One
of the biggest downsides to a long-haul flight is waiting for your body to
readjust to the new time zone once you touch down.
Source: Airbus
But
Airbus and Qatar Airways think they might have found a solution to the
perennial jetlag problem with their latest aircraft.
Source: Airbus
The
A350 XWB comes with a variety of improvements designed to minimize that groggy
feeling you get from flying halfway around the world.
One
of the main innovations is a system of LED lights inside the cabin that are
designed to change color to mimic the Sun's natural glow - and they're
programmed to fit in with our bodies' natural circadian rhythms no matter what
the actual time is.
What's
more, the plane's filtering system refreshes the air inside the cabin every 2
or 3 minutes, and keeps it pressurized at the equivalent of an altitude of
1,828.8 meters (6,000 feet).
Again,
Airbus says this improves passengers-comfort and minimize the effects of jetlag
once they step back onto the ground.
In
terms of passenger comfort, the economy seats are a little wider and a little
further apart, and it's easier to get down the aisles.
The
interior design of the cabin can be adapted by individual airlines, depending
on how they want to make use of the space (and how many business class
passengers they're expecting).
"The
design process was about optimization, pushing the constraints, and opening up
the box of solutions," said Alain De Zotti, chief engineer of the A350 XWB
program.
"We're
trying to make the jet relevant for the future. There's an open architecture
that can evolve to welcome new functions and can cope with the evolution of
technology."
Based
on the article “This new Airbus carbon fibre plane is designed to beat jetlag”
published in Science Alert
The B787 does this, of course. My question is: are any airlines actually using the lighting to simulate sunrises and sunsets in either the B787 or A350? Are B787 carriers also using the electronic window shades to make the effect more credible?
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