Plaisir | March 29, 2017– Zodiac Aerospace will present its latest innovations in Cabin, Seats and Systems at Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg from 4-6 April at its main stand 7B40, stand 4C20 in the IFEC zone, and at stand 4E10 at World Travel Catering Expo.
At the main stand 7B40 Zodiac Aerospace will present its two finalists for the prestigious Crystal Cabin Awards: the ECOSTM baggage management system and the RevolutionTM toilet. Both products are integrated in a real size ECOSTM Cabin mockup that additionally features updated PaxPOD PSUs, DMS Lavatories, the Space-Flex v2 galley-lav aft complex, and Z300A and Z85 economy class seats with the latest RAVE IFEC products.
Other highlights at the main stand are the Zodiac Connected Aircraft Experience and the launch of three new seats: Optima, a unique business class offering the perfect balance of efficiency and comfort; Skylounge, that combines flexibility, customization and comfort, and Z400 which will sets new economy seat standards.
Get comfortably seated to view the extensive range of economy, premium economy and business class seats and the many innovations at the stand: Try the new LED lighting offer, look at the benefits of the Cabin Surveillance System or discover how the power of scent from our Five Fragrance diffuser can complete your flight experience and boost on board sales.
After your visit to the main stand, be welcomed at stand 4C20 in the IFE hall to take a look at the latest RAVE IFEC offer, and discover how you can get more control over your own flight experience with SeatNet Elite, the new Heliott Reading light and Whizper Noise control.
Finally at the World Travel Catering Expo, stand 4E10, Zodiac Aerospace will be proud to show you its latest addition to the Hybrite S trolley and container line: the smart Universal Waste Solution for trolleys. Additionally it will present the Smart Lock and Cool trolley.
Crystal Cabin Award finalist: ECOS Cabin Baggage Management System (stand 7B40)
Come and take a look at the new real size ECOS cabin mock up that includes the Crystal Cabin Award finalist ECOSTM Baggage Management System.
With checked luggage charged at a premium, more than 80% of today’s passengers try to bring theirs on board and almost half of those bags are larger than the aircraft was designed to carry. The result is a perfect storm of stress and anxiety at the boarding gate for passengers and crews alike.
ECOS is much more than a larger overhead luggage bin. It is a system which addresses cabin design and how both passengers and crews interact with it to make maximum use of limited overhead space.
Informed by extensive real-world luggage studies, proprietary passenger boarding simulations and over 35 tried and tested development prototypes, ECOS combines amazing space efficiency with unmatched ease of operation and a simple visual indicator which allows passengers to find precious space for their bags
With ECOS, a happy passenger is one who can bring what they want and depart on time. That also means stress free crews and efficient aircraft turn-around operations.
Crystal Cabin Award Finalist: The Revolution Toilet (Stand 7B40)
Get a behind-the-scenes look at the latest products including the Crystal Cabin Award Finalist – RevolutionTM Toilet. The RevolutionTM toilet is a modular toilet assembly that minimizes health hazards in the lavatory. It not only uses 33% less water per flush than the industry standard toilet, but also uses composite and recyclable materials for a light yet durable toilet.
One of the many improvements the RevolutionTM toilet exhibits incorporates air gaps into the toilet rinse ring. This allows the toilet shroud to seal directly to the toilet, creates more airflow for a cleaner flush, and helps prevents waste from building up under the toilet shroud reducing bacteria and odor in the lavatory. Combined with a new 360 degree spay pattern, the RevolutionTM toilet improves the overall health and safety of the passengers and crew in the lavatory.
Launching Optima, a Unique Business Class Offer, the perfect balance of
Efficiency and Comfort (Stand 7B40)
Officially launched at AIX17, Zodiac Seats latest product Optima is expected to set new standards in business class travel. Combining class leading passenger experience and improved cabin efficiency, through a unique cabin configuration that mixes in-line and angled seats, Optima can offer the uncompromised business class solution that the market was expecting.
An elevated business class experience comes from direct aisle access for every passenger, large surface areas, extensive stowage options and configurable privacy. Thanks to its seating arrangement and electrically actuated privacy screens, Optima offers an exclusively private environment for travelers wanting to relax and unwind, or passenger interaction for those travelling together. With bed lengths up to 83.5” and the option for a centerline double bed, Optima creates a sleeping experience for travelers that would typically only be associated with First Class Travel. However, Optima’s unique quality is that while it pays close attention to the needs of its passenger, it never forgets the requirements of airlines; to increase their profitability through increased passenger count. The unique cabin layout, originally designed by Acumen, allows airlines to maximize their revenue potential, offering 15% more seats in the cabin compared to standard business class products.
Optima can be tailored to the brand of the airline; thanks to its modular architecture. A variety of optional product features and customizable areas, allows each customer to embed its brand identity. This design ethos has been integrated into the product from its origination, building upon Zodiac Aerospace’s heritage and experience in manufacturing bespoke premium aircraft cabin solutions.
The perfect marriage of empathetic design and innovative engineering, Optima is the dawn of a new era in Business Class Travel.
Skylounge Core, the business class seat that combines flexibility, customization and comfort
Skylounge Core is a completely re-designed business class seat that focuses on offering class leading features and airline branding solutions while minimizing program costs. Its revolutionary product architecture enables airlines to offer the best possible experience to their passengers whilst also offering airlines customizable elements that reflect their branding and unique identity. This next generation platform offers a reliable and risk free solution with quality at its core.
A business class seat must represent the airline’s brand, but also needs to be easy to maintain. That’s why Zodiac Seats developed a modular architecture based upon the need to customize high value brand-able areas. With a few simple changes customers can make this seat their own. Zodiac Seats has created the PAX module which includes all the features dedicated to the business class passenger. Ideally located above the console it is entirely customizable from a fully open design to maximum stowage capacity option. The aisles’ privacy wings are also customizable to let airlines select between an open cabin feel or maximum privacy.
The seat is available at 42” or 44” of pitch and has been optimized for A330, B787 and A350 aircraft taking into account all the specificities of those platforms. The design integrates all the constraints of the different seat locations in the aircraft in order to reduce the number of parts. Developed with Zodiac Seats’ industrial processes in mind
Skylounge Core reduces maintenance cost and improves on time delivery performance.
Skylounge Core is a new member of the successful Skylounge family, offering a more flexible and easy to customize new offer.
New Z400 economy class seat sets new standards
Zodiac Aerospace launches a new long range economy class commercial airline seat at AIX17: Z400.
The Z400 series offers increased living space and greater weight optimization while establishing a new standard in comfort for seats in its class. In developping Z400, Zodiac Seats worked closely with ergonomics experts and the latest structural analyses software to create a design that is smooth, contemporary and completely optimized for weight with a beginning weight of 10 kg per PAX.
The sleek IFE system integrations have been designed to provide a seamless appearance accommodating up to a 13.3 inch monitor. The thinner design of the seat back, coupled with the articulating motion, provides industry leading shin clearance. The result is an ergonomically satisfying, comfortable, and enjoyable flight that will leave passengers with a fresh experience that positively reflects the airlines’ brand. Cherry on the pie is a revisited meal table design that hides a unique passenger module which is fully customizable.
Two different mock ups of the Z400 will be displayed at Zodiac Aerospace stand 7B40. This includes one with the latest IFE screen manufactured by Zodiac Inflight Innovations. The Z400 will be available on A330, A330NEO, A350, A380, 777, 777X and 787.
WhiZper Active Noise Control System (stand 4C20)
Noise is stressful. Noise is disturbing. Thanks to WhiZper, the passenger can now experience a quieter flying trip. The active noise control system protects the passenger from environmental sounds. The passenger can comfortably watch its favorite programs, listen to its own music or just read or sleep without disturbing or being annoyed by its neighbors. This headset-free technology keeps the passenger in a quiet environment and mood.
Heliott Smart Reading Light (stand 4C20)
If you have to adjust your reading light every time you change position, you quickly stop moving… and are uncomfortable! With the smart reading light, the passenger can now focus on what one’s reading, the light automatically adjusts to the passenger. Tracking the passenger’s support, Heliott always lights at the right place, at the right moment. The passenger can freely move around in its seat, comfortably enjoying his reading.
- World leading airline chooses RAVE for retrofit
AIX Hamburg, Germany | April 5, 2016– Zodiac Aerospace has announced at the Aircraft Interiors Expo that Air France has selected Zodiac Inflight Innovations to install its ground-breaking inflight entertainment solution as well as Zodiac Seat France seat for all classes. Air France has selected RAVE(TM) Centric IFE and Zodiac Seats for the upcoming retrofit of their Airbus A330 fleet – 15 aircraft in total.
“The world’s leading airlines are selecting Zodiac Inflight Innovations solutions, which shows how much momentum we now have,” said Larry Girard, Executive Vice President at Zodiac Inflight Innovations. “Airlines love RAVE™ Centric IFE because it is reliable, with a significant cost savings over traditional and is highly easy to maintain. RAVE Centric is very easy both to install and for the cabin crew and passengers alike to use.”
The RAVE™ Centric IFE interface mirrors the usability everyone is used to on their smartphones and tablets, from capacitive touch, high resolution screens to app-based functionality. Content includes on-demand movies, TV shows, music, radio and a moving map just to name a few. It includes an integrated USB charger, so there is no need to fear dead phones as well as traditional “PC Power” for passengers to be able to charge their laptops. On top of that, passengers’ personal electronic devices can be paired with the seat-back screen, so passengers can use their PEDs for interaction with the seatback display.
“RAVE™ Centric is an embedded modular inflight entertainment system”, continued Girard. “It provides airlines with a wide range of choices for different cabins including screen size, passenger control units and we are constantly staying on top if not ahead of the latest trends. Uniquely, each seat is independent, so a failure – and they are very rare – in one seat will not impact another. More importantly, our dockable seat display means the crew can quickly replace the seat display during the flight.”
Mr. Pierre-Olivier Kerbec from Air France stated, “Air France has watched RAVE and Zodiac Inflight Innovations grow over these past years and have noticed RAVE has caught up with its competition. RAVE Centric provides all of the expected features that a premium carrier expects from an IFE system and is backed by the creative and responsive team at Zodiac Inflight Innovations. We can hardly wait to experience RAVE on our A330s.”
Hamburg, Germany | April 6, 2016– Manon Kűhne from the Technical University Delft, in collaboration with Zodiac Aerospace, has won the Crystal Cabin Award with the HeadRest concept.
The HeadRest offers a subtle way to retreat within the space of an economy seat during long-haul flights. Unfolding the side wings of the HeadRest reveals a hammock construction which cradles the passenger’s head as leaning sidewards, preventing sliding and nodding. The side wings offer privacy at eye level with the subtle act of adjusting the passenger’s HeadRest for sleeping or relaxing. This provides a feeling of increased autonomy, control and privacy, which are important factors for experiencing comfort.
Since the establishment of a Human Factors and Ergonomics Lab at Zodiac Seats US, a subsidiary of Zodiac Aerospace Group, a small group of talented specialists and gifted young scientist are working on the challenging task to increase comfort in modern air travel. Within this effort, the cooperation with Professor Dr. Peter Vink of the TU Delft developed to be a very fruitful endeavor for both students and Zodiac Seats. Students are given the opportunity to work on real live projects that can have a direct impact on the experience of flight and make traveling stress free and enjoyable again.
Dr. Udo Schultheis, Director of Human Factors and Ergonomics of Zodiac Seats US, comments: “ Manon Manon Kűhne is a very talented designer who had a great idea and did a fantastic job in realizing her headRest project. I am convinced that a lot of travelers will enjoy the fruits of this product in future”.
Hamburg, Germany | April 6, 2016– Zodiac Aerospace is proud to announce that its Lifestyle Cabin concept won the design award for Visionary Concept. “We are honored our efforts have been recognized by jury of the Crystal Cabin Award. It’s an award recognizing our continuous innovation efforts to go beyond current habits and models to reach an unmatched experience in the air”, said Laurent Stritter, VP Marketing & Products Strategy of Zodiac Seats.
In 2015, at Aircraft Interior Expo, Zodiac Seats unveiled the 1/20th scale aircraft 3D model representing a new passenger cabin design: The Lifestyle Cabin. This concept, created in collaboration with the Design agency London based, Territory, demonstrates a reclassification of classes away from a hierarchical system
Luke Miles, Director at New Territory commented: “Working in partnership with Zodiac Seats, we identified new consumer attitudes that will shape the future of aircraft interior design and the onboard passenger ‘journey’. Our brief was to ensure that the design met these changing consumer needs and define a more immersive travel experience, which will ultimately boost revenue streams for airlines.”
With only a small percentage of capacity reduction, different revenue streams are created using berths, modular seating and self-service points. The three key themes of the concept are:
- Creating a more human experience onboard the aircraft that promotes passengers’ well-being.
- Challenging the architecture of today’s platforms and creating new customer experiences within them.
- Exploring new ways to support airlines in differentiating themselves and generating additional revenue streams amidst an increasingly competitive market.
This concept shapes a new future for the aerospace industry to illustrate possible aircraft interior design for ten years’ time
APEX EXPO, Portland, Oregon | September 29, 2015– Zodiac Aerospace’s Zodiac Inflight Innovations’ RAVE™ Centric IFEC is now a linefit option on the Airbus A350 XWB. “This represents a key milestone in our company growth strategy enabling Zodiac Inflight Innovations, to serve our airline customers with complete IFEC offerings, said, Matt Smith Zodiac Inflight Innovations, CEO.”
Smith adds “Now our Inflight Entertainment solutions are approved as line fit on A350 XWB and A330 Long Range, coupled with the fact that Zodiac Zodiac Rave Broadband connectivity product was also granted offerability on A350 XWB, clearly shows we are on the right path.”
“This is great news for Zodiac Inflight Innovations, our innovative IFEC is now line fit offerable on the A350 XWB,” said Larry Girard, Executive Vice President at Zodiac Inflight Innovations. “But what’s more important, it is now readily available for airlines. For too long, there has been very limited choice when it comes to IFEC. We have taken a fresh look at the design of IFEC and are offering airlines a lower cost choice without compromising reliability or features; we already know airlines – and their passengers – like it.”
Twenty five airlines around the world with over 200 aircraft in service are already using Zii Inflight Entertainment which includes our award winning RAVE Centric AVOD system and our latest RAVE Wireless streaming entertainment system.
RAVE™ Centric is an embedded modular inflight entertainment system. It provides airlines with a wide range of choices for different cabins including screen size, passenger control units. In addition, each seat is independent, so a failure in one seat will not impact another. More importantly, the patented dockable seat display means the crew can quickly replace the seat display during the flight.
“This is the complete IFEC product,” continued Girard. “RAVE™ Centric and RAVE Wireless provides passengers with app-based browsing for on-demand movies, TV shows, music, radio and a moving map. Capacitive touch, high resolution screens are embedded in the seats and the intuitive Graphical User Interface mirrors the usability everyone is used to with smartphones and tablets. The integrated USB charger can be used to power personal electronic devices, which can be used as a second screen and even a passenger control device.”
“Now that RAVE™ Centric is a catalogue option on the A350 XWB, we fully anticipate more and more airlines will take advantage of our highly innovative technology,” concluded Girard.
RAVE™ Centric’s lightweight design and low power requirements greatly reduce airlines’ fuel costs, allowing Zodiac Inflight Innovations to maintain a price tag that all airlines can celebrate.
APEX Expo, Anaheim, CA | September 9, 2013– Zodiac Aerospace has completed the acquisition of TriaGnoSys the German based company specializing in inflight connectivity and wireless entertainment and cabin systems. TriaGnoSys will be part of Zodiac Inflight Innovations (ZII) providing integrated connectivity with RAVETM, ZII’s inflight entertainment system. TriaGnoSys will provide access to inflight Internet and GSM technology along with many other advanced communications technologies.
Rod Farley, CEO of Zodiac Inflight Innovations stated, “As well as embedded IFE, RAVETM now enables inflight Internet and GSM to passengers’ phones, tablets and laptops. The fully integrated IFEC solution is available for airlines now.
Larry Girard, Executive Vice President, Zodiac Inflight Innovations, said, “What’s absolutely clear is that passengers want inflight connectivity, so they can access social media, check emails, text their friends and make calls. They also want the option of using their own electronic devices to watch movies, TV programs and listen to music. Numerous airlines have turned to RAVETM because it is reliable, affordable, and passenger-centric. We need to keep it that way, which is why we are now including connectivity.”
Larry continued, “The acquisition of TriaGnoSys completes an important step in an overall connectivity strategy allowing us to provide complete IFEC solutions to the market.” TriaGnoSys’ technology is the best available, both in terms of what it can do and how well it fits with RAVETM. It is reliable and it is affordable, it’s the perfect fit.”
With this acquisition, Zodiac Aerospace is now in a position to offer a complete cabin interior, including advances in seat and IFEC integration – simply put Zodiac Aerospace is the best one stop shop available.
Dr Axel Jahn, Managing Director of TriaGnoSys, said, “This acquisition will provide greater resources and global support to our customers and our team as we continue to grow in the inflight communication industry, further expanding on current GSM technology which has been at the forefront of our growth and development over the past few years”.
Jahn went on to say, “The two companies’ connectivity strategies align and the Zodiac Aerospace way of doing business complements ours, making this a best fit. By working with Zodiac Aerospace, we are making it easy for airlines to provide seat-back IFE in conjunction with connectivity. This acquisition is producing an IFEC solution that is simple for both the airlines and passengers.”
Plaisir, France | September 6, 2013– Zodiac Aerospace has completed the acquisition of TriaGnoSys, the German based company specializing in inflight connectivity and wireless entertainment and cabin systems. TriaGnoSys will be part of Zodiac Inflight Innovations (ZII) providing integrated connectivity with RAVETM, ZII’s inflight entertainment system. TriaGnoSys will provide access to inflight Internet and GSM technology along with many other advanced communications technologies. With this acquisition, Zodiac Aerospace is now in a position to offer a complete cabin interior, including advances in seat and IFEC integration.
Plaisir, France | May 21, 2013– The IMS Company, based in Brea, California, which specializes in providing “Passenger Centric” In-Flight Entertainment (IFE) technology for the commercial aircraft market was acquired by Zodiac Aerospace in January 2013.
In conjunction with the existing IFE activity within the Zodiac Aerospace group based in Plaisir, France, a single business unit dedicated to IFE will be formed with its headquarters in Brea, California. With this acquisition, Zodiac Aerospace becomes the premier choice for passenger centric lightweight IFE. This integration provides greater resources and global support to the IFE team as they continue to grow in the In-Flight entertainment industry, and expand the passenger-centric IFE technology.
A new organization is put in place. Rod Farley has been named the new CEO of Zodiac Aerospace’s In- Flight Entertainment activities. Larry Girard has been named Executive Vice President. Steve Hawkins as CTO will run engineering and Shannon Biggs has been hired as Senior Vice President of Operations. Additionally Patric Boigas has been named Director of European Operations for the IFE unit in France.
Toulouse, France | November 27, 2012– Zodiac Aerospace today celebrates the delivery of the first Corsair (TUI Group) Airbus A330-300 equipped with the IFE (In-Flight Entertainment) system developed by Zodiac Aerospace. This IFE system will eventually be fitted to all Corsair’s Airbus A330s and Boeing B747s, including both retrofitted and new airliners.
This new IFE system from Zodiac Aerospace is both modern and comprehensive. It provides passengers audio/video on demand, interactive games, global positioning, etc., and provides airline companies with a new streamlined design, integrated into the seat (“Passenger Centric”), which permits to reduce the overall weight of the IFE system, to lower ownership costs, to limit the costs of integration into the seat, and to significantly improve the reliability of the IFE system, while offering passengers a very high rate of availability.
Zodiac Aerospace is actively promoting growth in this “Passenger Centric” IFE segment. The Group recently announced the purchase of the US company IMS, which should be finalized before the end of 2012. This acquisition will consolidate the Group’s position and increase the pace of its growth in this market segment, both in the cabin-retrofit market and the fitting of new planes, as is the case today.
Corsair has also chosen Zodiac Aerospace to supply the new seats (Zodiac Seats France) and new galleys (Zodiac Premium Galleys) for its entire fleet.
Toulouse, France | November 27, 2012– Zodiac Aerospace today celebrates the delivery of the first Corsair (TUI Group) Airbus A330-300 equipped with the IFE (In-Flight Entertainment) system developed by Zodiac Aerospace. This IFE system will eventually be fitted to all Corsair’s Airbus A330s and Boeing B747s, including both retrofitted and new airliners.
This new IFE system from Zodiac Aerospace is both modern and comprehensive. It provides passengers audio/video on demand, interactive games, global positioning, etc., and provides airline companies with a new streamlined design, integrated into the seat (“Passenger Centric”), which permits to reduce the overall weight of the IFE system, to lower ownership costs, to limit the costs of integration into the seat, and to significantly improve the reliability of the IFE system, while offering passengers a very high rate of availability.
Zodiac Aerospace is actively promoting growth in this “Passenger Centric” IFE segment. The Group recently announced the purchase of the US company IMS, which should be finalized before the end of 2012. This acquisition will consolidate the Group’s position and increase the pace of its growth in this market segment, both in the cabin-retrofit market and the fitting of new planes, as is the case today.
Corsair has also chosen Zodiac Aerospace to supply the new seats (Zodiac Seats France) and new galleys (Zodiac Premium Galleys) for its entire fleet.
December 13, 2011 — Cwmbran-based Contour Aerospace Limited is to be sold to Zodiac Aerospace SA – the French-owned world leader in aerospace equipment and systems for commercial aircraft.
The conditional agreement is subject to regulatory approvals and is expected to be concluded early in the new year.
Over the last 75 years, Contour – which employs over 1,000 at Cwmbran and 250 at its Camberley plant – has offered cutting-edge, innovative solutions for its customers, creating bespoke aircraft interiors for the world’s leading airlines.
Always staying ahead of the curve in aircraft interior design, Contour was the first to create and fit lie-flat seats into a British Airways fleet, as well as creating premium individual cabins and the world’s commercial airline first swivel seat, installed in the American Airlines Flagship Suite.
Zodiac Aerospace employs 23,000 people worldwide and generated revenue of €2.75 billion in 2010/2011 from its three business segments of cabin interiors, aero safety and technology and aircraft systems.
Said Contour Joint Managing Director, Ian Plummer: “This signals an exciting new phase in Contour’s development. Under Zodiac Aerospace ownership a significant number of benefits will accrue to the business, including access to the extensive resources of a much larger aerospace group.
“It is very much business as usual for all at Contour and we will continue to press ahead with our innovative design and concepts for which we have justifiably gained an excellent reputation.”
Olivier Zarrouati, Zodiac’s Chief Executive, said: “We are delighted and impressed with Contour’s capabilities, with all the personnel we have met, and in particular, with the talented management whose success is evident in the impressive financial performance achieved. We are looking forward to working together and, by combining our respective strengths, to develop Contour to its maximum potential. We strongly believe that the merger will enable us to provide customers with more and better services.”