Page 22 - May 2019

Fiveon the Fly by Rebecca Groom Jacobs
1. You have dedicated nearly four decades to business aviation, predominantly at Beechcraft. What aspects of the company and industry have had you hooked?
Wow, when you put it into decades, it makes me seem old. But time has flown by;
I love aviation and this company. We truly are a big family of loyal employees WHO: and loyal customers. It is a fast-paced, premium, fascinating market, which has
Jo Kimbell
POSITION:
Senior Interior Design Specialist, Textron Aviation
always had a mystique and passion surrounding it.
The industry has always kept my enthusiasm and affinity growing. I have
an inability to stop my mind from realizing new designs. It is like a rush of adrenaline when a new concept comes to life. It starts involuntarily and then becomes an addiction.
2. Can you describe your current role and responsibilities at Textron Aviation?
HOME BASE: I am the senior interior designer for Beechcraft turboprops and pistons, and now
Wichita, KS
the new Cessna Denali. In this position, I meet with all customers under those categories to help guide them to the successful interior for their aircraft.
I also participate in new product development for these products. This involves working on cross-functional internal teams with industrial design, engineering, supply chain management, manufacturing and sales.
3. How has the aircraft interiors sector evolved since you first entered the segment?
Over the last 38 years, I have observed a number of trends in aircraft design.
The most prominent is the liberal use of a variety of materials such as leathers, silks, platings, custom carpets, rich wood finishes and most recently “green initiatives.” The only boundaries are really those imposed by federal aviation regulations. However, we can still be very creative in working to satisfy customer requirements while meeting the necessary standards, which can lead to exciting new products.
20 • TWIN & TURBINE / May 2019