How to Choose the Right Leather Fabric for Aviation Seating

 

Fine leather aircraft seating elevates the flying experience. The material communicates elegance and, unlike cloth, is easy to clean and does not require special cleaning products.

Recently, airline and seat manufacturer concerns have focused on a recurring problem of synthetic aviation upholstery leather corroding metallic frame structures. IZIT Leather BioSYN was the only product tested that did not corrode.

What is Upholstery Leather?

Leather upholstery fabric is made from a wide variety of hides that are treated to ensure quality, strength and durability. The best upholstery leather is a high-quality full-grain product that has not been treated with synthetics and is tanned with aniline dye. These processes ensure the leather is soft and durable with excellent resistance to rub, water, light and fire. It is a popular choice for aircraft seating, hotel and yacht furniture.

The material’s unique qualities make it more suited to cabin interiors than most fabrics. Unlike woven textiles, upholstery leather can be easily restored and dyed to offer added longevity. It also breathes, assuming body temperature quickly and adjusting to different seasons without feeling sticky or cold. Leather is also fire-resistant, a requirement for any airline that wishes to operate within certain safety regulations.

There is a large range of colours available for aviation leather fabric. However, the most popular choice for private jets is a light taupe or cream that allows for easier cleaning and retains resale value. More vibrant choices like burgundy, oxblood and burnt orange have been used in the past but may be harder to find.

Aircraft seating sees much more wear and tear than furniture in a residential environment. Airline cabin managers must balance the passenger experience with the cost of repairing or replacing components. Doy predicts a move back towards fabric, especially on short haul routes, as it is less expensive to maintain and can be cleaned more efficiently.

How to Choose Upholstery Leather

There are many types of leather, and each has its own strengths and weaknesses. To make the right choice, you must weigh up these factors against the use to which your piece or final upholstered product will be put. For instance, if you’re going to be regularly seating people at your dining table or sofa, you’ll want to choose a top-grain or full-grain upholstery leather with added protection. This might mean choosing semi-aniline leather with a protective finish that will decrease the visibility of the natural marks and intricacies of the hide but will prevent the leather from becoming ragged over time.

On the other hand, bonded leather or PU may be cheaper but won’t stand up to much wear and tear. This is why most upholsterers and furniture shops won’t recommend bonded leather to customers. It can start peeling within the first year or two. If you’re unsure which type of upholstery leather is best for your project, contact Sydney Upholstery today and we can help.

Safety Requirements for Upholstery Leather

Despite its attractiveness and popularity, upholstery leather must meet certain performance requirements for aviation. Aside from being free from manufacturing faults and durable enough to last a reasonable time the leather must also pass certain flammability tests. This is to minimize the risk of fire hazards and the subsequent loss of life.

The smolder test is conducted in an enclosed laboratory chamber where the material is exposed to an open flame for a short period of time. Technicians measure the resulting char to determine whether the leather meets flammability standards. The cover aircraft seat fabric, filling materials and other components of the seat must all pass the test before they can be used in the airline industry.

Cortina’s products are designed to meet or exceed these high safety standards, while offering a lower environmental footprint and higher performance than traditional synthetic leathers that require dangerous solvents and thousands of gallons of water in their production processes. IZIT leather, for example, has been engineered to be the safest aviation-grade synthetic leather on the market.

This material withstands repeated exposure to intense heat sources without the formation of cracks or delamination. It’s also abrasion-resistant, which makes it an ideal choice for the rigourous aviation environment. In recent years airlines and seat manufacturers have experienced problems with certain synthetic leathers being corrosive to the metallic components of their seat frames, leading to millions of dollars in repair or replacement costs. IZIT has been independently tested and found to be the only aviation-grade synthetic leather that does not corrode to these surfaces.

Choosing Upholstery Leather

The choice of leather upholstery fabric is one of the most important design decisions for an aircraft cabin. Not only does it convey elegance and a commitment to a sustainable philosophy, but it must also be durable enough to resist the wear and tear of frequent use by a passenger base that is growing increasingly discerning and demanding.

Cortina manufactures several custom full-grain pigmented leathers for the aviation industry, which require the highest levels of durability and cleanability. They are trusted by airlines, aircraft manufacturers, and MROs around the world. Pigmented leathers are resistant to staining, abrasion, and fading and will typically last four times longer than vinyl.

Aircraft seat covers are now being manufactured with fabrics that are more comfortable, easier to clean and offer a higher level of hygiene protection. IZIT Leather BioSYN, for example, is made without any chemicals and can be cleaned using a water-based cleaner. It also has a built-in hygiene protection system to reduce the risk of cross contamination between passengers and is extremely easy to maintain.

In addition, IZIT’s seat covers weigh one-quarter less than genuine leather and bonded PU, thereby reducing the weight of the aircraft and resulting in less fuel burn per flight, helping to keep the cost of flying low and contributing to a more sustainable future.