Aviation event organiser pioneer, RedCabin, has announced the 21 concepts that have been shortlisted for the inaugural RedCabin Trinity Awards, taking place at the Aircraft Cabin Innovation Summit in Dallas Fort Worth, Texas on 13th June.
The nominated concepts encompass everything from passenger experience to cabin service and sustainability, and RedCabin believes that each has the potential to make a significant impact on the industry.
The RedCabin Trinity Awards are designed to celebrate innovation across the aircraft interiors industry. Entries are judged against strict criteria including how likely it is that the concept will become a reality, potential benefits to cost reduction, efficiency, sustainability and the ability to improve the passenger experience.
There are eight categories in the RedCabin Trinity Awards: Passenger Experience Concept; Cabin Service Concept; Cabin MRO Concept; Sustainability Concept; Collaboration Excellence; Newcomer/Startup; Best Of Redcabin; and The Influential/Lifetime Achievement award. Details have been shared of a few contenders in the running.
Passenger Experience Concepts
The shortlisted concepts in the passenger experience category include many hardware solutions for future products. Many entries received involved seating concepts, such as the ‘Air 4 All’ from Delta Flight Products (partners include PriestmanGoode, Flying Disabled and SWS Certification) which offers powered wheelchair users equal access to comfort, safety and dignity, eliminating transfers from wheelchairs to airline seats.
New digital solutions to improve the passenger experience also feature in the shortlist, such as the ‘Teledyne ACES’ from Teledyne Controls, a certified aircraft cabin environment monitoring system that provides tangible insight into aircraft air quality, verifying the health of the cockpit and cabin for both crew and passengers, ensuring a safe and optimum operating environment.
Smaller cabin feature concepts also in the shortlist include the ‘Schroth-AirPro Passenger Lap Belt Airbag’ from Schroth Safety Products GmbH (partners include TEAMS Design Hamburg GmbH and DesignBüro Stühmer|Scholz GbR), a novel technology developed to enhance passenger safety, with customisable design options for the airline. Meanwhile ‘The Articulating Headrest’ from SleeperTech Pty Ltd provides cushioned head support and comfort to reduce stress and induce rest and sleep.
Touchless comfort experiences are growing in popularity, such as the ‘Euphony’ from Safran (partner Devialet) which provides passengers with a headset-free individual sound experience for IFE. The ‘eSmart Lavatory’ from Diehl Aviation Laupheim GmbH concept offers touchless controls, barrier-free accessibility, an interactive smart mirror and predictive maintenance features.
The ‘OnBoard Data Center’ from Thales Avionics has also made the shortlist, bringing state-of-the-art hardware architecture and web technologies onboard, enhancing how airlines operate and how passengers engage.
Sustainability Concepts
The shortlisted concepts category recognises the industry’s commitment to sustainable products, processes and services within the aircraft cabin. One shortlisted concept is the ‘Sofab’ (manufactured by Optimares and designed by Goood srl), a business-class seat that considers the future of a sustainable aviation industry without compromising on passenger comfort.
Lightweight seating technologies crafted for the single-aisle market are also shortlisted, such as the ‘Ti-seat 2’ from Expliseat. Some other shortlisted concepts designed to reduce emissions are the ‘Ultra Slim Low Carbon Economy Seat’ from DOY Design (partners include Sabeti Wain Aerospace, Impression Technologies, AIRA (Aircraft Interior Recycling Associates), Gen Phoenix, and Gränges Konin), an economy seat concept designed to reduce embedded carbon by 70% and deliver an average PAX weight of 6.6kg.
Concepts for other parts of the cabin include the ‘Sustainable panel for cabin interior’ from Diab Group (partners include Applus+ Rescoll and Akzo Nobel), a sustainable lightweight panel for cabin interiors designed to enable circularity in the aerospace industry.
Cabin Service Concepts
This category covers concepts for future service models and products that are beneficial for airlines and passengers. When it comes to flexibility the ‘Jump Seat Duo’ from J&C Aero serves as both a cabin attendant seat (CAS) and an onboard wheelchair for passengers with reduced mobility. The dual-purpose design eliminates the need to stow a separate onboard wheelchair, streamlining day-to-day operations and aiding accessibility.
Furthermore, the ‘Door 2.0 – The Zen Door’ from Unum Aircraft Seating (designed with MGR Foamtex) is a lightweight, easy-to-certify, next-generation privacy door for business-class seating, with design inspiration taken from the ancient art of origami. Finally, blending cabin interiors with technology, the ‘Clear Cabin’ from ACLA Studio (partner is Boeing Encore Interiors), is a class divider with a 33in transparent OLED display.
The Awards ceremony
The finalists and winners of the Awards – sponsored by Boeing Commercial Airplanes and Sekisui Kydex – will be announced on 13th June at a ceremony during the Aircraft Cabin Innovation Summit in Dallas Fort Worth, Texas, hosted by American Airlines.
Founder and chief executive of RedCabin, Monica Wick, said of the awards: “The nominations that we have received show the sheer scale of innovation in the industry and a genuine desire to make air travel better for all travellers. We can’t wait to announce the finalists and to award the first winners of the Trinity Awards in Dallas with their trophies”.
The award trophies themselves are also a little innovative, having been designed by Teague and produced by The Aviation AM Centre GmbH.
For more information about the RedCabin Trinity Awards, visit https://trinityaward.redcabin.de/
