A novel upper lobe crew rest area, designed by B/E Aerospace for the Boeing 777, has been launched into production with an order from British Airways.
The airline is to retrofit 16 777-200ERs with compartments in overhead spaces above the main cabins. The compartment houses eight sleeping bunks and two seats. It replaces a lower lobe crew rest area, freeing cargo room. The largely composite compartment weighs 50% less than the existing unit, improving efficiency.
The upper lobe compartment, plus other similar concepts for accommodating passenger bunks, are under study by Boeing for use in the ultra-long range 777-200X/300X. Robert Khoury, vice-chairman and chief executive of B/E, says that the new crew rest "could provide $250 million in incremental revenues to B/E over 10 years".
Source: Flight International
