Tech

ANA to Install World’s First Hands-free Lavatory Doors on 21 Aircrafts

As part of the ANA Care Promise initiative, the doors will help reduce physical contact onboard aircraft and limit the potential spread of pathogens

TOKYO, April 28, 2021 – All Nippon Airways (ANA), Japan’s largest and 5-Star airline for eight consecutive years, has partnered with JAMCO Corporation to develop the world’s first hands-free door that allows easy access to lavatories on its aircraft. The innovative door was developed as part of the ANA Care Promise initiative, and will help limit potential vectors for the transmission of pathogens. The first hands-free doors will be introduced to domestic flights starting May 1.

“Guided by the principles of ANA Care Promise, we have continued to invest in the development and implementation of innovative technologies because the health and safety of passengers and our staff is the top priority,” said Shinichi Inoue, Senior Executive Vice President, Customer Experience Management & Planning. “The hands-free lavatory door is the latest example of us putting this principle into practice as we look for ways to make the travel experience safer and more convenient.”
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The new lavatory door is equipped with a large inner door locking knob and an additional handle so that passengers can use their elbows to unlock the door. Because the door mechanism is different to those found on other aircraft, signage has been placed near the lavatory to provide operational instructions.

The hands-free lavatory will be installed on 11 Boeing 787-8 aircraft, two Boeing 787-9 aircraft, and eight Boeing 777-200. The initial installation will be for aircrafts serving domestic routes, while ANA hopes to introduce the system to all domestic and international aircraft in the future.

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To help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and other pathogens, ANA has instituted the ANA Care Promise program which goes above and beyond the recommendations from public health officials in order to keep passengers and employees healthy. With such efforts, ANA is the first airline in Asia and only the fourth in the world to receive the SKYTRAX Airline Safety 5-Star rating which confirms the effectiveness of ANA Care Promise.

Related Topics:All Nippon Airways ANA B787

Tech

China Developing Jet to Travel Anywhere in Two Hours

China is making remarkable strides in aviation technology with its ambitious plan to develop a hypersonic passenger jet, capable of flying at speeds that could revolutionize air travel.

The cutting-edge aircraft, dubbed the “Nanqiang No 1,” aims to reach speeds up to six times faster than the legendary Concorde, potentially transporting passengers to any destination on the globe in under two hours.

This futuristic project has already undergone rigorous testing at a state-of-the-art laboratory in Fujian Province. Reports from China indicate that the unmanned prototype is expected to weigh just 500 kilograms, showcasing a sleek and lightweight design optimized for speed. The jet is projected to cruise at an astonishing Mach 6, or six times the speed of sound, which would set new standards for commercial flight.

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The key to achieving such mind-blowing speeds lies in a sophisticated engine design. The “Nanqiang No 1” will utilize a combination of turbofan, rocket, and ramjet engines, pushing the boundaries of what current aviation technology can handle. Early renderings of the aircraft reveal a “MUTTER” engine configuration, which includes two air-breathing ramjet engines, a small rocket engine, and two turbine engines. china 6th generation fighter While there were initial doubts about the feasibility of this engine setup, computer modeling and early lab tests have demonstrated the MUTTER system’s ability to surpass Mach 6.

Though several nations are exploring supersonic and hypersonic flight technology, China’s pursuit of a passenger jet capable of reaching hypersonic speeds puts it at the forefront of this race. Supersonic jets, which travel faster than the speed of sound (Mach 1), are being explored by various aerospace companies worldwide, but China’s vision to push beyond supersonic into the hypersonic realm represents a bold leap into the future of air travel.

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With the potential to redefine how people traverse the globe, China’s hypersonic passenger jet could make long-haul flights obsolete, allowing travelers to reach far-flung destinations in a matter of hours. The country hopes to see the technology realized and operational for tourist use within the next decade, marking a new chapter in aviation history.