- From private jet to no-frills: the new developments that will soon be found on board airliners are being presented at the Aircraft Interiors Expo (8 – 10 April).
Hamburg, Germany | April 1, 2014– What do I have to install in an aircraft so that passengers can surf the internet just as quickly above the clouds as in the café on the corner of Main Street? How can we provide even economy class passengers with more legroom without reducing the number of seats? What can I do to offer even more luxury to first class passengers when the most precious on-board commodities are space and weight? Airline representatives from all over the world are gathering at the Hamburg Trade Fair from 8 to 10 April to find answers to these questions at the Aircraft Interiors Expo.
According to the event’s British organiser, Reed Exhibitions, over 500 exhibitors will be presenting at the show, covering five halls of exhibition space. And this year’s trade show is setting a new record, with more than 60 first-time exhibitors from over 20 different countries. The number of visitors is expected to match last year’s amazing figures, too. Already last year almost 9000 visitors came to the Hamburg Trade Fair site, including more than 800 representatives of the world‘s airlines. The IFE zone in particular is seeing strong growth. This is the area of the show dedicated to multimedia solutions for the aircraft cabin: In-Flight Entertainment. With more than 55 exhibitors, this area alone has grown by more than 10 percent over last year, showing the substantial increase in importance of in-flight entertainment systems in aviation. And once again, the World Travel Catering & Onboard Services Expo (WTCE) is also being held at the Trade Fair site at the same time. Meanwhile, the day before, 7 April, will see the third Passenger Experience Conference held at the neighbouring CCH –
Congress Center Hamburg. The successful launch of this conference last year was attended by more than 300 participants.
This is the 13th time that the world’s largest cabin trade fair has been held in Hamburg. And there is a reason. With a network including such major companies as Airbus and Lufthansa Technik, hundreds of SMEs, universities and research institutes, Hamburg’s aviation sector has risen to become the most important location for cabins worldwide. “The Aircraft Interiors Expo is
one of the biggest trade fairs in Hamburg’s calendar. This shows not only how closely interwoven the life of our city is with aviation, but also that there is simply no getting past Hamburg in this international industry,” says Bernhard Conrad, President of Hamburg Aviation, the Metropolitan Region’s aviation cluster. Prof. Dr Monika Bessenrodt-Weberpals, Board Member at Hamburg Aviation and VIce President of the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences (HAW Hamburg), adds: “In Hamburg Aviation, companies, universities and politics develop innovative forms of cooperation along the supply and education chain. This benefits education and research at the site of Hamburg, but more than this, it has also been a huge boon for our global visibility – especially in the field of aircraft cabins.”
Hamburg’s major players, Airbus and Lufthansa Technik, are joined at the Aircraft Interiors Expo by a strong SME contingent. The Hanse-Aerospace supplier association’s Hanse Pavilion in Hall B6 has grown by 30 percent to 1,600 square metres and 84 exhibitors, making it once again the largest stand at the Expo. And amongst the exhibitors in the Hanse Pavilion, located at position 6D60 12.2, is Hamburg Aviation’s own stand. “It is a special pleasure to us to regularly welcome Hamburg Aviation as co-exhibitor at the association’s joint stand. Hamburg Aviation, representing the cluster activities, and Hanse-Aerospace as a network of more than 160 companies along the value creation chain – also politically active on behalf of SMEs – form a tandem that is moving Hamburg forward as a centre of aviation,” says Uwe Groening, President of Hanse-Aerospace.
The finalists and winners of the Crystal Cabin Award will be presented at Stand 1A41 in Hall B1 this year. The prize, an initiative of Hamburg Aviation, honours the most promising innovations in the field of aircraft cabins. Since being launched in 2007 it has grown to become the world’s most famous and respected award in the sector. The winners are to be announced on the
evening of the first day of the Expo, 8 April, in a formal ceremony at the Hotel Atlantic Kempinski. ŠKODA will support the event as mobility partner over two days with exclusive VIP shuttle limousines. All winners and finalists will be in attendance in the Crystal Cabin Award Gallery at 11am on 9 April to present their products in person.
New Berlin, Wisconsin | EMTEQ is proud to announce that they have signed an agreement with Boeing Commercial Aviation Services in support of Boeing’s aftermarket aircraft modification programs. EMTEQ will be providing LED lighting for the Boeing Next Generation 737 Enhanced Interior.
“Because we know the airplane better than anyone else, Boeing Modification Services has the unique ability to create integrated solutions unmatched by others – it’s a perfect example of the Boeing Edge in action,” said Ken Thomson, program manager, Boeing CAS Modification and Conversion Services Business and Product Development. “LED lighting upgrades offer our customers maintenance and environmental savings while improving the passenger experience.”
EMTEQ will be providing a mood lighting package that can encompass the cabin ceiling, sidewalls and decorative lights. The lighting will be controlled through the existing Flight Attendant Panel and is designed to drop in quickly, requiring minimal wiring changes.
EMTEQ’s lighting solution for Boeing will utilize EMTEQ’s eFIT lighting technology, which was launched in 2013 and is currently certified and flying on several Boeing 737-800s. EMTEQ’s engineering and qualification team will support the certification of the lighting per FAA requirements.
Sam Matar, EMTEQ Director of Global Business Development, commented, “EMTEQ has been working with Boeing on this program for several years with continued commitment of highly skilled engineering resources to provide the best solution to meet and exceed Boeing’s requirements. EMTEQ’s LED lighting has already benefited several airlines operating Boeing Next-Generation 737 fleets by upgrading their older aircraft with a drop-in solution that offers a clean, crisp white and colored lighting. This eliminates the traditional fluorescent tube system that yellows the cabin.”
EMTEQ’s LED lighting solution will be showcased at the Aircraft Interiors Expo April 8-10, 2014, in Hamburg, Germany, at both EMTEQ’s booth, stand 7B29, and Boeing’s booth, 6E81.
ITASCA, IL | March 18, 2014–
Gogo (NASDAQ: GOGO), the world leader of in-flight connectivity and wireless in-flight digital entertainment solutions, is once again set to revolutionize the in-flight connectivity industry with the announcement of its next generation global connectivity solution. Gogo’s president and CEO, Michael Small, and Gogo’s CTO, Anand Chari, will unveil the new technology at the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg, Germany. The announcement will also be streamed via Webcast.
Webcast Details
-- To attend the Webcast and add it to your calendar, register here:
gogo.to/fastestinflight
-- The Webcast will also be streamed at gogo.to/fastestinflight
-- The Webcast will take place at 9:00 a.m. ET on Tuesday, April 8, 2014
-- Gogo CEO, Michael Small and Gogo's CTO, Anand Chari, will be making the
announcement and available for questions after the event.
Paris, France | March 13, 2014–
French start-up PXCom, supported by UBIFRANCE, will be at the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg, as it showcases its latest interactive innovations in InFlight Entertainment. Also during the trade show, PXCom will unveil new partnerships with well- known travel guide resources, as well as strategic partnerships for airlines FFP & Loyalty Programs. Finally, PXCom is pleased to announce that Patrick Baudry, specialist in inhabited space flights and former test pilot, has joined its team and will be present during the trade show to discuss InFlight Entertainment and its future evolutions.
Already an active market, Inflight Entertainment is now beginning to give a glimpse of the value of certain fresh applications. With the advent of new economic models, businesses are exploring new frontiers in Passenger Experience. Thanks to technological advances, advertising marketing directors are finally able to approach these new horizons.
“PXCom is positioning its solutions in this new dynamic,” says Cyril Jean, PXCom CEO, “We are focusing especially on the InFlight publicity sector because we have successfully developed a method for passengers to interact with advertising brands during their flights. Our solutions access publicity multimedia applications without the need for an onboard Internet connection. For example, airlines will be able to assist passengers seeking to make plans at their destination before they arrive. Imagine yourself on board a long-haul flight to New York. In the section “Destination Information” on your IFE, you can find activities and local tour partners to help you make your trip something special. In this model, the protagonist wins out: airlines benefit from new advertising revenue and advertisers benefit from a captive and interested audience. As for passengers, they find all the information they need for their trip, without spending a single cent!”
Concerning their new partnerships, Cyril Jean explains, “For our principal service which provides destination information, we will be unveiling our partnerships with major travel guides and travel entertainment for destinations. During the trade show, we will also be pleased to reveal strategic partnerships offering airlines new opportunities for their loyalty programs (FFP & Loyalty)”.
Presenting at the FRANCE Booth (6D51), PXCom will also be joined by its newest team member Patrick Baudry. Former spaceman and test pilot for Aerospatiale and Airbus Industrie,
Patrick has integrated the start-up’s advisory board. “PXCom is a French company that adds significant value,” indicated Patrick Baudry, “and I wished to accompany them by being present at their side during the Hamburg trade show, which makes up one of the largest gatherings in the world for the Aeronautic Passenger Experience sector.”
Each year IFExpress asks the good folks (Reed Exhibitions) who run the AIX Hamburg InFlight Entertainment and Connectivity Conference (not to mention food, cabin interiors and seating) in Hamburg, Germany to send along a few reasons to check out the big show in Europe. It is an important show for IFE folks and ancillary goods and services connected to our industry… not to mention the airlines that flock to this show because of the location. We urge readers to go, if for no other reason, to see and be seen. This show is a Big Deal! (Editors Note: Last year we visited the Catering/Onboard Services Expo for the first time – Incredible. If you have a few extra minutes at the show, don’t miss it!)
1. What is the expected attendance and how about exhibitors?
Compared to 2013, we have an increase of 10% in exhibition space.
The IFE Zone itself is 13% larger than 2013. This year we have had to build a temporary structure to house the growing number of IFE exhibitors, which is a great to see. This is only a temporary structure and for 2015 we have big plans to grow the show.
To date we have over 500 exhibitors.
Visitor registration went live back in January and we are really encouraged by the numbers that have registered to date. There is still four weeks to go, but we certainly hope to continue the upward trend of visitor numbers we have seen over recent years.
2. What technologies are to be covered… especially new developments?
The success of Aircraft Interiors Expo is down to having the entire spectrum of aircraft cabin interiors on show in one venue. Check out this link for a list of exhibitors. And to see a list of some of the innovations at AIX 2014 click here.
3. There is a lot of talk about LED’s, obviously a show focus – correct?
Lighting and LED is certainly a sector that is growing within the interiors industry and Aircraft Interiors Expo sees this trend increasing over the next few years. There are just over 70 exhibitors that highlight Lighting and LED as one of its product offerings.
4. Will you be featuring any new entrants for services?
Movie Studios and Content Providers are a target audience for Aircraft Interiors Expo and this year Aircraft Interiors Expo has the following content providers exhibiting:
Global Eagle Entertainment
Stellar Entertainment
Interact
Western Outdoor Interactive
Skyline-IFE
Aircraft Interiors Expo’s success is down to the entire spectrum of the interiors industry being represented and as IFE is a growing sector within Aircraft Interiors Expo – evident by the space increase – this target audience is a natural progression to ensure we are offering a one-stop-shop for visitors to the show.
5. What is planned for Monday, April 7 that we should note?
The second edition of the Passenger Experience Conference will take place. Last year surpassed expectations, so the team are 100% dedicated to ensuring its success continues by the content evolving from last year’s discussions. This year a fourth stream has been added entitled ‘Protecting the Brand: Cabin Maintenance’. This stream will look at how airlines can avoid the pitfall of spending too much money fixing poorly designed elements of their cabin. This session will consider strategies for ensuring that the cabin product is robust and can be sustained throughout the lifecycle.
As with 2013 the morning will open with two plenary sessions and then the afternoon will split into four streams:
– Inflight Entertainment and Connectivity: a voyage of discovery and opportunity
– The Cabin: getting smarter about space and comfort
– Hospitality & Service – making the onboard experience memorable
– New: Protecting the Brand: cabin maintenance
A busy, but productive day will culminate with the Conference’s dedicated Industry Networking Party; providing delegates, speakers, visitors and exhibitors with an opportunity to strike up new professional relationships and fortify existing business partnerships in a relaxed atmosphere. (Editor Note – Don’t miss this!)
6. What else should we note for our IFExpress readers?
Specifically for your readers we would like to reiterate the increase in space for the IFE Zone and the fact that Movie Studios and Content Providers are a target audience for Aircraft Interiors Expo. The Crystal Cabin Awards are once again being held at Aircraft Interiors Expo and following the official award ceremony on the evening on the 8th April, Katie Murphy (Event Director) will present the winners on the exhibition floor on Wednesday morning in Hall B1 at 11am. (See Below)
We have enhanced the Aircraft Interiors Expo mobile app. It is designed to enhance the experience of the attendee before, during and after the show, by putting the following features and information at their fingertips: full event schedule, personalized agenda, exhibitor listings, floor plans, venue maps, social networking, speaker listings etc.
We would recommend downloading the Aircraft Interiors Expo app to keep you up-to-date with what’s happening at the show. The app also contains news on show highlights, exhibitors’ product information as well as a tool to plan your day at the event, this will enable you to make appointments and track them onsite during the show.
7. Crystal Cabin Awards
The Crystal Cabin Award is dedicated to innovations in aircraft cabins at AIX and the 21 finalists for 2014 are now in place. From such futuristic concepts seat backrest touch screens to pragmatic products like a laptop charging point at each seat, the finalists for this year’s Crystal Cabin Awards are providing a good overview of what passengers can expect to see on board very soon. Again and again it comes down to the burning question: How can an increase in passenger comfort be combined with an increase in efficiency for flight operations. This was also a significant criterion for the 24-person international Judging Panel (Including among its members numerous representatives of airlines and all the major aircraft manufacturers) as they examined every one of the 55 shortlisted entries from 12 countries. For the eight time, the finalists and winners in the seven award categories are being presented at the “Aircraft Interiors Expo”, a trade fair for aircraft cabins, being held in Hamburg from 8 to 10 April this year.
8.More….
About Aircraft Interiors Expo
Innovations, technologies and products for the cabin interiors, inflight entertainment and passenger comfort industries. Taking place in Hamburg from 8-10 April 2014 the exhibition attracts thousands of buyers and decision makers from major scheduled, regional and charter airlines and offers the opportunity to meet face to face with suppliers and manufacturers covering the full spectrum of the industry
About World Travel Catering & Onboard Services Expo
Itwill take place in Hamburg from 8 – 10 April 2014. Visitors will include onboard services and retail buyers, food and beverage buyers as well as procurement representatives from air and rail travel operators. The exhibitor base includes providers of snack foods, pre-prepared meals, food service equipment, hygiene products and services, food packaging, passenger comfort products and onboard retail items.
- The Crystal Cabin Award is the world’s first port of call when it comes to innovations in aircraft cabins. The 21 finalists for 2014 are now in place
Hamburg, Germany | March 5, 2014– From such futuristic concepts as an aircraft seat with a touchscreen in the backrest all the way to pragmatic products like a laptop charging point at each seat, the finalists for this year’s Crystal Cabin Awards are providing a good overview of what passengers can expect to see on board very soon. Again and again it comes down to the burning question: how can an increase in passenger comfort be combined with an increase in efficiency for flight operations. This was also a significant criterium for the 24-person international Judging Panel, including amongst its members numerous representatives of airlines and all the major aircraft manufacturers, as they examined every one of the 55 shortlisted entries from 12 countries with a fine-toothed comb. For the eight time, the finalists and winners in the seven award categories are being presented at the “Aircraft Interiors Expo”, a trade fair for aircraft cabins, being held in Hamburg from 8 to 10 April this year.
Innovations, that passengers can expect to encounter in the near future, are particularly well represented amongst the three finalists in the category “Passenger Comfort Systems”. The acWAP from Lufthansa Technik is a high-speed router which makes even data-intensive applications such as video streaming or online games possible throughout the cabin. It is due to be installed in 20 Lufthansa Airbus aircraft this summer. On-board surfing, however, does drain the battery at an alarming rate – a problem that Armstrong Aerospace, a finalist from the USA, has addressed. The company has submitted PowerBox, a mobile power point module, which saves space and can be installed under the seat in front with a minimum of effort. The product has already been certified by the American Federal Aviation Administration. Meanwhile, France’s Zodiac Aerospace has made it to the final without electronics, submitting the ISIS Aft Complex. This concept sees the toilet and galley modules, which to date have been separate units, put side by side on the rear cabin wall. The result: the available length of the cabin grows by three feet.
US finalist B/E Aerospace took a similar approach to win a place in the last three in the “Industrial Design & Visionary Concepts” category. Their design for an Advanced Laboratory is a particularly slimline toilet module which makes it possible to integrate up to six additional seats in an aircraft. They are pitted against Zodiac’s final entry, the Halo First Class design study, offering passengers a lounge-like suite with expansive privacy. The French finalist Expliseat, meanwhile, focussed on Economy with a titanium seat. Not only does this particularly lightweight material offer 125 times (!) the life expectancy of conventional aluminium seat frames; it also results in a fuel saving of almost 300,000 euros and a CO2 reduction of 800 tonnes per aircraft per year.
Efficiency is also a key consideration in the “Greener Cabin, Health, Safety & Environment” category. German finalist DIEHL Aerospace has developed DACAPO, a power-saving, self- sufficient cabin system using rechargeable and replaceable battery trolleys. Vision Systems from France has reached the final round with the “Energia” aircraft window in which a transparent photovoltaic film inserted into the pane simultaneously “harvests” solar energy and makes it possible to dim the window at the press of a button. Zodiac is a finalist in this category, too, with another product in the ISIS range: the Modular Lavatory, facilitating resource-friendly customisation and substitution of individual bathroom and lavatory modules where, conventionally, only standardised complete systems could be installed and removed.
The “Passenger Comfort Hardware” category also features a lavatory project amongst the finalists: The aircraft toilet developed by Diehl Comfort System is operated with movement sensors, requiring no contact, making it especially hygienic. This could be a persuasive selling point for passengers from the Far East. The other finalists in the category are two economy class aircraft seats from German manufacturers: Recaro submitted the ergonomic, lightweight CL3710 seat with extra knee room, and ZIM Flugsitz responded with the EC-00 seat for short and medium-haul flights, including a new, patented table and backrest concept.
The “Premium Class & VIP” category features seats from the more expensive classes. Finalist Thales Avionics has submitted a genuinely futuristic product, Immersive Business Class Seat, with a screen and surround sound system covering nearly 360° that makes passengers almost forget that they are in a plane. The concepts from the two other competitors, meanwhile, concentrate on the connection between personal space and the cabin. Paperclip Design from Hong Kong presents an innovative solution, the Convertible Long Haul Seat Concept, a seating area that can be converted from Premium Economy to a Full-Flat Business Option in next to no time. Zodiac Aerospace has developed the Premium Cabin, which avoids space-hungry gaps and partition walls and not only creates more space for every single passenger but even allows room for an on-board bar.
The US subsidiary, Zodiac Galleys, impressed the Judging Panel in the “Material & Components” category with an airbag system for the cabin wall, rushing out to protect passengers in an emergency. The space-saving innovation avoids the need for the complex and uncomfortable installation of airbags in the seatbelt. British company Specialist Aviation reached the final round with a solution for minor material damage. The SATTO plastic glue allows minor repairs to cabin components to be carried out in 30 minutes without applying any heat. The third player in the ring is German glass-maker Schott with an innovative lightweight glass structure for cabin windows, not only more resistant than conventional window plastic but also making significantly larger panes possible.
The “University” category has progressed in leaps and bounds, with submissions from five different countries this year. And two entrants from Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands have reached the final. With “Sense the Transitions”, a team of female students presents an innovative in-flight entertainment concept where infographics and videos about the culture, history, and nature of the areas of the earth the aircraft is flying over are projected onto the backrest of the seat in front. And a fellow student is presenting the ARC Seat Concept, an innovative aircraft seat that can withstand stresses up to 16G. The longest journey of any of the
finalists comes from Monash University in Australia, with a concept for wheelchair boarding. A perfectly fitting seat module is pushed through the cabin to the relevant row and anchored there without the passenger having to stand or leave the seat.
All of the finalists’ products and concepts will be presented in the Crystal Cabin Award Gallery (Hall B1, Booth A41) at the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg (8 – 10 April, 2014) And on the second day of the trade fair (9 April, 11 a.m.), the winners will personally present their concepts to the public.
The official crowning of winners and presentation of trophies will take place the evening before at a formal dinner.
The Crystal Cabin Award 2014 is supported by the following sponsors:
Airbus, Aircraft Cabin Management, the Aircraft Interiors Expo trade fair (Reed Exhibitions), Aircraft Interiors International Magazine, the Aircraft Interiors Middle East trade fair (AIME), APEX, Bishop, DIEHL Aerosystems Holding, Embraer, FERCHAU AVIATION Division, Jetliner Cabins, KYDEX LLC and Zodiac Aerospace.
- Applications for the Crystal Cabin Award 2014 may be submitted at www.crystal-cabin-award.com between 9 October and 12 November 2013
Hamburg, Germany | October 1, 2013– For the eighth year running, the Crystal Cabin Award Association is calling for entries – the latest products and concepts to noticeably improve air travel and protect resources – for the international aircraft cabin competition. The application phase begins on 9 October and concludes on 12 November, 2013. Just participating is already beneficial for many companies. It allows them to test the market potential of their products and concepts. Ultimately, reaching the final increases product and brand recognition, which can open the door to potential customers.
Information on the individual categories, the competition rules, and an entry form are all available online at www.crystal-cabin-award.com (Competition). The winners will be crowned, as always, in association with the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg (8 – 10 April, 2014).
“The Crystal Cabin Awards is a great way to imagine, challenge each other, share innovative concepts and enjoy the competition,” says Brett Bleacher, Director of Innovations and R&D, Thales IFEC. Thales was a winner in this year’s Crystal Cabin Award for its special navigation technology for an in-flight entertainment system: eye tracking and gesture control. Soon, passengers will be able to control the entertainment program using hand and eye movements. Brett Bleacher: “Our 2013 win for gesture control and eye tracking navigation of an IFEC system continues to spark interest, and time will tell true market potential. In the meantime, Thales is preparing its 2014 entry designed to create an amazing experience, once again, for passenger comfort. Stay tuned!”
MERU from England is also delighted with the attention that winning in this year’s competition brought to its flexible seat for disabled children. “The CC Award literally opened doors for us to talk to more customers. It gives our MERU TravelChair enormous credibility in the aviation sector, bringing confidence to both the product and its implementation by operators,” reports Graham Race, MERU Design Engineer. In general, the appetite across the aviation industry to improve the provision of seating for disabled people has substantially increased.
Bengt Brötzmann and René Waldheuer from the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences can confirm that taking part in the competition is a worthwhile venture for students, too: “The Crystal Cabin Award is the ideal platform to draw attention to your own concepts and ideas in this high-tech industry. Winning the award opened up
completely new opportunities and perspectives for us. And belief in our ideas was strengthened, too.” The two students won the award this year in the University category, receiving a trophy and prize money, for their “Big Lavatory Concept” – an on-board lavatory which offers more space by positioning the toilet diagonally.
ALMADESIGN from Portugal say that winning the award last year really gave them wings. With their LIFE concept (Lighter, Integrated, eco-Friendly and Efficient aircraft cabin), the consortium of ALMADESIGN, Amorim Cork Composites, Couro Azul, INEGI and SET, working together with Embraer, combined state of the art technologies with natural and sustainable materials for a business jet cabin of the future. “The Award brought global recognition to all partners as companies that are capable of tackling the future challenges of aircraft cabin design,” say José Rui Marcelino and André Castro from ALMADESIGN. “LIFE was published in all the leading aircraft cabin design magazines and was considered an Eco-innovation Business Case Study for OECD project on Green Growth & Eco-Innovation. As a result, the project partners have reinforced their position in the global supplier list of the aircraft industry and have been more frequently engaged to bid RFP by global manufacturers. The prestigious jury of the award also confirmed Almadesign as a leading Portuguese design consultancy in the field of aircraft cabin design, motivating the company to develop new products and innovative solutions for the industry. Hence the company is now actively engaged in several new challenges, ranging from cabin refurbishment projects to visionary concepts for future aircraft configurations.”
It’s not just entrants that are welcome – sponsors are also gladly accepted. Carmen Krause, Project Manager, is happy to provide information about the various sponsorship packages: carmen.krause@hamburg-aviation.com.
Inflight connectivity is about getting data to and from a passenger’s laptop, or getting their voice to the right ear, wherever that might be. The technology behind it may not be interesting to passengers, but it is technological developments, such as TriaGnoSys’ new GSM roaming solution, that drive increased efficiencies, reduce costs and thereby enable airlines to offer more connectivity to more people.”