Matt Thurber, editor-in-chief at AIN Media Group, has been flying since 1975 and writing about aviation since 1978 and now has the best job in the world, running editorial operations for Aviation International News, Business Jet Traveler, and FutureFlight.aero. In addition to working as an A&amp;P mechanic on everything from Piper Cubs to turboprops, Matt taught flying at his father’s flight school in Plymouth, Mass., in the early 1980s, flew for an aircraft owner/pilot, and for two summer seasons hunted swordfish near the George’s Banks off the East Coast from a Piper Super Cub. An ATP certificated fixed-wing pilot and CFII and commercial helicopter pilot, Matt is type-rated in the Citation 500 and Gulfstream V/550. Based in the Pacific Northwest, Matt and his team cover the entire aviation scene including business aircraft, helicopters, avionics, safety, manufacturing, charter, fractionals, technology, air transport, advanced air mobility, defense, and other subjects of interest to AIN, BJT, and FutureFlight readers.

Editor-in-Chief

Matt Thurber

Airbus has opened the ACJ TwoTwenty creative studio at its headquarters location in Toulouse, France. Adjacent to the fuselage mockups for every Airbus model in Toulouse, the creative studio is designed to help buyers finalize the interior configuration and materials and equipment choices for their new ACJ TwoTwenty.

 


The development of the creative studio stemmed from discussions among ACJ team members and customers as well as Comlux Group, which is the exclusive completion center for the first 15 ACJ Two Twentys. Because there are not yet any fully completed ACJ TwoTwenty demonstrators available, according to Chadi Saade, Airbus Corporate Jets vice president commercial, the company (Booth Z43, Static AD_5) needed a way to help customers visualize the airplane’s expansive cabin and decide on how they want it outfitted.

 


“This is extremely important,” he said. While the creative studio will always complement seeing the actual aircraft, he added, “This is a great first step while waiting for the [demonstrator] aircraft. This will be an efficient tool to finalize the design and selection of options.”

 


Airbus has taken a different approach with the interior design of the ACJ TwoTwenty. Where buyers of other ACJ models can customize their aircraft starting from a completely bare interior, TwoTwenty buyers begin by choosing a configuration for each of the six zones and then selecting from hundreds of fabric, carpet, wood veneer, and plated metal finishing options.

 


The online configurator allows buyers to click on various furniture layouts for each zone. During their visit to the creative studio, buyers can see what their layout looks like in a full-size projection of the cabin on the floor of the studio. After donning a virtual reality (VR) headset, the customer can not only walk through and view the layout in 3D but also see and compare the materials choices, integrated into the VR view, as well as lighting effects. To help get started, customers can select one of three optional cabin designs or a special Cyril Kongo edition.

 


With 786 sq ft of floor space, the ACJ TwoTwenty offers “double the space and volume of any competitor aircraft," according to Airbus, while the jet’s external footprint is just slightly larger than its ultra-long-range, large-cabin, purpose-built business jet competitors.

 


“It’s two to three times the size of other aircraft for the same acquisition price,” said Saade. “On top of that, it comes with 30 percent lower operating costs. The experience you can have onboard is unique, the space is unique. I really believe it’s going to be a game-changer.”

 


Another feature in the creative studio is a mockup of a cabin section fitted with retractable size-comparison elements that illustrate the difference between the ACJ TwoTwenty and competitors’ cabins. With the elements retracted, the customer can see how some movable demonstration chairs fit into the cabin, then compare that same seat layout and see how it fits in the smaller business jet cabin.

 


“We are extremely proud to open this unique creative studio for our customers,” said Airbus Corporate Jets president Benoit Defforge. “It is important to make them feel the space and ultimate comfort it is bringing, thanks to the latest technologies we offer our customers, a real-time and immersive design experience.”

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.

Airbus Gets Creative with New ACJ Design Studio

The new Airbus creative studio fills the need for customers to visualize cabin layout and materials options.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Jessica Reed

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

“The system performed flawlessly throughout the test program”

Flight Tests Validate Gogo Plane Simple ESA Capabilities

Carry-on communications system doesn't require permanent installation

Avionics Networks Offers Aircraft Starlink Mini Kits

Curt Epstein

New developments and products in avionics, specifically about aircraft electronics in the cockpit.

It has a nod from Transport Canada, with FAA, EASA, and ANAC approval still pending

Skyservice Awarded STC on Gogo Galileo HDX Wi-Fi Install

Products primarily serve business aviation aftermarket and OEMs of VVIP aircraft

Heico Buy of Rosen Aviation Is Company’s 4th This Year

Kerry Lynch

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

Jet Aviation installed the unit, which is available at Jet Aviation and authorized Gulfstream service centers

EASA OKs STC for Direct Current Plane Simple Antenna

Sarah Rose

First STC for Gogo Galileo HDX on light jet

EASA Certifies Gogo Galileo Antenna Install on Phenom 300

News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

EBACE 2022

More In Cabin Interior and Electronics

Flight Tests Validate Gogo Plane Simple ESA Capabilities

“The system performed flawlessly throughout the test program”

Avionics Networks Offers Aircraft Starlink Mini Kits

Carry-on communications system doesn't require permanent installation

Skyservice Awarded STC on Gogo Galileo HDX Wi-Fi Install

It has a nod from Transport Canada, with FAA, EASA, and ANAC approval still pending

Heico Buy of Rosen Aviation Is Company’s 4th This Year

Products primarily serve business aviation aftermarket and OEMs of VVIP aircraft

EASA OKs STC for Direct Current Plane Simple Antenna

Jet Aviation installed the unit, which is available at Jet Aviation and authorized Gulfstream service centers

EASA Certifies Gogo Galileo Antenna Install on Phenom 300

First STC for Gogo Galileo HDX on light jet

ATG Debuts AerLuxe Window Shades for VIP Aircraft

New cabin shading system introduced at AIX

Aloft Introduces Modular Bizliner Cabin Systems Concept

Aims to support flexibility and long-term innovation

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN