India's First Self-Made Aircraft Seat Unveiled At Wings India 2024

In a significant milestone for the Indian aviation industry, Timetooth, a Bengaluru-based engineering company, has unveiled India’s first-ever domestically manufactured aircraft passenger seat at the Wings India 2024 event. This groundbreaking development marks a departure from the industry norm, where 100% of aircraft seats used by India’s registered air travel companies are imported.

Identifying the Gap: Timetooth’s Vision for Change

Amitav Chaudhuri, Co-Founder and Director of Timetooth, highlighted the current dependence on imported aircraft seats in a statement. He emphasized that despite the freedom given to airlines to choose seat sourcing, the lack of a domestic alternative compelled them to import all seats. Timetooth, in collaboration with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and with support from Indian airline companies, identified this gap and took the initiative to launch India’s first indigenous aircraft passenger seat.

Designing for Performance and Comfort

Janhavi Nene, VP Engineering at Timetooth and the project manager for the seats, shared insights into the design process. She explained that the team focused on meeting the Performance standards as per ITSO C39c while ensuring user comfort and operational efficiency for the airlines. The result is a range of lightweight seats, currently tailored for commuter aircraft such as the newly DGCA certified Hindustan (Dornier) 228. Additionally, Timetooth has regional transport aircraft seats conforming to ITSO C127c in the pipeline.

Spicejet’s Interest: A Testament to Timetooth’s Innovation

Spicejet, one of India’s leading airlines, has expressed keen interest in procuring state-of-the-art seating systems from Timetooth. The airline aims to customize these seats to align with the Spicejet brand and its vision for an enhanced user experience. Arun Kashyap, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Spicejet, formalized this intent during Wings India 2024, signing a letter of agreement with Timetooth. In his statement, Kashyap mentioned the alignment of Timetooth’s commitment to safety, comfort, and innovation with Spicejet’s expansion and modernization plans.

A Paradigm Shift in the Indian Aviation Industry

Timetooth’s launch of India’s first aircraft passenger seat not only marks a historic moment for the company but also signals a paradigm shift in the Indian aviation industry. The move towards domestically produced seating solutions not only supports the government’s “Make in India” initiative but also opens doors for innovation, collaboration, and self-sufficiency in meeting the evolving needs of the aviation sector.