A multi-engine, instrument rated pilot, James Wynbrandt has been an AIN and Business Jet Traveler contributor since 2003. His in-depth reporting and insightful features have won more than a dozen editorial honors, including two National Business Aviation Association Gold Wing Awards (2019; 2021), and his articles have also appeared in the New York Times, Barron’s, Fortune, Forbes, and Smithsonian Air &amp; Space. He has flown his Mooney M20K 252 on assignments throughout North and Central America and the Caribbean. Wynbrandt is also the author of Flying High (Wiley &amp; Sons), a biography of Jet Blue founder David Neeleman, as well as histories, references works, and books on a variety of other topics from major publishers. He lives in New York City.

Contributor - Business Aviation

James Wynbrandt

The business aircraft cabin represents the pinnacle of interior design, and attendees at ABACE 2016 can see it all right here. The latest in cabin styling and technology is on display in the aircraft open for inspection on the ramp, and at the booths of the interior design, installation and modification specialists. Here are some of the highlights to look for at this year’s show.


Switzerland-based Jet Aviation (Booth H218) has a delegation of completion specialists here “to engage prospective customers in one-on-one sessions at our booth,” said Matthew Woollaston, vice-president, completions sales and marketing. The experts will be equipped with the company’s proprietary JetVision app for tablet-based 3D presentations, which include its latest “Limitless” design video.


The presentation “captures the essence of the cabin completions process, from design through to installation and re-delivery,” Woollaston said. “It’s a demonstration of our commitment to both beautiful design and craftsmanship, alongside the newest technologies.” Attendees can upload the app and presentations to their own devices for later viewing.


Jet Aviation recently redelivered an Airbus ACJ330 from its Basel Completion Center that showcased several examples of these qualities. They include high-end finishes and, as a result of its weight management processes, a “significantly lighter” aircraft than the customer required, making this “the longest-range VIP A330 completed to date,” Woollaston said.


Two current green completions underway for Chinese customers demonstrate the company is “already experiencing success in this area”: A BBJ1, and an ACJ330-200 inducted late last year. “We definitely foresee an increase in customers from Greater China,” said Woollaston. He also noted an increased interest from Chinese-language press in business aviation and aircraft, boding well for the future prospects.


A full services provider with one of the world’s largest fleets of managed aircraft (more than 30 in Asia), Jet Aviation will open a new MRO operation in Macau later this year. Meanwhile, back in Basel, technicians and craftsmen are at work completing the interior of the first privately owned Boeing 787-900 Dreamliner for an undisclosed Middle Eastern customer, scheduled for redelivery next year. The interior was developed by London’s Andrew Winch Design, a bespoke firm that often designs clients’ homes and yachts, as well as their jet cabins.


The Dassault Falcon family of jets—today the Falcon 2000S, 2000LXS, 900LX, 7X and 8X—has long been known for sophisticated design flair, both in its airframes and cabin interiors. Here in Shanghai, the French manufacturer (Chalet 9) is also highlighting the cabin refurbishments Dassault Falcon Services (DFS) offers for its in-service fleet. Current and legacy models alike can be restored “close to the original aircraft,” said Thierry Salaun, vice president, service center marketing and sales.


But today the emphasis is on bringing a modern, up-to-date cabin to older Falcons. “We have developed our own interior products, very similar to a brand new aircraft, with the same interior philosophy as the 5X,” Salaun said, referring to the company’s forthcoming model, which features a cabin 8.5 feet (2.6 m) wide. Salaun pointed out the Service Center’s location alongside Dassault’s headquarters and completions showroom at Paris-Le Bourget Airport provides direct access to the best of the OEM’s interior styling and technology.


Here at the ABACE show, Dassault is showcasing its new Falcon Paris interior refurbishment. The six- to eight-week upgrade can be performed during a major inspection or on its own. The first Falcon Paris refurb, for a recent purchaser of a preowned Falcon, was underway just prior to ABACE. Attendees can see renderings and photos of the Falcon Paris interior at the company’s booth. Dassault also performs refurbishments at its U.S. facilities in the states of Arkansas and Delaware.


Dassault sees Asia—particularly Greater China—as “a key arena,” Salaun said, and is already “deeply involved in supporting customers in the region.” The refurbishment services take that support to a new level, he said.


Last November DFS opened a new facility at Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport adjacent the OEM’s final assembly line. The facility’s primary focus is support for 7Xs and 8Xs, and DFS can leverage the proximity to manufacturing and engineering expertise in its aftermarket services. That’s “important for this area of the world” Salaun said, while Dassault pursues CAAC approvals for providing major maintenance under its own brand here.


U.S.-based Boeing completion specialist Greenpoint Technologies (Booth P108) comes to the show on the heels of winning completion contracts for two head-of-state Dreamliners (787-8 and -9) for an undisclosed customer. Greenpoint has more than 300,000 hours of engineering design and development experience on the revolutionary composite 787 airframe, according to Bret Neely, Greenpoint’s executive vice-president.


Greenpoint is also currently “re-customizing” a head of state 787-8 that was scheduled for redelivery earlier this year. The execliner changed hands shortly before redelivery, and it’s now being “personalized to accommodate the new owner’s mission and requirements,” the company announced. The interior currently features a contemporary executive style with glossy wood veneer, white paneling and headliners, and patterned carpet in light neutral tones. Redelivery is now slated for early next year.


Jinggong Global Jet Co. (Booth P602) of Zhejiang, China, a joint venture launched last year between China’s Jinggong Group and international aviation services provider Global Jet, offers cabin design services through its partnership with Pegasus Design. Pegasus, with offices in London and Monaco, made its reputation in executive airliner interiors, but works on interiors of any size airframe and is also known for its inventive exterior paint schemes. The Pegasus team believes designers should treat aircraft interiors “like jewels,” and that “for every specific requirement, a technical and artistic solution can be found.” At its booth here, Jinggong has iPads and large screens displaying an extensive selection of images showcasing these design capabilities.


Interiors capabilities are critical not only for completions and refurbishments, but for removal of customized interiors for heavy maintenance. U.S.-based BBJ completions specialist Aloft AeroArchitects (Booth H107) completed late last year a six-year maintenance inspection that required extensive removal and replacement of the interior of a head-of-state aircraft. At the conclusion of the inspection, company technicians and craftsmen demonstrated “the art of reinstalling the components with perfect fit and function the first time,” said John Eichten, Aloft’s senior v-p sales and marketing. “Every BBJ is an individual, custom work of art, and as experts on the BBJ platform, we’ve also become experts at managing the technical impacts of variance and individuality into our system of ensuring complete accuracy, efficiency and the highest degree of quality.” Aloft has also managed completions on more than 25 new executive airliners including the Embraer Lineage 1000 and Bombardier CRJ200, as well as its refurbishments and “numerous” interior reconfigurations of these aircraft, Eichten said.


Aircraft owners often engage on-site representatives to oversee completions and refurbishment projects, a service Singapore’s Aviation Camo PTE (Booth P136) provides, in addition to its other maintenance management capabilities. The independent Continued Airworthiness Management Organization (CAMO) holds approvals from several international aviation registries, including the U.S. FAA, European Union’s EASA, and the Isle of Man, invaluable for its completions and refurbishment management services. Aviation Camo also offers completions and refurbishment consulting on issues regarding regulatory mandates and in-service maintenance requirements.


Avion Pacific Ltd. (Booth P502) of China, a general aviation services provider with bases in Shenzhen, Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, Chengdu, Penglai and Zhuhai, also offers consulting services, including advising on acquisitions, completions and refurbishment. The company’s offerings also include aircraft financing, and combining these two areas of expertise can help buyers of preowned aircraft fund both purchase and refurbishment.

News and developments about everything that goes into the cabin of an aircraft, from floor coverings to headliners, with a special emphasis on in-flight entertainment, communications and other electronics for passengers. If it is in the cabin of an aircraft, it’s covered here.

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