HAECO launches interior stowage devices combining passengers and cargo in main cabin

HAECO Cabin Solutions, a business unit of the HAECO Group with headquarters in Greensboro, North Carolina, USA, has launched new, certifiable devices to allow package stowage in the main passenger cabin.

As the COVID-19 environment developed, the company noted that airlines were beginning to use passenger flights strictly for cargo. At the same time, social distancing directives were being instituted nationwide. HAECO quickly developed solutions to allow airlines to carry cargo and passengers at the same time, optimizing passenger and cargo yield, using packages to distance passengers, and maintaining proper weight and balance requirements.

Four unique solutions moved from concept to offer able in less than a month. The solutions will be certified through a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) and are unique in the amount of weight that can be carried. The palletized variant can hold 1000 lbs., the all-in-one seat frame can hold 500 lbs., and the seat and floor storage systems can each hold up to 240 lbs. These options give airlines specific load authorizations and the capability of carrying larger items in the cabin that otherwise would have been stored in the aircraft’s belly, except for hazardous materials.

The solutions build upon existing seating and interior technologies and can be delivered in four to six weeks. Variants can be combined for both single and twin aisle aircraft to achieve an ideal operational payload. The installation process follows techniques used for economy seating, which can be accomplished quickly and without the need for special tools.

Doug Rasmussen, President and Group Director of HAECO Cabin Solutions, said, “We are pleased with the strong interest we have already seen from airlines and leasing companies and delighted that we can offer a quick, cost-effective solution to maximize yields during this challenging time.”