Everybody's been talking about the advancements made in alternative fuels and jet engines, but the aerospace industry has been making just as much progress in cabin technology. While these might go unnoticed by the majority of passengers, together they can combine to provide a much healthier, more comfortable in-flight experience. Here are just a few of the new features making their way onto planes:
If you've ever sat in a window seat, you know your options are pretty much shade up, or shade down. If you wanted to block the harsh sunlight while still having a great view, you're a bit out of luck. Not so with self-dimming windows.
These windows appear a bit like photochromic lenses in glasses, but they operate quite differently. They're made of two panes of glass with a layer of gel between them, like a jelly sandwich. This gel responds to electrical current by thickening or thinning out. Thicker gel equals a darker window tint. So, all you have to do to darken your windows to your exact liking is push a button. You get relief from the sun's glare, and still get a nice view. If you want things to be completely shaded, the window's darkest setting is approximately equivalent to a conventional window shade.
Cabin crews can also control all of the window tinting when visibility is important, like during takeoff and landing. A master control can override passengers' settings, allowing the windows to darken or lighten as necessary.
Picture it: You want to watch an in-flight movie, but the provided headphones are uncomfortable and their sound quality is less than stellar. You have your own headphones, but no way to plug them in. You could just relax and listen to music on your cellphone instead, but you don't want to drain your battery.
Airlines are responding by upgrading their headphone plugs to accept standard jacks. They've also begun adding USB ports to their seats, so passengers can charge their devices during flights. Some flights even provide completely wireless charging. These small changes help improve comfort and convenience for customers.
Figuring out passenger seating is a delicate balance between weight, comfort, safety, and cost. During the pandemic, that balance became even more precarious. Innovations in seat design and cabin layout is designed to help airlines better meet their goals, while improving the experience for passengers at the same time.
Pexco Aerospace's AirShield device, nominated for the 2022 Crystal Cabin Awards in the Clean Cabin category, enhances cabin airflow to create invisible shields around passengers. This would decrease the transmission of airborne pathogens. MMILLENNIUMM's Airsleeper proposes comfortable multi-decker seats that allow passengers to sit, work, or sleep, without sacrificing cabin space. The Explorer concept, by Lufthansa Technik, allows passenger areas to be covered by beautiful projected scenes.
In the old days, a simple reading light was enough for passengers. Today, that's no longer the case. Even some newer planes that use LED lighting rely on red, green, and blue diodes. As they get older, they cause streaking, flickering, and variations in color. This doesn't just look bad, it may even cause headaches and negative changes in mood for passengers.
Modern cabin lighting technology uses sensors to monitor LED performance and color temperature, to make sure they exactly match their configuration. An array of colorful and white LEDs allows light fixtures to display a variety of mood lighting, including sunrise and sunset lighting.
LEDs are long-lived, with a lifespan of up to 50,000 hours. They're also very easy to switch in and out as necessary, so it's easier to provide high-quality lighting and more uniform colors. Even though passengers aren't likely to consciously register a difference, there's a reason it's called “mood lighting”—the color and quality of light that surrounds us has a big impact on our mood.
Airline innovators have paid a lot of attention to things like sustainability and safety, but they haven't neglected passengers. While dimmable windows, nicer seats, standardized plugs, and better lighting might not sound like major leaps in innovation, their impact on passengers' overall experience can't be overstated. These small-yet-significant changes can make the in-flight experience smoother and more pleasant, leading to a safer, more comfortable flight for everyone.
