Seating plan for new AI planes - Airliners-India

karatecatman · Member

RE: Seating plan for new AI planes

the_380 · Member

Yeah they keep it secret till the last moment and then we come to know its something s***

HAWK21M · Member

Interesting Info.Thanks for Sharing.Hopefully the Aircraft Induction & Staff Recruitment start on time.

regds

MEL

vivekman · Member

Hope Thulsidas has his way and AI invests in the best this time. The Government should think about its own house rather than meddling in AI's affairs.....

karatecatman · Member

Not exactly about the seats but is about what the IFE will be like on those seats.

http://www.zeenews.com/znnew/articles.asp?aid=322222&ssid=53&sid=BUS
Air India awards contract worth USD70 mn to Thales

New Delhi, Sept 13: Air India has awarded a contract worth 70 million dollar to France-based Thales for installation of an advanced passenger entertainment system on 23 Boeing aircraft to be inducted in the international flag carrier from February next year.

Under the agreement, the entertainment system to be installed in 23 b-777s would comprise Thales top series digital audio and video on-demand entertainment systems at every seat, the airline said in a release here.

A 23-inch display system would be installed in the first class followed by 15 inch and 10.6 inch in business and economy classes.

The Air India had earlier signed up with Thales to install a similar system on the six Boeing 747-400 aircraft at a cost of 35 million dollar.

The installation of the system would mark a major upgradation for Air India in terms of product improvement in flight, it said, adding the Thales entertainment system, which was originally designed for Airbus A380 aircraft, was ideal for large planes besides being cost-effective and of light weight design.

It would also provide the passengers on non-stop flights the necessary entertainment to overcome flight fatigue situations.

Bureau Report '

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www.uninews.com

AI selects Thales entertainment system for new B777 planes

New Delhi, Sep 12 (UNI)

Air India (AI) has awarded contract for installation of advanced passenger entertainment system on 23 Boeing B777 aircraft to be inducted in its fleet from February 2007 onwards to Thales at a cost of 70 million dollars.

This will comprise TopSeries digital audio and video on demand entertainment system at every seat with 23 and 15 inch display for first and business class seats and 10.6 inch display in economy class seat.

Every screen will be wide screen and touch screen and each seat will also have a noise-cancelling module for high fidelity sound and laptop power.

The airline had earlier signed up with Thales to install a similar system on the six B747-400 fleet at a cost of 35 million dollars. The installation of the system will mark a major upgradation for AI in terms of product improvement in flight.

-- Edited by karatecatman at 13:43, 2006-09-13

karatecatman · Member

More info:

The airline has selected the Thales TopSeries i-5000 on-demand system which was initially designed for the Airbus A380 aircraft. The system is ideal for large aircraft and includes a gigabit Ethernet network for increased bandwidth for data throughput. In addition to the system, Air India will be supported by Thales’ media services group called TopEffects! Thales will work closely with the airline to ensure that the passenger experience is excellent.

Jaysit · Member

If they're having just 4 seats in First on the 777s, then it will be a standard 1-2-1 layout. Of course, Ratan Tata's dream of having an intimate dinner with someone else by swiveling his seat will be just that because with just one row of First Class seats, you'd face the bulkhead if you swiveled around.

And what about the crappy First Class seats on their 744s? They may have been nice 10 years ago, but they're generations behind what most airlines had in Business Class 9 years ago. No privacy shells, no personal IFE, no computer ports. And the blue pleather they have on the seats makes the cabin look like the Rajdhani Express, circa 1978.

And as far as the J class seats go on their 744s, the less said the better. Half the time, the controls don't work, and the condition of the seats are abysmal.

karatecatman · Member

Hello Jay,

See you as a respected regular on airliners.net, so I better be careful with what I say!!

The new seats for the 777s are to be from Avio Italy. So expect them to be really very good, the ultimate in luxury and expensive. Lets hope AI maintains them. But for all the efforts AI seems to be putting into upgrading IFE and the seats, let's hope the efforts aren't wasted with AI staff and Govt officials hijacking J and F classes.

About the 6 Air India 747-400s to be redone, only the Y seats will be completely revamped. The J and F class remain as they are.

Also just saw a huge thread and discussion on airliners.net on how long it will take for a AI 747 to get refurbished. AI indicated that the aircraft would be grounded at Mumbai for 30 calendar days. But has it been done at all? And with the aircraft availability programme in a mess, can AI afford to be groundign aircraft?

The PM's visit abroad now is already playing havoc.

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This was a part of the document:

Date: March 2005
B747-400 AIRCRAFT CABIN INTERIOR REFURBISHMENT
INTRODUCTION :
Air India is in the process of refurbishing SIX of its 747-400 airplanes. It is therefore looking for agencies that can participate in its Refurbishment programme.

1) BIDDER SHOULD BE FAR/EASA 145 APPROVED REPAIR STATION

RESPONDING BIDDERS WILL HAVE TO TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR OBTAINING FAA STC. THEY WILL ALSO HAVE TO COORDINATE ALL THEIR ACTIVITIES WITH INTEGRATOR TO OBTAIN OVERALL AIRCRAFT FAA STC.

Refurbishment of the aircraft includes the following :
1. UPPER DECK STOWAGE BIN ENHANCEMENT :
Improving stowage capacity to accommodate very large sized bags (20"x17"x35") and to provide improved architectural styling while retaining the existing structural components.

2. MAIN DECK STOWAGE BIN AND CEILING PANEL ENHANCEMENT :
Re-contouring of stowage bin covers and ceiling panels. The bin covers and ceiling panels to be given softer and more smoother contoured look to provide a more open and spacious feeling in the cabin as that of the B777 interior.

3. DYNAMIC MOOD LIGHTING/ENHANCED CABIN LIGHTING SYSTEM:

4. SIDE WALL PANELS UPGRADATION:

5. LAVATORIES UPGRADATION :
Lavatory housing to be replaced with new features :
All lavatories to have composite counter top.

Laminates in First Class to have distinct look.

Toiletries holder should accommodate at least five bottles of any shape and size.
Soap Dispenser outlet to fall within wash basin.
Mirror to be provided on bulkhead adjacent to toilet entry door.
Door for napkins, towels etc. to have latch installed and improved cut-outs so as to remove only one napkin at a time thus preventing napkins from falling in to toilet bowl.
Deodorant cake holder to be provided
Infrared faucet with manual bypass with a good flow rate of cold/hot water.
Wash basin drain plug to remain open for longer period. Drain plug slots to be made wider. Strainer with titanium grip slots to be fixed.
Quick disconnect on the water line from shut off valve to toilet bowl.

No sharp edges for any component anywhere. No surface must cause injury.

Jet slots in toilet bowl to flush matter completely and quickly. Must be able to accept heavy duty toilet cleaner with organic dissolving additives.

GALLEY UPGRADATION : (Air India has apparently dumped this idea of ovens).
Air India wishes to install one microwave oven each in its First Class and Business Class galleys without loss of chiller or conventional ovens. Service provider can suggest location and size of the microwave oven.

INTEGRATOR :
Air India is proposing to replace existing Economy class seats with new seats which will have seat back monitors. A new IFE system will be installed which will provide Audio/Video on demand to all passengers in First , Business and Economy class.

The Integrator should carry out the following:
...

Provide Engineering drawings, testing, and reports for the installation of new—or relocation of existing—components (galleys, lavatories, video closets, seats, furnishings, IFE, mood lighting, etc.) that potentially affect the: -
Structure, floor beam and seat track loads, airframe weight and balance of the aircraft)
Approve Engineering data/reports for flammability, fire containment, interior arrangement and safety, structural analysis/testing, mechanical systems, and electrical systems/loads.

The purpose of accomplishment of the 747-400 aircraft refurbishment is to provide a new softer look and spacious interior.

The above services are required to be offered to Air India for accomplishment on its first aircraft in November 2005 in Mumbai. After obtaining of FAA STC the remaining five aircraft will be grounded nose to tail with each aircraft grounded for approximately 30 calendar days. The programme is scheduled for completion by mid-2006.

The 6 aircraft had their original first and business class seats replaced with new seats provided by Sogerma. These seats will be retained and will have new IFE components installed.
Bidders must agree to provide spare parts support for items under the refurbishment programme. They will also have to provide a recommended spare parts list.

Air India intends to ground its first aircraft for refurbishment in November 2005 or there about. The refurbishment work will have to be carried out at Air India facility in Mumbai.

Labour:
Air India will provide all labour alongwith Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for accomplishment of the refurbishment. Bidders will have to provide supervision for the first aircraft and if necessary for the second.

-- Edited by karatecatman at 00:23, 2006-09-14

Jaysit · Member

karatecatman wrote:

About the 6 Air India 747-400s to be redone, only the Y seats will be completely revamped. The J and F class remain as they are.

That's typical of the half-assed way in which AI do everything. Those First Class seats are laugheable, and the J Class seats on their 744s (at least the 2 I've been on that had them) look like people have done a bhangra on them (broken panels, non-functional controls, etc.). Some babu must have come to the conclusion of "yeh chalega."

So, they're going to advertize their new premium products on the 777s, and some poor sod is going to get on after having paid $ 6000 for a JFK-BOM flight and deal with a rickety First Class seat from the last century and a purser who will say "Sorry, Saaaar, new seats are only on our new planes, but you can charge your laptop using the oven." If they're going to keep the 744s on routes to the US and Europe that attract high yield passengers, and if they really want to compete with the likes of BA and Emirates for premium passengers, then they need to play the game right.

AKLDELNonstop · Member

Jaysit wrote:

That's typical of the half-assed way in which AI do everything. Those First Class seats are laugheable, and the J Class seats on their 744s (at least the 2 I've been on that had them) look like people have done a bhangra on them (broken panels, non-functional controls, etc.). Some babu must have come to the conclusion of "yeh chalega."

Why? Why? Why? Why is it that whenever I try to find something positive about Air-India, something like this comes up. I do not know what the forum rules are for abusing, so forgive me for asking which IDIOT, dumwit moron, could possibly think of not upgrading the J and F on the 747. Jaysit you are wrong when you say that the F seats LOOK LIKE Rajhdhani of 1978, they probably are the SAME seats. And they looked like that the day they were installed 10 or whatever years ago.

Doesnt the person in charge have any self respect, why does he wish that his own product be degraded against the offerings of other airlines. I do not get it.

Someone please tell me exactly what could anyone possibly gain out of taking such a decision, other than the money tht would have gone towards updating the seats

Cheers

Shub