22 AEROSPACEMANUFACTURING | NOvEMbER 2009
electronics i lighting
see the
lIGhT
Diehl Aerospace’s lighting mock-up: Full LED ‘mood’ lighting scenarios like a sunrise and starlight can easily be demonstrated
From the cockpit to the cabin, LEDs are increasingly being used to illuminate the latest
aircraft interiors. Mike Richardson discovers how they are helping design engineers to
tailor interior lighting solutions and improve the passenger’s flying experience.
T
his is your captain speaking: sit it feels as though you are still in the lighting upgrades to provide airlines with
back, relax and enjoy the flight comfort of your own home. the tools to equip their cabins with mood
while our cabin interior ‘mood’ Diehl Aerospace claims to have lighting products.”
lighting system creates an atmosphere to positioned itself as a lighting solutions Van Geenen acknowledges that like
soothe even the weariest of passengers. partner for aircraft manufacturers. As well all high tech products, there are clearly
In this scenario, cabin lights are tailored as providing the avionics for equipment obstacles but they are nevertheless
to suit your individual needs so that systems, the company is also a supplier of conquerable: “The A350 XWB and 787
your food no longer looks green, and coloured LED lighting systems to Airbus Dreamliner are the best examples of
you no longer awake from a deep sleep and Boeing. Diehl Aerospace’s marketing new aircraft where both platforms have
bathed in the glare of spotlights. Even manager Guido van Geenen, identifies been successfully equipped with all-LED
the likelihood of air rage can be subdued two main trends that apply to both short products supplied by Diehl Aerospace,”
by selecting a more favourable and softer and long range flights. he claims. The acquisition of the Airbus
glow of ambient lighting. “Firstly, the increasing value of in-flight factory in Laupheim, Germany last
This ‘chilled out’ state of consciousness comfort has become more noticeable October and the formation of Diehl’s
is brought to you by the latest and in this respect mood and atmosphere Aircabin were crucial milestones
innovations in solid state lighting (SSL), lighting concepts are important factors,” for the company, he notes. This has
a technology that is increasingly being he begins. “One popular buzzword is paved the way for Diehl in becoming
used to shed light on some of the latest ‘flying in your home’, but the airline’s a tier one partner to the major aircraft
cabins and cockpits as design engineers predominant desire is in the creation of manufacturers in the field of air cabin
look to venture into LEDs as opposed to pleasant lighting effects that help reduce integration.
traditional incandescent light sources. problems associated with jetlag. The biggest business challenge
Beyond the requirements for more “The second trend concerns their for Diehl lies in satisfying the newly
controllability, power efficiency and crucial role in improving power established market of SSL consumers.
environmentally friendly operation, the efficiency. This will provide longer In van Geenen’s mind, it’s essential to
airline operators’ chief demands centre product lifecycles, which in turn meet current and upcoming customer
on the desire to offer more comfort to improves the future prospects of SSL requirements, as the anticipation of
its long haul passengers and create an adoption. Diehl Aerospace has followed these demands will provide the company
impression that you although are flying, this development and offers its cabin with its most important mission.
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36