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ATG INTRODUCES A DARKER SHADE OF PALE
EIectrochromic
self-darkening windows are being touted
as the latest advance in shading for new
aircraft such as the Boeing 787 and
possibly the Airbus A35OXWB. However
there are significant shortcomings in
such shades. For instance they cannot
provide total darkness as demanded by
many passengers to ensure they can sleep
on an aircraft. Also a cabin with a line
of ‘stark black holes’ in soft curves of
the sidewall panels is certainly
something that is esthetically
questionable.
Florida-based Aerospace
Technologies Group believes its new
electrically operated pleated-fabric
shades are the real wave of the future,
consuming less power and producing the
complete blackout that continues to
evade the electro chromic solutions.
With orders from Emirates and six other
leading international airlines under its
belt, ATG is set for rapid growth as
other airlines modernize there cabins.
The company was set up eight years ago
in a West Palm Beach garage. “It is
quite the success story of a start-up
company. We’re the Microsoft of electric
window shades,” said Commercial Sales VP
Raymond Tollman. Its first product was
aimed at corporate/VIP market and ATG
now supplies Gulfstream, Dassault and
Cessna.
PHENOMENAL
COSTS
Four years ago the company started
work on a product for air transport.
“The costs of certification were
phenomenal,” comments Tollman. The
system had to meet more stringent
requirements for temperature, humidity,
EMI and radio-frequency interference,
and Airbus and Boeing demanded a much
higher guaranteed mean time between
failures, “That’s all behind us
now,” says Tollman. “We expect that most
airliners will have this product in
their premium cabins at least within ten
years, probably a lot sooner.” Emirates
has ordered the shades for its Boeing
777s and Airbus A380s. All seven airline
customers are installing them in
first-class, while some will also put
them in business.
ATG’s current order
backlog for both corporate and air
transport customers’ totals $30 million.
First air transport installations are
under way. The first three equipped
Emirates 777s are due to be delivered in
2008 .The initial shipset for the Qantas
A380s were delivered in December 2007
and those for Emirates are due to
delivered to Airbus in Hamburg next
month.
TWO MINUTES
ATG says the shades can be installed
in less than two minutes per window,
with no need to remove the cabin liner.
The orders for Emirates and other
carriers are being installed on the
line, but ATG also holds an STC for
retrofits to in-service aircraft.
Each unit comprises a pair of shades —
one translucent, one opaque — plus two
Swiss-made precision 28V DC electric
motors and a Kevlar toothed drive-belt.
Lowering the translucent blind produces
a gentle natural light - “We’re using
Mother Nature for mood lighting,” says
Tollman — while the opaque shade
produces a blackout as complete as that
specified for conventional mutual
shades.
The passenger can control the shade with
an up/down switch on the window bezel
and also with the in-seat passenger
control unit (PCU), which allows a group
of shades to be operated simultaneously.
And flight attendants can operate all
the shades in the cabin from a central
point. ATG has provided a
mechanical override for use in the event
of electrical failure, as required for
FAA certification. It consists of a
standard hex- headed driver that can be
inserted into hole above the switches
and then turned to raise the blinds.
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