Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Hire an aircraft interior supplier who specializes

Whether your company is having a new aircraft built or having one remodeled, you can find companies that will design custom interior parts and equipment. They can give the interior, from seating to carpeting, a new look. Other firms can install new communications, entertainment or air-circulation systems or remodel current ones with updated equipment.

I recommend: Not only will King Aerospace design and make custom aircraft interior equipment for your firm, it will install any parts. For top-quality installation and maintenance, go with Bombardier. Its technicians are certified for jet, prop and customized aircraft.

Locate aircraft interior products by top makers

It is a smart move to invest in quality flight instruments. Look for companies with outstanding track records for your navigation and avionics systems. To avoid in-flight disruptions, buy the best audiopanels, intercoms and similar airplane interior equipment. For safety sake, buy from a recommended airline seat manufacturer.

I recommend: For new avionics systems, contact Sarasota Avionics. It carries top brands such as Garmin, Honeywell and Aspen. Southeast Aerospace sells and services navigation, communications, entertainment and other interior equipment and systems.

Find an aircraft interior supplier to refurbish the cabin

One cost-saving aspect of interior airline equipment basics: Many aircraft interior parts are gently used during flight time. Refurbishing airplane interior equipment for lavatories, galleys and entertainment can be a cost-effective approach. However, when having key parts repaired, look for the right part and be sure to keep FFA regulations in mind.

I recommend: Trust Aerosmith with all of your refurbishing needs. It provides packages of paneling, carpeting and upholstery as well as installation of all interior devices. Has your staff looked everywhere for that last piece of aircraft interior equipment with no luck? Check the inventory at AvSupport. It connects buyers and sellers in the aviation parts market.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  In their quest for aircraft interior parts, your staff should store these two contacts in a safe place: AirlineSuppliers.com and the Flight Safety Foundation (703) 739-6700. The first will help your team track down the part and the second will recommend safety upgrades.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Take advantage of airplane interior resources

Whether you are a vendor or a client, take advantage of the many airplane interior resources available. Attend or exhibit at trade event, or subscribe or advertise in an industry publication.

I recommend: Stay up to date on the latest in the interior aircraft equipment field by attending the annual Aircraft Interiors Expo. Plan to exhibit or attend as a visitor. Subscribe to or advertise in VIP Transport Magazine or the VIP Interiors Directory. Find additional aircraft interior parts and service provider listings from aerospace-technology.com.

Consider an airplane interior full service provider

Let an airplane interior full service provider design and redo your airplane interior for you.

I recommend: Find out about the aerospace and defense industry capabilities of Goodrich. Look into the manufacturing, design and installation of aircraft interior supplies from InterAMI. Purchase a basic interior package or go with the upgrade from Powell Aircraft Interiors. If you are looking for the finest grade leathers, fabrics and carpets, want a reasonable price and the shortest down time, consider Rose Aircraft Interiors for your customized aircraft interior.

Do your own refurbishments with supplies for aircraft interiors

Purchase interior aircraft equipment to do your own refurbishment or subcontract out each part of the plane.

I recommend: Check out the variety of cabin, cockpit and aircraft interior supplies from Aircraft Interior Products. Purchase interior aircraft lighting from Honeywell Aerospace. Look at the custom aircraft interiors from Blair-Air Interiors. Check out the burn certified aircraft interior leather from Perrone Leather. Their products have current ISO-9001:2000 registration, AS-9100 Rev. B registration as well as FAA Repair Station Certification.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Unless you are certified, you should leave your airplane interior design and/or refurbishment to FAA certified professionals. Subcontracting is OK, but don't do the work on your aircraft unless you are a highly trained at installation.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Choose an aeronautics school that provides training for designing and using aircraft interior parts

Many universities do not have a specific major geared toward interior aircraft design. However, most schools do have an aerospace engineering major that provides many concentration areas, including exterior and interior aircraft design.

I recommend: Arizona State University provides many different concentrations for the aerospace engineering degree, including an interior design concentration that teaches students to develop airplane seats to the windows. Iowa State University also has a highly regarded aerospace technology center that teaches interior and exterior design.

Learn about the tools needed to design airline interiors

Aside from traditional design training, those interested in working with interior aircraft equipment will also need to familiarize themselves with common design tools used in the industry. This can range from traditional drawing tools up to software programs that make designing quick and easy.

I recommend: Autodesk offers training for its software, so you can learn about designing vehicles and interiors with 2D and 3D options. Siemens provides online self-paced training and custom training options to learn how to use its PLM software.

Explore schools and programs that offer apprenticeships for airplane interior equipment design

If you are considering with an aircraft interior supplier or custom designer, there are many internship and apprenticeship opportunities available. These will give you hands-on design experience and a chance to work with professionals outside the classroom.

I recommend: Virgina Tech offers and aircraft design program that integrates classroom knowledge with first-hand experience. Students are assigned to apprenticeships throughout the course of their education. The School of Interior Design provides basic information on educational requirements for those studying aircraft design, which includes internships and apprenticeships with design firms.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Learning by example is another way to supplement your design education. The best way to learn about what works is to look at examples of airplane interiors, interior products and different configurations for an specific aircraft you'll work with.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Cockpit image recorders

Cockpit image recorders are required on large planes, but should be installed on smaller planes as well. These flight recorders supplement existing CVR (cockpit voice recorder) and FDR (flight data recorder) data in accident investigations. Investigators use the information to determine why a plane crashed.

I recommend: The National Transportation Safety Board discusses the importance of cockpit image recorders.

Aircraft flight control systems (FCS)

Aircraft flight control systems (FCS) include cockpit controls, linkages, and the flight control surfaces that affect an airplane's flight.

I recommend: Aviation Maintenance discusses the importance of maintenance for aircraft flight control systems.

Traffic alert and collision avoidance system (TCAS)

Most large planes and many smaller ones have a traffic alert and collision avoidance system (TCAS) to alert the pilot to the possibility of collisions. When the TCAS detects another plane overhead, it alerts pilots to stop their climb and descend.

I recommend: AskCaptainLim.com explains how TCAS helps prevent mid-air collisions.

Terrain-awareness warning system (TAWS)

A terrain-awareness warning system (TAWS) helps aircrafts avoid collision with terrain. Earlier systems, called ground-proximity warning systems (GPWS) could only warn about problems directly below the aircraft, but TAWS is more sophisticated.

I recommend: SKYbrary describes terrain collision avoidance systems, and Safe Air differentiates between the the two classes of TAWSs.

Electronic flight instrumentation system (EFIS)

An electronic flight instrumentation system (EFIS) is an improvement over standard mechanical or electromechanical instrumentation because it offers a more dependable attitude reference.

I recommend: Blue Mountain Avionics answers frequently asked questions about electronic flight instrumentation systems.

GPS handheld portables

The GPS, or global positioning system, comes in two types--handheld portable and panel-mount. Most smaller planes use the GPS handheld portables. These instruments help pilots navigate by indicating the aircraft's location on the screen. Some models also give weather and safety information.

I recommend: APG-Eastern Avionics International touts the benefits of GPS handheld portables.