The interior architecture of an aircraft is one of its most defining features. The style of the cabin, its spaciousness, and how big the bins are all just some of the things that influence how much or how little a passenger enjoys their flight. When the ceiling area is positioned higher and the design is less cluttered looking, travelers appreciate the extra interior space. Likewise, when a stowage bin is able to stow more carry-on items near the passenger, they are less likely to worry about their belongings during the flight.
So, when a number of older aircraft in an airline’s or lessor’s fleet have interiors that are long past their prime, and they see an opportunity to improve the flying experience for passengers, refreshing their interior architecture can make a big difference. Handling the development and supply of these architectural products for the retrofit market is a team of people known internally as Interior Architecture. Their program managers, engineers, buyers, and builders all specialize in supplying the panels and bin systems that are needed to refresh an existing aircraft interior.
Products generally fall under two categories when considering retrofit items for an aircraft’s interior architecture. We can supply a mix of new Heath Tecna designed components cabin-wide that are offered as an IUS (Interior Upgrade System), or we can engineer and manufacture CAPs (Custom Architectural Product) for specific areas of the aircraft; usually by class. Occasionally, an airline will elect to have an IUS installed in first class only, and in those cases, we will support a partial installation of the product line.