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spend anything like the same amount of time and money on seat maintenance. Six months after the seats are installed, they’re happy to agree with me.” The Acro vision of the next generation of seats clearly has benefits, some more immediately apparent than others. But how limited are the applications of a seat of this type? Acro’s publicised relationship with Jet2 – its launch customer – has led to suggestions that its seats are solely suitable for low- cost, short haul operations. Does the modular construction allow for modifications to suit other carriers? Chris Brady explains: “The Jet2 fixed back seat is the ideal low cost carrier solution, and its advantages also make a lot of sense in other applications. Our new Ultra seat model is aimed at the full service carrier operating any sector length – in fact just now we’re finalising the delivery schedule to a national flag carrier operating 767 and 747 aircraft. What could be more suitable for a long haul flight than an extra couple of inches of legroom?”
His point is valid. When comfort can be defined as ‘the absence of discomfort’, and the most comfortable position is one which you are able to change at will, extra living space is clearly the most important factor affecting comfort. With the inclusion of seatback IFE and an adjustable headrest, the inherent comfort advantages of the Acro seat make 12 hours at 31” pitch a much more appealing prospect. So what’s next for Acro? The current production models are subject to a process of continuous improvement – an
even lighter model with savings of 2kg per passenger place is promised for later in 2012. Also in the pipeline is a business class seat, and more than one “outside the box”
“
The single most important principle is simplicity. A simple, considered design results in a robust and comfortable seat which also happens to be lightweight
seating concept, which may change the way we look at aircraft seating yet again. What we can be sure of is that simplicity and sophistication will be the hallmarks of all of these products.
”
Things have changed enormously since those Comet flights of the 1950s. Perhaps it’s time that the most fundamental part of the passenger experience – the aircraft seat – changed as well. Whilst it would be nice to be part of that 1950s “jet-set”, in today’s world, and today’s aircraft cabins, a modern, simple seat seems to be the only solution, for airline and passenger alike.
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