Fokker Services has contracted with a Dash 8 100 aircraft operator in the Asia Pacific region for the provision of a comprehensive passenger cabin upgrade package. The upgrade will consist of:

• Full refurbishment of the existing passenger cabin sidewall panels, luggage bins and  lavatory linings;
• A noise suppression kit, which will reduce passenger cabin noise levels by up to 3dB using passive measures;
• Photo luminescent escape path markings;
• LED lighting for both the passenger cabin and lavatories.

This package will not only enhance the overall ambience in the passenger cabin but will also generate savings in maintenance costs due to the passive system for escape path markings, and the implementation of LED lighting.  The latter generates weight savings due to the removal of heavy ballasts associated with traditional fluorescent lighting.  Furthermore, the exceptionally long life of LED lighting units means lower material expenditure relative to the shorter-lived fluorescent tubes.
The upgrade program will cover three aircraft, with Fokker Services responsible for overseeing the engineering, certification, and supply of the relevant kits, as well as the refurbishment of the cabin and lavatory linings at its facilities in the Netherlands.  The actual installation shall be done by the customer at their own heavy maintenance facilities during a scheduled check.  The first aircraft is scheduled to undergo the upgrade in the middle of 2013 with the other two to follow thereafter.
This project is a significant milestone in Fokker Services’ efforts to leverage its unique integrated service capabilities to provide complex turnkey solutions to the Dash 8 Q100/Q200/Q300 turboprop market globally.  This includes modification and upgrade programs, as well as, spare parts supply and rotable management programs.
In 2011 Fokker Services also entered into a Strategic Alliance with Bombardier to launch FLY for Dash 8, a program aimed at improving the availability of components and reducing the cost of repairs for Dash 8 Q100/Q200/Q300 aircraft operators. The program also helps operators to better predict and budget for material maintenance.

Fokker Services press release