Millennium Concepts

Millennium Concepts, Inc. of Wichita, Kansas has been granted a Technical Standard Order (TSO) by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for the production of seats designed for the industry’s first certified Very Light Jet (VLJ), the Eclipse 500.  The approval means that Millennium has demonstrated that its processes and systems meet the repeatability and quality standards for VLJ passenger and crew seats set by the FAA.

Seats designed, certified and built by Millennium were installed in the Eclipse 500 in August of last year.  Eclipse won type certification from the FAA and began customer deliveries during the fourth quarter of 2006.  The TSO gives Millennium Concepts, which has rights to the engineering and certification data for the seats, the ability to market seats based on the design to other manufacturers for use in similar aircraft applications.

“Millennium has already built a solid reputation for our engineering prowess,” noted the company’s Vice President of Engineering Kevin Reifschneider.  “But we are more than a design and certification service.  We have now developed full in-house capabilities to test our designs, manufacture and deliver seats and interior components, including cabinets and associated hardware which meet federal safety and quality standards.  And, the FAA has recognized that capability by awarding us this TSO.  Together with the Parts Manufacturing Approval (PMA) which we already possess, we’re able to provide a full range of services—and products—for the interior of aircraft ranging in size from single engine personal aircraft to large transports,” he added.

The seats designed for VLJs feature a reclining backrest, adjustable headrest and lumbar support, break over capability and floor tracking.  The crew seats also incorporate a height adjustment mechanism.  “Our agreement with Eclipse is structured to allow us to pursue additional applications together, without incurring any additional licensing fees,” Reifschneider explained.  “For instance, to accommodate another airframe manufacturer, we have the ability to change the seat back width, the height and styling of the seats built on this frame,” he added.

Millennium made extensive use of the facilities at the National Institute of Aviation Research on the campus of Wichita State University in the development of the VLJ seats.  They have been tested for both static and dynamic strength, fire protection and occupant injury criteria.   Other technical aspects evaluated during development program included ergonomic studies and continued airworthiness.   The seats designed and built for Eclipse are fully certified with no limitations or restrictions.

Millennium Concepts is fast becoming a leader in the development and certification of aircraft interiors for the next generation of commercial aircraft.  Since its founding in 1999, the company has grown into a highly-regarded provider of engineering and related services, offering “turn-key” capabilities in interior design, fabrication and completions for aircraft ranging from the Cessna Grand Caravan to the Boeing Business Jet.  The company’s customer base encompasses a variety of industry leaders, including Associated Air Center, B/E Aerospace, Bombardier, EADS Aerospace, Eclipse Aviation, Embraer, L3 Communications, Marshal Aerospace, Nordam, Quest, Raytheon, and Yingling Aviation.