FAA Approves New Use For Otherwise Empty Space

Aircraft cabin interior supplier B/E Aerospace announced recently it has received a Federal Aviation Administration Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for the installation of its Overhead Flight Crew Rest (OFCR) on British Airways' Boeing 777-200ER aircraft. The FAA STC is also validated by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The OFCR STC was obtained by B/E Aerospace's integration and reconfiguration business unit (FSI) based in Marysville, WA.

The OFCR frees up revenue generating seats otherwise reserved for the flight crew, and provides comfortable, temperature controlled, flight crew rest facilities, including bunks, VIP custom seating and a fully integrated Audio Visual On Demand (AVOD) entertainment system. British Airways currently operates the B/E Aerospace Overhead Attendant Rest (OHAR) on its B777-200s.

The decision by British Airways to extend the program to include a new order for the OFCR, valued at $15 million, was based on the success of the original product along with a clearly demonstrated return on investment. The return on investment is based on up to 750 pounds of weight reduction and the addition of revenue generating seats.

"In the highly competitive environment in which airlines operate today, the Overhead Crew Rest is a very compelling solution allowing airlines to increase the utilization of its fleet by increasing the number of revenue generating seats and reducing weight," stated Trevor Skelly, B/E Aerospace FSI's Vice President / General Manager. "The cabin crew will enjoy the greater comfort, space and privacy that the OFCR and OHAR affords. We are particularly pleased that, based on the success of the Door 3 OHAR installation, British Airways chose to incorporate the Overhead Flight Crew Rest at Door 1 of its B777-200 fleet."

The Overhead Flight Crew Rest kit for British Airways was designed, manufactured and certified by B/E Aerospace and is being installed by British Airways at its maintenance facility in Cardiff, Wales. The initial prototype installation was completed at BAMC with the FAA STC ST01950SE issued by the Seattle Aircraft Certification Office. Validation by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has also been received.

Other airlines that operate B/E Aerospace OHAR and OFCRs include Continental Airlines, Alitalia, El Al, Austrian Airlines and Kuwait Airways. B/E Aerospace currently holds over 220 STCs that are required for the modification of a wide range of commercial aircraft.

FMI: www.beaerospace.com, www.britishairways.com