AI America Review 2008 10/7/08 10:21 Page 12
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THE BATTLE OF
COST AND COMFORT
The impact of rising crude oil prices for the global aerospace industry is not the only
thing that worries the Airlines
The underestimated rapid growth of low cost armrest tables. The Seat is certified 16G
carriers (LCC) over the last decade with fares dynamic (TSO c127a) and can be fitted at a 30"
almost for free pushed the traditional Airlines to to 32" seat pitch in economy class.
the edge of their innovative capacities and During the FAST PRIMO development phase,
financial reserves. Continuous efforts lowering Belgium based VLM Airlines worked closely
cost on the one hand and finding ways to with FAST to meet this new revolutionary
increase comfort on the other are a daily battle standard. Whilst equipping their Fokker 50
for every single director of an airline. fleet they received the ATW Regional Airline of
A good example of an innovative and cost the world award in 2006. Not just because of
saving product is the Swiss aircraft passenger the FAST PRIMO seat, but it was a contributing
seat manufacturer FAST, which was founded in factor to the superior image of the airline and
1933 by Willy Farner. After 70 years of company customer satisfaction.
history a new investor group acquired the This important milestone for the entire Fokker
property of the company. Since December operator’s community needed further exploration
2005, the company started a new era under the to other Fokker models as well. WIAT BV, FAST’s
name FAST Aero Space Technologies Ltd. sales and marketing organisation based in the
located in Grenchen, Switzerland. Netherlands, started to discuss the success on
the Fokker 50 and to initiate the development
During 2003 FAST developed an aircraft seat and certification on the Fokker 100 as well.
for regional aircraft with two objectives This new seat aimed for ageing regional
First of all to lower the airline maintenance cost of aircraft like Fokker and CRJ classics is
seats and secondly to increase comfort along definitely not the end of the story. Over the last
with simplicity of design to meet the lower couple of year’s, fast growing regional aircraft
maintenance cost goals. The Economy Seat production and the availability of the FAST
(called PRIMO) is conceived around a main idea: PRIMO seat as the new trend for economy
to provide the passenger with a rigid shell. The seats in regional aircraft, means the market
seats recline as a whole, preventing relative potential is huge and challenging.
movement of the passenger’s legs and back, Regional aircraft manufacturers like, Sukhoi,
which besides being often a source of discomfort, AVIC, Bombardier, Embraer, Antonov 148 and
provoke unsightly creases on trousers and skirts Mitsubishi are looking around for the best
and give the traveller the unwanted "harassed" innovative product, lowest weight and lowest
look often associated with air travel. The result is purchasing and maintenance costs. With the
that the PRIMO seat achieved a business class highest production rates ever at Boeing and
feel for Economy pricing. Airbus, the competition is overloaded to fulfil the
The seat design is very attractive and eye demands of thousand of aircraft in manufacturing
catching. The stylish plastic back rest with its backlog. This enables FAST to find its own place
flush tray table is a highly recognisable unique in this market, on not only new regional aircraft,
feature, the distinctive armrests can be fitted with but also as the right product for a second life of
IFE control pads and first row seats have in- ageing aircraft.
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