German aerospace engineering group CeBeNetwork showed two interesting concepts for passengers and crew at last week’s Aircraft Interiors show in Hamburg.
One is designed to help airline and VIP passengers to make the most of their work and leisure time on the aircraft, the other to give crew members and other working travellers a chance to rest.
On show in mock-up form was the company’s compact, lightweight IFE unit, designed to fit close to a door or galley so that it doesn’t take up valuable seat space. Features include a neat slide-out seat, a flip-up rotatable touchscreen, an iPod docking station, and memory card slots allowing the user to upload to the screen data brought on board or download files acquired via the aircraft’s connectivity systems.
CeBeNetwork also ran video of an easy-to-deploy foldable courier/crew rest bunk for use on the main deck area of freighter aircraft. The real thing features advanced materials and weighs just 19kg.
An aluminium-tube frame is covered by a material similar to that used for medical stretchers. The fabric is stretched as the bunk unfolds, leaving no uncomfortable creases, and concealed hinges and a fully covered frame are intended to eliminate any possibility of minor injury to the user. The frame itself is designed to flex slightly to dampen vibration and reduce the effects of turbulence. When not in use, the bunk is stored in a compact bulkhead-mounted container.
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This week on the Shephard Defence Podcast, senior naval reporter Harry Lye and military training & simulation reporter Norbert Neumann chat with Professor John Louth.
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