LINCOLN, NEB. — Interior engineers often need to think outside the box to come up with one-of-a-kind solutions for customers, and one of those solutions—a forward lavatory conversion to a storage space in two Dassault Falcon models—has caught on among Duncan Aviation customers.
A portion of Falcon 900 and 2000 aircraft have two lavatories. In those aircraft, the front lavatory often remains unused for its intended purpose and is transformed into a makeshift storage compartment. Duncan Aviation’s design and engineering teams collaborated to craft a custom cabinet to replace the forward lavatory in both Falcon aircraft so customers could choose from a variety of dedicated storage options or a preparation station instead of struggling to utilize it as a provisional closet.
“The problem is a lot like your closet at home. If you just stack and throw things in there, an avalanche of belongings is always looming,” says Jeff Beaudette, engineering team leader.
The collaboration resulted in a cabinet solution that completely replaced the lavatory while retaining the plumbing. Duncan Aviation has modified three aircraft since creating the solution.
“We capped all the lines from the toilet and built a cabinet insert that molded around the old chute just in case the next owner wanted to reinstate the lavatory,” says Steve Rosenow, cabinet team leader.
The lavatory is nestled between the galley and the jump seat, and the space is anything but standard.
Steve says the initial Falcon 900 customer requested a large ice drawer in the bottom and a coat closet up top, but the space looks a bit like a soda bottle, so it took a bit of finagling to ensure they utilized every square inch.
“Customers just want the option—the opportunity to define that space when they sell the aircraft or if their needs change while they own the aircraft,” says Rosenow. “And that’s what we’re here to do. We create a custom solution that affords them countless options.”
As for the Falcon 2000, the modification was very similar to the previous 900 storage swap.
Duncan Aviation provided a cooled catering box storage, crew closet, upper storage and a lower drawer. The storage conversion was done in addition to a partial paint, left-hand forward crew closet modification, left-hand entertainment cabinet modification, removal of tray storage, removal of a microwave and the addition of a passenger coat closet.
Duncan Aviation will accommodate almost all requests and provides customers versatility in both design as well as engineering. The company requesting the modification owns another Falcon 2000 with significantly more storage and preferred those capabilities.
“All three of the modifications we completed are similar, but differ greatly in their final function. There is no such thing as a standard part or design. Many items may be very similar, but the customization for the customer is the key,” says Beaudette.
About Duncan Aviation
Duncan Aviation is an aircraft service provider supporting the aviation needs of government and business operators and other service providers. Services include major and minor airframe inspections, engine maintenance, major retrofits for cabin and cockpit systems, full paint and interior services and preowned aircraft sales and acquisitions. Duncan Aviation also has international aircraft components solutions experts available 24/7/365 at +1 402.475.4125 who can handle any aircraft system problem with immediate exchanges, rotables, loaners or avionics/instrument/accessory/propeller repairs and overhauls. Complete service facilities are located in Lincoln, Neb., and Battle Creek, Mich. Additional locations include Provo, Utah, and 27 other facilities strategically located throughout the United States to provide customers with local support and the quickest response to avionics, engine and airframe Aircraft On Ground (AOG) situations.
For more information about any of Duncan Aviation’s services, call +1 402.475.2611 or visit www.DuncanAviation.aero.
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