The welcoming entrance to the new SWISS B777-300 ER, engineered and manufactured by AIM Altitude, is already a recognisable image, despite the fact that the first of the nine new aircraft is not due to be delivered until January 2016.
The composite, backlit panels are controlled by AIM Altitude Autonomous-Lighting-Dimmer (ALD) and are among the first airline applications of the new Sabic Lexan XHR200 transparent, polycarbonate sheet, which meets Certification Requirements for cabin facing parts over 144 square inches in size (Crystal Cabin Award winner at AIX in 2015).
The panels feature an illuminated welcome message and world map, as also found in the reception area of the SWISS lounges at Zurich airport. The two panels, which are installed on the Door 2 Galleys, facing the passengers during boarding, have been engineered, tested and produced by AIM Altitude.
John Heath, group design and technical director at AIM Altitude, says: “We pioneered and developed the ALD precisely for this sort of innovative use. It allows feature lighting to be automatically controlled without any connection to the aircraft IFE system or the cabin mood lighting system. We knew it would be an important development in allowing airlines to provide differentiation and in setting the atmosphere for their cabins and SWISS have used it to great effect.”
AIM Altitude is also in the process of engineering and producing further significant items for each of the SWISS B777 aircraft, details of which should be available later this year.
