The Airbus A380 is to soon be kitted out with space-saving military-style male urinals.
Speaking at Aircraft Interiors Expo 2008 in Hamburg, Arndt Schoenemann, managing director of Hamburg-based Dasell Cabin Interiors confided that his Hamburg-based business has secured its first A380 contract for two separate urinal/washroom units for use alongside conventional lavatories.
Dasell, which develops and manufactures cabin components for the entire Airbus family including the A380, presented its washroom with integrated urinals concept at the show but remains tight-lipped about the identity of the A380 customer.
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© Müller/RomcaDesigners Müller/Romca helped create the urinal concept for Dasell |
"Two units comprising four urinals makes sense on an A380. Our studies have shown that typically, around 70% of economy class passengers are male so this actually improves hygienic conditions for female passengers, improves flow through and saves water.
"More importantly, installing them could, per unit, save the space of four seats in a typical long-range aircraft," says Schoenemann, adding that the A380 contract will be announced "in a couple of months".
Designers Müller/Romca helped create the urinal concept for Dasell, which won this year's Crystal Cabin Award in the Industrial Design/Interior Concept category.
Schoenemann adds that the urinal concept will also feature on Airbus Military's A400M, similar to the urinal located at the rear of the RAF's Vickers VC10s which are used to transport military personnel, cargo and troops, and the forward urinal of Lockheed-Martin C-130 Hercules.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
