| Q. | What is the difference between SPICE and current galley standards? |
| A. | Current galley standards like ATLAS and KSSU use trolleys. SPICE does not use trolleys. It uses a combination of Foldable Service Carts and lightweight boxes that are inserted into the carts. SPICE still uses the standard ATLAS tray size, which means that airlines can continue to use their current trays and drawers. |
| Q. | What are the weight benefits for airlines? |
| A. | Airbus has quantified the weight and space savings by analysing specific airline aircraft. The results show that airlines can save around 400-600 kg on a typical widebody aircraft seating 250-300 pax.
If the airline were to put SPICE on an A380, the weight savings are roughly double these numbers, meaning weight savings well over 1 ton. |
| Q. | How does SPICE save weight? |
| A. | Today, airlines don’t certify what they put in the trolley. Tomorrow airlines won’t certify what they put in the galley. This is made possible because of the use of the 9g certified flame-proof compartments to hold boxes in the galley.
These compartments make it possible to use any kind of lightweight and low-cost material, such as cardboard or plastic, to produce suitable containers for transportation and storage of food.
In additional to these weight savings, SPICE’s space savings allow to remove galley monuments. Since each monument can weight hundreds of kilograms, this makes a significant contribution to efficiency. |
| Q. | How does SPICE create more space for seats? |
| A. | There are two ways SPICE saves space. Firstly, the use of the transfer table means restrictions on crew lifting can be removed, and more space at the top of the galley can be used than in current galleys. Secondly, the galley equipment in a SPICE galley will have one standard size (same height and width). Having one standard size makes sure that less space is wasted than in current galley types.
These space savings mean that, on a typical widebody, we can remove one whole galley monument. When galley monuments are removed, space for seats is created. |
| Q. | What is the SPICE Recycling Toolkit? |
| A. | When discussing SPICE with airlines, it became clear that many carriers were looking for ways to improve their waste handling processes, especially by doing more recycling.
Airbus’ SPICE concept offers opportunities for improvement in this area because the SPICE Folding Service Cart has an open top and can be combined with a Meal Box featuring a lid in the top. In combination with a rubbish bag, this allows the use of the Meal Box for waste collection without needing to take up dedicated space in the galley like today’s waste trolleys.
Adding to this basic building block, Airbus has conceived several other items which can be mounted securely onto the Folding Service Cart. The items include a tray stacker, a liquids container, and a recycling bag sizeable to different volumes of recyclable waste. These items can be used in any combination, adaptable to suit any individual airline’s desired level of waste processing on-board. |
| Q. | When can we see a SPICE galley in order to assess the concept? |
| A. | Airbus will present a working SPICE galley prototype to the industry in Q4 this year, following completion of all tests and trials with caterers and cabin crew. The mockup will demonstrate the key innovations and principles, and will be used to assess market interest in the SPICE concept. |
| Q. | What work has Airbus completed with airlines and caterers? |
| A. | Airbus has been working very closely with airlines and airline caterers over the past two years, in order to identify and resolve blocking points that could be experienced during the introduction of SPICE.
Initial work in this area focussed on the need to have a transportation device for moving SPICE boxes around in the caterer’s facility, and during ground operations. With input from global catering companies, Airbus designed a piece of equipment called a Caterer Mobile Device (CMD).
Following this activity, Airbus has successfully completed several trials of SPICE equipment in the facilities of these caterers to ensure that they can still produce and package food for delivery to aircraft without major changes to their current processes.
Tests have then also been completed with the caterers to load a catering consignment from a truck onto an aircraft, to ensure that there is no impact on aircraft Turn-Around-Time and the airline’s timetable for flight departure.
In working with airlines, Airbus has listened to their requirements in terms of equipment and processes. From this work, we have created half-size as well as full-size Folding Service Carts, and created the SPICE Recycling Toolkit.
In terms of cabin services, Airbus recruited real cabin crew who are currently working in airline operations, to check the ease with which crew can learn to use SPICE equipment. Several trials were conducted including the preparation and delivery of different services such as drinks, meals, and on-demand/hand delivery. All trials showed excellent results in terms of both ease and speed of completion. |
| Q. | Which galley manufacturers and equipment suppliers will Airbus work with? |
| A. | Suppliers for SPICE boxes have already been selected and include well-known players already existing within the industry. Airbus has been in detailed discussions with several of the main galley and galley equipment suppliers for production of flight-test equipment. Airbus and a major cabin equipment supplier are currently in final negotiations. |
| Q. | When will SPICE be available on aircraft? |
| A. | The current phase of the project is focussed on developing the concept far enough that we can make a decision about Authorisation To Offer (ATO). Airbus’ ATO decision is planned to be taken by Q2 2010. If the project gets ATO, then we expect the first aircraft to be fitted with SPICE early next decade. |
| Q. | Is Airbus selling SPICE only for Airbus aircraft? |
| A. | Airbus is not selling SPICE. Airbus is developing a new more efficient galley concept called SPICE, which we hope will become the first new galley standard in over 40 years. The standard will be available for all aircraft types, not only Airbus types. |
| Q. | Will SPICE only be available for new aircraft? |
| A. | Airbus intends for SPICE standard galleys to be available to airlines wishing to have them on both line-fit and on retrofit. |
| Q. | Why is Airbus trying to get into the galley business? |
| A. | Airbus is not trying to get into the galley business. Airbus sees the need for innovation in this area and has decided to do something about it. We will be working in partnership with galley and equipment manufacturers to bring SPICE to reality. |
| Q. | Who do we contact for further information? |
| A. | Please contact Daniel PERCY, Marketing Manager, Aircraft Interiors Marketing.
daniel.percy@airbus.com
+33 5 62 11 76 33 |
