Canada’s Field Aviation has been picked to produce and install custom-designed interiors for two new Bombardier Q400s under a contract with Avitrade Belgium on behalf of its ultimate customer.

Work began last month at Field’s completion center at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport. The 62-seat airline configuration will be converted to a 28-seat, mixed-class layout. It will include a four-passenger VIP cabin, an eight-passenger first-class cabin and a 16-passenger economy section.

Modification of the second airplane is scheduled to begin next month, with conversion to a configuration with eight first-class seats and 32 economy seats.

Both airplanes will have interior features such as in-flight entertainment, satellite phones, customized galleys, wood laminates and redesigned lavatories.

The two-aircraft contract comes as Field Aviation embarks on a business realignment that places a stronger focus on modification and conversion of aircraft for special-mission roles, as well as executive and corporate shuttle interior reconfiguration of regional airliners.

The decision comes in response to “strong customer demand within these two key areas of our operations,” said v-p of marketing Chris Cooper-Slipper.

Field Aviation has been involved in aircraft modification and conversion for special roles for more than 60 years. The company also manufactures airframe parts and accessories for a variety of current production aircraft, including the Q400 and the Viking Twin Otter 400.