Elite Traveler November-December 2017

DISCOVER

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elite traveler NOV/DEC 2017

The fly-by-wire system reduces the workload on the pilot when manually flying the aircraft, increasing safety and comfort for those onboard

Aviation

High tech: Embraer Executive Jets

The interior of an aircraft should show the detail of the owner’s life story, according to Embraer’s vice president of interior design, Jay Beever. He tells us how optimum comfort calls for innovative design and the latest technology. “Every single aircraft we make is unique,” he says. “Each customer’s life journey and design references are essential elements of the process to personalize each aircraft. Customer involvement is key, from concept to completion.” Beever explains that the strategy begins with each passenger’s comfort. Embraer’s aircrafts integrate technology so seamlessly into this personalized design that you might not even realize it is there. “Being immersed in your environment is the future of jet design,” he says. “Bringing surroundings in through large windows and letting technology disappear will make a fully- integrated environment providing ultimate passenger comfort.” This intuitive technology is best displayed in the Legacy 500 and Legacy 450— the first aircrafts to embody the company’s ‘butler with

Embraer prioritizes human factors of design such as ergonomic interfaces with the seats, cabin controls and entertainment systems

wings’ philosophy. Here, the technology anticipates the passengers’ needs, much like a butler in a hotel. A backlit touchscreen panel exclusive to Embraer Jets aims to simplify the life of passengers by and sensing their will through context-sensitive devices integrated into cabin systems. As you reach toward the light, for example, the screen will immediately sense this and take you to the lighting options. As Beever explains: “This new feature demonstrates Embraer’s approach to the use of technology in interior design, in that it is both simple to use and disappears when not needed. This allows passengers to be served by the technology on board as opposed to serving it.” Contact Stephen Friedrich, chief commercial officer, eej@embraerexecutivejets.com, +1 321 751 5050, embraerexecutivejets.com

From top: The Legacy 450 and Legacy 500 are designed in such a way that the technology seamlessly blends with the aircraft’s interior

THE FUTURE IS FAST

Billed as the future of high-speed rotorcraft, Airbus Helicopters has developed a compound helicopter concept that is optimized for a cruising speed of approximately 250mph. The concept, named Racer, uses a main rotor for lift and basic flight mode, two lateral pusher rotors that generate thrust for forward flight and a box-wing to provide lift in cruise mode. Final assembly is scheduled to start in 2019, with a

first flight planned for the following year. Developed as part of the Clean Sky 2 European research program and designed to achieve the ultimate balance of speed, cost efficiency, sustainability and aerodynamic efficiency, the Racer configuration will have game-changing implications for the speed capability of the

helicopters of the future. airbushelicopters.com

Words Samantha Coles and Lauren Jade Hill. Photo KeyLimeCS