Spatial Composite Solutions is a specialist manufacturer of cabin crew training equipment. Exterior aircraft skin is manufactured from composite, using class one fire specification materials. Interior panelling, bulkheads and aircraft galleys manufactured from composite honeycomb panels.

The CST for Etihad is currently under construction in Spatial Composite Solutions’ facility in the Jebel Ali Free Zone, United Arab Emirates (UAE). It is scheduled to be installed and commissioned in June and will be ready for training at the end of July. It will be located at Etihad’s new Crew Training Academy in Abu Dhabi.

The CST will be a 1:1 scale replica of an actual Airbus A320 aircraft fuselage, featuring a forward cabin complete with galleys, seats, overhead storage bins, door exits and electronic control systems. The galleys will be equipped with the same equipment that would be used during in-flight service at 30 000 ft.

Spatial Composite Solutions was awarded the contract by EDM Ltd of Manchester, UK. The two companies recently formed a strategic alliance and have agreed to partner on a number of forthcoming cabin crew training projects in the Gulf region. EDM is a global provider of training and simulation systems for civil aviation and specialises in the design of military training devices for the UK Ministry of Defence.