Jet Aviation, an offshoot of General Dynamics, has announced that its Basel, Switzerland facility is to start using bio-based resin for composite parts in its VVIP cabin interiors. The company currently has two completion projects it is working on, and these parts will be integrated into them both.
The resin is produced from up to 25% plant origin biological sources which Jet Aviation can locally source close to its Basel facility, which will have a substantial impact on the environment when compared to that of the more traditional epoxy resin. Jet Aviation has already conducted certification testing in-house and the resin was qualified for non-structural parts in VVIP completions.
“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. The resin currently being used in Jet Aviation’s in-house composite production workshop will be 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-ft² completion centre was opened, bringing the cabinet shop, interiors and finishing shops, and sheet metal shops together in one location.
