Jeff Bonner Research and Development (JBRND, Booth N3504) is shedding some light on its "new, one-of-a-kind" aircraft window system, which it says will eliminate the "frequent, inconvenient repairs caused by the string-based system inside most pleated shades." According to the San Antonio, Texas-based company, its custom belt-drive system has eliminated the need for any strings inside the window system. In testing, the new electric shade system performed more than a million cycles without a failure. A unique USB port on the controller enables programming and adjusting the system to customer requirements without have to remove the shade from the aircraft.

JRBND recently added a 6,000-sq-ft building to its headquarters to make room for the new windows department. “We didn’t just spontaneously decide we were going to get into the windows market,” said Ed Harris, JBRND sale v-p. “The technology for aircraft window shade systems has been either completely stagnant and maintenance-heavy, or problematically space-age and cost-prohibitive. We wanted to provide a high-quality, extremely low-maintenance middle ground."

Two years after opening the new department, JBRND has delivered windows for two Boeing B787s, ten Beechjet 400s, a Russian Helicopters M-17, an Airbus A318, a Boeing B777 and a Boeing BBJ1. According to Harris, there are many more projects in the pipeline, including a Chinese ARJ-21 and two Boeing 787 Dreamliners. "If orders keep up like this," said Harris, "We’re going to need another building, and maybe another campus altogether."

JBRND, currently celebrating its 25th year, specializes in VIP and luxury aircraft component and subassembly fabrication. According to the company, it can manufacturer 99 percent of any aircraft component or subassembly under one roof without relying on outside vendors. JBRND offers machining, sheet metal fabrication, showers, hi/lo tables, LED lighting systems, composite fabrication, special operations aircraft modifications and prototype fabrication services. The company has an in-house engineering staff familiar with both secondary and primary structure design and certification. Most of the testing of JBRND's custom products is done in-house, including testing processes such as DO 160, flammability, pull, long beam/short beam compression, bird strikes, water leakage and airflow. The company will also help lead clients through a lengthy FAA certification process for custom products and furnishings. In addition to outfitting luxury business jets and helicopters, JBRND works in the commercial aviation and defense sectors.