During this week’s Airbus Summit 2021, the European airframer revealed that Airbus A350s delivered in 2022 and beyond will feature electronically-dimmable windows.
Airbus will use the updated electrochromic technology that has been standard on Boeing’s B787 dreamliner aircraft ever since the aircraft took its first flight more than 10 years ago to control the darkness of the window shades throughout the cabin.
With these latest generation electrochromic windows, passengers will no longer have to manually push the window shade up or down aboard the new A350, but rather can adjust their window shade setting by the push of a button.
The system works by sending an electric current through a special transparent gel that’s sandwiched between two panels within the window.
The Dreamliner has five settings from 1 (which is fully transparent) to 5 which is the darkest setting.
Developed by US firm Gentex in co-operation with the airframer the newer design will be able to block 99.999% of light in a high-speed transition between clear and dark compared to previous designs. The latest windows will darken twice as fast and become 100 times darker.
In addition, these dimmers also incorporate a heat control solution that blocks infra-red energy from entering the cabin from outside, lessening the dependence on air-conditioning systems.
Airbus unveiled the option as part of its updated Airspace cabin concept. Airlines will still have a choice of whether to install traditional shades but weight savings alone could convince many carriers that electronically dimmable windows are a worthy replacement.
Airbus is also working on an ultra-thin and ultra-light electronic display board that can be fitted to nearly any cabin surface like a sticker. The technology could be used to welcome passengers onboard an aircraft or display safety-related messages but some airlines could also use it to display adverts on overhead lockers.
Boeing’s 777X aircraft is also expected to feature the latest generation electrochromic window technology when it finally launches.
By Victor Shalton Odhiambo
