Trends – Interior Materials in the PC-24 and PC-12 NGX

The sudden advent of corona less than a year ago has significantly changed our lives. It has also had a marked impact on trends in aircraft interiors and materials. Pilatus Aircraft Ltd

As far as aircraft interiors are concerned, we are seeing a trend towards materials which are easy to clean and disinfect – with synthetics and polyester replacing natural fibre fabrics. A new trend in colour schemes is also emerging: the previously popular warm tones of brown and beige are giving way to to a more extreme pallet with high contrast. Customers now want bright colours which no longer try to hide dirt, but make sure we are able to see it and clean it. Combined with these bright colours, darker shades of black and complementary colours are used in carpets and hand rails.

Easy to clean and anti-microbial

Synthetic leather is far easier to clean than natural fibre fabrics and real leather. This is an important factor for medevac aircraft, although many other Pilatus aircraft owners also prefer synthetic leather, especially those who have animals to transport or special anti-microbial requirements. The silver-ion technology is embedded in the surface layers of the material and prevents formation of stains and other micro-organism build up, thus creating a safe environment for passengers.

Some customers still prefer the real thing, of course. For them, Pilatus has leather hides which are specially pigmented to withstand frequent cleaning whilst still remaining supple and natural looking. They are also treated to render them anti-microbial. As a response to corona, special cleaners have been developed for use as often as needed without harming the leather finish. They are formulated to sanitise 99.5 percent of surface organisms.

Natural and eco-friendly

Most of the fabrics used by Pilatus today are made from synthetic fibres. They are easy to clean and retain their shape after washing. As a bonus, they require substantially less water and detergent during the washing process. Short drying times also mean less energy consumption. In addition, these materials can be recycled. Besides eco-friendly fabrics, Pilatus offers reconstituted natural wood options for interior cabinets.

The carpets in all collections are made from 100 percent New Zealand wool. As a renewable and bio-degradable fibre, pure new wool is one of the cleanest, most ecofriendly floor coverings in the world. And for even more environmentally conscious customers, Pilatus offers a carpet collection with no artificial dyes. The beautiful shades of vibrant grey, whites and browns are achieved by mixing the wool of different breeds of sheep eliminating the need for chemical-based dyes. These wools are also naturally dirt and stain resistant.

Durable and clean

Over half of PC-24 customers select the stone option for the entrance area over traditional carpet. A logical choice, because although stone has weight and cost disadvantages compared to carpet, the entrance area is subject to much heavier usage than the passenger section, thus requiring more frequent and thorough cleaning. Pilatus is introducing a durable tile flooring option for the entrance area too. The baggage area is another zone which needs constant cleaning. With that in mind, we have created a durable vinyl flooring that can easily be swapped with the carpet depending on flight needs.

In summary, trends have certainly changed in recent months, due no doubt to corona, but also to a greater international focus on the environment. Around the world, attitudes have shifted to deliver a more user-focused, responsible design. Pilatus has always based its development on customer feedbacks and sustainable thinking. In doing so, we have managed to stay one step ahead of actual needs, offering customers our usual high standard of service.