Jet Aviation Announces First Use of Bio-Based Resin in VVIP Completion Projects
GENEVA / May 22, 2023 — Jet Aviation announced today that it has started using a bio-based resin in production of composite parts for VVIP aircraft cabin interiors. The parts will be integrated into two completion projects currently in production at the company’s Basel facility.
The resin is produced from up to 25% plant origin biological sources and can be sourced local to the Basel facility, reducing the overall environmental impact when compared to traditional epoxy resin. Jet Aviation conducted certification testing in-house and the resin was qualified for non-structural parts in VVIP completions and is now in use on two completions projects currently in production.
“This is a fantastic milestone in our journey towards providing customers with even more sustainable choices throughout the completion process,” says Christoph Fondalinski, Jet Aviation’s vice president completions. “Our Innovation Steering Committee has this front of mind as we continue to push the boundaries of what has previously been possible in VVIP completions and explore ways to make our process and product more sustainable. This latest success is part of a journey that started over ten years ago when we began innovating in the sound and weight space, resulting in some of the quietest and lightest VVIP completions flying today. We have continued to innovate through exploration into new and more sustainable materials and processes, as we strive towards creating the ultimate cabin experience for our customers.”
“The success is due to a close collaboration between engineering and production from the drawing board to the hands-on execution, with a shared passion to find the best product for our customers.”
The resin will be used in Jet Aviation’s in-house composite production workshop in Basel and is available for all interior completion and refurbishment projects.
“I am incredibly proud of the team that brought this innovation to life,” says Florent Klinger, head of engineering at Jet Aviation. “The success is due to a close collaboration between engineering and production from the drawing board to the hands-on execution, with a shared passion to find the best product for our customers. The new resin is not only bio-based and locally sourced, it also scored exceptionally well in flammability testing, and can even contribute towards weight-saving in the interior. I am excited to see what else the team can achieve as we continue our research and development into sustainable composite products and processes.”
Jet Aviation Basel has six hangars and can accommodate aircraft up to the Boeing 747 for completions, refurbishment and maintenance. In 2021, a new 8,000 square foot completion center was opened, bringing the cabinet shop, interiors and finishing shops, and sheet metal shops together in one location.
Jet Aviation is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD) with some 4,000 employees and 50 locations worldwide. Jet Aviation’s offerings include aircraft management, aircraft sales, charter, completions, defence, FBO, maintenance and staffing.