AliceBluAero, an aircraft seat manufacturer based in County Armagh, Northern Ireland, has announced that it has reached a milestone in the certification process of its Quantum SALF (single-aisle lie-flat) seat. The company reports that seat has successfully passed structural dynamic testing, fully meeting the criteria for UKTSOA C127c certification. This positive result enables AliceBluAero to advance the Quantum SALF seat toward full certification, with static and flammability testing scheduled to commence in early September.
The initial iteration of the Quantum SALF seat, being certified and tested for the Airbus A320 Family, is designed at a 45-degree angle from the aircraft centreline, with a minimum pitch of 35in. The company says this configuration is particularly advantageous for A321 operators, allowing for 13 seats per side between the first and second doors, while offering passengers maximum space and comfort.
The two-week dynamic test programme took place at TASS International, a leading international test and engineering organisation in the Netherlands. The rigorous testing process included Dynamic 16g pitch and roll at ±10 degrees, Dynamic 14g Down, and Dynamic 16g for Head Impact Criteria (HIC).
After a successful first week of testing, witnessed by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), AliceBluAero says it was granted the authority to conduct dynamic testing independently. This approval means that, moving forward, the CAA no longer needs to witness the company’s dynamic tests, reflecting the authority’s confidence in the engineering teams and their understanding of aircraft seating regulations. The quality of the company’s draft ADOA handbook and procedures received praise from the CAA.
‘The CAA has confirmed that AliceBluAero is the first UK premium aircraft seat manufacturer to complete dynamic testing for the certification of an oblique lie-flat seat under UKTSOA C127c’, reads a statement from AliceBluAero. This approval not only represents the company’s first TSOA, but also marks the UK’s first certification of this seat type. AliceBluAero says the test programme also provided the CAA with a live case to demonstrate their competence in approving seats under ETSO-C127c, which will, in turn, boost confidence within the UK seating industry to pursue UKTSO approval for their own oblique lie-flat seats.
AliceBluAero expects to receive CAA approval for the Quantum SALF seat in December, and the validation process with EASA is scheduled to begin in January 2025.
