Paris, France | April 13, 2015– At the Aircraft Interiors Expo, which will be held next week in Hamburg, the InFlight entertainment (IFE) industry will be revealing its latest innovations, ready to wow airline passengers.

PXCom is positioning itself as a pioneer in this industry as it announces its own major innovation. The new solution is for the first time fully integrated within the award winning BoardConnect wireless infotainment platform of Lufthansa Systems. PXCom has developed a reservation service that is fully operational and directly accessible from the passenger’s seat.

Imagine yourself on a medium or long-haul flight. Through the integrated in-flight entertainment system, PXCom’s multimedia travel guides have already helped you find activities at your destination to liven up your stay. Now, in just a few clicks, you can reserve a ticket for the exhibition that caught your eye; the 3-day pass that includes transportation and museums; theme parks that your kids are dying to visit… all that is possible even without an in-flight internet connection!

For airlines already offering IFC, onboard connectivity will enhance this new feature enlarging the scope of the bookings which can be processed, such as transportation mode at the arrival, live events tickets…

“Reserving and buying tickets while in flight has been long anticipated by both airline companies and tourism professionals,” points out Cyril JEAN, PXCom CEO. “For the former, it’s a question of offering a new ancillary-generator service. For the latter, it is about the crucial point of attracting tourists before they even arrive. Our service is very simple. Our multimedia travel guides are already in place to help inspire passengers. When they select an activity, we ask them to enter their contact information (email or telephone). As soon as the plane arrives at the airport, the data is offloaded and processed. PXCom is positioned to ensure the direct liaison between passengers and tourism professionals.” He adds, “Lufthansa Systems’ teams were incredible. We all share the same desire to innovate, and the same agility in offering airline companies turn-key solutions.”

This solution is now registered in the BoardConnect features catalog and can be tested at AIX.

Hamburg, Germany | April 9, 2015– Rockwell Collins will demonstrate how it is uniquely positioned to offer a full suite of cabin solutions that enhance passenger engagement and deliver value for airlines at this year’s Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg, Germany, April 14-16.
“We’re redefining passenger engagement for airlines with advanced, reliable entertainment systems, empowering high-speed broadband and robust applications,” explained Craig Elliott, vice president, Sales and Marketing, Air Transport Cabin Solutions for Rockwell Collins. “Since our acquisition of ARINC, and more recently Pacific Avionics, Rockwell Collins is taking a significant step forward with a unique offering in the market that provides airlines with scalable cabin solutions that are open and flexible to meet the needs of any mission profile.”

A number of Rockwell Collins latest innovations will be exhibited at Aircraft Interiors, including its award-winning PAVES™ family of in-flight entertainment (IFE) systems, its Cabin Connect suite of connectivity services, and its Airshow® 3D Moving Map .
The company also plans to reveal and demonstrate a new passenger service system aftermarket solution for airline cabins that will reduce fuel cost and recurring maintenance.

• PRESS INFORMATION:
  Rockwell Collins will be posting news updates at http://rockwellcollins.com/News_and_Events.aspx
• Journalists and attendees can also connect with the company through its social channels via Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
• Press kits will also be available onsite at the Rockwell Collins exhibit.

EXHIBIT HIGHLIGHTS:
Aircraft Interiors Expo attendees are encouraged to stop by Booth #4C10 in Hall B4, or schedule a formal visit by contacting Rockwell Collins to learn more about its next-generation cabin solutions, including:

• Rockwell Collins’ Cabin Connect suite of connectivity services, featuring Inmarsat’s GX Aviation for the most extensive coverage of airline routes and the fastest broadband in the skies, as well as applications for crew connectivity, real-time credit card authorization and wireless in-flight entertainment
• PAVES™ Wireless, bringing Wi-Fi accessible content aboard the flight
• PAVES™ On-demand, delivering seat-centric IFE through an intuitive touchscreen HD seatback interface
• PAVES™ Broadcast, featuring a wider array of content options for passengers than previous overhead systems
• Airshow® 3D Moving Map, featuring stunning graphical design and dramatic product enhancements to engage passengers and make flight time more enjoyable.

• Once again, the Aircraft Interiors Expo, being held at Hamburg’s Trade Fair from 14 to 16 April, will reveal global trends for aircraft cabins and on-board products.

Hamburg, Germany | April 8, 2015– Overhead lockers that take 50 percent more suitcase than conventional lockers do. Lightning-fast WLAN at every seat. Cabin windows that store sunlight and convert it directly into energy for the passengers’ smartphone batteries. Onboard films with Dolby Surround Sound and 3D. First-class seats that are as comfortable as a winged chair at home and yet can withstand 16G force. One thing you are sure to discover if you stroll through the Airport Interiors Expo: passionate fascination with the future of aviation! And that future is not far away. Many of the innovations presented at the world’s largest trade fair for aircraft cabins will soon be everyday features of air travel.

For the global airline industry, it is one of the most important events of the year. This year’s Aircraft Interiors Expo, taking place at Hamburg’s Trade Fair from 14 to 16 April, will see almost 600 exhibitors from 40 countries presenting the latest trends, products, and innovations for the aircraft cabin. Some 31,000 square metres are dedicated to the expo this year. The world’s largest cabin expo, organised by Reed Exhibitions in the UK, is breaking the records it set just one year ago. Almost 10,000 international industry specialists, including 800 airline representatives, are expected to attend the three-day event.

Three halls are dedicated exclusively to in-flight entertainment this year. This is the fastest growing segment, including both technical and content aspects. The World Travel & Catering Expo, the world’s largest aircraft catering trade fair, will once again be held at the same site in parallel to AIX. On Monday, 12 April, the Passenger Experience Conference, a top-ranking international gathering, will once again be held at Congress Center Hamburg (CCH).

In the highly competitive airline market, the cabin is well established as one of the most important battlefields. Sometimes it is the extras in luxury and comfort that win the day, and sometimes it is the optimal usage of space and weight. The tempo is high, with an average of five complete cabin refurbishments in the life cycle of a modern airliner.

Hamburg the world’s leading cabin center

At the heart of this dynamic development is Hamburg. A significant portion of the 40,000 jobs in the region’s aviation industry are associated with the cabin sector. This makes the metropolitan region in northern Germany the most important location in the world for this growing market. Many of the more than 300 aviation companies and institutions in Hamburg have their own presence at the Aircraft Interiors Expo. “The cabin expertise which Hamburg possesses is unmatched anywhere in the world, as we demonstrate year-in-year-out at the Aircraft Interiors Expo,” says Prof. Dr Joachim Szodruch, Chairman of the Hamburg Aviation cluster. “At the same time, the expo, being held here in Hamburg for the 14th time, is growing significantly once again. For the first time, it has expanded to use all the halls available. This is a great sign for Hamburg as a place of business, and a great motivation for all participants in the cluster.”

Hamburg’s biggest three employers in the industry focus on cabins

The three largest industrial employers in Hamburg’s aviation sector – Airbus, Lufthansa Technik and Diehl – concentrate their cabin focus in the region. As a consequence, they have a prominent presence at the Aircraft Interiors Expo. Airbus has its global cabin development center at Finkenwerder in Hamburg. The company’s presence at the expo is dedicated to new, efficient possibilities for space usage on short and long-haul aircraft. Lufthansa Technik is a leading player in the international market, not least because of its focus on VIP fittings in Hamburg. The company is exhibiting a comprehensive palette of products at its stand this year, ranging from the “Chair” luxury seat to patient transport facilities. Diehl Aerospace is presenting a fully functional cabin model at the trade fair.

Apart from the big names, more than a quarter of the aviation jobs in Hamburg are with small and medium-sized businesses. They are represented by the supplier association, HanseAerospace. With 74 exhibitors, the organisation’s spacious “Hanse Pavilion” stand in Hall B6 is once again the largest individual stand at the Aircraft Interiors Expo. Two of the Hamburg-based enterprises in the spotlight this year are the young company Treo, which tests instruments for customers from all over the world, and P3 Voith, involved in the construction of the new Airbus Beluga XL.

The “Hanse Pavilion” is also home to the Hamburg Aviation stand (6B90 12.4), a 20-squaremeter presentation of Hamburg as a center of aviation. “SME suppliers and service providers are an important driving force for innovation for our aviation industry, regionally and also nationally. Hanse-Aerospace is therefore delighted to be able to bring together such a broad spectrum of these companies, along with Hamburg Aviation and the engineering service providers of the HECAS association, under a single roof – the Hanse Pavilion roof,” says Uwe Groening, President of Hanse-Aerospace.

Crystal Cabin Award: this year’s top innovations

An overview of the most outstanding trends and innovations in the cabin market can be found in the Crystal Cabin Award Gallery in Hall B6, Stand 6C10. There, the finalists and winners of the Crystal Cabin Award are on display. The prize, launched by Hamburg Aviation in 2007, has grown to become the world’s most highly regarded award in the industry. The winners of this year’s “Cabin Oscars” will be crowned at a formal ceremony in the Hotel Atlantic on the evening of 14 April. All winners and finalists will be in attendance in the Crystal Cabin Award Gallery at 11am on 15 April to present their products in person one more time.

Hamburg, Germany | April 8, 2015– With under a week to go, Aircraft Interiors Expo is ready to open its doors at the Hamburg Messe in Germany from 14 -16 April 2015. Organised by Reed Exhibitions, the 16th edition of Aircraft Interiors Expo will be the largest ever staged with over 530 exhibiting companies from 30 different countries spread over seven halls compared to five in 2014, including a record size IFE Zone which has grown by 31%.

According to a recent report from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), global passenger traffic results for February 2015 showed a strengthening in demand growth compared to February 2014. Total revenue passenger kilometres rose 6.2%, which was an improvement on the January year-over-year increase of 4.5%. Available seat kilometres capacity in February 2015 increased by 5.6% with the load factor rising 0.5 percentage points to 78.5%.

Aircraft Interiors Expo 2015 is a global event that showcases the entire range of interiors systems and services and over 58 new exhibiting companies will be promoting ground-breaking new products and innovative technologies. Over 800 airline buyers as well as more than 530 suppliers and 13,800 attendees are expected to attend this year’s “must attend” event in the aircraft interiors calendar.

Making its debut, Bangkok Metropolis Motor Company (BKF) is one of very few companies in Thailand that has achieved the AS9001 quality standard for manufacturing aircraft interiors. In addition to supplying automotive, motor cycle and consumer electronics markets, BKF manufactures complete tray tables and can also supply sub-components to support manufacturers – these include washers, spacers, hinges and flame retardant foam.

“BKF has a long and successful history in plastic injection, die casting and rubber moulding. We are now diversifying into the aircraft interiors market with our quality standard through the manufacture and assembly of seat-back food trays. We are very excited to be at Aircraft Interiors Expo 2015 and look forward to meeting potential new partners which will allow us to further develop our capabilities in this important market,” said Dermot Rees, Business Development Manager – Marketing at BKF.

IFEC and seating play prominent roles in enhancing the passenger experience and at Aircraft Interiors Expo 2015, the latest innovative technologies will be displayed by 78 companies in the largest ever IFE Zone which has grown by 31% in size compared to 2014. Examples of companies include Astronics, Blue Box Avionics, Gogo, Lumexis, Molex, Panasonic Avionics, TE Connectivity, Thales, Viasat and Zodiac as well as first-time exhibitors such as Axinom, Dicentia, DMD, In-Flight Dublin, TEAC and Wisscom Aerospace– to name a few.

With over 185 companies on the show floor from around the world displaying the latest in seating products and services, many visitors will be able to view a wide range of new seat launches on display incorporating the latest technological developments, e.g. Acro Aircraft Seating. “At Hamburg this year, Acro will be exhibiting its new Premium Economy product as well as a completely redesigned fixed back seat, both due for delivery in 2016,” confirmed Chris Brady, Managing Director at Acro Aircraft Seating.

This year a new and exclusively designed USA Pavilion will provide an ideal platform for a range of smaller and medium size companies to promote their products and services – many of which are new exhibitors. These include Hanaya Inc. which designs and manufactures friction hinges for the aircraft interiors industry.

“Our hinges’ life cycles exceed 35,000 in some cases and torque tolerance has been lowered to 10 -15%. Between our design department and the production facilities that we utilize, we have accumulated a wealth of expertise, and proven capabilities within a wide range of industries. We effectively address unique requirements and challenges for motion mechanisms in a wide range of applications,” said Jose Cortes, VP Sales at Hanaya Inc. The US Pavilion will also feature the U.S. Commercial Service Germany at the American Embassy in Berlin which, together with three Consulates General, provide a range of services and programmes to help American companies export goods and services to Germany.

Another new feature at Aircraft Interiors Expo 2015 is CabinSpace LIVE, a face-to-face platform which will offer a dedicated area for the exchange of information and best practices with direct access to airlines, operators, buyers and specifiers from the industry. Located in Hall B6, all sessions will be free to attend and companies confirmed to participate include Imeco, Lufthansa Technik, Recticel/Soundcoat, Schott, Silentium, Solvay and STG Aerospace.

“With IATA’s report confirming the rising trend in higher passenger numbers, the topic of passenger experience has never been higher on the agenda for the aircraft interiors industry. For attending visitors and airline representatives, Aircraft Interiors Expo 2015 will be the largest edition ever staged, covering all aspects of the interiors spectrum on the show floor. We look forward to welcoming all our exhibiting companies and visitors from around the world to what will undoubtedly be a busy but important week at this year’s “must attend” event for this innovative and vibrant industry,” said Katie Murphy, Senior Event Director of Aircraft Interiors Expo.

Surrey, UK | April 6, 2015–Inflight is pleased to announce that newly appointed editor, Piers Townley, will be attending this year’s Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg to meet with leaders in the in-flight entertainment and connectivity (IFEC) industry.

“Taking the editorial helm of a publishing team with world-class knowledge of the industry as a good editor is a privilege and a challenge,” commented Piers. “I look forward to witnessing Inflight reach new heights as our team of respected journalists continue to push the editorial of the Inflight media portfolio to keep you at the forefront of IFEC.”

Whilst the event is taking place, Mark Howells, publisher of Inflight, will also be presenting Markus Gilges, director of business development at VT Miltope, with the Inflight award for ‘Innovation in commercial airline cabins’ which was announced earlier this year at the prestigious Inflight Awards Middle East event held in Dubai.

VT Miltope won the award after Inflight’s judging panel of experts selected the company from a number of nominations from leading industry suppliers. The winning criteria was based on VT Miltope’s Cognitive Hotspot Technology.

“Inflight is pleased to award VT Miltope as the winner of the ‘Innovation in commercial airline cabins’ category,” said Mark Howells. “The company is a worthy winner with the development of its Cognitive Hotspot Technology which aims to provide airlines with a solution in facing the challenges of seamless connectivity in-flight.”

The award presentation will take place on VT Miltope’s booth 3C28 at noon on Tuesday 14th April.

Inflight is also proud to be a media partner at The Crystal Cabin Awards.

To arrange a meeting with Piers Townley during Aircraft Interiors, please email piers@hmgaerospace.com.

Toby Walton, sales manager for Inflight, will also be present for the duration of AIX Hamburg. He can be reached at toby@hmgaerospace.com.

Visit us at Aircraft Interiors, Booth 2E61 in Hamburg, 14-16 April, to find out more information about our publications and events.

• Can virtual reality help overcome the physical constraints of the airline cabin to improve the passenger experience? This intriguing subject will be under the spotlight at the annual Passenger Experience Conference, which takes place on 13 April 2015 at the CCH – Congress Centre Hamburg.

Hamburg | April 2, 2015 — A session led by Dr Betty Mohler, Independent Group Leader at the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics will draw on the European Commission funded VR-HYPERSPACE project. The goal of the three-year project, which was completed last year, is to improve passengers’ comfort in 2050 and beyond by enabling them to personalise and adjust their onboard experiences using virtual illusion. There will be a question and answer session when Dr Mohler will be joined by Eric Brown, Director of User Experience, BMW Group, DesignworksUSA; Fred Schreiner, Chief Technology Officer, In-Flight Entertainment and Connectivity, Thales; and Lynne Slowey, Head of Digital Content, Thomas Cook Group.

In-flight entertainment, another exciting area of technology, is also on the agenda. Developments in this sector offer an ever growing portfolio of possibilities for airlines to offer their passengers. But what is the optimum content mix when early-window movies, Youtube, Facebook and social media all have to be considered? And what are the expectations of the binge-watching Netflix generation? Delegates will benefit from the insights of Aditya Chatterjee, Chief Technology Officer, Global Eagle Entertainment; Ian Dawkins, Chief Executive Officer, OnAir; Axel Jahn, Managing Director/VP Business Development, Zodiac Inflight Innovations; Andrew Kemmetmueller, Vice President of Airline Applications, Gogo; Mike Moeller, Vice President, Sales and Marketing, In-Flight Entertainment and Connectivity, Thales; and Duc Huy Tran, Director Airline Sales & Marketing, Air Transport Cabin, Rockwell Collins.

Wider areas of cabin environment operations will be debated in a session entitled ‘Unbundling Future Onboard Ancillary Revenue Opportunities.’ A panel of experts comprising Rodrigo Llaguno, Vice-President Customer Experience, Avianca: Gary Mayger, Director, Sales & Business Development – EMEA, GuestLogix; Sue Walker, Managing Director, New Business and Product Innovation, Gate Retail Onboard; and Brian Yuen, General Manager, Inflight Services, Hong Kong Dragon Airlines, will discuss the consumer trends, behaviours and experience demands that will shape future revenue opportunities. This will include the tailoring of the onboard offering and the need for regional differentiators. While technology advances tend to make the news, the human element is still important and the role of the cabin crew in personalising the service will also be discussed.

Seating is always high on the agenda whenever the passenger experience is discussed. This year the issue will be debated by Ian Moore, Chief Executive Officer, NuBax; Ben Orson, Managing Director, JPA Design; Cristian Sutter, Cabin Design Specialist; and Gary Weissel, Managing Officer, Tronos Aviation Consulting. Among the subjects under review are what impact passenger cultures will have on seat design and how the industry can keep abreast of fast changing passenger expectations.

Sustainability is another key challenge for airlines and will be addressed in a session featuring Dr Yener Girisken, Chief Executive Officer, ThinkNeuro; Dr Stathis Kefallonitis, Founder & President, branding.aero; and Vicky Stennes, Senior Consultant, Mulberry Consulting. The wide ranging discussion will include strategies that airlines currently use to encourage sustainability throughout their networks.

Katie Murphy, Senior Event Director for Aircraft Interiors Expo, said: ‘The Passenger Experience Conference is growing in authority year on year. This is because the event provides a platform for internationally renowned experts to inform and educate influential audiences from across the air transport industry, tackling the cabin interiors subjects that are critical to its future.’

The Passenger Experience Conference will be followed by Aircraft Interiors Expo, which will be staged at Hamburg Messe on 14 -16 April.

Hamburg, Germany | March 12, 2015– With just a month to go, the countdown is now on for this year’s Aircraft Interiors Expo which takes place at the Hamburg Messe in Germany from 14 -16 April 2015. Organised by Reed Exhibitions, Aircraft Interiors Expo 2015 will be the essential hub for the aircraft interiors industry to view ground-breaking new products and innovative technologies as well as networking with exhibiting companies and professional visitors.

According to a recent report published by Technavio entitled “Global Commercial Aircraft Cabin Interior Market 2014-2018” the global market is forecast to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 4.72% during the period 2013-2018.

The report also states that improved economic growth and urbanisation have resulted in a rise in air travel and the demand for air travel, especially from the Premium Customer segment, has triggered many innovations in the In-Flight Entertainment and Connectivity (IFEC) segment.

IFEC and seating play leading roles in enhancing the passenger experience and at Aircraft Interiors Expo 2015,Panasonic Avionics will be displaying its new JAZZ seat concept. Neil James, Executive Director of Corporate Sales & Product Management at Panasonic Avionics, said: “At Panasonic, we see a tremendous opportunity to bring the innovation of premium classes to Economy class. The JAZZ Seat is the first seat with IFE designed synchronously from the ground up for commercial aircraft.”

The overall thinness of the seat, created from a mandrel-free composite seatback construction, frees up more space for the passenger by improving knee clearance, while the innovative armrest geometry increases hip clearance through the use of additive manufacturing. JAZZ considers every aspect of passenger entertainment by featuring best-in-class IFEC technology and an unprecedented 13.3″ 1080p LCD touch screen integrated into a seamless edge-to-edge glass structure.

Passengers are able to control the ambiance of their seat environment through mood lighting, built-in reading lights and communication with the cabin crew through integrated attendant call lights. AC power, inductive charging, USB ports, Bluetooth 4.0 and Near Field Communication (NFC) payment features seamlessly integrate Personal Electronic Devices (PED) for a fully personalised passenger experience.

Chameleon Products specialise in providing interior design solutions to many airlines and VIP aircraft and the company has recently collaborated with Flying Service, a UK-based aircraft seat manufacturer, to produce a new economy seat called the Extendable Seat Product (ESP) which will be displayed on Chameleon’s stand. The ESP can be produced for any aircraft type and certification takes approximately 12 weeks. The new seat converts from a standard economy seat into a lounger seat which enables passengers to lie flat in a sleeping position or to relax with other travelling companions or family.

“We decided that we would produce the first seat in material that was designed by the celebrated British designer, Sir Paul Smith, which would combine great British engineering with superb British design and I think we have come up with something very stylish and functional. We also hope airlines will adopt the ‘ESP Designer Class’ which will enable us to work with established and new designers to enhance the ESP section in the aircraft to create something new and generate additional revenue for the airline,” explained Trevor Whetter, Owner of Chameleon Products.

Another company thatsupplies several of the world’s major seating manufacturers is Aerofoam Industries who produce aircraft foam cushions, thermoplastics and seat covers. In partnership with seating scientists, Nubax, Aerofoamhas developed a new technological foam innovation called Probax for aircraft seating.

Probax utilises a patented technology to encourage correct seated posture without the addition of any mechanical devices. The Probax design process utilises the teams’ extensive experience in bio-mechanics to define key reference points within a seat cushion. Those reference points are then expertly built into a three dimensional shape by Aerofoam to create a foam cushion.

The Probax cushion can be fitted to any existing aircraft seat as a replacement cushion and according to a recent study, ProBax has been clinically proven to increase blood flow, aid blood oxygenation, reduce muscle fatigue, discomfort and even improve digestion, all by inducing an anatomically more correct seated posture.

“We have always been the ‘go to’ company for comfort in aircraft seat cushions and now we are able to empirically define that comfort bio-mechanically,” said Jim Barrett, VP at Aerofoam Industries. “The end result is a lighter, more comfortable seat cushion that offers more leg room and mitigates the risk of Deep-Vein Thrombosis (DVT). An added side effect is that by keeping passengers comfortable, they’re less prone to adjusting their seat incline, potentially reducing passenger irritability and the use of devices such as the infamous knee blockers.”

Aircraft Interiors Expo 2015 is a global event that showcases the entire range of interiors systems and services and many visitors and airline representatives will be interested in viewing the latest developments in carpets. ege is one of Europe’s largest manufacturers of carpets and this year the company will be launching two new aviation product lines called Avia Carré Ecoline and Avia Structure.

“We look forward to welcoming visitors to our stand to see our unique way of designing carpets, for which there are limitless design options and colours. We use the latest technology to deliver total freedom for these designs and we have the industry’s shortest delivery times. More importantly, our environmentally-friendly carpets are made from 100% recycled yarns,” said Jens Klein, Head of Aviation and Trains at ege.

As evidence of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), ege is the only carpet manufacturer in the world to have gained the CSR standard DS 49001, which is the Danish version of the internationally recognised ISO 26001 standard. The Avia Carré Ecoline collection is produced from an innovative lightweight material that can help reduce fuel consumption as well as giving customers total freedom to incorporate bespoke designs. Avia Structure, whilst designed with a very minimalistic look and feel, is a flat woven hard-wearing and lightweight collection manufactured to meet stringent certified standards.

Senior Event Director, Katie Murphy, said: “This year will see the largest and most comprehensive global passenger experience event ever staged, as Aircraft Interiors Expo expands from five halls to seven. It’s clear that exhibiting companies see this event as the ideal showcase to display their latest and innovative technologies to the many visitors and airline representatives who will attend. With the continuing upward trend in air travel, there is no doubt that Aircraft Interiors Expo 2015 will cover the full spectrum of the passenger experience on the show floor with over 500 exhibiting companies.”

The big news this week is from Gogo: The company announced today that it has received regulatory approval from the FCC to operate its next generation in-flight connectivity technology – 2Ku. The FCC approval clears a major hurdle in the path to launching the new service. The approval is a blanket approval from the FCC for Gogo to operate its 2Ku system on 1,000 aircraft. “Clearing the necessary regulatory hurdles to provide this service to an aircraft flying anywhere around the globe is no small feat. Gogo has proven it is a leader at navigating these environments for all aircraft types no matter where they fly,” said Michael Small, Gogo’s president and CEO.   “We are happy that the launch of 2Ku is proceeding as planned and are continuing to work with the FAA on approval for installation.” Gogo expects the new 2Ku technology will outperform other global connectivity solutions currently available in the market. The new antenna technology is expected to deliver peak speeds to the aircraft of more than 70 Mbps. The advantages of 2Ku are significant. The antenna is more spectrally efficient which means it will produce more bandwidth at less cost than competitive solutions.   2Ku’s performance benefits will be even more dramatic in tropical regions where other satellite solutions degrade significantly due to restrictions associated with operating at high skew angles. The antenna itself is only 4.5 inches tall and the low profile produces very little incremental drag on the aircraft. The 2Ku antenna and its increased spectral efficiency are compatible with today’s Ku satellites and future Ku satellites, including future spot beam satellites. When future satellite technologies become available, Gogo expects peak speeds for the service in excess of 100 Mbps. Because the antenna can be used with any Ku-satellite, it also avoids the single point of failure that comes with reliance on a single satellite for connectivity in a given region, and offers airlines much desired redundancy and reliability.

If you forgot about what 2Ku actually is, and how it works, we have a perfect solution – look here!

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Aircraft Interiors Expo 2014 will again be at the Hamburg Messe, April 14 – 16 this year in Germany and you can keep abreast at www.aircraftinteriorsexpo.com. To steal from their press release: “The countdown is now on for next year’s Aircraft Interiors Expo which takes place at the Hamburg Messe in Germany from 14-16 April 2015. Organized by Reed Exhibitions, Aircraft Interiors Expo 2015 will be the essential hub for the aircraft interiors industry to view groundbreaking new products and innovative technologies, as well as networking with exhibiting companies and professional visitors on both the conference and show floors. The demand for air travel, particularly from new emerging markets, will see the global airline fleet witness extraordinary growth over the next decade. Developing markets in the Asia Pacific and the Middle East will continue to serve as the main catalyst for this upward trend. According to a recent Airbus global market forecast for 2014-2033, China will need more than 5,300 new passenger aircraft and freighters at a total market value of US$820 billion – this represents 17% of the world total demand for over 31,000 new aircraft during the next 20 years. Factors such as the increase in demand for cabin customization to enhance passenger comfort, together with increasing passenger growth rates, are boosting the cabin interior market worldwide. The cabin seats market is predicted to be best overall performer in the sector.”

As they note about the exposition; “Aircraft Interiors Expo is the world’s largest event dedicated to sourcing the latest innovations, technologies and products for the cabin interiors, inflight entertainment and passenger comfort industries. Taking place in Hamburg from  14- 16 April 2015 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.” Also, we note that a total of 74 submissions were received for the Crystal Cabin Award 2015. After detailed examination we understand, the six members of the preselection committee have approved 68 of these for the shortlist. In the next stage, the international jury of 25 experts, including representatives of various airlines, aircraft manufacturers, suppliers, and technical service providers, along with university professors, consultants and specialist journalists, will now evaluate all accepted entries, so that the finalists for the seven categories can be nominated shortly before the Aircraft Interiors Expo (14 – 16 April, 2015). The winners will be crowned, as they are every year, at a formal gala event held in association with the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg.

Also, don’t forget the other reason for going, the World Catering and Onboard Services Expo will take place there as well. “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.  In other words, you had best go because all your friends and competitors will be there. By day we will be roaming the floor (more on that later) but we will have more later on this event!

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An ‘“industry source” sent this update on the new CEO at Zodiac Inflight Innovations – please welcome him: Zodiac Aerospace is pleased to announce the appointment of Matt Smith as CEO of Zodiac Innovations (Zii) as of January 19^th, 2015. Matt replaces Rod Farley who will enter retirement at the end of January. Rod has been an integral part of creating Zii, serving as a leader in the former IMS Company and Zii CEO for the last 2 years. His customer focus has been instrumental in making Zii a key player in the IFEC industry. We are going to miss Rod and wish him all of the best in his future.

Matt joins Zii from Panasonic Avionics Corporation where he spent the last 6 years and was recently Senior VP of Operations. He was also the Chairman of Panasonic Corporation Singapore (PACSS) joint venture. Previously, Matt was with Rockwell Collins in both Avionics and Inflight Entertainment, and Honeywell Aerospace in Avionics. Matt has a Bachelors and Masters Degree of Electrical Engineering from the University of Wyoming. Matt will be based in Brea, CA office.

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The folks at Bell-Pottinger sent us an Alitalia update and here is a condensed version: “Change is underway at Alitalia as they will introduce new routes, new product and service standards, a new cost management strategy and new branding, as the foundations to build a premium global airline representing the best of Italy. Mr Hogan (CEO) said that Alitalia’s major investors had set a clear deadline for the airline to deliver profitability by 2017. He said; “We need to create a performance-based, customer-focused culture which results in a sustainably profitable airline, one which can grow over the long term.” Alitalia and Etihad Airways and its partners are exploring opportunities to improve jointly fleet efficiency.  For example, Alitalia is in the process of relocating 14 Airbus A320s to airberlin, and looking into options with Etihad Airways to acquire additional wide-body aircraft for Alitalia. Alitalia will also have opportunities to receive aircraft from Etihad Airways’ existing fleet order book. Alitalia Società Aerea Italiana (alitalia.com) is a completely private company that started operations on January 1, 2015. The new Alitalia is a limited company with an Italian majority share and a 49% share owned by the industrial partner Etihad Airways, U.A.E.’s national airline.”

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As you may know, 2014 was certainly the year of the “hack” and data breaches are now a weekly event. The folks at Zenedge provided a very good infographic on the subject and we provide it here for you. While the aviation industry and aircraft have seemingly been lightly affected, you might want to view the 1 hour Internet Webinar Recording that SITA and Recorded Future put together.

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You might enjoy reading Aviation Week’s Person of the year article, especially the Letters To The Editor!

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Lastly, did you know that powdered alcohol is on its way to your local liquor store… if your state doesn’t ban it first. Called Palcahol, the powder, when mixed with water or mix, can deliver vodka or rum flavored drinks with the booze built-in. Boy are the inflight passenger requests for water going to increase.

• Competitors may submit their entries for the Crystal Cabin Award 2015 between 8 October and 11 November, 2014 at www.crystal-cabin-award.com

Hamburg | October 6, 2014– Aircraft interior innovators take heed: From 8 October, 2014, the Crystal Cabin Award is open for entries. The world’s most famous and respected competition for aircraft cabin developments is being held for the ninth time. It’s worth taking part: A top-notch specialist judging panel evaluates the market potential of entries, and reaching the final brings concepts to the attention of potential customers. Information on the competition and an entry form are 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 (14 – 16 April, 2015). Two more distinguished companies from the aviation industry, Emirates Airline and B/E Aerospace, have joined the ranks of the
sponsors.

This year, once again, the Crystal Cabin Award Association will be honouring the best ideas in seven areas related to aircraft interiors: Greener Cabin, Health, Safety & Environment; Industrial Design & Visionary Concepts; Material & Components;
Passenger Comfort Hardware; Passenger Comfort Systems; Premium Class & VIP; and
University. An international committee of experts makes a preliminary selection from all entries received. After this, the 24 members of the specialist judging panel assess the participants who have made it onto this shortlist. Within each category, the three entries with the highest average score from the judges are invited to Hamburg to present their products and concepts at the Final Viewing. The official announcement of the winners takes place at a formal dinner as part of the Aircraft Interiors Expo.

“Winning the Crystal Cabin Award was the greatest and most exciting event in my
professional career. To me the importance of the CCA is the recognition of the people, who are committed to the product and who are proud having achieved something that is being dignified. It is already fantastic to reach the next round – being a finalist. The CCA motivates inventors and students to come out of their rooms and show their innovations to the public”, enthuses Christian Lierow, Head of Product, Guide U from Lufthansa Technik and winner in the Material & Components category in 2011.

James S. H. Lee, Managing Director of Paperclip Design Limited and winner in the
Premium Class & VIP category in 2014, is also ardent in his praise: „The Crystal Cabin Award has given me enormous amount of exposure and essentially launched my career in aircraft interior design.”

The Crystal Cabin Award can look back on a successful year 2014. The last time round, there were 55 products and concepts submitted from twelve countries. The winners in the various categories were Diehl Aerospace (Greener Cabin, Health, Safety & Environment), B/E Aerospace and TEAGUE (Industrial Design & Visionary Concepts), Schott AG (Material & Components), ZIM Flugsitz (Passenger Comfort Hardware), Lufthansa Technik (Passenger Comfort Systems), Paperclip Design Limited (Premium Class & VIP) and Delft University of Technology (University).

The Crystal Cabin Award 2015 is currently being supported by the following sponsors:
Airbus, Aircraft Cabin Management, the Aircraft Interiors Expo trade fair (Reed
Exhibitions), Aircraft Interiors International Magazine, APEX, B/E Aerospace, Bishop
GmbH Aeronautical Engineers, DIEHL Aerosystems Holding, Emirates Airline,
FERCHAU AVIATION Division, Jetliner Cabins and SEKISUI.

More sponsors, of course, are very welcome. Carmen Krause, Project Manager, is
happy to provide information about the various sponsorship packages:
carmen.krause@hamburg-aviation.com.