ATR has teamed with Italian design house Giugiaro Design to develop the new ATR Series 600 cabin, marking Giugiaro's entry into the commercial aviation interior design market.
The two firms have worked closely together "to create an ultra modern, appealing and comfortable cabin", called Armonia, a name linked to beauty, harmony, balance and calm, says ATR.
Armonia's cleanly-styled seats have been ergonomically designed to ensure greater knee clearance. Coupled with the Armonia ceiling; side panels; overhead bins, and LED lighting, the ATR Series 600 cabin will feel more spacious and airy, says ATR, noting that Armonia also uses lightweight materials, reducing its total weight by the equivalent of two passengers.
ATR is offering an optional two-class configuration with a first class that boasts wider seats in 2+1 layout. It is also offering an optional jetway-capable forward door with a new designed spacious entrance area.
Giugiaro Design has been involved in high profile car, corporate aircraft, train, ship and motorcycle design projects. But the ATR project is the firm's first commercial aircraft project.
"ATR was just the partner we were looking for to translate the know-how we attained in the car design field into the aviation sector. The project developed for ATR was extremely motivating and challenging: co-operating with such a world leader in the turboprop market meant remarkable, intense and interesting exchange of experiences and inspirations, which we think are key success factors, also for future programs," says Giugiaro Design co-chairman and styling director Fabrizio Giugiaro.
Visitors at next week's Farnborough air show will be able to see a full=-scale mock-up of the Armonia cabin.
ATR, meanwhile, is also seeing progress on other aspects of its Series 600 programme. The airframer unveiled the -600 successor variant for its ATR 42 and 72 models in late 2007. Flight testing of the ATR 42-600 began in March. ATR expects to receive certification in November 2010 with first deliveries scheduled for the second half of 2011.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
