In-flight Entertainment

Panasonic Avionics IFE by Qt

2012-01-01T22:39:00.001-05:00

Here is a video that the software company Qt produced featuring one of their customers, Panasonic Avionics. Panasonic is talking about their IFE system and how this Qt software enables them to focus on the design of the IFE, and not get bogged down in memory layer and/or operating system details.

JetBlue and LiveTV to Split; LiveTV Spin-off Imminent

2011-01-05T01:41:00.003-05:00

An anonymous source (KingOfIndiana) told us today that JetBlue is currently in serious negotiations to spin-off LiveTV as a separate business entity. Lawyers for JetBlue and LiveTV are currently meeting in New York City to iron out the details. JetBlue purchased Melbourne, Fla.-based LiveTV for $81 million in 2002. That transaction included $41 million in cash and the assumption of $40 million of LiveTV debt.

LiveTV offers several highly-profitable products. Most famous is their Live Satellite Television antenna and IFE system. The company also manufactures:

XM passenger radio kits
Kiteline, a BlackBerry text messaging service
LiveTV Airfone, an Air-To-Ground communication service marketed towards the General Aviation (VIP) market.

This paragraph from JetBlue's April 2008 earnings statement basically foretells the LiveTV sell-off:

On April 22, 2008, we stated that we were considering a range of strategic alternatives for our LiveTV business, which provides in-flight entertainment systems and data connectivity services for commercial aircraft operated both by us and by third parties. We further stated that it might be a few quarters until we have prioritized our options regarding these alternatives. Morgan Stanley is serving as our financial advisor. We cannot predict the outcome of our consideration, or whether it will result in the occurrence of any transaction.

Panasonic Promises IFEC App Store at WAEA 2010

2010-09-21T14:17:00.003-04:00

Interesting idea to bring the Apple App Store concept to IFE. Wonder if it is for Applications (such as Moving Maps) or for content (such as TV shows).

The Panasonic Avionics App Store is intended to bring the energy and excitement of the rapidly expanding open platform application developer community to airlines and passengers worldwide. Panasonic has chosen CoKinetic Systems to help with the implementation of the application store.

“There is a huge community of developers creating really rich and exciting content for smart phones and computers that can be brought to the IFEC industry under the right conditions,” says Panasonic CEO Paul Margis. “The Panasonic Avionics App Store will support this community of developers using widely available tools and processes to create many different types of application, from traditional maps, games and user interfaces to revenue generating transaction applications for merchants and airlines.”

CoKinetic CEO Kris Stevens says the store should dramatically reduce the time to market for new content, establishing a new pace of innovation in IFEC. "Developers would then see their ideas flying in a matter of weeks, and passengers will enjoy the same type of diverse, quirky, cutting-edge content they’ve come to expect in other market segments," he adds.

Panasonic says the app store will be the storefront and aggregation point for existing and future applications for Panasonic IFEC systems. Airlines, through a secure log in, will be able to see apps available and under development and access the community of developers should they want their own apps developed. Content owners and merchants who want their own applications developed and made available to the airlines will be able to access the app store to reach out to the developer community and have their apps created.

News source - Inflight-Online.com and Computer Aircraft Server

New Blu-ray Disc and DVD Player for Aircraft

2010-06-02T17:34:00.003-04:00

Flight Display Systems, a company who manufactures IFE products for the business jet market, has introduced a Blu-ray Player at the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg Germany. It supposedly features Full HD 1080p, HDMI and Component Video, and Complete RS-485 Control.

Called the Next Generation Blu-ray and DVD player, part number FD932DVD-BLU Version CV, this product is available today for a list price of $5,254. This Blu-ray Disc player is packed with incredible new in-flight entertainment features, including HDMI video output up to 1080p, Component video up to 1080i, and Composite NTSC video. Multiple video outputs ensure that customers can select the best choice for their installation, including standard definition video for legacy monitors without HD support.

Engineers from Flight Display Systems have worked to add 500% more RS-485 commands to this new Blu-ray and DVD player, including all functions currently found on the infrared remote, such as Play, Pause, Rewind, Fast Forward, and Mute. These fully documented commands allow customers to integrate and control the Flight Display Systems Next Generation Blu-ray player using third-party Cabin Management Systems. The Next Generation Blu-ray and DVD player also has the ability to play Blu-ray and DVD movies from any region.

If Panasonic and Thales are the top-tier IFE players, LiveTV dominates the mid-tier players, then Flight Display Systems from Alpharetta Georgia USA is certainly among the top of the small IFE companies. We rank them in the midst of companies such as Custom Control Concepts, Rosen Aviation, and Aircraft Cabin Systems.

LiveTV and Iridium Partnership

2010-06-02T17:18:00.002-04:00

The news of a partnership between LiveTV and Iridium caught our eye. From the press release,

LiveTV and Iridium Communications Inc. have entered into an agreement to develop an aviation antenna based on the Iridium OpenPort high-speed communications service... The solution provides up to 128 kbps and three voice channels in an always-on IP configuration.

"We expect to engage in Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) air trials by the fourth quarter 2010, with full commercial rollout early in 2011." said Mike Moeller, LiveTV's vice president of sales and marketing.

The planned low capital cost of the LiveTV Iridium OpenPort-based aviation equipment, and cost-effective airtime packages, will enable affordable ongoing, global connectivity to keep crew, operations staff and passengers in touch, according to Moeller, who also foresees a considerable market in the business jet sector.

LiveTV (a company in Florida which was purchased by Jet Blue several years ago) is certainly one of the most forward-thinking IFE manufacturers. If Panasonic and Thales occupy the top-tier of large aircraft IFE suppliers, then LiveTV leads the middle-tier. Stay tuned for details on this. Global coverage at a low cost... combined with their USA spectrum auction rights... LiveTV is certainly serious about internet access in-flight and seems to be staking a major portion of their R&D investments there. The company is notably absent from the VOD market.

IFE Services to offer Sony PSP for Airline Pax Entertainment

2010-06-02T17:05:00.002-04:00

IFE Services from the UK has put out a press release announcing a partnership with Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) . IFE Services will begin to distribute the Sony PSP (PlayStation Portable) to airlines. As the release states,

Through this collaboration, IFE Services can work with airlines to add one of the world’s best-selling and most popular handheld entertainment systems to their in-flight entertainment. With on-board access to a PSP system and its broad gaming and entertainment offering, passengers can watch movies and television programmes and play the latest PSP games.

Custom airline branding can be incorporated on the PSP system, which is fully certified for use in-flight. The peripherals were specifically selected for use by airline passengers enabling the PSP system to be comfortably held or positioned on a seatback tray. The PSP system has a high-resolution, widescreen TFT display and a sleek, lightweight design. To provide an enhanced experience to passengers, the PSP systems will be equipped with an extended battery life offering from 5.5 to 11 hours while playing games. IFE Services provides comprehensive crew training and full logistical support and can tailor, load and refresh content to suit airline requirements.

As of 25 May 2010, IFE Services claims to have signed new supplier agreements with six airlines.

Innovative iPhone Mount for Airline Seating

2009-12-07T17:17:00.003-05:00

A coach class passenger created this dental floss iPhone mount while on a flight from Zurich to JFK yesterday. The passenger wanted to watch a few hours of video on his iPhone without having to crane his view down at the tray table.

NBAA 2009 - Panasonic Avionics Coming to Business Jets

2009-10-21T18:10:00.001-04:00

Panasonic breaks into business aviation market
Flight Daily News - source

Panasonic Avionics has entered the business aviation sector by offering its new Global Communications Suite (GCS) on over a dozen types of VIP aircraft.
The company is now offering GCS, which provides a combination of in-flight broadband, mobile telephone and live television solutions, on business aircraft. Panasonic vice-president global communication services David Bruner says it has already secured contracts from three business aircraft customers covering 14 VIP aircraft types.

The first installation is planned for next month on a Boeing BBJ with most of the other aircraft 13 types to follow over the next 18-24 months.

NBAA 2009 In-flight Entertainment News Summary

2009-10-21T17:52:00.003-04:00

Live from Orlando, Florida USA. Here are some IFE headlines from one of the companies making the most news at the show.

Flight Display Systems Debuts New 6 Channel MP3 Player, CMS
from Aero-News Network - source

Flight Display Systems introduced a new MP3 player for in-flight entertainment systems on Tuesday. The 6-Genre Music Player provides up to 90 hours of music in one compact unit. Six independent memory cards each hold up to 15 hours of music. Each card can be programmed by the user for six different genres of music simultaneously broadcast throughout the cabin.

Retrofit company booming during a bust
from AOPA Online - source

Most companies that service the business jet industry are talking about what the economy has done to them in the past year, but one is talking about what it has done for them.

"As the economy turned down, our sales went up," said David Gray of Flight Display Systems located in Alpharetta, Ga. "We’ve put up a new building, and we are hiring engineers." Flight Display Systems is in the retrofit business, providing information and entertainment to passengers. It is a market appealing mostly to owners of larger jets, but the company also counts owners of Hawker Beechcraft King Airs and single-engine turboprops among its customers.

Flight Display enters cabin management arena
from Flight Daily News - source

Flight Display Systems (booth 4484) has marked here at NBAA its first foray into the cabin management system market with the introduction of the first cabin management system aimed solely at the retrofit market.

Speaking at the show, Jay Healey, Flight Display's vice-president of satellite systems, said the company has been a supplier of in-flight entertainment parts such as LCD screens and DVDs to the interiors industry, including widescreen TVs and DVD for a number of years and has built a network of around 500 dealers across the globe, many of which have been calling on the company to build a cabin management system.

"Our Select CMS system offers true high-definition video interfacing", he said "and is available for around a third less than rival systems provided by traditional CMS suppliers such as Rockwell Collins and Honeywell. Flight Display will focus its sales effort on the US market initially to eliminate any teething problems. We hope to begin selling the CMS to international markets in around three months", Healey added.

Flight Display unveils new cabin management retrofit
from Avionics International News - source

Flight Display Systems, the little guy in the cabin electronics business with a focus on the retrofit display market, is ready for the big time.

At a press conference here this morning at 10 a.m., Flight Display (Booth No. 4484) is to formally introduce its Select cabin management system (CMS) as a retrofit package. According to company president David Gray, aircraft manufacturers are already making inquiries about offering the system as optional equipment on new aircraft.

Gray said the Select system is specifically designed to interface with the company’s high-definition displays and source equipment, including its new Blu-ray player, as well as with source equipment of other manufacturers.

Private Jets at the April 2009 G20 Meeting in London

2009-05-31T15:54:00.003-04:00

Jet Aviation Basel claims athat 50% of their interior business comes from government customers. So what types of private jets do our world governments fly?

According to the FBOs that handled the incoming delegates for the G20 in London in April 2009:

Argentina - Airbus A340
Australia - Boeing Business Jet
Brazil - Airbus A319
Canada - Airbus A310
China - Boeing 747
Czech Republic - Airbus A319
France - Airbus A319
France - Dassault Falcon 900
India - Boeing 747
Indonesia - Airbus A330
Italy - Airbus A319
Germany - Airbus A310
Japan - Boeing 747
Mexico - Boeing 757
Netherlands - Gulfstream IV
Russia - Ilyushin IL-96*
Saudi Arabia - Boeing 747-400
Spain - Airbus A310
South Africa - Boeing Business Jet
Turkey - Airbus A319
United States - Boeing 747 (Air Force One)

*Not confirmed if this was from Russia or just a Russian aircraft.

Originally compiled and published in ShowNews on May 12, 2009. Japan 747 photo source.

Gulfstream Jets at Beijing 2008 Olympics

2008-04-09T12:42:00.001-04:00

What Power Looks Like by David Rothkopf for NEWSWEEK

The iconic symbol of superclass unity is the Gulfstream private jet. In fact, one way to measure the clout of an event is to count the private jets at the nearest airport. According to Gulfstream, Davos traditionally attracts more of its planes than any other gathering, drawing up to 10 percent of the 1,500 planes in service to Zurich airport. But this year's Olympics in Beijing will give it a run for its money...

Screenshot - Continental In-flight Entertainment

2008-02-05T01:43:00.000-05:00

These photos of Continental Airline's cabin entertainment system were taken sometime in 2007. We believe they are still accurate. To submit new photos, email and write Continental IFE photos for Nick in the subject line.

Screenshot - Air Canada In-flight Entertainment

2008-02-05T01:42:00.000-05:00

These photos of Air Canada's cabin entertainment system were taken sometime 2006. We believe they are still accurate. To submit new photos, email and write Air Canada IFE photos for Nick in the subject line.

Google 767 Winglets from American Airlines

2008-01-24T12:40:00.000-05:00

Not necessarily IFE news, but we can't pass up any opportunity to report on Google's awesome 767 retrofit project. This article drops a hint about work that American Airlines base in Kansas City did for Google founder's shell company, Blue City Holdings:

American Airlines says its Kansas City, Mo., aircraft overhaul base met its "Breakthrough Goal" of $150 million in value creation through productivity improvements, cost reductions and new revenue... It installed winglets on American's fleet of 757s and on aircraft for Blue City Holdings.

pre-winglet photo of N2767

Screenshots - Emirates ICE In-flight Entertainment

2008-01-11T22:05:00.001-05:00

These photos of Emirates ICE cabin entertainment system were taken in Q3 2006. We believe they are still accurate.

To submit new photos, email me and write Emirates IFE photos for Nick in the subject line.

AirCell and LiveTV Ready In-flight Internet Offerings

2008-01-11T13:59:00.000-05:00

If AirCell has its way, 2009 could be the big year of widespread in-flight internet adoption. Rivals Learn From Boeing's 'Connexion' by ANICK JESDANUN on Dec 23, 2007 covers the basics:

JetBlue's LiveTV subsidiary paid the Federal Communications Commission $7 million for wireless spectrum that one test JetBlue aircraft has been using since Dec. 11 to communicate with about 100 cell towers spread across the continental United States.

The 1-megahertz frequency band allows that aircraft to offer free e-mail and instant-messaging services on laptops and handheld devices through Yahoo Inc. and BlackBerry maker Research In Motion Ltd.

Aircell licensed a band three times the size of LiveTV's for $31 million and plans to offer broader Internet services, including Web surfing, for about $10 a flight — what Boeing had charged for the first hour. Pending regulatory approval, Aircell's first Internet-capable flight is expected on American in 2008, using 92 cell towers on the ground.

US Airways, others upgrade in-flight entertainment

2008-01-11T13:51:00.000-05:00

Light on details, but heavy on industry wrap-up - this piece by Dawn Gilbertson in The Arizona Republic from December 23rd, 2007.

US Airways hopes to broaden the movie menu in the not-too-distant future with a new fiber optic in-flight entertainment system in development with an undisclosed manufacturer. It plans to test the touch screen seat-back system on one plane as early as late spring.
Delta Air Lines offers a new seat-back system on its transcontinental flights, including Phoenix to New York, that includes movies on demand, live television and HBO programming. It has aggressive plans to expand it to other routes.
Virgin America, a San Francisco startup, offers a seat-back system called Red that includes more than 25 pay-per-view movies and satellite television. The airline calls it the most advanced entertainment system in the sky. New releases are $8.

Boeing Business Jets in Hot Demand

2007-06-13T12:25:00.000-04:00

From the June 2007 issue of Aviation International News...

In the last 12 months, seven pre-owned BBJs have sold at an average price approximately 120 percent of the original price.

The first available slot for a new BBJ (any model) is mid-2011. The first available slot for an executive version of the 747-8 is in 2012, and the 787 is sold out through 2015.

Notes from IFE in Embraer Regional Jets

2007-06-12T12:22:00.001-04:00

Embraer can equip E-Jets with LiveTV satellite television and broadcast audio and video, Thales 14500 audio and video on demand and XM Radio satellite radio, with in-set power outlets. Claudio Camelier, Embraer airline market senior product strategy manager, said JetBlue had selected LiveTV and XM radio, while Virgin Blue had opted for LiveTV.

On the 100-seat E190, related avionics racks go in the aft section of the baggage hold, and the Thales system requires no under-seat space, said Camelier. The IFE rack occupies about 53 cu ft, while external satellite television antennas carry a fuel consumption penalty of about 0.3 percent.

Depending on configuration, "cost-effective" in-set video systems weigh 770 to 1,320 pounds, said Camelier. On the positive side, they reduce flight-attendant workload, require relatively little power, have proved reliable and easy to maintain (with 0.5 percent, or one in 200, seat problems per flight) and their flexible "architecture" allows upgrades or system expansion. Embraer normally provides IFE systems as buyer-furnished equipment.

Source: June 2007 issue of Aviation International News. Previously, we covered XM Satellite Radio on AirTran Airways.

VIP 747, 757, and 767 News

2007-06-07T08:47:00.000-04:00

News from the Spring 2007 issue of VIP Transport magazine...

Consumer electronics distributor Fry's Electronics has acquired a long-range Boeing 747SP from an overseas head-of-state operator. The aircraft was at Southern California Precision Aircraft for some refurbishment work in mid-March.
Professional basketball team Dallas Mavericks' owner Mark Cuban may be expanding his aircraft fleet. Sources say Cuban is seeking a pair of Boeing 757s to run between Dubai and the U.S. The operation would support a sizable real-estate development project in the Persian Gulf emirate.
In more Mark Cuban news... MLW Air LLC will take delivery of a Boeing 767 (N767MW) for global charter work in July. The aircraft will carry 108 passengers in an all-first-class cabin layout. The widebody VIP aircraft will join MLW's 757 (N801DM). For more information, see http://www.mlwair.com/

Update 7/17/2007 - Mark Cuban does NOT own PACE AIRLINES. Thanks to RRB and Anonymous for the clarification.

First numbers on VIP Boeing 787s

2007-04-17T12:49:00.000-04:00

As read in European Business Air News...

Boeing, which delivers VIP aircraft in "green" condition, has configured the VIP 787-8 to offer 2,404 square feet of cabin space. It has a range of 9,590 nm. The VIP configured 787-9 offers 2,762 square feet of cabin space and has a range of 9,950 nm.

Undisclosed customers have ordered five VIP 787s, two 787-8s and three 787-9s. Two additional 787-8s are being provided to VIPs through leasing companies.

Lufthansa Technik completions and cabin systems worth Eur400 million in 2006

2007-03-12T08:05:00.000-04:00

From the Shephard Group...

HAMBURG-based Lufthansa Technik’s corporate/VIP completions and cabin systems business was worth as much as Eur400 million last year.

Speaking at yesterday’s annual report press conference in Hamburg, Dr Peter Jansen, the company’s chief executive finance, said that completions of types like the Airbus A318 Elite and the Bombardier Challenger 850 Business Jet, along with the cabin systems output of LHT’s Innovation Centre, had contributed 10-12 per cent of last year’s Eur3.4 billion revenue figure.

Of the completion programmes now under way, the A318 Elite and Challenger 850 are keeping the Hamburg hangars busy. LHT has an exclusive contract for the Elite: it is currently working on the first aircraft and has firm orders for a further ten. The company is contracted to complete 17 CRJ200-based Challenger 850s and is working on six of them.

News from the cabin systems side includes a move to make Apple’s iTunes Music Store available aboard aircraft equipped with LHT’s iPod docking station, which was unveiled last year as part of a Bombardier Challenger 300 upgrade based on the NICE Ethernet cabin network.

First Turboprop Aircraft with In-Flight Entertainment System

2007-03-05T10:20:00.000-05:00

EADS, parent company of turboprop manufacturer ATR, is claiming that they delivered the first cabin entertainment system for a turboprop regional aircraft... source

Kingfisher Airlines, India’s fastest growing airline, and ATR today announced the delivery of the world’s first turboprop aircraft facilitating In-flight entertainment system (IFE). The aircraft is the sixth ATR 72-500 delivered to Kingfisher Airlines. All the ATR aircraft delivered to the airline will be equipped with this system.

Now the Indian air traveler flying between smaller cities connected by Kingfisher Airlines’ ATR aircraft service can also enjoy unlimited in-flight entertainment. The new ATR aircraft being inducted into the fleet on 4th of January will have 17 LCD colour screens spread throughout the cabin. The TV screens operate on a drop down mechanism. No headphones or earphones are required since the audio comes through overhead speakers.

Very basic equipment - looks like 10.2-inch ceiling mount LCDs installed in the passenger service units. The source equipment does not include a Moving Map.

First US order for Airbus A318 Elite

2007-03-01T09:46:00.000-05:00

From Shephard Group's Inflight On-line...

Investment company Petters Group Worldwide (PGW) has become the first US customer to order an Airbus A318 Elite corporate jet. The contract brings Elite orders for the year to three aircraft, and the Airbus corporate jet tally to nine.

Minneapolis-based PGW plans to use the aircraft for flights to Asia and Europe as well as within the USA. "The Elite is a great size for our travel needs, giving us the most working space and the greatest cabin comfort of any corporate jet," says PGW chief executive Tom Petters. "Our company is a long-time user of corporate jets, and we are really looking forward to stepping up in comfort."

The A318, also known as the "Mini-Airbus" or "baby 'bus", is the smallest member of the A320 family. The Airbus A318 Elite is aimed at the medium-range market for flights of up to 4,000 nm range, with a choice of two cabin layouts seating up to 14 and 18 passengers, and will be powered by CFM engines. (Source: Wikipedia A320)

How to Crash an IFE system

2007-02-26T07:25:00.000-05:00

Seriously, people! Stop sending me this link. Blogger report about How to crash an in-flight entertainment system. The article details a bug in the upper bound of a 1 byte signed integer within a carrier's Tetris game.

I boldly pressed the + button once more. Suddenly, the display now flashes -128 just for an instant and then poof...screen goes black. Poof...screen of the person next to me goes black. Screens in front of me and behind me go black. The entire plane entertainment system goes down...

No clue about what carrier, who the IFE manufacturer is, or if the bug is still exploitable.

New FAA PMA approval on Aircraft DVD Player, Wireless Audio

2007-02-26T07:20:00.000-05:00

News from Shephard Group's Inflight Online... FAA approval for Flight Display Systems products

The FD932DVD-4B is available today for $905 with 28V and PMA

THE FAA has awarded parts manufacturing approval (PMA) status to three products from Flight Display Systems, the Georgia-based specialist in compact, lightweight IFE systems for business and general-aviation aircraft.

Flight Display Systems already holds more than 30 PMA clearances. The latest three cover the FD932DVD-4B DVD/CD/MP3 player, FD900X3B wireless audio transmitter, and FD200CPU-9 and FD200CPU-10 moving-map processing units.

FD932DVD-4B is a direct replacement for the earlier –4 model, featuring iPod integration, additional audio/video jacks and a new 28V power supply.

Weighing just half a pound, the FD900X3B is the only PMA-approved wireless audio transmitter for business aviation.

The FD900X3B is available today for $1,479 with 28V and PMA

For more information, visit the home page of Flight Display Systems.

India's Saras Turboprop Twin Progressing Slowly

2007-02-22T15:59:00.000-05:00

From the February 22, 2007 issue of AINalerts:

Indian state-owned National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) continue working on a 12-passenger twin-turboprop pusher called the Saras, named after the graceful Indian crane.

The first prototype, which made its flying debut at Aero India 2005, has logged 95 flight hours in 40 test flights. Teething problems discovered in the initial phase of flight-testing have been solved, NAL director Dr. A.R. Upadhya told AIN. Upadhya said prototype two is expected to fly within the next 30 days, powered by Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67s.

At the end of next year, HAL plans to fly a third Saras, prototype three, with all-composite wings, empennage and bulkheads. Indian certification is expected in 2009, two years behind the original schedule.

Update 3/9/2007 - Here is a picture of Team SARAS.

Details on ACJ for Mukesh Ambani

2007-02-22T12:42:00.000-05:00

An Airbus Corporate Jet (A319 platform) purchased by Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani was recently finished at Associated Air Center in Dallas, Texas. It will be delivered to India shortly. The plane is estimated to cost roughly $55m (Rs 242 crore).

The aircraft was designed with a business office and cabin management system for games, music, satellite television and wireless communication. The aircraft also has a dining area, master bedroom, master lavatory with full showers, galleys and a sky bar in the forward lounge with mood lighting.

This is the seventh ACJ that Associated Air Center has completed. Source: Business Aviation Weekly and Economic Times of India.

Virgin America's LetVAfly Campaign

2007-01-29T07:52:00.000-05:00

We are sure you have heard all about Virgin America's LetVAfly Campaign. But if not, check out this video on YouTube for the Virgin America in-flight entertainment demo.

Boeing 777 Order Count and Virgin America TV

2007-01-21T16:42:00.000-05:00

Boeing Delivers 600th 777 via AIRFAX.com

On 12-14-2006 The Boeing Company delivered its 600th 777 airplane, to Singapore Airlines. Singapore Airlines now operates 61 777s, the largest 777 fleet in the world with 16 more 777-300ERs that remain to be delivered. The airplane delivered today will be added to the airline's fleet of 12 777-300s, 31 777-200s, 15 777-200ERs, 2 777-300ERs and 23 747-400s.

The 777 family of airplanes is the market leader in the 300-to-400-seat segment, consistently capturing more than 60 percent of that market since the airplane was launched. To date, Boeing has sold 889 777 jetliners, with 49 customers around the world that own or operate the efficient and passenger-pleasing twin-aisle airplane.

Intheairnet confirmed as Virgin America TV equipment supplier via this Shephard Group report. Interesting, but the airline has not yet launched.

VIRGIN AMERICA has confirmed Californian IFE supplier Intheairnet as the supplier of the inflight television hardware that will support its newly announced DISH Network service for passengers.

When the airline finally enters service passengers will be able to enjoy audio/video on demand and DISH Network live television, both delivered via a Panasonic in-seat IFE system. Intheairnet is supplying the mechanically steered Ku-band antenna and the other system elements needed to pick up the satellite TV signals and deliver them to the Panasonic cabin network.

The antenna is the domestic version of the lightweight, low-profile inTV design presented by Intheairnet at last September’s WAEA show. Designed to work with Ku-band direct-broadcast TV systems around the world, it is claimed to be able to deliver 25 per cent more gain than existing Ku-band TV antennas.

The system on show at WAEA comprised the antenna, a control unit (ACU) and a decoder-receiver (ADR). The ADR housed six receiver-decoder cards – one per channel - in a 4MCU package.

Apart from being very compact and, at 18lb all-up weight, very light, the antenna can be switched quickly from international to US domestic usage. Heart of the antenna is a rectangular panel covered with radiating elements and mounted on an azimuth/elevation actuator. The panel for use in international airspace measures 30in across. It can be replaced by removing a couple of screws with a 24in panel for use in the US domestic environment, with its higher-power satellites.

Apologies for yet another Panasonic Avionics post. I'm not biased - maybe Panasonic just has a better PR team? You can always email me any news anonymously.

Panasonic Avionics offers iPod charging, video display

2007-01-21T16:35:00.000-05:00

Apple Teams Up With Air France, Continental, Delta, Emirates, KLM & United to Deliver iPod Integration via this Apple press release 11/14/2006

These six airlines will begin offering their passengers iPod seat connections which power and charge their iPods during flight and allow the video content on their iPods to be viewed on the seat back displays.

In-flight iPod connectivity will be available to Air France, Continental, Delta, Emirates, KLM and United passengers beginning in mid 2007. Additionally, Apple is working with Panasonic Avionics Corporation to bring even more leading airlines in-flight iPod connectivity in the future.

India's Kingfisher Airlines and Jet Airways IFE updates

2007-01-19T07:48:00.000-05:00

Kingfisher to offer live television as reported by Inflight Online -

INDIA’S Kingfisher Airlines is to begin offering live television aboard its aircraft by the end of the month.

Kingfisher already offers Thales TopSeries distributed and audio/video-on-demand IFE aboard its growing fleets of Airbus A320-family aircraft and ATR 72-500 turboprops. Now, following an agreement announced last Friday, Kingfisher passengers will enjoy access to 16 live television channels through their in-seat screens.

Programming will be provided by Dish TV – the direct-to-home TV operation 20 per cent owned by Indian media conglomerate Zee Group – and third parties.

In other news... Akshay from Mumbai sends us this screenshot of the in-seat cabin entertainment on a Jet Airways flight. Can anyone identify the system manufacturer?

UPDATE - Manufacturer identified as Panasonic Avionics. Thanks, anonymous!

Sky Screen, originally uploaded by Premshree Pillai.

XM Satellite Radio on AirTran Airways

2006-08-31T09:43:00.000-04:00

LiveTV, an in-flight entertainment company owned by JetBlue, recently completed their 300th aircraft installation. They have installed XM Satellite Radio on over one hundred (100) AirTran Airways Boeing aircraft. MORE INFORMATION on the LiveTV website. The XM Satellite Radio components form a simple, yet powerful entertainment system:

XM Satellite Radio Antenna - Small teardrop antenna mounts to the top of the fuselage
System Receiver - Highly compact XM-ready receiver
Digital Audio Seat Distribution Unit – Very small and light-weight
Passenger Control Unit – LCD panel with an independent channel selection at every seat, with user-friendly volume and channel controls

First Orders Taken for VIP 787 and 747-8

2006-08-08T15:44:00.000-04:00

Boeing has taken the first orders for executive versions of its new 787 Dreamliner and the next-generation 747-8 Intercontinental. According to the OEM, two 787s are listed as sold through Boeing Business Jets. A source at Boeing Business Jets confirmed the 787 orders but declined to provide additional details. Selection of an independent completion center to do the interior has yet to be made.

Boeing has also received its first order for an executive version of the 747-8, to be delivered to the government of Qatar. The Intercontinental is a high-capacity and improved version of its 747-400 with General Electric GEnx engines, a flight-deck avionics upgrade, an extended upper deck and range expected to exceed 8,000 nm.

-- source, AINalerts

Recent Acquisitions for Airlines in India

2006-03-04T19:22:00.000-05:00

The Indian market continues its acquisition binge with the following updates:

GoAir, based in Mumbai, has signed a memorandum of understanding for 10 A320 Family aircraft, plus 10 options.

SpiceJet converted 10 options into firm orders for five B-737-800s and five -900ERs. The Indian carrier currently has five 737s on lease, and recently received the first of four B-737-800s to be delivered this year. The airline will add six previously ordered -800s and the first two optioned 737-900ERs in 2007, plus two or three aircraft leased elsewhere. The newly optioned aircraft will be delivered after current deliveries are completed in 2009.

Air India ordered GE90-115B engines to power the eight B-777-200LRs and 15 B-777-300ERs it has on order.

Jet Airways will equip its 10 A330-200s on order with GE CF6-80E1 engines.

Rosen Aviation Displays

2006-03-04T18:25:00.000-05:00

Rosen designs and manufactures flat panel displays and mounting systems for the corporate and VIP aviation market. They are considered the industry leader for private jet in-flight entertainment LCD screens. Click here for the Rosen Aviation home page.

The current company was purchased by John Burns and Darren Sparks in January 2003 after a failed buyout by The Berwind Group in 1997. Rosen Aviation Displays is located at 1020 Owen Loop South in the Greenhill Technology Park in west Eugene, Oregon USA. Rosen had revenues of $25 million in 1998.

Rosen Aviation is dedicated to the aviation cabin entertainment industry. They offer custom designs for private jet interiors, including flat panel display motorized mounts and simple base receptacles.

The following part numbers can be used for researching Rosen Displays products:

2002-500 Universal Lift
1710-001 17" Fold Down display
7001-001 7" SideWall Flush Mount
8403-001 8.4" Bulkhead LCD
1042-005 10.4" Bulkhead Aircraft Cabin LCD
1500-003 15" Bulkhead Aircraft Cabin LCD
1700-002 17" Bulkhead Aircraft Cabin LCD
1701-001 17" Widescreen Aircraft Cabin LCD
2002-002 20" Aircraft Cabin LCD (4:3 aspect ratio)
6500-010 6.5" Plug-in Display on SlimLine Arm
7000-020 7" Widescreen Plug-in Display on SlimLine Extende Arm
8402-030 8.4" Plug-in Display with SlimLine Extended Arm
1042-010 10.4" Plug-in Display with Standard Arm

Upcoming IFE-related Conferences

2006-03-04T18:11:00.000-05:00

March 8 - 9, 2006
Avionics 06
Amsterdam, Netherlands

April 19-22, 2006
AEA's 49th Annual Convention & Trade Show
Palm Springs, California, USA

September 12-15, 2006
World Airline Entertainment Association
Miami, Florida, USA

Advanced Lighting Systems in new Boeing 787 jets

2006-02-06T08:41:00.000-05:00

From a story on ITP Business, we learn about new lighting systems that will allow passengers to adjust the amount of light transmitted through their windows. Five different levels - from dark to clear - are available.

Also under development for the new 787 is new ceiling lighting.

Boeing is seeking to control the aircraft's lighting to create a sense of space. "The ceiling goes on for ever and ever and then disappears," says Emery. Boeing is also looking to develop the concept of mood lighting, something that is becoming more common on long-haul flights as airlines attempt to create a sense of well-being for their passengers, even if the alarm bells are ringing on their body clocks. "We are in the throws of dealing with mood lighting right now," says Emery.

"We will have an all-LED lighting system that will enable airlines to create different scenarios. They might want different lighting depending on whether they are boarding people, taking off, cruising, serving breakfast, lunch or dinner," says Emery. "It is our philosophy that lighting can become a differentiator."

He warns that Boeing has noticed one or two drawbacks with advanced lighting systems, however. "If you are not careful, you will have food that looks green or blue," he warns.

Skymall In-flight Shopping Magazine

2005-12-05T09:32:00.000-05:00

PHOENIX, Dec. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Spire Capital Partners, along with Greenspun Media Group and ZelnickMedia Corporation, today announced the acquisition of SkyMall, Inc. from parent company Gemstar-TV Guide International, Inc. Phoenix-based SkyMall publishes America's largest in-flight catalog, reaching 650 million air passengers annually on 14 U.S. airlines. SkyMall also manages a leading e-commerce site, skymall.com, and loyalty marketing programs serving frequent travelers.

"The company is strongly positioned and well managed. We look forward to working with SkyMall management, airlines, merchants and loyalty partners as well as with our colleagues at Greenspun Media Group and ZelnickMedia to build upon the foundation of this terrific brand and unparalleled in-flight distribution," said Richard Patterson, a Spire Capital Managing Partner.

Full press release. We would love to know the selling price!

Assorted News Wrap-up

2005-11-23T09:03:00.000-05:00

Some great articles in the past week about in-flight entertainment... ARINC's new broadband data service, introduced at NBAA 2005, got USA Today coverage. The Boston Globe covers the lighter side of IFE with a feature on United's ATC chatter, and Gerard Campbell reviews the hot DigE Player from Alaska Airlines.

Broadband service ready to board more corporate jets in USA Today, by Roger Yu

The service remains costly, but it's coming down. Howard Lewis of Satcom Direct, a reseller of in-flight Internet and phone services, estimates hardware and installation of the current Inmarsat service can cost up to $400,000. A connection runs about $8 a minute. Initially, broadband equipment is unlikely to be cheaper, though per-minute rates will be less, says Lewis.

The market is flat for commercial jets, diverting suppliers' interest to business jets. Connexion by Boeing, the aerospace giant's wireless unit, has managed to attract some foreign airlines like Lufthansa and Singapore to the broadband service it rolled out in 2004. About 100 foreign commercial airplanes have been outfitted.

Including Inmarsat's dial-up-speed service, an estimated 600 corporate jets now have Internet service.

In-flight entertainment for nerds in the Boston Globe, by Alex Beam

When I fly, I always choose United. Why? No, not because of their silly ads; they just interrupt football games. But because on its in-flight entertainment system, United lets passengers listen in to the air traffic control (ATC) chatter from takeoff to landing.

Fighting flight boredom by Gerard Campbell in New Zealand

The latest trend in in-flight entertainment, I put a DigEplayer through it's paces recently and came away impressed.

Think of the DigEplayer as a portable entertainment unit. JetStar will offer the portable devices on its flights to Australia, starting early next month, renting them to passengers for $12.

JetStar says the player will offer 10 movies and eight TV comedies, as well as audio tracks, and content will be updated twice a month. Weighing about 1.6kg, the player is light enough to hold in your hands comfortably, but a handy integrated stand at the back means you can prop it up on the tray table for easy viewing.

The player can run for up to 10 hours before its internal battery needs recharging.

Lufthansa Technik

2005-11-14T08:20:00.000-05:00

Lufthansa Technik is one of the most sought-after completion centers for business jets. Their interior design work is renowned for its sophistication and security. The company also provides maintenance and reconditioning of airplanes to commercial carriers, primarily in Europe. They claim over 21,000 employees in Lufthansa Technik's global network of 24 subsidiaries and affiliates.

There are no limits for luxury on bord a VIP Jet

The specialists at Lufthansa Technik know how to translate even the most extravagant flights of fancy into reality. For this, there are only few off-the-shelf solutions; the unusual becomes standard.

The superior quality of Lufthansa Technik's cabin-equipping workmanship is a reflection of its overall competence and intimate familiarity with the daily flight operations of large and small airline fleets. As early as in the planning stages, the designers see to it that maintenance and overhaul expenses will remain minimal. The parts are designed to be as lightweight and long-lasting as possible.

For more information, visit the Lufthansa Technik VIP information page.

Update 1 - Lufthansa Technik bids for BBJ cabins Aimed at BBJ operators looking to combine in-flight luxury at a comparatively reasonable price, the Leadership Select package allows the customer to customize an interior from a combination of pre-defined components. Access to a substantial pool of pre-selected materials – leather, suede, fabrics – and a large color palette ensures that effectively every interior will be unique.

Update 2 - NICE moves from Lufthansa Technik Designed to provide a common high-speed network to support previously separate in-flight entertainment, communications and cabin management functions, NICE is already flying in two Boeing Business Jets and a VIP Boeing 747-400. It is also being installed in a pair of VIP widebodies. A version featuring 28V DC power is being offered for the standard business jet market. Complete article

NBAA 2005 Update 3 - Germany's Lufthansa Technik has contracted with Bombardier to be the completion center over the next three years for 17 Challenger 850s, the corporate shuttle version of the company’s regional jets.

AirCell promises affordable In-flight Wireless Broadband Internet by 2007

2005-10-27T09:39:00.000-04:00

In a direct pitch against Boeing's Connexion service, which can cost over $1 million for installation, AirCell is planning a low-cost broadband connection for commercial airlines.

The AirCell Broadband System is unique in that its method of connectivity is via an air-to-ground link. Connexion by Boeing uses fuselage-mounted satellite antennas to beam your in-flight internet from the aircraft to a fixed satellite in outer space. These satellite connections are typically very expensive; AirCell currently offers in-flight phone service for business aviation at the rate of $1.99 per minute.

"If you look at what our demonstration program achieved technologically and consider the applications we'll enable for airlines and travelers, the possibilities are only limited by your imagination. During the demonstration flights, it was exciting to watch people experience the system for the first time and hear them come up with more and more ways they could use it," stated Jack W. Blumenstein, AirCell Chairman and CEO.

Continue reading the full press release.

No official word on the speed, but the press release quotes one passenger as saying "The speed was DSL-like and e-mail and Internet surfing worked flawlessly." We would estimate 512kbps download speeds and 128kbps upload speeds for the AirCell Broadband System. Boeing's Connexions service advertises 5 Mpbs download speeds and 1 Mbps upload speeds, significantly faster - but at what cost?

A vice president from a domestic, low-cost airline noted, "We've always been intrigued by the concept of airborne wireless broadband, but the satellite-based systems just aren't viable for our fleet in North America." He continued: "What AirCell is doing with their system changes everything -- it provides the speed and capabilities you need at a cost that's very workable. This opens up a world of potential applications for internal airline operations as well as passengers."

In-flight Gambling

2005-10-19T10:30:00.000-04:00

We talked about it earlier in the October news tidbits when the World Poker Exchange partnered with US Airways.

Now we hear that Ryanair plans for an online casino by Christmas 2005.

The airline has revealed that it is now set to launch an online casino that will operate in tandem with a new in-flight entertainment service. The facility is designed to give a further boost to the airline's fast-growing ancillary revenues. Plans are at an advanced stage to launch the virtual casino before Christmas...

Ryanair is Europe's biggest budget airline. Based in Ireland and founded in 1985 by Irish businessman Tony Ryan, the company's chief competitor is easyJet.

Their CEO was on record in 2004, wishing for top-margin IFE.

Chief Executive Michael O'Leary said the usual government restrictions on European land-bound gambling operations were unlikely to apply in the air.

"I don't know who would stop you. It is like duty-free; you are in international waters," he told reporters.

While it is some time away, O'Leary said the technology does exist to adapt the airline's new in-flight entertainment systems for the use of gambling with credit cards. He described the revenue potential as "enormous".

Your day has almost come, Ryanair investors. Congratulations.

Update 1 - Some facts, courtesy of this report.

Inflight gambling.. is currently being offered by Swissair and a few other airlines. The U.S. Transportation department says inflight gambling could generate $480 million a year for international airlines. However, gambling is currently banned on U.S. airlines and international carrier flights traveling in and out of the U.S. The tremendous profit potential makes it likely that U.S. carriers will lobby for legalization.

Update 2 - eFlyte made a big splash at WAEA, announcing their new in-flight entertainment gambling systems for commercial aircraft.

eFlyte intends to provide airline passengers a fun, challenging way to pass time on long flights, with the added bonus of accumulating winnings while relaxing at 35,000 feet. The system will have strict player controls, with access by the swipe of a credit card which will be credited or debited in the same way as any other credit card transaction. Continued Morgan, "The idea is to provide airline passengers with a low-stakes gambling environment that will co-exist with movies, audio tracks and even our own casual games."

Update 3 - It seems that every news source in the world was quoting a blurb from Ryanair Chief Executive Michael O'Leary last week, where he predicted that "revenue from inflight gaming and gambling could eventually do away with the need to charge air fares." What rubbish!

Media outlets who picked up this ~~little~~ huge press stunt include USA Today - Ryanair says all may fly free if gambling pays off and MSNBC - Airlines: Ryanair's Gamble, by Martin Stabe.

Results released last week show that Ryanair's "ancillary revenues" grew by 40 percent, to 129 million euros, in the six months ending in September, and now account for 14 percent of all revenue. Currently, the airline earns extra cash from commissions on hotel and rental-car reservations and by selling advertising space on its aircraft.

Will passengers spend their travel time playing slot, blackjack and poker machines? Some analysts are skeptical, given that earlier this year the airline scrapped plans for charging passengers for television consoles due to lack of interest. "The low-cost sector in Europe has developed in a way that you don't get anything for free," says Andrew Lobbenberg, an ABN AMRO analyst in London. Ryanair chief financial officer Howard Millar defends the company's novel approach: "You don't have to buy a drink onboard, you don't have to gamble, you don't have to take a car rental from us; it's all entirely discretionary."

Lufthansa Technik to debut HDTV screens at NBAA 2005

2005-10-10T08:24:00.000-04:00

European completions and cabin systems provider Lufthansa Technik plans to unveil a new range of airworthy HDTV LCD displays at the NBAA show in Orlando, Florida, on November 8-10.

Developed by Hamburg-based Lufthansa Technik's Innovation Engineering "skunk works," the screens come in three sizes - 15in, 20in and 30in – and are destined primarily for the VIP cabin conversions in which the company specialises.

The screens will be on display in the section of the Lufthansa Technik booth dedicated to the NICE Ethernet-based cabin network, which is operational in a number of VIP Boeing BBJ2s and 747-400s.

Visitors to the Lufthansa Technik booth in Orlando should look out for a number of other Innovation Engineering products, including a wireless access point (WAP), the AirTrack moving-map system (in conjunction with TEAC Aerospace of the USA), and an audio/video-on-demand inflight entertainment server for corporate aircraft.

Offering 54mbit/sec WiFi, the WAP can support virtual LANs – multiple simultaneous wireless LANs using the same frequencies on one aircraft – and accommodates the most advanced wireless security protocols, including WiFi Protected Access (WPA) V2.

Shephard Group has the full scoop. We will be on the floor in Orlando for the 2005 NBAA show in November.

Early October News Tidbits

2005-10-10T07:53:00.000-04:00

We've been out of pocket lately, so apologies for a lack of updates!

This great Telegraph article by Nigel Tisdall asks the question about in-flight movies, Why is so much rubbish screened at 32,000 feet? They make a good point about the benefit of quality in-flight entertainment to commercial carriers:

Far from not caring if we watch the movie, the airlines are actually investing in hi-tech entertainment systems offering an ever-greater multi-channel choice. From their point of view, a passenger absorbed by a movie is a passenger not walking about the aircraft or asking the cabin crew for another drink.
B/E Aerospace, a maker of aircraft cabin interior products, said it expects revenue for 2006 to reach $1 billion due to strong demand from its international customers. With a market cap just over $1 billion, we're not exactly sure what this company has to do with general IFE (besides influencing interior specs, and our previously reported Connexion agreement). Earning report via AP
XM Radio coming to all JetBlue aircraft in 2006.
Boeing in talks with A-I, Jet for Connexion - "Boeing is in talks with Air-India and Jet Airways for installation of its high-speed Internet service, Connexion, on the long-haul flights of these carriers... Boeing had also flown down one of its Internet-enabled planes to Delhi and demonstrated its wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) capabilities to the carriers."
World Poker Exchange Partners with US Airways to provide poker tutorial spots on all US Airways flights over two hours. The 90-second instructional spots are taken directly from the World Poker Exchange's new tutorial DVD series, "In the Minds of the Poker Pros."

(yawn)

In-flight gambling, folks. Make your investments in this sector soon.

Thales TopSeries i-8000 gets Boeing 787 nod

2005-10-04T17:47:00.000-04:00

UPDATE 1/29/2007 - Boeing ends Dreamliner wireless network

Boeing Co. said that it will not use a wireless network to deliver in-flight entertainment on the 787 "Dreamliner" plane because of problems involving plane weight and the technology. A wireless network would add 200 pounds per plane, rather than 50 pounds for a wired network. Also, Boeing could not get permission to use certain wireless frequencies from some countries, spokeswoman Lori Gunter said.

END UPDATE

The new Thales TopSeries i-8000 uses a wireless network to deliver DVD-quality video to each seat on the airplane. Recognizing the importance of this (weight savings!), Boeing is recommending the TopSeries i-8000 to its commercial customers as preferred IFE equipment.

"By working with our airline customers to understand their in-flight entertainment needs, we clearly identified many tangible benefits of a wireless system," said Mike Bair, vice president and general manager of the 787 program. "Customers will be more comfortable as we are eliminating much of the equipment that typically is housed under their seats. In addition, we are saving weight and cost while providing a very high quality of service."

A breakdown of each Thales TopSeries in-flight entertainment system, by model:

1000

2000

3000

4000

Previously, Thales signs with AirIndia and Thales TopSeries on twenty A330‑200s for Air China.

For business jets, Thales offers their TopSeries eXecutive cabin management system.

TopSeries eXecutive is an integrated cabin management system (CMS) for corporate aircraft, covering three main functions:
"office in the sky": communications inside the cabin and long range outside links, intranet, internet and Satcom (voice and data transmission)
inflight entertainment (in collaboration with Audio International): audio, video, satellite TV, maps, games
controls for certain cabin systems, including lighting, temperature, surveillance cameras, etc.
Thales has opted for digital technology, using IP (Internet Protocol) via an onboard Ethernet network. The TopSerie eXecutive suite covers the entire business aircraft market, from VIP helicopters to the Airbus Corporate Jet or Boeing business Jet.

JetBlue Bus for Boston Campus Marketing

2005-09-28T17:43:00.000-04:00

via this Harvard Crimson article, we learn that JetBlue has

an Airstream RV which was unveiled earlier this summer. Fondly known as Betty, this mobile marketing vehicle simulates the JetBlue flying experience, complete with JetBlue aircraft seats and a chance to sample JetBlue's in-flight entertainment system.

"We know she'll be turning heads of passersby with her 34-foot body, emblazoned with JetBlue logos," wrote Hamm of JetBlue's newest "fleet-type."

Blue Betty will be making the rounds, visiting various colleges in the Boston area and stopping at CambridgeSide Galleria today.

JetBlue: Flying to a Campus Near You by Tiffanie K. Hsu. It should be noted that the above-pictured bus is not the actual JetBlue bus. We've love to get a real picture of it, but can't find one anywhere.

Qatar Airways Installing Rockwell Collins' Tailwind 560

2005-09-27T10:00:00.000-04:00

Qatar Airways Installing Rockwell Collins' TV on Airbus 330s and 340s
Qatar Airways will install satellite television on its new Airbus A330s and A340s to provide live programming for passengers on European, Middle Eastern and North African routes.

The airline is the launch customer for Rockwell Collins' Tailwind 560, which will be ready for service before the end of the year, making it the first international airline to provide passengers with such service across multiple regions. The system will be available for live viewing both on the ground and at altitude, and its multi-directional antenna will enable a continuous signal from Direct Broadcast Satellites regardless of the aircraft's location or direction.

Showtime Arabia will provide the airline a variety of TV channels.
More information on the Tailwind 560.

Air China Selects Thales Inflight Entertainment

Air China will install Thales TopSeries on twenty A330‑200s, 14 of which will fly internationally and six which fly domestically. For the international aircraft, the TopSeries i4000 AVOD system will be installed throughout the aircraft. For the domestic aircraft, the configuration is a two class layout with i‑4000 AVOD in business class, and i‑2000 overhead video and distributed audio in economy.

Revenue service for Air China's service begins May 2006, and all aircraft will be equipped by October 2008. Business class passengers will have 10.4 inch displays, while economy passengers will have 8.4 inch displays for international routes. Business class will also have noise canceling technology for high fidelity sound and laptop power. A landscape camera and the Airshow 420 are also included. Source

Rogerson Kratos supplies parts for Intheairnet airborne satellite TV

2005-09-27T09:11:00.000-04:00

The sky's the limit
Executives at Rogerson Kratos share plans for expanding the aircraft instrumentation manufacturer’s use of lean with The Manufacturer.com's Cynthia Garber.

Fred Lucas, director of customer support, adds that the company is now very heavily involved in the manufacture of Intheairnet—the next-generation in-flight aircraft entertainment and information system. This system not only offers in-air television, stereo, compact disc, and VCR entertainment but Internet capabilities as well.

More information on Intheairnet's CONUS DBS TV system below.

The CONUS DBS TV system is a 4-36 channel Continental US TV system comprised of a Luneburg Lens Antenna, Radome, Antenna Control Unit, and Airnet DBS Receiver Unit (4MCU, 6 channels per unit).

The system is designed to receive regional (over land-mass) Ku-band signals worldwide and broadcast multiple channels of programming to the cabin. Intheairnet can integrate its TV system with existing overhead and/or in-seat installations or digital systems.

Specifications:

Flexibility
- Airlines can choose the number of TV channels 4-36
- Airlines can choose the cabin distribution method (analog or digital)

Luneburg Lens Antenna
- Patented Luneburg Technology
- Designed to fit on the fuselage of a narrow or wide body aircraft
- Radome customized to fit various aircraft with adaptive rings

4MCU Receiver Decoder
- Digital E-net or Analog output
- Small compact
- Units can be daisy chained to meet channel redundancy requirements

Intheairnet can offer Boeing/Airbus retrofits or Airbus line-fit installations (Airbus offerability pending)

Regional TV service
- Programming for US provided by Echostar (Dish Network)
- Large selection of channels: News, Business, Sports, Weather, Leisure
- Content is customizable
- Airlines work directly with Echostar or MAS

Antenna Control unit (ACU)
- Processes aircraft information and performs "Open Loop" antenna pointing
- Small lightweight package

Optional AMS provides content in areas out of range of TV coverage
- Movies
- Pax Map
- Audio
- Advertising
- Connecting Gate

Airplane Video Camera for Passenger Viewing

2005-09-23T09:19:00.000-04:00

We had a hard time with this title- How do you describe an in-flight aircraft camera that allows passengers to view takeoff and touchdown from the pilot's perspective?

Global Business Jet magazine reports from Day 3 at WAEA 2005.

Latecoere lets passengers enjoy the view
Latecoere (Hall 10, Stand 1431) promoted its Landscape Video Camera System (LVCS) in Hamburg. The system can be interfaced to the video passenger entertainment or Air Show system, providing users with an external view of the landscape.

Two colour cameras are located under the nose of the aircraft: One looking forward, the other downwards. They continuously transmit their pictures, allowing the user to select the views of either camera at any time on their own video display unit.

The LVCS can be installed on business aircraft as well as commercial aircraft and is controlled from the cabin management system.

View a demonstration video of the Latecoere Landscape Video Camera System.

"Passengers saw landing drama unfold on TV"

2005-09-22T09:01:00.000-04:00

Should the airborne satellite TV have been turned off by JetBlue flight crew? We think turning off the in-flight DirecTV might have caused more panic.

Passengers saw landing drama unfold on TV
The airliner circled Southern California for hours, crippled by a faulty landing gear, while inside its cabin 140 passengers watched their own life-and-death drama unfolding on live television.

"It was very weird. It would've been so much calmer without" the televisions, Pia Varma of Los Angeles said after the plane skidded to a safe landing Wednesday evening in a stream of sparks and burning tires. No one was hurt.

Varma, 23, and other passengers said the plane's monitors carried live DirectTV broadcasts on the plane's problems until just a few minutes before landing at Los Angeles International Airport.

What a terrible press day for in-flight entertainment.

Couldn't they find any better passenger quotes? Here are our suggestions for better PR spin.

Having DirecTV allowed us to keep laughing during the lengthy fuel-burning process when we circled the airport for hours. Several family-friendly movies on HBO kept our younger daughters entertained the whole time. Mary, 39, mother of two

Watching our plane on live TV was assuring. People cared about our situation, and we weren't kept in the dark as disconnected passengers. The live information was very helpful. Dan, 45, business traveller

LiveTV, the company that makes airborne satellite TV antennas for commerical aircraft, was aquired in 2002 by JetBlue for $41 million in cash and the retirement of $39 million of LiveTV debt. LiveTV's inflight entertainment systems are partially responsible for JetBlue's success.

Update Friday, Sept 23 2005- Worse yet title from this in The Scotsman, The latest in in-flight entertainment - watching your plane crash landing, with possibly our favorite passenger quote.

"Let me tell you that did not seem like three hours," said Alexandria Jacobs, of New York, who is heavily pregnant.

"The first hour didn't seem that scary, even the second hour. It wasn't until we got into the final hour, and the experience of watching it on TV.

"It was surreal that you could plunge to your doom and watch it live on TV. It was all too post-postmodern."

Update 9/28/2005 You can hear some audio from the JetBlue emergency landing at LAX in the linked podcast here.

Boeing Business Jet gets IFE package from Gore Design

2005-09-20T15:08:00.000-04:00

News from WAEA Convention News, filed by Oliver Clanford for Global Business Jet magazine.

San Antonio-based Gore Design Completions (GDC) has announced the redelivery of a Bermuda-registered BBJ, following the completion of five weeks of significant interior modifications.

The work included the installation of a vertical tail-mounted camera system, a Honeywell MCS-7000 SatCom and Chelton HGA-7000 high gain antenna, LED cabin lighting, new seating, as well as modifications to the galley, crew rest area, lavatories and state room.

Additional work included installing provisions for a new digital in-flight entertainment (IFE) system, which will be fitted when the aircraft returns to the hangar in San Antonio at the end of this year. The aircraft is the second BBJ requiring STC approvals that GDC has modified.

"There was a tremendous amount of work accomplished on this aircraft in a very short amount of time," commented president and ceo Jerry Gore. "The team working on this aircraft truly gave 110 per cent to complete the work scope but, of course, that is the effort we give to every customer project."

Wireless cabin network by Airbus introduced at WAEA 2005

2005-09-19T10:33:00.000-04:00

Airbus To Demonstrate First Multi-purpose Wireless Cabin Network

Airbus will demonstrate the world's first multi-purpose wireless cabin network at the 26th Conference and Exhibition of the World Airline Entertainment Association (WAEA) to be held from Sept 20 to 23 in Hamburg, Germany.

By using a single standardised connection point for all wireless devices and just one antenna inside the cabin for data distribution, airlines will benefit significantly from the new cabin network, Airbus said.

... It will significantly lower costs of integrating new information, communication or in-flight entertainment applications through just a single connection point.

Update Tuesday, September 20th 2005
Airbus demonstrates 'Leaky Line' wireless network by Oliver Clanford

Airbus demonstrated the world's first multipurpose wireless cabin network at this year's WAEA Conference and Exhibition in Hamburg.

The network uses a single standardised connection point for all wireless devices and just one antenna (the 'Leaky Line') inside the cabin for data distribution.

The company says that the use of a single connection point lowers costs of integrating new information, communication or in-flight entertainment applications; offers better network reliability, as only one antenna in the cabin is receiving and transmitting data; offers a higher degree of flexibility for adapting cabin layouts, with no installation of wires or cables; and lowers maintenance costs, as only the cabin application has to be maintained and no wires or cables have to be checked or changed.

The network will allow passengers to access the internet wirelessly using laptops and PDAs, as well as enabling them to use mobile telephones on board and view in-flight entertainment.

In-flight Language Lessons

2005-09-18T09:26:00.000-04:00

But You Have to Skip the Movie, by Yepoka Yeebo for Newsweek.

Forget to learn Mandarin before your important business trip to China? Just take an in-flight crash course. Several airlines offer interactive lessons that run on their personalized entertainment systems. Passengers listen, repeat and administer self-tests.

While the "plane speaking" courses don't promise to have beginners fluent in 20 hours, they do hope to save you at least some desperate gesticulating when you land. "We concentrate on words and phrases that can be used immediately upon arrival," says Virgin Atlantic founder Richard Branson, whose airline started offering Spanish and English last August (virgin-atlantic.com). Recently, it added Japanese on London-Tokyo flights, and it plans on expanding to Mandarin, Cantonese and French.

Singapore Airlines has just launched Berlitz Word Traveler, which offers 11 languages, with plans to add nine more languages by the end of the year. Set up like a game, Word Traveler teaches numbers, dates, simple words and dialogue, and gives pronunciation tests. Travelers who finish a course get a certificate, so you can prove you passed with flying colors.

Staggered Seating, and Aircraft Cabin Systems $23,000 42" Plasma

2005-09-18T09:11:00.000-04:00

A few futuristic tidbits from Future of Air Travel, by Mark McCord.

Northern Ireland-based Thompson has developed a "staggered" seating arrangement in which seats are fixed in diagonal lines instead of parallel lines, allowing passengers to lay against the side of their neighbour’s head-rest.

"Our tests on a range of aircraft average out at adding 10 per cent more seats," says Rogers.

The article gives some big screen cabin entertainment teasers from Aircraft Cabin Systems, and the benefit of wireless technology:

Bigger screens are also a feature of the new generation of aircraft seating designs. However, ACS' McGill says that comes with a huge cost.

"The bigger screens are not only heavier, but they are incredibly expensive," he explains.

"Screens have to be able to withstand impact tests and those modifications add up: a 42-inch plasma screen that costs 4,000 US dollars in the store would cost 23,000 dollars with air modifications."

Personalised Orders - Also, Thales has created an on-board customer relations programme that will allow passengers to call up a virtual cabin-crew member on screen who will take personalised orders for meals and drinks. "Can you imagine on the giant A380s, with 500 passengers, how much effort that will save the cabin crew?" Tam points out.

Everyone is in new product development for the A380!

Historical Firsts (History of IFE)

2005-09-16T11:01:00.000-04:00

1921 - First Inflight Movie - Aeromarine Airways showed HOWDY CHICAGO to its passengers as the amphibian airplane flew around Chicago.
1961 - First feature film exhibited on a regularly scheduled commercial airline flight (TWA B707) - MGM's BY LOVE POSSESSED, starring Lana Turner and Efrem Zimbalist Jr.
1962 - American & Pan Am install TV monitors in first class of a Lockheed Electra Aircraft.
1962, AVID Airline Products develops and manufactures the first pneumatic headset used onboard the airlines and provides them to TWA.
1971 - Trans Com develops the 8mm film cassette. Flight attendants could now change movies inflight and add short subject programming.
1975 - Braniff Airways introduces Atari video games onboard flights.
1984 - Airfone introduces the world's first inflight telephone system on American Airlines.
1988 - Airvision introduces the world's first in-seat video system, using 2.7-inch LCD displays. Northwest trials the system on a B747 with positive passenger reaction.
1989 - American Airlines makes first fleet-wide installation (B767) of in-seat video in first class (Avicom).
1991 - Virgin Atlantic Airways offers seat-back video in all classes (including economy).
1996 - First installation of Inseat Power Outlets, on Delta Air Lines.
1996 -- Live television premiered on a Delta Air Lines B767 to support the Atlanta Olympics.
2000 - In April JetBlue introduces live (via satellite) inflight television fleetwide in all cabins.
2004 - Lufthansa German Airlines, on 17 May 2004, launched the Connexion By Boeing real-time, wireless-based high-speed Internet connectivity service on an A340-300 flying the Munich-to-Los Angeles route.

This great list was sniped from the WAEA Headquarters page here.

Cabin Entertainment Systems and JetBlue Embraer 190

2005-09-13T15:05:00.000-04:00

From Aircraft Maintenance Technology, this Avionics Technology: Cabin Entertainment Systems article is geared at small, private aircraft in-flight entertainment installations from a mechanic's eye.

Air travel today has changed significantly; we now transport hundreds of passengers thousands of miles. So how do you deprive all of these people of the fundamentals of life when they are commuting the 18 hours from Houston to Tokyo? The answer is simple, give them what they want! Aircraft entertainment systems currently in use can do it all.
Press release, JetBlue Welcomes EMBRAER 190 Aircraft to the Family featuring such luxuries as "all-leather seats, 100 channels of XM Satellite Radio, 36 channels of free DIRECTV, and FOX Premium Entertainment."

Rockwell Collins Fiscal Year 2006 Financial Guidance

2005-09-13T13:56:00.000-04:00

Rockwell Collins (NYSE: COL), the $8.4 billion electronics syndicate and 800lb. gorilla of in-flight entertainment, announced 2005 financial results yesterday in a press release.

The 2006 guidance is especially relevant to our industry:

Lower in-flight entertainment (IFE) system sales resulting from the continued focus of this business on enhancing its current generation IFE systems and fully supporting its customer base, coupled with a decision to forego investing in next-generation traditional IFE systems. The company's investments for the future will instead focus on higher value-added information management solutions.

Emphasis ours. We think it means Rockwell Collins will be focusing on in-flight data and satellite TV instead of their Airshow moving maps.

Song Airlines

2005-09-11T14:51:00.000-04:00

Cribbing some riffs from low-fare competitors JetBlue and Southwest Airlines, but adding its own distinctive touches, Song is designed to be "a breath of fresh air" in the not-so-friendly skies of the post-9/11 era, marketing Vice President Tim Mapes said.

With 24 channels of free satellite television, pay-per-view movies and video games for entertainment and a menu of gourmet meals and snacks for sale, Song seeks to offer choices to travelers weary of shedding their shoes at the security gate and worrying about a possible pat-down search, he said. There are also a couple of inches more leg room, making it possible for someone taller than 6 feet to cross his legs in comfort.

"Research told us that people find airline travel oppressive, overly militaristic in terms of the regimen that you have to go through," he said.

Song sounds neat. They are even providing for mixed-viewer entertainment on their cabin LCD screens, like Bob McGee was asking about.

The idea.. is that Dad can lock onto ESPN while Mom enjoys the Arts & Entertainment Network and the children choose the Cartoon Network or Animal Planet -- with no bickering.

For a fee, the screens can also serve up any of 10 video games, something with particular appeal to young teens who might otherwise get restless on a coast-to-coast flight lasting more than five hours.

Song even has music! This is quite an in-flight entertainment setup, and I wish I knew the vendor that they sourced the contract to.

If music is your thing, Song lets each passenger assemble a personal playlist of 32 selections from among 1,600 MP3 audio files that include classical, rock, hip-hop, jazz, country or whatever.

"The idea is to let 199 people on a Song plane have 199 different experiences together," Mapes said. "Our research indicated that people want something other than a one-size-fits-all experience, and Song tries to provide that."

For those used to enduring in-flight movies they neither choose nor control, that's a treat, said Kiran Jain, director of marketing and air service development for Bradley International Airport. She has flown Song several times to Florida.

"People discuss how good this is when they get off the flight," she said. And within minutes of takeoff Tuesday, virtually every seatback screen was lit, and passengers -- even those who were reading -- had the plug-in earpieces in their ears.

You can read the full article over at RedNova News, Low-Fare Airline Sings a Fresh Tune and originally published in The Hartford Courant, Connecticut. See Song's IFE page here.

Global ePoint's AirWorks contract with Grupo Synergy's Fokker 100 fleet

2005-09-11T00:29:00.000-04:00

Global ePoint (NASDAQ: GEPT, mkt cap $62.7 million at time of post) announces a tiny little South American in-flight entertainment contract with Grupo Synergy's Ocean Air of Brazil, Wayra of Peru, VIP of Equador and Avianca Airlines of Colombia fleet, for a total of 20 Fokker 100 aircraft.

The AirWorks In Flight Entertainment System per aircraft will include 6 retractable LCD screens, a Digital Video File Server and Audio Server. The new AirWorks LCD provides over 450 NITs with a resolution of 800 RGB X 480, the Video Server supplies over 60 hours of Long Playing Movies, while the Audio server provides 16 channels of Stereo music to the passenger. With a total weight of only 79 pounds the system generates substantial fuel savings for the aircraft operator.

Full press release. More information on the Fokker 100 aircraft on this airliners.net page. Standard domestic Fokker 100's have about 100 seats; with only 6 LCD screens per airplane, this is a very light commercial IFE installation.

USA Today says "Airlines should offer entertainment for older kids"

2005-09-07T11:09:00.000-04:00

Bob McGee in USA Today has this little rant:

Many planes with in-flight audio and video offerings sandwich adult music selections and R-rated films between tunes for the toddler set. Kids who have outgrown sing-alongs and Blue's Clues would be content (and quiet) for hours with Lindsay Lohan tracks and PG movies.

Advertising to a Captive Audience

2005-09-07T10:19:00.000-04:00

This article for India's Economic Times by Preiti Sharma Shahane discusses global perspectives about in-flight advertising.

It doesn't take much to attract the attention of a bored airline passenger - after all, who could be more receptive than an audience that's literally bound to its seats? As ads get ever more ubiquitous, the inflight marketer can pick from display areas at airport lounges, branded boarding passes, ticket cases, baggage tags, head-rests, brochures and mailers in seat pockets, menus, food tray mats, F&B items... quite apart from the traditional in-flight magazines.

We think the take-away from this thorough piece is that branding is important for middle class marketers, regardless of altitude.

IFE reader Noah Kagan pointed us to this Washington Post piece a few months ago, Cash-Strapped Airlines Try In-Flight Advertising by Keith L. Alexander.

Marketing now follows potential customers into the skies. In the airline industry's newest way to drum up revenue, carriers have become aggressive pitchmen for a range of products to passengers at 30,000 feet. The airlines say the ad revenue helps in these tough financial times. But some passengers liken the pitches to ads in a movie theater before the main feature.

"It's worse than the idea of cell phones in flights," said frequent flier Sylvia Caras of Santa Cruz, Calif.

Bite your tongue...

Boeing Sources Out to B/E Aerospace for Connexion

2005-09-06T10:30:00.000-04:00

Light on importance, but heavy on excitement- Boeing Unit Selects B/E Aerospace for Integration, Certification, and Kit Production of In-Flight Connectivity Systems in this press release.

With a market cap of almost $900 million, one would imagine that B/E Aerospace does a lot of these types of contracts to provide the engineering grunt work on complicated product launches. B/E already has over 195 Supplemental Type Certificates (STCs), which are essentially an FAA guarantee of product airworthyiness. Exciting news as Boeing standardizes its Connexion roll-out.

Regent Aerospace to construct $20 million factory in South Korea

2005-09-06T09:53:00.000-04:00

According to this article in The Korea Times, California-based Regent Aerospace is set to build a $20 million factory in the Busan-Jinhae area of South Korea.

U.S.-based Regent Aerospace intends to construct a $20 million factory that will produce in-flight entertainment systems for passenger airplanes.

The Busan-Jinhae Free Economic Zone is located on the southeastern coast of Korea. Regent recently completed a 100,000-square-foot manufacturing/service facility in Plainfield, Indiana (ref) and they do business with America West Airlines, Air Canada and United Airlines Corporation, among other airlines (ref).

We particularly like this video clip, found on the Regent Aerospace home page.

The Seat Show

Regent has experience working with lots of big passenger aircraft, focusing their core competency on aircraft seat design and repair. Their website lists experience with window panes from the following aircraft models: Boeing 707, 727, 737, 747, 757, 767, 777, DC8, DC9, MD8O, MD90, DC10, MD11, Airbus A300, A310, A319, A320, A330 and A340.

Video Clip - Early Morning 747 Landing

2005-09-04T01:18:00.000-04:00

This video provides all-natural in-flight entertainment.

In June Georgio's "Early morning landing at Heathrow" video became number 1! I contacted him and I asked if he would allow me to compose a musical soundtrack for that splendid video. He agreed and now you can watch this unique musical version. My music is synchronized, enjoy. :o)

Video Clip - JetBlue Airways: DirecTV Advertisement

2005-09-03T22:30:00.000-04:00

We enjoyed this JetBlue advertisement, Lose-Air featuring two enterprising airline tycoons planning their transport empire.

Click the graphic to watch the commercial. QuickTime is required. More JetBlue commercials can be found here.

Air India signs with Thales to retrofit six B747-400s

2005-09-01T09:17:00.000-04:00

Following on the heels of Air India's announcement that IFE makes their brand cool, news that they have signed with Thales to retrofit six Boeing 747-400s.

Air India has signed an agreement with M/s Thales for the installation of Top Series Advanced Passenger Entertainment System on six B747-400s, all owned by Air India.

With 10.4 display for First and Business Class seats and 8.4 display in Economy Class seats... Every screen will be a touch-screen and each seat will have a noise canceling module for high fidelity sound and lap-top power.

This is part of the refurbishment programme approved by the Board of Air India for the B747-400 which would include cabin interior upgradation, replacement of existing Economy Class seats with new seats, providing the latest in-flight entertainment system with audio and video on demand, internet and phone facility for all passengers including personal monitors, improvement in cabin lighting and replacement and upgradation of existing galleys and toilets.

Full article here. Most interesting is that all seats, including coach, will have laptop power plugs. Is this a new trend to put in-flight entertainment in the hands and responsibility of the passenger?

Update September 27th, 2005 - Thales TopSeries spec sheet. Air India will be supported by Thales' TopEffects! media services group.

Lie-flat Beds and New Gourmet Airline Food Menus

2005-08-30T17:23:00.000-04:00

Commercial airlines love in-flight entertainment (IFE) because it is one of the cheapest and smallest value-adds for customer satisfaction. Moving maps and in-flight DVDs scale very well, while lie-flat beds and revamped food and beverage menus cost money and valuable real estate.

FlatSeats.com, run by Skytrax Research, has a great flat seats photo gallery. A little more exploration leads us to their cabin interior photos from various airlines, inevitably peppered with LCD screens like this one.

777-200LR Flight Test Journal

2005-08-26T23:44:00.000-04:00

If you haven't seen the Boeing 777-200LR Flight Test Journal, take a look. We really enjoy following the certification progress of an amazing new aircraft.

A quick search for information about on-board IFE for the 777-200LR yields this little tidbit:

Later in the afternoon, in the final report of the day, LeBeau walked viewers through the business class and showed the "huge" 15-inch screens set into the seat backs. With a remote control passengers can choose among a variety of movies and other entertainment on those long-haul flights.

15" entertainment LCDs on aircraft seatbacks is a very big deal! We are starting to take these for granted on international flights. Even there, the industry standard seems to max at 10". Full article here, but no equipment pictures.

An Inflight Entertainment Trade Group?

2005-08-26T22:52:00.000-04:00

Only half-jokingly, I am considering some marketing slogans for an In-Flight Entertainment trade group.

IFE saved my flight.
IFE kept me awake.
IFE put me to sleep.

I think that these are all really positive, boredom-killing statements that strain most international travellers without seatback screens.

Kingfisher Airlines (India) Biggest Crowd Puller?

2005-08-22T21:00:00.000-04:00

What is upstart Kingfisher Airlines betting its fleet of A320-200's on? (Besides India's booming market economy.) You guessed it: In-flight Entertainment.

The carrier's in-flight entertainment is expected to be the biggest crowd-puller, as it would be the only airliner ferrying in the (Indian) domestic sector having an in-cabin entertainment system.

All Kingfisher aircraft have been equipped with a personal video screen for every seat, with 10 channels of audio and five channels of video in every seat screen with personalised headphones. Even though in-flight entertainment is the norm in international flights, this is the first time an Indian airline servicing only on domestic sectors would provide this kind of entertainment.

But Kingfisher takes it one step further.

Apart from offering in-flight entertainment on demand, "funliners" will also offer in-flight silent auctions for lifestyle products and in-flight sales of dry packaged food and beverages.

Hmm, dry packed food and beverages, in-flight silent auctions, in-flight entertainme-- Hey, wait a second! Did they say in-flight auctions?! Now that is something I can't wait to try. Logistically speaking, the chaos-to-profit margin far exceeds even...

Seriously, it looks like a fun airline. Who can go wrong with a chairman like this?

Look at him ham it up and wave the geo fingers! Those pretty call center babes are totally excited to join their American sisters in flight service. Kingfisher is, after all, one of India's largest beer brands.

Source links: The Hindu Business Line, Sanjeev Nair, Kaushal Karkhanis.

Update September 6 2005: Direct link to Kingfisher Airlines in-flight entertainment page.

Air India says, In-flight entertainment makes our fleet cool.

2005-08-22T20:53:00.000-04:00

This article from India's Economic Times draws the link between in-flight entertainment and making an airline "look young and appealing."

NEW DELHI: The 71-year-old Maharaja of Indian skies is now taking off on a major image building flight. With competition from domestic rivals and international majors growing by the day, Air India has appointed an independent image consultant to help rejuvenate ‘Brand Air India’ and emerge a global airline of choice.

The exercise involves revamping every customer touch point, from reservation counters to in-flight entertainment and interiors.

“With Air India fast moving towards acquiring 50 new planes, our fleet would be among the youngest in the world in a year’s time. We are trying to make the brand look young and appealing,” said a spokesperson.

Full article here. Special thanks to Mumbai reader Akshay for the Air-India clarification!

Something Entertaining in the Air - PC WORLD

2005-08-21T19:09:00.000-04:00

This review pertains to commercial aircraft in-flight entertainment, but I thought it made some good points about the airlines being forced to differentiate their products based on the quality of on-board IFE.

Some airlines are cutting back on the peanuts; others are giving you a reason to bring your own popcorn.

"For me, the most interesting thing is what JetBlue inaugurated with its live satellite feed," says David Stempler, president of the ATA. "That means I can watch CNN live on air. You really get the feeling you're never out of touch."

Similarly, Delta's two-year-old "high-style, low-fare" Song airline is offering 24 channels of Dish Network satellite programming, including NBC, CNN, E, The Movie Channel, and Travel. The airline also offers 24 channels of MP3 audio programming, the ability to create individual playlists from its programming, ten pay-per-view movies (at $5 a pop), as well as video games and a trivia game that allows you to compete against other passengers--all delivered to your own LCD screen on the back of the seat in front of you. Frontier Airlines offers 24 channels of DirecTV programming, although it costs you $5 per trip leg for the privilege.

Wireless at 30,000 Feet
Just last month, Boeing added a streaming television service that lets you watch four channels on your laptop. That's on top of its high-speed wireless Internet service, Connexion by Boeing, which launched in May 2004, and is now available on Lufthansa, SAS, ANA, Japan Airlines, Singapore Airlines, and China Airlines.

Read the full article at PCWorld.com by Cathy Lu.

AIRCRAFT CABIN CONNECTIVITY

2005-08-21T18:40:00.000-04:00

This article from Elliott Aviation - Consulting seems to be an informative marketing piece. It has a few good quotes about cabin entertainment.

Custom is the operative word
Mark Wilken, Avionics Manager for Elliott Aviation points out an important fact. "The first thing to remember about in-flight entertainment and communications equipment is that almost every system is custom designed to give you what you want the way you want it. Seldom is the same system in two different aircraft cabins exactly the same."

"We often start by asking two basic questions. How do you want to view it? How do you want to hear it? And you will discover that your options are plentiful," Mark says.

There are many video monitor systems, 5-inch to 20-inch screens, bulkhead mounted or located at individual seats - some are even hidden and powered into view by an electric motor. Displays are normally liquid crystal, providing bright, colorful pictures with excellent side-view clarity...

Cabin entertainment systems - Several manufacturers market DVD, VCP and CD units. Airshow TV, the first airborne satellite TV system for business jets, allows passengers to view programming from the best direct broadcast satellite services around the globe. Cost of satellite TV for aircraft cabins is quite high.

But Airshow is probably best known for its colorful moving map displays. Maps using actual satellite images give passengers a realistic view of their flight terrain. Colored according to vegetation, these maps are a mirror image of the earth's geography. Moving maps can be customized to enhance specific routes. Topographical maps use geopolitical borders, city names and points of interest to present a detailed picture of the aircraft's current location.

Continue reading the full article at Elliott Aviation.

Eclipse 500 Private Jet from Eclipse Aviation

2005-07-04T23:28:00.000-04:00

The Eclipse 500 private jet from Eclipse Aviation.

Eclipse Aviation is in the business of designing, certifying, and producing modern, affordable jet aircraft that will revolutionize the transportation market.

Naysayers be damned, but the Eclipse 500 promises to seriously launch the very-light jet market in 2006.

Each aircraft interior is available in Standard Edition and LX Edition. The Standard Edition is available in Diablo, Sahara or Slate styles; the LX Edition is also available in four color schemes: Diablo, Sahara, Slate and Cayenne.

At the heart of the Eclipse 500 jet is its innovative Avio avionics system (read more about it here - Avio - Total Aircraft Integration). We are particularly interested in Avio's integration with any in-flight entertainment equipment that this VLJ might come equipped with.

Adjustable sun visors, cockpit/cabin privacy curtain, three AC power outlets, coat hooks and upgraded cabin tables round out the LX Edition enhancements.

Not mentioned on the Eclipse website, but confirmed by a company representative, is the optional entertainment package. Its planned components are still under design, but a comfortable guess in light of the company's general embrace of new technology would be a standard satellite radio option. We think that XM Satellite Radio would be a likely choice in consideration of its awesome XM Weather information suite.

King Air 300 and King Air 350

2005-07-04T20:58:00.000-04:00

Their large, comfortable cabins lead the Raytheon Beechcraft King Air 300 & 350 to primarily business use. Low turboprop costs (compared to expensive insurance and maintenance for gas-guzzling turbine jets) have made this a very popular choice for owner/operators around the world.

From the Airliners.net information page,

The King Air 300 has been replaced by the 350, its major improvements being a stretched fuselage lengthened by 86cm (2ft 10in) and the addition of winglets. The latest member of the King Air family, it had its first flight in 1988, and has been in production since late 1989. The King Air 350C features a builtin airstair and a 132 x 132cm (52 x 52in) freight door. The 350 is also available in a range of special missions and military variants.

Continued. Pictures of the King Air 350 and 300 interior below.

Gulfstream IV (Gulfstream 4)

2005-07-04T16:20:00.000-04:00

This page is about the Gulfstream IV (Gulfstream 4) private jet, a high altitude, high speed, twin turbofan jet aircraft.

Manufactured in 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 and 1996 by

General Dynamics
2941 Fairview Park Drive
Suite 100
Falls Church, Virginia 22042-4513

Powered by two Fuselage Mounted Rolls Royce Tay 611-8 twin spool turbofan jet engines, the Gulfstream IV has set a number of world records. In June 1987, a Gulfstream IV flew west around the world over 36,800km. Total time was 45hr 25min, which was good for 22 world records. Another Gulfstream IV flew east around the world in February 1988, setting 11 world records.

The Gulfstream IV-SP, which was introduced in 1992 and has a max cruising speed 936km/h, set new world speed and distance records on a routine business flight from Tokyo to Alberquerque in the USA in March 1993.

Global Express from Bombardier

2005-07-04T16:16:00.000-04:00

The Global Express is a very long range, high capacity business jet. It is in the same range as a Gulfstream V, Boeing Business Jet and Embraer Corporate Shuttle.

Global Express from Bombardier via Lutonjets.biz

Some related links:

Airliners.net BD-700