FACC Performs Cabin Upgrade on Austrian Airlines A320 Aircraft
FACC is celebrating yet another milestone in Aftermarket Services under the motto "Get more space": At the beginning of 2019, the aerospace group received type certification for its retrofit program "Passenger Luggage Space Upgrade" from the European Aviation Safety Agency EASA. FACC has now retrofitted the cabins of three medium-haul aircraft for Austria's leading airline Austrian Airlines and has considerably increased overhead stowage space through the installation of redesigned doors. To date, three of the 36 aircraft in the AUA Airbus fleet, which is FACC's launch customers for this program, have been equipped with FACC's latest cabin innovations for test operation.
The more spacious overhead stowage compartments made their debut on 21 February 2019. The AUA Airbus A320 with the registration OE-LBR „Bregenzer Wald“ completed its maiden flight from Vienna to Frankfurt with the new cabin fittings on board. In March, the upgrades of the A320 OE-LBS "Waldviertel" and the OE-LBN –„Osttirol“ were completed. The retrofits of the three aircraft were carried out at Vienna Airport by AUA itself and at the airports of Kaunus and Tallinn by external maintenance companies, with FACC overseeing the initial installation within the framework of a training program. The installation of the cabin upgrade takes between seven and nine hours, depending on the type of aircraft.
By slightly adjusting the shape of the door flap, FACC succeeded in increasing the stowage space for hand luggage significantly. This means that five trolleys instead of previously three now fit into one overhead stowage compartment. Weight has been reduced by 15 kilograms per A320 and 20 kilograms per A321 as a result of intelligent design improvements and the use of lighter materials.
“We are proud to be able to offer Austrian Airlines more efficiency in the operation of their aircraft with our upgrade package," stresses Robert Machtlinger, CEO of FACC. "The modified overhead stowage compartments not only provide significantly more stowage space, but also make any retrofitted aircraft lighter, thus contributing to the reduction of kerosene costs and emissions. The FACC innovation thus combines more stowage space for baggage and faster boarding with economic advantages and ecological benefits.”
The newly designed cabin doors also offer airlines a wide range of customization and branding options. The Interiors product not only enhances the atmosphere, but also improves the functionality of the cabin. Robust hinges, which can be easily mounted and dismounted, provide for more efficient maintenance.
“We are proud to be the launch customer of the FACC and to support innovations from Austria. The FACC Passenger Luggage Space Upgrade is a perfect complement to our cabin interiors and a good solution to considerably increase baggage volume,” says Michael Kaye, VP Technical Operations of Austrian Airlines.
FACC offers the Passenger Luggage Space Upgrade for the A319, A320, A321, A380 as well as other aircraft models. The cabin upgrade can be installed by the airlines themselves or by external maintenance companies and takes between seven and nine hours, depending on the type of aircraft. It can thus literally be done "overnight". FACC provides free on-site training worldwide to assist with the initial installation, making use of its powerful infrastructure in America, Asia and Europe.
