Business Jet Interiors International • September 2021 • NBAA-BACE preview

The 2021 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE), the industry’s first major in-person tradeshow since the beginning of the pandemic, is due to open its doors on 12-14 October in Las Vegas, Nevada. Read on for a taste of the innovations on display, plus details of the new venue, hygiene measures, new features and more.

The venue

NBAA-BACE 2021 is returning to the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), but for the first time, the event will be held in the new West Hall. The 1,400,000ft2 (130,064m2) facility has 600,000ft2 (55,742m2) of contiguous exhibit space, 80 new meeting rooms and an 14,000ft2 (1,301m2) outdoor terrace for receptions. The open-air atrium features a 10,000ft2 (929m2) digital Samsung screen. The venue also has large ‘elephant doors’ designed to better accommodate the Indoor Aircraft Display and Advanced Air Mobility Pavilion. Upon opening in June 2021, the West Hall’s first show was World of Concrete.

The LVCC has been awarded the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC) Star facility accreditation by the Worldwide Cleaning Industry Association. The GBAC programme was designed to control the risks associated with infectious agents, including the virus responsible for COVID-19. Applicants must demonstrate compliance with 20 programmatic requirements addressing all points in strategic planning for safety and sanitisation.

“This accreditation is more than just a badge – it’s a demonstration that a comprehensive programme is in place for ensuring that health and safety protocols, as well as industry best practices, are well-established for this year’s convention,” said Chris Strong, NBAA’s senior vice president, events.

The programme relies on GBAC training, which teaches the correct disinfection techniques for mitigating biohazard situations. With its accreditation, the LVCC demonstrates those procedures, certified staff and systems are in place, to protect convention centre staff, exhibitors and attendees.

The Loop

Attendees will have a novel way to get around the LVCC’s 200-acre (809,371m2) campus – the Las Vegas Convention Center Loop opened fully in June 2021. The first commercial project of its kind developed by Elon Musk’s The Boring Company, the underground tunnel is designed to shuttle convention attendees in all-electric Tesla vehicles.

Approximately 40ft (12.2m) below ground, the Loop connects the LVCC’s West Hall to its North and South Halls via two one-way vehicular tunnels, including three passenger stations. It can cut a 20-minute walk across the campus into a two-minute ride.

Q&A: Jarid King, president, King Aerospace

NBAA-BACE serves as an important platform for us to share the King Aerospace story. That involves more than just talking about our avionics, interior, maintenance and paint services. We’ll share our thoughts on the latest inflight wi-fi, IFE solutions and NextGen avionics, for instance, but we’d rather discuss how our cornerstone principles lead to work that’s done right, the first time. We treat customers as part of our family. Customers talk directly with the teams working on their aircraft and get honest reports. We operate with full transparency and have a no-excuses approach.

We're eager to meet again in person, connecting with friends old and new, and catching folks up with what we’ve been doing. We’ve missed everyone. Business aviation has put many protocols in place to keep passengers safe. NBAA has done the same for attendees. The extra convention space will help, too. We can do this.

While the pandemic has certainly changed things, we’ve continued to grow, improve our processes and enhance our service offerings. The pandemic has caused businesses worldwide to reimagine the modern office. What we’ve learned about how people like to work is now being applied to corporate jet interiors. More than ever, people want spaces for both collaboration and privacy. Cabins need to be scalable and adaptable, to feel safe and secure. Think modular layouts with conference areas and private offices. Then there are modern aircraft sanitisation systems and air purification ionisation units, which inactivate 99% of germs and viruses.

Businesses have been getting by, but a return to the skies is needed for many to truly thrive. We’re seeing aircraft owners and operators decide the time is right to make upgrades that provide a better passenger experience, enhance safety and increase aircraft value. Aviation is a risk-averse industry, but powered by the need to innovate. We’ve weathered challenges before, and using our heads, we can do so moving forward.

Carpet debuts

Two carpet collections will be introduced by Scott Group Studio. The first is a range of hand-tufted designs inspired by classic geometrics, in warm wood tones and natural accents including mineral greens, sky blues and clay reds. The other is a new collection from PWV, Stripe, which joins the Avian collection as part of the Q6 series. Stripe has a two-level loop stripe design in a blend of warm and cool neutrals. Avian is a classic herringbone pattern featuring a cut-pile striae blend of neutral colours. The entire Q6 series can be hand-tufted to order in six weeks and is suitable for both OEM and refurbishment projects.

Addressing customers' needs around quick delivery, price point and design, Scott Group Studio offers various options (the 356, QS handmade and Q6 programmes) to acquire hand-tufted carpets in six weeks or less. In addition, its machine-made and machine-made with hand-overtuft programmes deliver products in 1-4 weeks. All the aviation team will be present, including new account executive Lauren Harris, who has a background in aviation design.

Couture carpets

Tai Ping, renowned for custom handmade floor coverings, will showcase its collaboration with Shanghai-based fashion designer, Fang Yang – Atelier by Fang.

Born in China and trained in Paris, France, Yang was always curious about the intricacies of weaving and patterns. She was inspired by her grandmother and from her learned the ancient art of origami. Yang’s fashion combines these interests and displays feminine lines and fine tailoring. By collaborating with Tai Ping, Yang is able to feature her folded fabrics, graphic shapes and elegant angles in a new medium, carpeting.

Tai Ping’s skills in sculpting high and low piles echoes Yang’s multidimensional, pleated designs. Careful handtufting by skilled artisans shows off a couture approach with luxurious wools, silks and lurex.

The Atelier by Fang collection includes the Appliqué design, which has a floral hexagonal origami-patterned border, reflecting the collection’s overall modern and feminine flavour, as well as Yang’s childhood influences. The Tutu design employs folded fan motifs while triangular and graphic square patterns refer to origami couture styles. The Embroidery design focuses on the linear, while Gown is highly dynamic with twisting patterns.

Facility improvements

The recent extension and renovation of a new 8,000m2 (86,111ft2) production centre at its maintenance and completion facility in Basel, Switzerland, will be a key focus for Jet Aviation. The centre brings the cabinet, interiors, finishing shops and sheet metal shops together in one location. It comprises 5,000m2 (53,820ft2) of renovated space, and an additional 3,000m2 (32,292ft2) extension.

The centre is designed with LED dimmable lighting, a high-pressure vacuum system, dust collector systems, two separate paint cabins, and ventilation units. It also features 600m2 (6,458ft2) of levelled assembly and pre-assembly platforms.

“This centre consolidates all production activities, bringing cabinetry, interior finishing and sheet metal under one roof,” comments Jeremie Caillet, vice president of VIP completions at Jet Aviation. “It further creates significant efficiencies and makes it easier for our customers to visit and experience first-hand the craftsmanship that makes their aircraft so unique.”

Lightweight decorative parts

Together Alpine Advanced Materials and Signature Plating are offering lightweight nanocomposite parts with decorative and protective finishes. Signature describes Alpine’s HX5 as a nanocomposite material that boasts strength comparable to 6061-T6 aluminium at half the weight. The firm adds that HX5 is non-corrosive, non-abrasive, tolerant of extreme temperatures and offers the manufacturing versatility to enable complex designs with very tight tolerances. The components can be coated and bonded easily.

With support from the Alpine team, Signature Plating has developed a process to apply decorative plating to parts manufactured with HX5. The finishes include Signature Plating’s standard 150 colours and textures as well as custom colours. The HX5 parts have also been tested for microbial resistance with Signature Plating’s antimicrobial clear coat, SignaShield.

PVDF material

A closed-cell foam produced from high-grade polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) will be highlighted by Zotefoams. The company says Zotek F OSU excels in terms of processing versatility and FST properties, while offering weight savings of up to 70% compared with traditional materials.

Zotek F is compatible with a wide range of forming methods, enabling complex shapes in applications including soft-touch interchangeable panels for seating, carpet underlay and ECS ducting. It is also designed to offer excellent chemical resistance, even to aviation fluids and chemicals, and it is biologically inert, therefore resistant to mould and bacteria.

Customised audio

Visitors can enjoy a customised demo of a new cabin audio system on Alto Aviation’s booth. Alto Soundstage is designed to create an immersive sound to exceed the most demanding acoustic expectations.

Alto says the system offers a customised listening experience designed by its expert acoustical engineers in cooperation with experienced authorised installers, providing each aircraft with a home theatre area in which the passengers will experience movies, music, sports and video games with complete spatial awareness.

The company says its on-site tuning process and signal processing guarantees powerful, coherent, high-fidelity surround sound, where passengers can hear every soft-spoken word and still be wowed by explosions without touching the volume.

The system can be controlled with Alto Cadence cabin switches or the new Alto Cadence Cabin Control App, which is also available for demonstration at the show. Alto Soundstage is already available in selected OEM and aftermarket installations. Alto Aviation is a Green Pledge Donor at NBAA-BACE.

Stingray cowhide

The latest leather collection from Townsend Leather takes inspiration from sealife. Stingray Serenade has a small-scale pattern and is made to order, allowing for customisation in colour, tipping and contrast.

Stingray Serenade offers 12 variants – there are six colours with the option of two tipping methods. The company says it is available in full, 55-60ft2 (5.1-5.6m2) cowhides that have no noticeable matchlines.

The characteristic finish of this leather is applied by hand, with a resulting variance in design and colour as in the natural world.

Custom strike-offs for any variation within the collection can be requested and completed at no cost within 10-12 business days.

Bed options

An extended, customised Conference Mattress is available from JetPedic for sleeping on long-distance flights. The company has created a two-piece bed that is larger than its normal custom Conference bed, allowing the size of the bed to be extended to the windows/sidewall of the aircraft.

The second piece that is added to the mattress gives the bed a higher profile and thickness. Extension pieces are created for the sides and back of the mattress to fill in any gaps and spaces up, over and between seat armrests and the sidewall. JetPedic provides additional custom layers of padding on the Conference tabletop as well.

Green Pledge

Numerous exhibitors have signed up to NBAA’s new Green Pledge for the show. This involves committing to at least five sustainability options listed on the NBAA-BACE Green Pledge checklist. There are 35 options in six categories – energy conservation; booth build and graphics; shipping and packaging practices; waste management; marketing materials; and food and beverage.

NBAA is supporting the effort in numerous ways. For example, the show directory will not be printed, and is instead available via mobile app.

Anniversary celebrations

Celebrating its 65th anniversary, Duncan Aviation is thrilled at the prospect of meeting customers and industry partners at an in-person event. Representatives from the firm's airframe, engine, interior, paint, avionics, AOG, instruments, accessories, parts, components, engineering/certification, and aircraft sales areas will be on hand.

Duncan Aviation will also share several announcements regarding the expansion of its facilities, services and capabilities. The news will include an AOG Promise that outlines expected AOG plan response times; a nearly completed new parts manufacturing division; capability growth in engine services; and future capacity expansion for its MRO services.

The company will also discuss interior finishes including its hydrographics solutions, vinyl applications, and sublimation capabilities. Duncan Aviation says hydrographics create the ability to replicate a variety of textures and designs while providing a lightweight, durable finish at great value compared with genuine materials like leather, stone or wood veneer.

In honour of the firm's longevity, Duncan Aviation has worked with author Steve Jordan to publish a coffeetable book. Robert Duncan, son of founder Donald Duncan, and chairman emeritus, will be available to sign copies of the book.

Alcantara additions

Perrone Aerospace will launch an updated palette of colours for the Alcantara range, as well as Alcantara Master HR, a heat-release-compliant Alcantara product intended for vertical surface applications.

Alcantara is globally recognised in the high-end fashion, automotive and furnishing markets. Perrone says its advantages include comfort, style, elegance and carbon-neutrality. Master HR is suitable for vertical surface applications such as sidewalls and seat shells. Perrone says ‘endless’ customisation possibilities can be reached through laser etching or perforations.

Perrone’s line of sustainably sourced genuine leathers – Noble, Duchess and Monarch – will also be highlighted at the show.

Air quality sensor

The new Aircraft Cabin Environment Sensor will be demonstrated by Teledyne. The FAA-certified solution monitors cabin air quality continuously. Users have instant access to Air Quality Index information via app. The system relies on high-grade sensors for its accuracy. The company says the compact sensor units are easy to install, and it is available via FAA PMA. Teledyne will also showcase its redesigned TDMC+ charger for 12V and 24V aircraft batteries. Features include a new LCD screen for real-time information; reverse polarity and short-circuit protection; battery voltage before and during charge; constant current and voltage charge; and charging currents from 1A to 6A.

Germ-resistant restraints

Schroth has partnered with We-Fresh to add an antimicrobial treatment as a standard feature of its passenger lapbelt and crew restraint webbing. Easily applied during the manufacturing process, the We-Fresh invisible treatment is designed to prevent bacteria from growing, spreading and surviving on textiles and surfaces, and therefore also preventing odours. Schroth says this will keep its seatbelts fresher for longer, reducing the need for intensive cleaning and extending product lifespan. The companies say the treatment never wears or washes out, and is hypoallergenic, vegan friendly, free from plastic and suitable for contact with sensitive skin. The We-Fresh solution is designed to guard against pathogens such as MRSA, E-coli, Salmonella and Listeria.

Functional material catalogue

A catalogue of thermal-acoustic foam and cabin insulation products, seating foams, fire-blocking fabrics and other 'behind the seams' materials will be introduced by OmnAvia Interiors.

“With this all-inclusive catalogue and inventory stocked at several US locations, we’ll be able to satisfy the needs of the market with reasonable pricing and fast deliveries at a time when costs have skyrocketed for many of these products,” says Robin Butler, managing partner at OmnAvia.

The company will also introduce new carpet styles; a semi-aniline leather, Finesse, with nearly 60 colours in stock; and a collection of grospoint fabrics suitable for kick panels and baggage stowage compartment liners.

OmnAvia’s portfolio also includes other upholstery and panel covering fabrics; Izit Leather for headliners and sidewalls; Wollsdorf leather; a wide range of carpet and non-textile floor coverings; and plating and anodising services through a partnership with Signature Plating.