New Aircraft Seat Family to Launch At NBAA

The DeCrane Aircraft Seating Company, Inc. will launch a new family of lightweight 16g and 9g executive single and double passenger seats for super mid-size and large corporate jets at this year's NBAA Annual Meeting and Convention, October 7-9, in Orlando. The new seats have fewer parts, significantly lower weight, and improved function. They are much easier to upholster and install than previous seat designs.

Tons of improvements, yet lighter seats:

DASC's new seats feature linear bearing tracking and a completely new swivel and positive locking brake mechanism that allows infinite adjustability while preventing uncommanded rotation. A new low-profile seat base eliminates leg interferences. The cabling and control mechanisms were also completely redesigned to provide ergonomically-balanced, low-friction handle forces. A variety of pre-certified option packages include rotation and travel limiters, a new legrest mechanism, floor tracking, three different headrest styles, variable back heights, lie-flat berthing, upholstery shop adjustable arm heights and drop down arms, and provisions for in-arm video monitors and tray tables. The seats are available in manual or full-electric function. All electrical components have been certified to DO 160d standards to ease installation into fly-by-wire aircraft such as the Airbus Corporate Jet.

 
New single seat frames can accommodate 70 pounds of upholstery and options, while double seats can be finished to a maximum weight of 225 pounds. "This is the first truly new executive aircraft passenger seat design in a long, long time," said Tom Beatty, DASC's CEO.
 
The new seat family is the culmination of a nine-month market-driven development and testing program during which DASC received continuous input from OEMs, completion centers, project managers, and designers. The new seat family was designed with advanced Pro-E and CATIA software programs; however, data can be shared with customers in virtually any format. A streamlined parts numbering system simplifies the ordering process while the seats' reduced parts count significantly shortens build times. By pre-certifying popular options packages, DASC has reduced certification hassles often attendant with 16g seats. DASC also has hired a highly-experienced, full-time upholstery technologist to answer customer questions about finishing the new seats. The chairs' new Component Maintenance Manual (CMM) and Illustrated Parts Catalogue are written to ATA 100 format. The CMM contains simplified instructions for continued airworthiness.
 
"This is a truly market-driven product," said Beatty.

FMI: www.decraneseats.com; at NBAA, Booth #1133