USB Power On Your Next Flight?
The idea for this story began one morning when the question was asked just how much power would be needed to supply every passenger seat with enough to charge their portable device, assuming they all had iPad2's. Let's see for the whole plane, 150 seats times 2.1 amps times 5 volts equals 1575 watts… about the power if a hair dryer or a little over 10 watts per seat. Perhaps the power load is not the issue for airlines, after all for it is a small demand on an engine that can deliver some 35,000 pounds of thrust. The real ...
APEX TC To Be Presented In Technicolor!
If IFEC is your thing, here are a few words on a couple of the key sessions that promise to make headlines at the big IFEC two-day event on May 22-23… you are going to be there, aren't you? IFExpress had an opportunity to talk with Ian Walberg, CEO Airborne Interactive LTD - APEX Board Member & TC Chairman about the upcoming TC. "We are working to make the sessions accessible to as wide an audience as possible while still keeping in touch with our historic role to define and educate the industry about new technologies. This coupled with hosting the ...
Thales – Good Luck Comes In Pairs!
This was a pretty good year for Thales if AIX is any barometer of the economic weather for the French giant (2011 - 13.2 B Euros). The California-based, IFE arm of the the company has hit what looks to be a home run. For Thales CEO Alan Pelligrini, it all appears to be coming together to plan. For starters, Thales just secured their first B787 line fit customer (unnamed) for AVANT to be delivered in the 2014 time-frame on an Airbus A350 XWB aircraft. The Crystal Cabin winning product is Android friendly and a new App Portal has just been ...
Wi-Fi Everywhere!
(Image Above: That's Maureen Gersch in the photo next to the Lumexis WiPAX display at AIX) As you might imagine, Wi-Fi was a big topic this AIX and companies like Lumexis, Thales, and Panasonic were showing their hardware. Lumexis, the "fiber to the display" folks, told IFExpress that the driver for Wi-Fi was the customer airlines. According to an outfit called IMS Research, there are only 80 aircraft today that have access to streaming entertainment (however, we found out that there a lot more commercial jets currently installed with Wi-Fi) but they predict some 9000 by 2021, that goal seems reasonable. ...
SATRO, Poken, 3D Glasses… and More!
Does it sound like gibberish? Well it's not, these are real products and services we found at AIX that we thought might interest you, albeit they are not exclusively in the IFE category. Given this introduction let's proceed without haste. One of our favorite visits at any IFE trade show is Astronics' Carl Hooper from their Florida "Skunk Works" where some of their more interesting products are built. SATRO is certainly one we did not see coming because it is so far removed from IFE; however, their management sure knows a good idea when they see one. In the linked picture, ...
Hot Topics
USB Power On Your Next Flight?
The idea for this story began one morning when the question was asked just how much power would be needed to supply every passenger seat with enough to charge their portable device, assuming they all had iPad2′s. Let’s see for the whole plane, 150 seats times 2.1 amps times 5 volts equals 1575 watts… about the power if a hair... [Read more]
APEX TC To Be Presented In Technicolor!
If IFEC is your thing, here are a few words on a couple of the key sessions that promise to make headlines at the big IFEC two-day event on May 22-23… you are going to be there, aren’t you? IFExpress had an opportunity to talk with Ian Walberg, CEO Airborne Interactive LTD – APEX Board Member & TC Chairman about the upcoming... [Read more]
Thales – Good Luck Comes In Pairs!
This was a pretty good year for Thales if AIX is any barometer of the economic weather for the French giant (2011 – 13.2 B Euros). The California-based, IFE arm of the the company has hit what looks to be a home run. For Thales CEO Alan Pelligrini, it all appears to be coming together to plan. For starters, Thales just secured their... [Read more]
Wi-Fi Everywhere!
(Image Above: That’s Maureen Gersch in the photo next to the Lumexis WiPAX display at AIX) As you might imagine, Wi-Fi was a big topic this AIX and companies like Lumexis, Thales, and Panasonic were showing their hardware. Lumexis, the “fiber to the display” folks, told IFExpress that the driver for Wi-Fi was the customer... [Read more]
SATRO, Poken, 3D Glasses… and More!
Does it sound like gibberish? Well it’s not, these are real products and services we found at AIX that we thought might interest you, albeit they are not exclusively in the IFE category. Given this introduction let’s proceed without haste. One of our favorite visits at any IFE trade show is Astronics’ Carl Hooper from their... [Read more]
Aircraft Interiors 2012 Review: Installment #2
Lufthansa Systems: Like every good new idea in IFE, wireless systems are now being offered by a number of suppliers. Nonetheless, it’s difficult not to consider the first in that marketplace to be the clear leader–and, yes, we’re talking about Lufthansa Systems’ BoardConnect. We talked to the man whose idea it was... [Read more]
AIX Round-Up
Like every year, AIX is interesting, informative, and just plain schedule crazy… both day and night! The Monday APEX meeting set the stage for the trending IFE product offerings we were to see over the following 3 days. As you might expect, Wi-Fi in the cabin, streaming entertainment to portable devices, RFID advances, satcom connectivity... [Read more]
Astronics Moves Out, And In!
We rarely publish stories on company moves, almost never. We got wind of an Astronics move (1.5 miles north on Willows Rd) so we went to see the new building which will house more than 300 employees (current full-time headcount is 312). The move comes amid a business and employee hiring expansion. Why, demand for inseat power is growing disproportionately... [Read more]
The headset is the most critical part of any IFE system. It defines the quality of audio delivery and its look and feel defines the quality of the Airline. The headset is probably responsible for more passenger complaints, and IFE reliability issues than any other IFE component - so why do most airlines leave its procurement to the catering department?”
