Cockpit and cabin

Very light jets (VLJs) are the newest addition to the aviation industry. With such innovative capabilities as short runway take-offs and a 370-knot cruising speed, VLJs are expected to significantly change the way people travel. At the forefront of this change is Eclipse Aviation, a US-based company, manufacturing jets that defy the old rules of hub-and-spoke air travel. To solidify its position at the forefront of lightweight aviation innovation, Eclipse approached IDEO to design a cockpit and cabin for the Eclipse 500 jet.

Challenged by such constraints as the small size of the jet's pressurized cabin, IDEO's team of human factors specialists, industrial designers, and mechanical engineers began looking at ways to maximize the space and provide intuitive interactions for pilots and passengers. IDEO worked with pilots, aircraft owners, and potential Eclipse 500 buyers to understand that while functions and requirements differ between cockpit and cabin, both zones can embrace a common design theme. The resulting solution minimizes visual clutter and superfluous details, creating an interior that is both user-friendly and elegant.

The Eclipse 500's cockpit features a harmonized instrument panel to reduce complexity, with controls grouped and labeled according to flow, reach and handedness considerations. The result is an overall look of simplicity and purpose. A military-style sidestick control offers the pilot a more natural feel and easier operation. LED lighting illuminates the cockpit with a serene, glare-free glow.

Using full-scale prototypes and real flight times, IDEO utilized a number of methods to design the configuration of the cabin. Designers leveraged the interior geometry, a variety of materials, and clever lighting to create a feel bigger than the actual size. Amenities such as a custom-designed in-flight entertainment system featuring MP3 and XM Satellite Radio, refreshment center, and roll away lavatory all enhance the jet's commuter-friendly visage.

Eclipse Aviation has sold more than 2,500 jets, worth a record-breaking $3.8 billion. The Eclipse 500 won the 2005 Robert J. Collier Trophy for "leadership, innovation and the advancement of general aviation."