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 BBJ demonstrator that Boeing Business Jets (Booth C11808) has on static display here at the NBAA Convention showcases the interior possibilities for the executive configuration of the next-generation BBJ Max. Designed by Germany’s Unique Design, with the completion performed in 12 months on time and on budget by Switzerland’s AMAC Aerospace, the 13-passenger demonstrator cabin has both working environments and room to relax, with a separate dining room and lounge area, private office with berthable divan and master bedroom with en suite bathroom with shower. Despite the lavish appointments, the interior weight of approximately 16,000 pounds is mid-weight for a BBJ. The completion required some 25 more miles of wiring than a standard 737, along with 7,500 sq ft of fine fabrics and 13 miles of thread, and required 200,000 hours of engineering and production. Some 6,000 hours of varnishing and polishing of the 530 pounds of exotic wood veneer also went into the interior, the bespoke touches complemented by a high-speed Ka-band satcom system, and taxi and caution system cameras.

 


Boeing selected AMAC for the completion after an extensive bidding process and visiting and vetting completion facilities, said Bernd Schramm, AMAC's Group COO. The on-site visit allowed AMAC to “demonstrate our huge woodshop, our capabilities, and show the quality is coming from AMAC people, not from subcontractors.” Additionally, AMAC had previously performed successful completions on three BBJ777s and a BBJ747-8i.

 


One of those 777s was the recent re-delivery of a -200LR following a head-of-state completion incorporating high-end inflight entertainment systems including large monitors, soundproofing and RGB mood lighting as well as customized artwork, custom furniture, monuments and exotic materials, the Swiss company reported.

 


AMAC will also perform the first completion on an ACJ320neo for UK-based Acropolis Aviation, launch customer for the next-generation ACJ. Alberto Pinto Design is designing the interior. The neo is slated for arrival at AMAC's Basel completion facility in next year's fourth quarter and is scheduled for redelivery to Acropolis in the fourth quarter of 2019. “We needed to select the right outfitter to bring Alberto Pinto’s amazing vision to life, and from our point of view AMAC demonstrated to us that it had the skill and creativity to do this better than anyone else,” said Acropolis CEO Jonathon Bousfield.

 


Schramm noted AMAC has performed completions on “quite a few ACJ319s, and two ACJ320s,” and worked with the Alberto Pinto studios on AMAC's 747-8i completion.

 


AMAC also teamed with Alberto Pinto and seat structure manufacturer PAC Seating System recently to develop its first Cocoon Seat, certified on the 747-8i and easily certified for other jet types, according to AMAC.

 


The A340 is also in AMAC's wheelhouse, as the company recently completed the refurbishment of a head-of-state A340-200, performed during a 12-year base maintenance inspection. Meanwhile, in a break from its usual VIP completions, AMAC reconfigured a BBJ cabin from private to commercial use for a European operator, requiring major system rectifications by the engineering department.

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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