Aerospace Technologies Group (ATG) has secured Emirates as the launch customer for its aerBlade window shade. The product will be installed in the airline’s upcoming Airbus A350 and Boeing 777X fleet.
As the Emirates A350 enters service in 2024, the aerBlade dual blind system will be available in business and premium economy class, and the aerBlade single blind systems will make a debut in economy class.
“We are proud to build upon our long-standing relationship with Emirates and have them as our launch customer for the innovative aerBlade window shade,” said Mario Ceste, CEO of Aerospace Technologies Group. “The Emirates aerBlade product will feature the signature touches that Emirates has established in its cabin and will set new standards for appearance and convenience in economy seating in a manner passengers have never before experienced.”
ATG’s aerBlade is an electronically operated window shade system allowing passengers push-button control from clear, to sun blocking, to full blackout. Crew members can automatically lower and raise all window shades on the aircraft from their own panel.
The electronically operated shade is a flat material that offers aircraft owners and operators the opportunity to customise the finish to match their cabin environment. The inboard passenger side has a protective clear lens, which ATG noted makes it easy to clean and keep germ-free.
The dual-shade version includes a second shade with a special tint to allow passengers to block bright sunlight and still see outside the aircraft. ATG said when the opaque shade is lowered, aerBlade achieves full blackout. The tinted translucent shade can be positioned from partial to full sun blocking.
Equipped with ATG’s NextGen electronic controls, aerBlade provides IoT functionality and connectivity to onboard maintenance and cabin management systems, enabling the transfer of performance metrics, remote diagnostics and programming updates without removing the shade from the aircraft. The electronic controls feature self-learning algorithms and sensor-less control to extend the shade life and provide quiet operation.
The aerBlade product can be configured to be removable and serviceable from the inside of the cabin without detaching the aircraft sidewall. Some versions can be retrofitted onto aircraft sidewalls without any cuts or sidewall modifications and mounted in place of the existing manual shade in minutes.
ATG plans to offer future models of aerBlade for a wide range of commercial aircraft including the Airbus A330, A321LR and A321XLR. A version for the Boeing 777-9 (777X) will be released in the third quarter of 2024.
Today, ATG electric window shades can be found on small-, mid- and large-cabin business jets as well as in the premium-class seating areas of some carriers’ Boeing 777-300ER, A380 and A350 aircraft.
