A new wood flooring product out of Europe launches the industry higher than it has ever been before. F/List, an Austrian company, has invented the first engineered wood flooring specifically for use in airplanes. It had to meet strict flame- and slip-resistance regulations and had to be lightweight, as well. F/List’s airplane flooring is manufactured like a puzzle—each piece of the floating floor fits a specific area of the airplane and flexes with in-flight movement. A locking system allows aircraft repairmen to easily remove a board to examine the aircraft’s floor surface. The flooring is already flying in three airplane platforms, and it turned heads as a finalist in the Crystal Cabin Awards, the Oscars of interior aviation design. The floors, which are available in panels with max dimensions of 7 9⁄10 by 3 9⁄10 feet, come in more than 180 veneer options. F/List can manufacture custom inlays and parquetry patterns, as well. While the company says its goal is to outfit as many business jets and head-of-state aircraft as possible, the product may also appear in some first and business class cabins, so start saving your pennies for your next flight.
