Let there be light

Let there be light
Let there be light

STG Aerospace's CEO, Nigel Duncan takes a holistic view of cabin lighting by illuminating the benefits to both passenger and airline alike.

Nigel Duncan
STG Aerospace’s CEO, Nigel Duncan takes a holistic view of cabin lighting by illuminating the benefits to both passenger and airline alike. At STG Aerospace, we believe in taking a holistic view of the cabin lighting environment. With so many individual components involved – ceiling and sidewall lights, floor path and emergency signage lights, PSU lights and galley lights and more – it means ensuring not only that every element is performing its own task, but also that they are working together collectively to produce the most pleasing and beneficial ambience, as well as remaining fully compliant with safety regulations. Why do we attach such importance to this holistic approach? Because the benefits it can deliver are so far reaching. For a start, there is the impact on the passenger experience – which obviously has to be a key factor for any airline. According to Bubb’s discomfort pyramid (2008), light, after smell, is the most important factor affecting passenger comfort, ahead of noise, vibration and climate. In other words, getting the lighting right is not so much an option as a necessity. In addition to passenger comfort, there is the opportunity that the right lighting offers to enhance the airline’s brand identity and encourage customer loyalty. Furthermore, given that the cabin is also a retail environment, the ability to control and optimise the lighting can have a significant effect on this key revenue stream. But what about cost – clearly another key factor for airlines? Doesn’t it require a substantial investment to realise the benefits of a holistic lighting approach? There are, indeed, many airlines out there with fleets in need of an upgrade who believe that they can’t afford the investment required. The message that STG Aerospace has for them is that there are low cost ways of achieving transformative results. Our safTglo floorpath marking and safTsign emergency signage products are both examples of how to incorporate aesthetic and branding considerations with passenger comfort and wellbeing at the same time as actually reducing airline costs – in addition to delivering environmental benefits and meeting the highest industry safety requirements. Easily installed, and currently in use on over 9,000 aircraft worldwide, safTglo requires no power source and offers a significantly lower weight alternative to electrical systems, thereby increasing fuel efficiency. With its unique fully-sealed design, it can also substantially reduce maintenance costs. Available in a choice of sizes as well as over 300 colour options, safTglo can deliver a dramatic enhancement of cabin aesthetics at the same time as improving airline metrics. Just as easy to install as safTglo, safTsign is a direct replacement for tritium signs, providing long-duration illumination and once again offering the advantages of a low acquisition cost and, with no electrical power source required, zero operating costs. safTsign is also available in a wide range of finishes to complement the aesthetics of any cabin design. The same design philosophy that led to safTglo and safTsign is also evident in our liTeMood LED cabin lighting retrofit system. Versatile, programmable and plug-and-play, liTeMood features significantly increased reliability over traditional lighting systems, thereby reducing ongoing maintenance costs, and also delivers important environmental benefits. Not only is liTeMood up to 40kg lighter than original-fit fluorescent lighting, it also consumes 70% less power with significantly reduced maintenance costs. And yet, despite the simplicity of installation and operation, liTeMood incorporates some of the latest research into the effects of ambient lighting on the physical and emotional wellbeing of passengers. Moreover, its simple drop-in technology optimises cross-platform functionality, ensuring that it can be installed to replace legacy lighting systems without any aircraft-side modification other than connector changes. In conclusion, advances in both photoluminescent and LED lighting system components and design offer significant yet affordable upgrade to ageing interiors, while improving both wellbeing of passengers and enhancing the retail environment for airlines. As an innovator of light, STG Aerospace is getting rave reviews from both passengers and airlines for transformation of 737 and 757 cabins into beautiful, inviting yet practical interiors that reap significant savings in operating costs, improve retail results and enhance their brand appeal. www.stgaerospace.com  

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