Aviation

Singapore Airshow 2024: What to Expect?

With the highly anticipated Singapore Airshow 2024 (SA2024) opening its doors to trade
visitors in a little more than a week, most of the itinerary for the airshow has been released.
As public access to the previous two airshows was limited due to the COVID-19 pandemic,
it is anticipated that there would be a strong public interest, especially amongst the aviation
enthusiasts in the region.
Notable Differences
One of the most notable differences would be the absence of Boeing’s Commercial Arm,
Boeing Commercial Airplanes from the Airshow. According to a news release by Boeing,
Boeing Commercial Airplanes would only be ‘presenting an immersive display of the 777X
cabin experience highlighting its spacious and flexible architecture’. This comes as no
surprise, especially given the recent unfortunate incidents involving their airplanes. Instead,
Boeing seems to be focusing on showcasing its defense technology, with the manufacturer
displaying a wide variety of jets, such as the B-52 Stratofortress, F-15, and AH-64E, just to
name a few.
8 Aerial Displays
SA2024 is set to have the largest number of foreign flying teams in its history! Consisting of
6 Air Force displays and 2 Commercial displays, SA2024 would be the first time where the
Chinese Aircraft manufacturer, Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) will
be making its international airshow debut. This is one of the steps COMAC would be taking
to compete with Airbus and Boeing, namely in the narrowbody market with the C919. Indian
Air Force’s (IAF) Sarang Aerobatic Team would be performing with their indigenously
manufactured HAL Dhruv at the Airshow for the first time. For Military Aviation
Photographers, the United States Air Force B-52 Stratofortress would also be making a
flypast on 22nd February!
Static Displays
Consisting of a plethora of Business, Commercial and Military Aircraft on display, there are a
few airframes that stand out to us. COMAC will be displaying the ARJ21 for the first time at
SA2024 for the first time, alongside the C919. The indigenously developed ARJ21 has been
in service for approximately 7 years, not only serving airlines in Mainland China but also
TransNusa in Indonesia. Embraer, a Brazilian Airplane Manufacturer is also sending their
C390 Millennium to SA2024 for the first time. The C390 has in recent years scored orders
from Air Forces of multiple countries as a replacement for their aging C130. Marketed as a
jet-powered alternative to Lockheed’s Iconic C130 Hercules, multiple Air Forces such as
South Korea, Netherlands, and Austria have placed orders for the C390.

Looking at the list of participating aircraft for the Singapore Airshow 2024, we can’t help but
be excited for both the flying and static display. With the airshow poised to return back to its
pre-pandemic turnout, we would be expecting some pretty lively moments at the airshow.
See you at the Singapore Airshow 2024!

Aviation

Airbus Enhances A350 Cabin with 10-Abreast Seating

Airbus has announced a new partnership with Jiatai Aircraft Equipment, a Chinese aircraft seating manufacturer, to supply upgraded economy-class seats for the A350 widebody series.

This collaboration, unveiled at the 2024 Airshow China, focuses on developing a newly designed economy seat tailored for the A350‘s New Production Standard (NPS) cabin.

One of the key features of the NPS cabin is the ability to accommodate 17-inch wide economy seats, compared to the previous 16.5-inch wide seats that airlines were limited to in the A350’s earlier configurations.

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This change is made possible by the expanded space in the NPS cabin, which is 35 inches longer and 4 inches wider than the previous version. This extra space is achieved by slightly moving the cockpit wall forward and shifting the rear pressure bulkhead back by one frame.

The wider cabin allows airlines to add up to 30 extra economy seats without compromising comfort. For airlines opting for a 3-4-3 seating layout, the 17-inch wide seats are an excellent choice for a more comfortable passenger experience. However, some airlines, such as Iberia, may choose to retain a 9-abreast layout with wider seats for added comfort.

The NPS cabin also offers enhanced flexibility for airline operators. One major advantage is the ability to easily switch between a 9-abreast and 10-abreast seating configuration without requiring significant downtime for aircraft reconfiguration. Airlines can use the same seat rails, tracks, and IFE interfaces, making the transition smoother and quicker.

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In addition, the design of the floor attachments and air-conditioning systems has been optimized for 10-abreast seating, meaning airlines can upgrade their cabins without needing to make substantial modifications to the aircraft’s structure.

Though it’s still unclear when Jiatai’s economy-class seats will be officially added to the A350’s Buyer Furnished Equipment (BFE) catalogue, the collaboration marks a significant step toward enhancing the A350’s cabin offerings.

With this partnership, Airbus is providing more seating options for airlines, ensuring that they can meet diverse customer needs while improving overall operational efficiency.