultaneously comfortable and fully compliant with safety standards.
