SAFRAN

Safran Passenger Innovations, ThinKom Solutions, Inc. (ThinKom) and Astronics Connectivity Systems and Certifications (Astronics), today announced agreements to provide next-generation Ka-band aero satellite terminals. Safran Passenger Innovations is embarking down a path of providing the next evolution in Inflight Connectivity (IFC) terminal solution to the market, one that allows airlines to have flexibility when it comes to choosing a service provider.

Under the agreements, ThinKom will supply its ThinAir® Ka2517 phased-array aero satellite antennas for Safran Passenger Innovations’ Ka-band commercial IFC terminal in both retrofit and linefit installations. Safran Passenger Innovations is an authorized terminal integrator for the next generation of aero broadband services across multiple providers and a key supplier for connectivity solutions to Airbus. The ThinKom antenna will be packaged with a newly designed adapter plate, installation kit and in-cabin connectivity solution.

Astronics has been selected to deliver its new Dual-modem Modem Manager (Modman) and a new Outside Aircraft Equipment (OAE) support structure. The Modman integrates multiple third-party aero modem cards in a 4MCU enclosure. The launch version of the Modman will include the iDirect iQ800 modem with multiple additional configurations available to provide flexibility for Safran Passenger Innovations and Airbus customers. The OAE installation kit is comprised of a radome, adapter plate, skirt and associated wiring to complement ThinKom’s antenna with a simplified installation design and novel use of quick disconnect fittings to improve serviceability.

Safran Passenger Innovations selected the ThinKom Variable Inclination Continuous Transverse Stub (VICTS) antennas based on their unmatched record of reliability and performance. VICTS antennas have over 28 million accrued operational hours of service on more than 1,600 commercial aircraft. ThinKom’s phased-array antennas provide industry-leading spectral efficiency that is two to eight times higher than other competing designs. The VICTS antennas also offer the beam agility needed to switch seamlessly between geostationary (GEO) and non-geostationary (NGSO) satellite constellations. The low-profile design minimizes drag and maximizes fuel economy, and the low power consumption results in very little heat generation inside the radome, enabling uninterrupted gate-to-gate operation even with full solar loading in hot climates.

“Our partnership with ThinKom and Astronics strongly supports SPI’s connectivity vision and supports our continued growth in the IFC market. The Ka2517 antenna solution, along with a MODMAN that supports multiple modem providers, are key pieces in supporting our customers and providing them with the best systems available today, and for the future” said John Andrews, Safran’s VP, Connectivity.

More From Safran

Safran is a major supplier for ITA Airways’ new cabins. ITA Airways, the new Italian flag carrier, has kicked off a vast program to revamp the interiors of its fleet, comprising Airbus A220, A319ceo, A320neo/ceo, A321neo and A330neo jetliners.

Safran Seats will provide all economy and premium economy class seats for this new fleet. The company worked intensively to give these seats a premium look, especially by using Italian fabrics and leather.

Safran Cabin is also a fleet supplier, especially the exceptionally comfortable cargo bay rest areas for flight crews.

Safran Cabin also offers galleys, cooking equipment and food and beverage carts to ensure top-flight service quality.

Safran Passenger Innovations was also selected by ITA Airways to provide in-flight entertainment and connectivity systems: RAVE wireless for a dozen Airbus A320neo twinjets, and RAVE Centric for nine Airbus A321neo and 17 Airbus A330neo jetliners.

“Safran is very proud of its selection to outfit ITA Airways’ new interiors with a wide range of seats and galley equipment, which enhance the interior design, comfort and service quality,” said Olivier Andriès, Chief Executive Officer of Safran. “Our aircraft interior staff have developed an integrated cabin and seat solution, reflecting the excellence of this new airline.”

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Airbus

Airbus has launched Airspace Link HBCplus, its new flexible satellite connectivity solution that will be offered as an SFE line-fit catalogue option and also for retrofit on all Airbus programs. HBCplus, which initially encompasses Ka-band services, will enable airlines to connect to a choice of Managed Service Providers (MSPs) via a new certified terminal and radome built as part of the aircraft. In the future it is planned to extend HBCplus to include MSPs which offer Ku-band services.

Andreì Schneider, Airbus VP Cabin & Cargo Program said: “We are excited to offer airlines a new connectivity service solution that will provide improved speed and reliability for passenger experience and more flexibility. Together with our leading industry partners we are pleased to enable future connectivity business opportunities in the context of the Airspace Link open ecosystem.”

To this end Airbus has selected connectivity satcom leader Inmarsat as the first MSP, contributing its GX Aviation inflight broadband solution which offers reliable and seamless passenger experience with global coverage and capacity for future growth. Additional MSPs will join the HBCplus offering in due course.

Philippe Carette, President of Inmarsat Aviation, said: “We are honored that Airbus has chosen Inmarsat as the first Managed Service Provider for this transformative connectivity catalogue solution and is putting its trust in our award-winning GX Aviation service across all of its aircraft programs. Inmarsat looks forward to working closely with our partners Airbus and SPI to deliver continuous innovation for airlines and their passengers worldwide.”

Meanwhile Safran Passenger Innovations (SPI) has been selected as the terminal provider and hardware integrator of ThinKom’s proven antenna technology – targeted for Ka-band services which delivers high data throughput and reliability combined with aircraft fuel savings thanks to the antenna’s lower drag radome.

Matt Smith, CEO, Safran Passenger Innovations, said: “Safran Passenger Innovations is delighted to be selected as the equipment supplier for Airbus’ Airspace Link connectivity solution. We are excited to be a part of the next evolution in the IFC industry by providing the technology for airlines to select the connectivity services most suited to their needs. We look forward to working with Airbus and our partners on this industry-changing endeavor.”

Airspace Link HBCplus thus provides satcom based off-board connectivity for the Airspace Link open ecosystem representing an end-to-end Airbus offer. This solution, which enables the exchange of data as one seamlessly integrated aircraft system, is ideally positioned to unlock future digital services capacity and demand growth, allowing airlines to deliver a best-in-class passenger connectivity experience, in an exponentially growing market.

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SITA

Skyports, a best-in-class owner and operator of vertiport infrastructure for the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) industry, and SITA, an IT provider for the air transport industry, today announced a partnership that will see SITA provide its digital solutions at Skyports vertiport locations.

SITA technology will first be implemented at the Skyports Cergy-Pontoise vertiport testbed in Paris, planned for completion in September 2022 to demonstrate the full passenger journey, from arrival at the vertiport terminal to eVTOL aircraft departure. The partnership aims to highlight the ease with which passengers will be able to navigate the AAM ecosystem.

SITA will apply its expertise in airport technology to the emerging AAM industry to develop bespoke biometric and vertiport technology in line with Skyports’ vision for the passenger experience. The technology being developed through the partnership will be a fundamental component of the future passenger journey through a vertiport. It will demonstrate for the first time how customers will interact with the ecosystem.

Passenger autonomy, ease, and convenience are central to the success of the industry and the widespread adoption of AAM. Through the integration of SITA’s biometric solution Smart Path, electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft passengers traveling with Skyports will experience a seamless, technology-driven experience at all stages throughout the journey.

Passengers will be able to book and reserve flights on eVTOL aircraft via a mobile app powered by SITA’s biometric capabilities. Upon arrival at the Skyports vertiport, SITA face pods will be used to identify and verify passengers.

Duncan Walker, CEO of Skyports, said: “Advanced Air Mobility has presented an opportunity to reimagine the entire travel experience, from the vehicles we use and energy sources we rely on, right down to the way passengers book and check-in to flights. We are partnering with SITA to move into this next crucial stage in the planning and development of the AAM industry – defining the experience for end-users. Everything we do at Skyports is underpinned by the belief that there is a faster, smarter, more streamlined way to travel. Our work with SITA will demonstrate how that translates to the passenger journey.”

AAM aircraft will provide a cost-effective and quicker alternative to traditional rail or land transport links. Walker added: “However, to make AAM work, there needs to be a demonstrable benefit to the end-user. Hence the passenger experience is fundamental to our success.”

Much of the magic in streamlining the passenger journey occurs behind the scenes. SITA will provide an automated scheduling solution to support Skyports’ airside operations. So, once a passenger requests a booking, a flight slot will automatically be secured at both departure and destination, ensuring the aircraft is operationally ready and waiting when the passenger arrives. It will also ensure that all the resources needed to support that flight are in place to ensure an on-time departure.

Sergio Colella, President of Europe at SITA, said: “With Skyports, we have the potential to use existing airport technology to totally redesign the passenger journey, with a light-touch process using just your mobile or facial biometric to complete the various steps in the journey. Together we will also work with existing airports to support Advanced Air Mobility solutions in the future.”

Skyports will, in the coming months, begin passenger experience trials at its Cergy-Pontoise vertiport testbed facility, Europe’s first operational testing site for AAM, which is being developed in partnership with Groupe ADP. The implementation of SITA’s innovative technology will be a focal point of the testing.

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Anuvu

Anuvu, the leading provider of high-speed connectivity and entertainment solutions for demanding worldwide mobility markets, has won a Crystal Cabin Award for its newly-launched connectivity solution, Dedicated Space™ in the IFEC and Digital Services category. The industry-leading innovation addresses today’s connectivity challenges and meets rapidly evolving consumer demand for more consistent and stable inflight internet experiences, maximizing the bandwidth performance of existing connectivity networks.

Designed by Anuvu exclusively for mobility customers, Dedicated Space merges state-of-art modem technology with an AI-driven dynamic Network Management System (NMS) to optimize network performance. The benefits include reduced satellite handover times to under one second, significantly faster than any existing connectivity satellite provider today, as well as increased upload performance up to five-fold and reduced latency overall.

The technology is already operating today on certain Southwest Airlines flights, enabling the airline to provide, for the first time, a truly uninterrupted connectivity experience for passengers and eliminate critical overhead costs associated with the provision of inflight satellite internet.

“The way we use the internet has changed. Passengers demand more stable, higher-performing internet service when traveling. While we are on the cusp of a future of new networks, Dedicated Space is available today to solve for what passengers want right now,” said Mike Pigott, EVP Connectivity at Anuvu. “We are thrilled to win the prestigious Crystal Cabin Award in partnership with Southwest Airlines and remain committed to creating innovative solutions that bring a modern approach to inflight connectivity.”

Through Dedicated Space, Anuvu delivers the best GEO network performance available today by designing technology that addresses airlines’ critical pain points. The modems and ground equipment are easily upgraded and customized to eliminate unnecessary costs and streamline business for airlines. Anuvu’s innovative technology is beneficial to all airlines, is band and orbit agnostic, and requires the simple replacement of modem hardware. For passengers, it means fewer internet outages, more reliable Wi-FI, and high-performing upload and download speeds

The Crystal Cabin Awards, an initiative of the Hamburg Aviation cluster, is presented in eight categories: “Cabin Concepts,” “Cabin Systems,” “Health & Safety,” “IFEC & Digital Services,” “Material & Components,” “Passenger Comfort,” “Sustainable Cabin,” and “University.” For each category, the 28 expert members of the jury select three finalists, who are invited to pitch their concepts to the jury in person at Aircraft Interiors Expo.

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OneWeb

OneWeb, a global space-based communications company, together with commercial aviation terminal partner Stellar Blu Solutions achieved a significant milestone on May 28, when it successfully delivered high-speed, low-latency inflight LEO satellite connectivity to a commercial airliner.  Stellar Blu, has partnered with antenna technology provider Ball Aerospace to incorporate its electronically steered arrays (ESA) into the terminal solution. This collaboration realized breakthrough performance on OneWeb’s low earth orbit (LEO) network.  The new Stellar Blu platform, known as “Sidewinder”, will continue flight testing through the remainder of 2022, with a target for certification and availability in mid-2023.

This first test flight was conducted aboard a Boeing B777-200LR and took off from Fort Worth Alliance Airport (KAFW), in Texas on May 27th at 15:20 UTC and flew for just over one hour delivering the game-changing connectivity experience.

This test flight validates not only the installation and integration of the aircraft terminal, but underscores the performance of the antenna technology, and verifies the reliability of the connectivity during taxi, take-off, landing and typical aircraft flight maneuvers. As with any test flight, the assessment of performance reviewed expected parameters against vendor specifications, while also instrumenting and verifying on-aircraft impact and operating characteristics.

The Test Flight Crew simultaneously demonstrated the ability to connect Teams calls, 4K YouTube streaming, Netflix, online VR gaming and Nintendo Switch gaming, among other structured performance tests. Maximum speeds of 260Mbps download/80 upload and file transfer scenarios of 5GB demonstrated in approximately 20 seconds. All while operating at well under 100ms of network latency.

Commenting on the successful test flight, Ben Griffin, vice president Mobility said: “This test flight represents a fantastic milestone for OneWeb. Broadband in-flight connectivity, delivered to a commercial aircraft via low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites and an electrically steered antenna (ESA) is now – finally – a reality. Together with our partners Stellar Blu and technology from Ball Aerospace, we are now well and truly on our way to delivering consistently reliable, game-changing, affordable inflight connectivity to commercial aviation users everywhere.

“This successful flight test demonstrates the power, not only of the OneWeb network, but our industry focused and partnership-led approach to the design, development, and deployment of ground-breaking technologies to connect commercial aviation. A solution designed for the aviation industry, by the aviation industry”

This maiden flight represented the culmination of several months’ collaboration between Stellar Blu, OneWeb and Ball Aerospace including ground trials and flight tests.  Their goal is to achieve certification in mid- 2023.

The Sidewinder terminal is ARINC 791 compliant to ease integration on commercial aircraft, with a smaller form factor option for installation on regional jets and single-aisle airliners.

Tracy Trent, Stellar Blu CEO, highlighting the achievement commented: “This initial testing is more about the integration of the components and accomplishing a safe installation on the aircraft, versus proving the connectivity functionality. That said, we are delighted by the performance of the terminal during the test flight. OneWeb is changing the reality of inflight connectivity now and for the future. Our antenna will harness the power of OneWeb’s Low Earth Orbit constellation to deliver high-speed, low latency, globally consistent and reliable connectivity for every passenger, without conflict or compromise. We are very confident the Sidewinder terminal will present operators with a purpose-built aviation solution, delivering new breakthroughs for passenger experience, and redefining aircraft operating expectations for reliability and maintainability.”

Based on the electronically steered antenna technology developed by Ball Aerospace, the terminal is significantly, lower profile, lighter and smaller than existing aviation antennas.  It will enable airlines to connect their aircraft, passengers, and crew over OneWeb’s low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite communication network.  OneWeb expects this to be a key differentiator as airlines initially embrace and become confident in the benefits and performance of its new LEO technologies.

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OTHER NEWS

• Know what those “rods” sticking out of aircraft wings are? (1618) What Are Those Metal Rods On The Aircraft Wing? – YouTube

Two Digital Trends Breakout Sessions – 2019 Passenger Experience Conference

In last week’s issue of IFExpress we reviewed the opening session from the Passenger Experience Conference (PEC) held in Hamburg, Germany earlier this month. This week, we will focus on the conference’s Digital: The New Reality Breakout Sessions. We found these panel discussions to be informative and pertinent to the current trends in our industry.

From an important perspective, The Digital: The New Reality stream looked at how digital tools are surpassing the current mobile apps and will eventually be integrated across the entire journey, creating a seamless digital user space.

The keynote address for this stream was Practical applications of digital in the passenger experience. The cabin is a 3-dimensional object but the 4th dimension is time, and was presented by Anaïs Marzo da Costa, Head of Aircraft Interiors Marketing, Airbus. Anaïs discussed the current digital trends that Airbus has been looking at.  She said that Airbus has been working at connecting the airplane and they are now focusing on trying to connect the cabin. She stated that studies indicated there were 3 billion smartphone users in 2018 and that number is estimated to double to 6.1 billion by 2020.  Anaïs continued by stating that Airbus anticipates 23,100 aircraft to be equipped with connectivity by the year 2025. Looking back, there were zero airlines connected in 2007, and ten years later, in 2017 there were 106 aircraft connected. Needless to say, the forecasted rate of implementation over the next nine to ten years is impressive and enhances the fact that the integration of digitalization is growing rapidly.

How is connectivity coming onboard? Smartphones are used by travelers for booking and check-in – smartphones are the #1 travel companion. What does this information translate to onboard the aircraft? Passengers want choice! Airbus stated that the 2017 SITA IT Trends Survey & the Gogo Global Traveler 2018 Survey foresee more multi-screen environments in the future – both BYOD & inseat screens. This degree of digitalization provides an opportunity for a more tailored/targeted service and airlines are in the process of developing personalized offers that are enabled by: mobile connectivity, data analytics, and the passenger’s willingness to share personal data (right now that is roughly 27% of consumers).

Airbus has been actively pursuing the future of the connected cabin (the wireless network that links everything in cabin: galleys, overhead bag bins, flight attendants, passengers, cargo bays, lavatories, etc.), creating a cabin ecosystem for seamless connectivity of the various cabin elements, enabling additional value for both the airlines and the passengers. “The idea is to have every commodity in the cabin talking to each other, creating value for the airline and the passenger.”

Anaïs said, “There are three (3) pillars of the connected experience: 1) Operational Efficiency, 2) Ancillary Revenue, & 3) Passenger Experience.” Examples are:  Operational Efficiency – predictive maintenance, cabin crew operations and turnaround times; Ancillary Revenues – personalized inflight retail, tailored advertising, and news services; and the Passenger Experience – personalized catering, individual comfort settings, personalized services and the amount of bag bin space available. All the aforementioned will be achieved by using an IoT platform.

“At the moment we (Airbus) are doing predictive maintenance with the aircraft data but we want to be able to map that over to the cabin as well. Airbus is working with other aircraft manufacturers and suppliers in order to facilitate this in the near future. We, as an industry, are working on a common and secure language because this will benefit both the airline and the passenger”. In closing, Anaïs said, “I’ve recently asked Fritz Urban (Airbus’ cochair of the ARINC CSS committee) if CSS is going to write a standard for this network. As of today, there has been no response.”

The First Panel Discussion on Digital Trends pertained to Creating the Complete Digital and Physical Journey. This stream focused on how biometric technologies are providing an opportunity to reach the passenger on their journey through the airport and onto the aircraft.

Russell Holmes, Strategy Director & Partner of ico Design, was the first to address attendees. Mr. Holmes has been working with the London Luton Airport team over the past 5 years and has been instrumental in developing their brand.  His message evolved around the concept of looking at best practices. He said, “Everything should be underpinned by something that is not working as individual silos.” He went on to say, “The airport identity needs to work not only in a physical space but also in a digital space.” The airport identity should be completely flexible. One cannot look at the airport as static space. The question then is: How do you create something as a brand that can live in both the physical and digital space?

The next panelist was David Bartlett, CTO of Panasonic Avionics. David spoke to the assembly about the concept of competitive differentiation and the concept of the 4th Dimension/Place. He explained that for people the First Place is Home, the Second Place is Work and the Third Place (as defined by Ray Oldenburg in 1989 who stated it was critical to modern society, democracy) is a place that you go that you opt in (think coffee shop or a café). A prime example of a company that has really leveraged the concept of the Third Place is Starbucks. Mr. Bartlett sated, “We at Panasonic Avionics are proposing that Travel is the Fourth Place. Why is travel the logical fourth place?  We believe the travel experience is the co-mingling of the first 3 places. When you travel you socialize, work, sleep, eat.”

The concept of the 4th place is it must be a place that people look forward to being in. This is achieved by removing a lot of the friction points. How do we do this? How do we make the journey more of a place that people want to be in? How do we do this an industry? People want an experience that is seamless and gives them an immersive experience. How do we, as an industry, provide them with one connected experience starting from the home, throughout the journey, then back to the home? In other words, how do we provide a more personally curated experience? Panasonic cannot do this alone. It is an action call to the industry to leverage the entire ecosystem to work together in a new and more open way to achieve this.

The third panelist was Simon Krasowski, SVP Digital Transformation, Diehl Aviation; who discussed Digital Aviation Transformation. Simon said, “The world is shifting and becoming more complex. We are moving from complicated to more complex systems. How do we solve the problems and tackle them? It is more about testing different options. So, we need to change the way we work, take risks and allow failures.” He went on to say that we must make certain that we, as an industry, have seamless processes through the value chain. Right now, competitive priced products may be an answer, but in the future, it will be more about customer concentricity and speed of innovation – in other words, design thinking. “We must work closer within our work ecosystem and work with partners in order to achieve better and faster results. In other words, the key for success is collaboration within ecosystem. This calls for a balance between traditional working methods and agile working methods.”

The fourth panelist was Anne de Hauw of IN Air Travel Experience. Ms. De Hauw started her presentation stating that traditionally, airlines focused on safety and the passenger focused on the experience. Today, the question is should the focus be on the customer or technology? “At IN Air, we believe that time is your customer’s most valuable resource.  Airlines are going from creating technologies to services. They will do this by using technology as an enabler (AI, block chain). Technology (AI) will be crucial in customer service and convenience will be the new loyalty.”

Anne went on to discuss the 5 Key Pillars that will be needed, and they are: 1) Data-Driven: data gathering, machine learning and rapid analysis. This will lead to predicting behavior > intelligent offers > higher revenues. 2) Connectivity: onboard connectivity is transforming the travel experience to an open & connected world. Passengers behave like usual digital consumers. 3) Customer-Centricity: Reinvented offerings to evolve into hyper-personalized, immersive and emotional experiences. 4) Personalization: Faster and more efficient personalized services. 5) Collaborative Eco-System: Stakeholder interaction, passenger engagement and data sharing to create a positive and competitive experience.

She went on to discuss the New Brand Hierarchy, where, companies like Apple, Google and Amazon hold the top tier. Airlines are located on the second tier. She asked the question of how to play on that level? IN Air believes the answer is in providing ultimate convenience to the passenger. It has to be fast, easy and fun (FEF). This is achieved by being a combination of both digital and human interface. The best of the digital conveniences would be comprised of: seamless and single token, AI and Service Bot, Data analytics, connectivity. The best of human interface would be comprised of: hospitality, culture, emotional experiences, service. The best of both: Personalization/CURATION, Loyalty/COMMUNITY, engagement/CREATION and convenience/CONNECTIVITY. Anne wrapped up her presentation with the following, “The human interface will become the new premium service. The human interface is comprised of empathy, passion and creativity, with emotion at the core.” “The airline must care,” said Anne. She used an example of economy food service. What the food looks like, how it is presented, etc. and stated that this is an example of how the human interface currently needs to be improved in today’s market. She asked, “Why can’t the food look appealing and be presented in a more appetizing fashion? This is not helping the cause. There are technologies that are disrupting airline catering. New initiatives are on the cusp for utilizing the digital advancements to get this going. This is what we as an industry need to strive for!”

The last speaker from this session of the Digital Trends stream was Elizabeth “Bess” Chapman, Operating Principal of JetBlue Technologies (JBT). She works with portfolio companies to create compelling value propositions for JetBlue, source new technology and identify emerging trends. She stated that innovation is a big part of JetBlue’s airline identify but she has found it has become more challenging to become more innovative. “We want to find the next Uber in aviation,” said Bess.

How does JetBlue Technologies work? They scan the global ecosystem for start-ups. Once they find one that is appealing JBT partners with them. They help them get going then bring them back into JetBlue. “We work with startups both via investment but with time as well,” said Bess. Over time, they have invested in 22 companies.

“Brand is an identity former. Look at Apple. They have incredibly strong brand identity. If they were to launch an airline, who wouldn’t fly it?! Virgin has a very strong brand identity, but many others do not,” she said. “People and their interaction and empathy are very significant. Again, look at an Apple store vs. an airline counter at an airport.”

One challenge now is to test and take risks and see what really works, but also, the industrialization to make certain you have the best product for your customer.

Disruptions in a business like an airline is very different from an electronics giant like Apple. Whether it is a delay, etc. How do you get that irate passenger to come around and change their position from being annoyed to appreciative? Is it offering them free Wi-Fi, a glass of champagne? You really have to know the individual’s wants/needs. This is another advantage in digital technology – it is not only cutting cost but being able to deliver. And reliability is very important.

Value Perspective: What is the next big value disruption? With regards to AI, a lot has been done with biometrics via facial technology for within the airport that allows passengers to board using biometrics, so there is no need for a boarding pass, because facial recognition is so secure. With this digital information, there is then the opportunity to target those people with sales/shopping en route to the gate. JBT also believes that the insights from the data will be absolutely game changing for our industry.

Another area that JBT finds significant is the airlines that want to boost their customer service and personal interaction are the airlines who are looking at the concept of virtual assistants, so it really is a better balance, it isn’t actually trying to depersonalize the experience. How people interact with a virtual assistant may be key. You tend to talk with them in a neutral way vs. the way you may interact with a person or your partner. This may be a way that the technology understands who I am, how quickly I need to get through the airport, etc. All reducing the stress of the journey.

Next week the IFExpress team will wrap-up the Digital Trends Stream with “Taking the Pain Out of the Digital Journey” and the final session “Enhancing Your Reality”.

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ASTRONICS

Astronics Corporation announced that it will supply inflight entertainment system hardware for a next-generation inflight entertainment and connectivity (IFEC) system being developed by one of the largest airlines in the United States. Under the agreement, Astronics’ products will equip nearly 50 of the airlines’ new widebody aircraft. Provided by Astronics CSC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Astronics Corporation, Astronics is now delivering production units that are a combination of new and existing products, both standard off-the-shelf and custom designs.

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GOGO

Gogo Inc. announced the pricing of the previously announced private offering of $905 million aggregate principal amount of 9.875% senior secured notes due 2024 (the “Notes”) to be issued by its direct wholly owned subsidiary, Gogo Intermediate Holdings LLC (“Holdings LLC”), and its indirect wholly owned subsidiary, Gogo Finance Co. Inc. (the “Co-Issuer” and, together with Holdings LLC, the “Issuers”).  The offering is expected to close on April 25, 2019, subject to certain closing conditions.

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EDITOR’S NOTE

While IFExpress’ primary focus is IFEC, we have been flooded with news about the 737 MAX. We recommend this April 18, 2019 article from the IEEE Spectrum. It is both descriptive and technical and represents the observations and operating conditions of the aircraft by an author who is both a pilot and software developer.  How the Boeing 737 Max Disaster Looks to a Software Developer – IEEE Spectrum

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OTHER NEWS

• L-Band is being tested in Germany for the future of aviation communication and one of the reason is data rate – 2.6 Megabits/sec versus a few kilobits. Notes Avionics International: “First, it is an alternative link that pilots and controllers can use to digitally exchange much of the same information they communicate today verbally. Secondly, it can serve as an alternative positioning, navigation and timing signal for correcting aircraft navigation accuracy when global navigation satellite system links such as Galileo or EGNOS in Europe are interrupted or unavailable.” Flight Tests of LDACS Prototype Under Way in Germany – Avionics International
• If you are into antennas, or you want to learn more about antennas, check out this site. The Antenna Theory Website As they (and Einstein) say: “Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.”

 

 

 

IFExpress is home from a week in Germany where many new developments in the IFEC arena were on display at the Aircraft Interiors Expo Hamburg 2019. As we mentioned to many of you during the show, predominately 2019 was a ‘step change’ year verses a new product/hardware unveiling – however, there were one or two major exceptions, which we will address in upcoming issues of IFExpress.

As many of you know, this is a huge show and we never managed to get outside of the IFEC Zone but we did see some noteworthy concepts. For example, this spring there were three different companies exhibiting LiFi technology (a mobile wireless technology that uses light instead of radio frequencies to transmit data) for IFEC applications; whether it was streaming movies to an inseat screen or using LiFi to upload content to the aircraft when it was parked at the gate. All pretty amazing, and we were impressed with the rate of proliferation of the technology from APEX 2018 to now. Needless to say, we think LiFi is here to stay and anticipate the Tech Committee to establish a working group on the technology in the near term if they haven’t done so already.

An area that did have some major advancements that we were wowed by was satcom antennas. We saw an amazing new development antenna project that we are still in awe of and cannot wait to see how it will impact the industry once it is certified and flying. Having said that, there were several other companies that were also exhibiting new antennas that were much more aerodynamic and provided more performance. More on these developments in a later issue.

Another area that was addressed in many booths was the concept of Health/Wellness applications. This is a definite growth area for our industry and the IFEC venders appear to be embracing the concept. Health/Wellness is a circumstance where the aircraft is mimicking the trends on the ground and, as we know, airlines are always looking to engage their passengers with technology and services that meet their expectations and ease the stress of the travel experience. Expect to be hearing more and more on this area over the coming months.

None of the aforementioned would be possible without the new, massive solid-state drives that are embedded in today’s IFEC in conjunction with the proliferation of installed connectivity services, artificial intelligence and biometrics. As these four technologies evolve in the IFEC industry the amount of data that can be garnered about each individual traveler and their expectations will result in a tailored travel experience from the moment the ticket is booked, throughout the journey itself, until the passenger reaches his/her destination. The industry has long talked about touching the end-to-end passenger experience and how it will facilitate the airlines ability to meet, and possibly exceed, expectations of those utilizing their services whether it be for leisure or business travel. It is the belief of IFExpress that we are finally on the cusp of being able to deliver on that promise. Having said that, one of the primary areas of concern that has, and will continue to be, voiced was the issue of privacy and security around the individual traveler’s personal data. This translates to the need for an increasingly cybersecure system. As an industry, both the airlines and the IFEC vendors will be continuing to focus on the issues of hacking and maintaining the passengers’ faith and trust that their personal information is secure. This is an issue that is here to stay.

Another major announcement that was discussed last week was the news that Future Travel Experience (FTE) and the Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX) reached an agreement to fully integrate the FTE into APEX. “This decision to integrate FTE into the APEX family will create an end-to-end passenger experience and innovation powerhouse that will benefit the entire air transport industry, including airports, airlines, vendors and all other stakeholders who play an important role in enhancing the customer experience and optimizing operational efficiency on the ground and in-flight.” Said Daniel Coleman, Founder of FTE. FTE will continue to operate with autonomy but both organizations believe that by teaming they can strengthen and amplify their respective propositions, which provide an opportunity to consolidate yet build large-scale interactive events together. Time will tell.

Over the next few weeks, our publication will review what we had the opportunity to see and experience during AIX. We will start with the Passenger Experience Conference and the Digital Trends breakout session from April 1st. During the following weeks we will do a deeper dive into the interviewed companies and their technologies. As always, thanks for subscribing and reading IFExpress!

Editor’s Note: “With all the press and industry concern over the recent B737 MAX incidents, we have created a section lower down in IFExpress on Boeing because this subject is very important, and it is news with a great impact – safety will always be a BIG DEAL.” – Patricia Wiseman

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AIRBUS
American Airlines is starting scheduled flights with the first of its 100 new Airbus A321neo aircraft on order. These aircraft come equipped with an all-new cabin interior designed for enhanced passenger comfort and convenience, including larger Airspace XL overhead luggage bins that increase carry-on bag capacity. American is the launch customer for the Airspace XL bins, which provide approximately 40 percent more overhead storage space for passengers on board the 196-seat aircraft. In addition to equipping its new A321neos with the XL bins, American also plans to retrofit its entire in-service fleet of earlier A321 models – more than 200 aircraft – with the cabin features included on the new A321neos.

Airbus has extended its Airspace Customer Definition Centre (CDC) at its Airbus site in Hamburg, Germany for cross-program cabin customization by now including the A320 and A330 programs – to complement the existing A350 XWB customization areas. From now on operators of all these programs can experience the well-established approach for a fast, easy and state-of-the-art cabin definition which Airbus has been offering for A350 XWB customers since the original CDC first opened in 2014. Furthermore, the CDC now fully adopts the ‘Airspace’ Cabin Brand, which was first launched with the A330neo, and sets new cabin standards of comfort, ambience, service and design for airlines and their passengers. Consequently, the CDC was renamed to Airspace Customer Definition Centre.

Following the launch of this extension in April 2017, construction began to enlarge the existing CDC premises by redeveloping and equipping a large adjacent aircraft hangar into a state-of-the-art and cooperative working environment. Recently completed, the new facility adds approximately 4,500 m² of new space over two floors dedicated for A320 and A330 customers, and will foster the realization of their integrated cabin solutions. The CDC extension features new customer-specific mock-up areas as well as highly flexible presentation and conference rooms on two levels with the ambience of an industrial loft.In the CDC customers follow a unique definition process through a purposely designed array of highly dedicated zones. In line with Airbus’ track record of cabin innovation, the extension brings several new technologies and services which are now available across the different aircraft types. A key highlight is a new Airbus invented floor projection system which displays the full-scale real cabin layout on the floor. Combined with original cabin elements, customers can perform ‘live’ tests of alternative layouts and scenarios. In addition to this innovation, some configuration mock-ups have been expanded to include a cargo area to discuss solutions for the use of the space in the lower-deck. Furthermore, meeting rooms are updated with the latest VR-technologies.The combination of functional play rooms for cabin equipment testing, exhibition areas for typical airline product staging, design studios for material and mood light definitions, virtual and augmented reality technology complemented by customer-specific mock-up areas, make the Airspace CDC a unique and attractive one-stop-shop for customers.

Air Portugal – Lisbon based TAP Air Portugal received its first of twelve A321LR’s on order, becoming the first airline to operate a combined A330neo and A321LR fleet. The A321LR is the world’s most flexible and capable large single aisle aircraft. Powered by CFM engines, TAP’s A321LR is configured with 171 seats (16 full flat Business, 48 Eco Premium and 107 Ecomomy seats). The combination of the A321LR and the A330neo within a single fleet provides operators a powerful lever to cover the needs of the medium to long haul market. With both newest generation single aisle (20% fuel burn reduction) and widebody aircraft (25% fuel burn reduction) airlines benefit from an unrivaled commonality for operations whilst passengers experience a higher and harmonized comfort standards.

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ASTRONICS
Astronics Corporation, a provider of advanced technologies for global aerospace, defense, and other mission-critical industries, announced that Astronics and HAECO Cabin Solutions have collaborated to jointly integrate SmartTray passenger electronic device (PED) holder technology for inclusion on HAECO’s Vector economy seats’ in-arm tray tables.

Astronics also announced an expanded line of CorePower power conversion products for use on commercial aircraft, business jets, and rotorcraft applications. These new power converters are available off-the-shelf and certified to provide an easy path for modernizing aircraft power systems.

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BOEING
FAA was urged by U.S. Senator Charles Schumer to remove Boeing from Aviation Rule-making Advisory Committee (ARAC) until the formal investigation into MAX crashes has ended. He also demanded that FAA make public who else sits on the committee.

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OTHER NEWS

• Your mobile device might affect inflight connectivity…here is an Airbus answer- Moving towards 5G for aircraft communications – Aircraft Interiors International
• Microsoft has a FREE online AI Business School – Read about it here: Free Microsoft Online AI Business School to Educate on Power of AI
• Need population info? Try this – Countries Ordered by Population in 2019
• Too much noise on the plane to sleep – perhaps not with BOSE!
• For more travel info, you might want to try AtYourGate and App in the Air mobile travel apps: AtYourGate on the App Store and App in the Air on the App Store – and thank you SmartBrief!
• While we do not see any data on aviation usage, we note that Amazon is developing a satellite Wi-Fi system that aims: “to launch a constellation of low Earth orbit satellites that will provide low-latency, high-speed broadband connectivity to unserved and underserved communities around the world,” Now what if they could talk to airplanes? Amazon’s Project Kuiper aims to offer satellite broadband access – GeekWire and Amazon shoots for the stars to provide internet from space | FierceWireless
• While we do not know what the effect of forthcoming GPS epoch ending will be on airplanes, your car and phone GPS may take a hit. Just be aware that on April 6, the “week counter” got flipped back to zero – GPS “rollover” event on April 6 could have some side-effects | Ars Technica
• We thought this was a technical waste of time, till we read it! The periodic description easily shows over 20 graphic elements of every battery we have heard of – really! The elements used in batteries of the past, present, and future — Quartz
• Since pour industry is a big CO2 generator, and 450 parts per million to keep global warming below 2 Degrees C if we want to stay around – we have about 10 to 15 years, so keep this link on your computer and check it daily- co2_800k_zoom.png 1,000×600 pixels

AIX, Hamburg | April 2018– At the world’s leading trade show for aircraft cabins and passenger experience, the Aircraft Interiors Expo (10 – 12 April, Hamburg Messe, organised by Reed Exhibitions), global industry-leaders and regionally rooted suppliers alike will present new concepts and products — and it may not be long before passengers are encountering these concepts and products on board. The order books, especially for short and medium-haul airliners, are full, so there is sure to be a large contingent of airline customers at this key Hamburg trade fair. New models like the Airbus A321 LR, making new long-haul routes accessible for single-aisle aircraft, add to the current dynamics of the segment.

Whether the flight is short or long, more and more passengers expect to be able to stay online while airborne. The increased demand here is reflected by the floor plan, where the space allocated to in-flight entertainment and connectivity has grown yet strongly again. In fact, the whole aircraft interiors segment is booming. This year, according to the show organisers Reed Exhibitions, the Aircraft Interiors Expo has expanded to a new record in size, with the number of exhibitors having grown significantly once again as well. The spectrum of products on show ranges from seating rails to fully equipped First Class cabins.

Adding to the programme: Conference, sub-expos and a special flight

Once again, the Aircraft Interiors Expo is the main component in the “Passenger Experience Week”, starting with the Passenger Experience Conference on Monday, 9 April. The main expo is then flanked by the World Travel & Catering Expo (WTCE — leading trade show for in-flight catering) and, for the first time, Passenger Technology Solutions (trade show focusing on aviation-related IT services). All these events are taking place at at the Hamburg Messe convention site, and are organised by Reed Exhibitions.

The growing international importance of the show is also increasingly seen in the programme around the show itself: the airline Emirates is flying a Boeing 777 equipped with its new First Class cabin to Hamburg on Wednesday, 11 April in order to present the on-board product to selected partners in person.

Showdown of the aviation industry: the Crystal Cabin Awards

Also traditionally presented as part of the Aircraft Interiors Expo are the Crystal Cabin Awards. This industry prize, initiated by the Hamburg Aviation cluster and closely followed by the industry and media around the world, will be presented on the evening of 10 April in the Hotel Atlantic Kempinski. In eight categories, the award honours the leading innovations of the year for aircraft operators and passengers. Amongst this year’s finalists are famous major players like Airbus as well as airline products from Qatar Airways and Singapore Airlines. Information on the finalists is available at the Expo at a special exhibition in the Crystal Cabin Award Gallery (Hall B3 Upper). And at 11am on Thurs., 12 April, all the winners will present their innovations in person one more time — after which they are available for questions and interviews.

Aircraft Interiors Expo a “home game” for Hamburg

The scale of the Hamburg Metropolitan Region’s presence at the “local” trade show is appropriate for the most important location worldwide in the field of aircraft cabins. Aircraft manufacturer Airbus, for example, has concentrated its global development activities for aircraft cabins in Hamburg, and the company has a strong presence in Hall B5. With four finalists, Airbus is also looking at a very successful Crystal Cabin Award season this year – e.g. with the new “Airspace” cabin for the A320 range of aircraft.

For Lufthansa Technik, located in Hall B6, the show is an important event, too — and not only because of the activities in the exclusive VIP segment. The Hamburg company now supports every fifth commercial aircraft worldwide, and it is particularly expanding its activities in the so-called “retrofit” market. Every five or six years, an aircraft cabin has to be completely refurbished. With innovative business models such as aircraft seat leasing, the company is responding to a growing market.

Another heavyweight in the aircraft cabin segment is the family-run Diehl company. The third-largest industrial employer in Hamburg’s aviation industry produces galleys and toilets as well as complex cabin trims with baggage lockers. Diehl, too, is focusing on the high-demand “single-aisle” segment with its presence in Hall B7, and the company has a walk-through cabin model that shows just how much potential remains untapped in a single-aisle airliner.

Alongside the major international companies, SMEs have also always been well-represented at the Aircraft Interiors Expo. Dozens of small and medium-sized enterprises are active in the segment in the Hamburg region alone. They are particularly concentrated on the Hanse Pavilion, operated by the Hanse-Aerospace association in Hall B6, with more than 2,000 square metres of space and almost 100 exhibitors. As well as conventional suppliers, the site is also home to test laboratories and engineering service providers such as Altran. The French-headquartered company has massively expanded its Hamburg operations in recent years, turning the city into its global head office for aircraft cabin activities.

The Hanse Pavilion is also home to the Hamburg Aviation stand (6B90), a central point of contact for the Hamburg Metropolitan Region. The aviation cluster is providing updates on Hamburg-related news from and during the trade show via Twitter, WhatsApp and the live ticker on the Hamburg Aviation Website.

The finalists for the Crystal Cabin Award 2018 have been decided. Aviation giants from around the world battle it out in eight categories for the coveted trophies.

Hamburg, Germany | March 1, 2018– There is hardly any other prize watched as closely by the aviation industry from year to year as the Crystal Cabin Award. The jury of international experts has now announced the finalists for this year’s 12th annual award. A total of 24 products and concepts are facing off in the final round in eight categories. Finalists this year include the new A380 First Class from Singapore Airlines, printed electrical wiring and an environmentally friendly water tap from British students. With 91 submissions reaching the shortlist, the competition this year was tougher than ever before. In 2018, for the first time, the white trophies will be produced using 3D printing technology. Just who gets to take them home will be decided on the evening of 10 April, 2018, during the leading global trade show, the Aircraft Interiors Expo.

New this year is the “IFEC” category, short for “In-Flight Entertainment & Connectivity”. And this is not just a matter of technology, as finalist Bluebox Aviation Systems shows: the “Bluebox Accessible IFE” platform provides barrier-free access to in-flight entertainment for visually impaired passengers on long-haul routes. In partnership with Virgin Atlantic the product is already in use. Barriers are being broken down in other ways, too, with products such as the new “European Aviation Network” from finalist Inmarsat. More than 300 Deutsche Telekom ground stations will provide passengers with LTE network access above the clouds throughout Europe this year. Even more visionary, from a technological persepctive, is the in-flight entertainment concept from United Screens. This German company is offering the first on- board 3D television. Passengers don’t even need to use 3D glasses.

Three leading industry representatives have made the final in the “Cabin Concepts” category this year. From Airbus comes the “Airspace” cabin for the A320 range of aircraft, with an improved flight experience for passengers regardless of what class they are flying. Extra-large overhead lockers, light and airy panels and atmospheric lighting scenarios will make flying more pleasant even on short and medium-haul routes. PriestmanGoode has made it to the final with a long-haul Business-Class product. The design agency has brought its customer, Qatar Airways, into the last three with the new “Qsuite”. Up to four seats can be arranged together in the “Qsuite” to create a private area for the whole family. And Singapore Airlines is one class higher with its new A380 First Class suites. The secret is that the partition between neighbouring suites can be stowed away to allow for a genuine double bed, turning the flight almost into a hotel stay!

Everyday life on short-haul routes is generally not so comfortable — and not just for the passengers. The airlines have little time on the ground to get their aircraft ready for the next flight. The PASSME Consortium, based in Portugal, offers relief. The PASSME Innovative Aircraft Seat, a finalist in the “Cabin Systems” category, makes it possible to push the seats of an Economy row together during boarding, creating more space in the aisle. The result: less

London, UK | January 23, 2018– An array of exciting start-ups and tech pioneers are confirmed to exhibit at Passenger Technology Solutions (PTS) – a brand new, global event that takes place in Hamburg from 10-12 April 2018. 

The event, which is the latest to be added to the annual Passenger Experience Week portfolio, will explore the potential of technology to join the dots across the passenger journey to deliver a more seamless and integrated experience. 

A selection of names have been confirmed, including Toronto-based company Guestlogix, chat-bot developer Aviget, systems integrator KIU System Solutions and French Duty Free disruptor airfree.

These exhibitors will join other technology suppliers to showcase their products and services to travel operators from around the world, each looking to offer their passengers a more connected and personalised journey. 

The products and services due to be demonstrated include airfree – the first digital marketplace dedicated to inflight shopping – and Guestlogix’s cutting-edge airline commerce platform that uses data analytics to enhance passenger experience and generate ancillary revenue for airlines.

Archana Sharma, Exhibition Director, Passenger Technology Solutions, commented: “We launched Passenger Technology Solutions to inspire companies across the entire travel ecosystem to take a look at the bigger picture. Technological advances have transformed every aspect of the industry beyond recognition, and now an exciting challenge lies ahead: how to combine these travel innovations to create the ultimate overall passenger experience. 

“We are excited to reveal just a few of the start-ups and game-changers that will be joining us in Hamburg in April, and look forward to announcing further exhibitors and speakers in the coming weeks.” 

Alongside the exhibition, PTS will offer three days of educational sessions and networking to explore the future of travel. The event will not only cover aviation, but also rail – putting the entire end-to-end passenger journey in the frame. 

PTS will take place during Passenger Experience week, which attracts over 18,400 visitors and more than 1,000 airline attendees. The new event will be co-located at the Hamburg Messe with Aircraft Interiors Expo, the Passenger Experience Conference and World Travel Catering & Onboard Services Expo.

For more information about Passenger Technology Solutions please visit: www.passengertechnologysolutions.com

London, UK | January 9, 2018–Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX), the global event that showcases innovations in aircraft passenger experience, will return to the Hamburg Messe from 10^th – 12^th April 2018, for the 19^th annual AIX.

The leading event will host 500+ exhibiting companies, more than 1,200 airline buyers from 268 unique airlines and lessors and almost 14,000 visitors.

Over 30 new exhibiting companies including 3D Systems, General Aerospace GmbH and Vanema will join longstanding exhibitors such as Acro, Boeing, Gogo, Haeco, Inmarsat, Molon Labe, Panasonic Avionics and Thales.

The week will commence with the Passenger Experience Conference (PEC) on Monday 9 April and is set to examine the impact of futuristic travel trends on the air and rail industries. Visitors to the event will hear from speakers including Rosalyn Gough, Cabin Quality Product Manager at Thomas Cook Group Airlines, José Rui Marcelino Chief Executive Officer of Almadesign and Raymond Kollau Founder or AirlineTrends. The event will also feature breakout sessions exploring Convergence and Mobility, Sustainability and Flexibility and Personalising the passenger journey, followed by the popular Industry Networking Party.

2018 will not only see AIX span a larger floor space, but introduce new and improved networking opportunities to ensure that attendees can easily initiate business discussions and maximise their time spent at the event.

Both visitors and exhibitors can enhance their show experience by using My Event on their mobile or desktop to build their own itinerary. The tool enables all attending AIX to create a personal list of must-see contacts and book meetings before and during the show, as well as tagging key products and CabinSpace Live sessions of interest.

Visitors to this year’s show will also have the opportunity to hear industry leaders discussing the latest trends and insights on the aircraft cabin, consolidation and the interiors supply chain and the future of IFE, in the Cabin Space LIVE Seminar theatre.

Polly Magraw, Event Director, Aircraft Interiors Expo comments: “As AIX approaches its milestone 20th anniversary in 2019, the 2018 show illustrates how the event has evolved to become a platform for companies right across the passenger experience sector, and the world’s largest event dedicated to aircraft interiors.

“For the thousands of influential airline buyers who attend the show each year, AIX covers the full spectrum of aircraft interiors from cabin design innovations to in-flight entertainment and connectivity. This enables our exhibitors to generate highly-targeted business leads and network with the who’s who of the aircraft interiors industry. For visitors, AIX is the perfect place to connect with the entire supply.”

AIX returns to join the Passenger Experience Week line up, comprising four leading events in one destination – the Passenger Experience Conference, AIX, World Travel Catering and On Board Services Expo (WTCE) and new to 2018, Passenger Technology Solutions. The new event will offer attendees a chance to discover and source the latest developments in passenger technologies from mobile initiatives, IT solutions, big data and analytics technology and payment technology suppliers – all enhancing the passenger experience.

With all Passenger Experience Week events being staged under one roof, the Hamburg Messe is the destination to discover the latest cabin interiors, inflight entertainment and connectivity, onboard technology, passenger comfort, catering and retail offerings to create the ultimate passenger experience.

For more information about Aircraft Interiors Expo please visit: http://www.aircraftinteriorsexpo.com

The German Aerospace Center (DLR) is opening two institutes at the ZAL

Hamburg, Germany | November 10, 2017– Two institutes by the German Aerospace Center DLR are being established in Hamburg, highlighting the Hanseatic city’s national and international claim to excellence in the area of aeronautics research. The new research institutes at the Center of Applied Aeronautical Research ZAL in Finkenwerder were launched in the presence of numerous guests of honour, including Hamburg’s First Mayor Olaf Scholz. The Institute of System Architectures in Aeronautics is going to focus in particular on digital development of future types of aircraft as well as on transferring innovative production processes (“digital aircraft”). The Institute of Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul is going to concentrate on research regarding aircraft operation, specialising in the development of new maintenance and data processing methods (“digital twin”). Planning provides for the two institutes to have 80 staff members each at the ZAL. The Federal State of Hamburg is going to become an official base of the DLR as a result. Hamburg’s Aeronautical Research Center with 600 work places, which is among the most advanced in the world and was opened only two years ago, is now fully let. More than 40,000 highly qualified staff members in more than 300 companies and institutions make Hamburg the third biggest civil aviation hub worldwide. The aeronautical industry is among the region’s most important economic factors. Hamburg’s decisive advantage is the fact that know-how of global acclaim is pooled in the area, regarding all stages of an aircraft’s life cycle – from pre-development through to recycling.

Hamburg’s First Mayor Olaf Scholz says: “We are pleased that the DLR decided to establish a branch in Hamburg. The close cooperation of science and the business world is going to give rise to innovations that will be trend-setting for the entire industry. The ZAL is a place of innovative ideas that result in new products for the aviation industry.”

“We are delighted that we are now represented in Hamburg, one of the biggest hubs of civil aviation world-wide, with two newly established DLR institutes and to closely cooperate in the ZAL with our industry partners, in the field of application-oriented research,” says Prof. Pascale Ehrenfreund on the occasion of the opening ceremony.

In the years ahead, the new institutes are going to receive an annual ten million euros of joint funding from the German federal and state governments. As the institutes’ home state, Hamburg is going to contribute around 1.6 million euros per year. Furthermore, the City of Hamburg is going to provide another two million euros for investments during the set-up phase until the end of 2018. Industry-oriented research requires very close cooperation with the relevant industrial and medium- sized companies. This is why the institute is based in the ZAL, where the DLR has the opportunity to perform research in the same building and using shared large-scale testing facilities, with a large number of industrial partners from the aviation industry, including Airbus and Lufthansa Technik as well as suppliers and start-up companies.

Close coordination of the required research competence that needs to be established to allow for research results to be used by the industrial partners as effectively as possible, has already begun. In addition to the regional network, the institutes are planning to form research partnerships with various German and international companies.

Here we go again! The next few issues of IFExpress will update you on what we saw at AIX 2017 – and there was a lot. We should note that while we received no show data from the PR/AIX troops, we can tell you it was BIG. Again this year, there was an IFEC Zone  that was dedicated to everything inflight entertainment and connectivity related. So here we go!

SIE & Dassault Systemes
Summary: Dassault Systemes and SIE have teamed to facilitate the development of “License-to-Fly” (LTF), a software development tool that greatly accelerates the design and certification process.  As many people know, Dassault Systemes is the provider of the aerospace industry standard 3D engineering tool CATIA, and SIE is the highly-regarded Aircraft Engineering & Certification firm responsible for numerous TC & STC projects.

LTF allows engineers, on an ongoing basis, to integrate the design development with the certification requirements thereby speeding up the Aircraft Certification process and reducing the overall cost by as much as 15%.  Known within Dassault as “Collaborative Innovation”, there is a continuous feedback loop between the design and the certification database verification that reduces error and rework in the development process.

LTF is a software design tool that enhances the standard CATIA 3D design process and aids the design engineer in understanding if their design meets certification – the key here is it tells them when they make the change with the License to Fly software if the design change is compliant with regulations, thus saving time.

Historically, designers were forced to develop drawings then check the final product/result against certification standards and by removing the “check” step days are saved in the design development process. The net result is time and labor savings and assurances that redesigns will not be required after drawing submissions. Furthermore, License to Fly permits cost efficiencies to customization. Today everyone is pushing for standards because the process of certifying custom design is so expensive, this product recognizes that customization is key and makes it affordable and efficient while doing so. The Dassault/SIE team makes a lot of sense – Dassault knows the software (CATIA) development side of the equation while the SIE folks are certification experts and the combined product will greatly improve the quality and time to market of the aircraft interiors components/assemblies that they design. Readers, expect to see a lot more written about this “smart” software.

“License-to-Fly is quite simply a huge game-changer.  LTF is the design/certification tool that moves the historically separate activities of aviation design engineering and subsequent certification work from a serial process to an integrated flow.  The result:  lower costs, shorter development time, higher quality design packages, and comprehensive compliance to regulations.  It’s an enterprise win-win for everybody,” stated John Courtright of SIE.

(Editor’s Note: IFExpress really believes that this product will change the design process. Further, we firmly believe this will be one in the many steps in the future of computer aided design in aviation. Think about this: future software technologies in almost every part of the airplane business will probably be seeing change within the next 5 years and this CATEA design development will improve and speed the design process. Additionally, the SIE people will most likely be undertaking an entirely new business sector as well.)

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Spafax
“Alexa, is my Lufthansa flight on time today?” If you think your Amazon Alexa is just for your home and ground-based information – think again. Spafax demonstrated their launch of a new Alexa skill as an IFE industry first – and IFExpress LOVED it! To give you a better idea here is what their press release says:  Global content, entertainment and media agency Spafax announced its new Spafax Profile Skill for Alexa, Amazon’s revolutionary voice-activated personal assistant. This fun, interactive service will be the latest addition to Spafax’s successful Profile entertainment personalization platform. Set to debut at the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg, the Spafax Profile Skill combines Spafax’s proprietary entertainment technology and Amazon’s open APIs to create a dynamic voice-activated personal assistant with complete knowledge of an airline’s entertainment offering. Passengers will be able to ask Alexa about what movies, television shows and music will be available on their upcoming flight, get detailed information about individual programs and more. “The Spafax Profile Skill will further enhance the pre-flight experience, a key point of contact between airlines and their customers,” said Kevin Birchmore, Director Sales, Technical Products & Solutions, Spafax. “We’re always looking for ways to evolve our digital products and the Alexa Skill is very much in line with our vision for passengers to interact with an airline brand across multiple platforms and services.” The Spafax Alexa program is divided into 3 phases. Phase 2 will allow the passenger to view the airline entertainment content pre-flight and create a playlist after login. Phase 3 will sync with the passenger’s personal device at the seat. Presently, the service allows the passenger to view the entertainment content pre-flight and ask specific questions regarding flight status, etc.

(Editor’s Note: If you are an airline and you want to improve your airline profile skill you probably want to get a demo of the Spafax Alexa feature and consider adding this to your passenger app! More importantly, IFExpress cannot wait until this feature becomes available and we can test and use it on our Apple Watch!!)

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Gogo
Here is a summary of the updates we received from the Gogo team at AIX
• Gogo has line fit for the A320, A330 and A380 for 2Ku we believe.
• Gogo is using the MODMAN (modem manager) from Kontron.
• Live television will be enabled in 3Q/4Q of 2017 and the first customer for the product will be Delta Air Lines.
• Presently, Gogo is running a 90 day 2Ku test in conjunction with Lufthansa Systems BoardConnect on Virgin Australia. The test is on a 737-8 and if all goes well it will go on the rest of the fleet.
• Currently there are 13 2Ku customers, two of which are Delta Air Lines and American Airlines.
• Gogo has recently partnered with SES for more transponder capacity.
• The company is targeting 200 installs of 2Ku by yearend 2017 and currently has a backlog of 1500 aircraft. Gogo states their focus right now is on the 2Ku product.
• Gogo is focusing moving their services beyond the passenger and now has 50K+ flight attendants connected. Their system also offers real-time credit card validation. Delta Air Lines will have their EFB’s connected via Gogo, as well as, their real-time weather service. The company noted that weather services are a key component of their cloud sourced data.
• ATG Next Generation is expected by year-end with a flight test in early 2018. The service will use a new antenna on the aircraft and new ground-based hardware as well. The hardware within the aircraft will mostly be the same but potentially with a new modem. Gogo states that the cost of upgrading to the ATG Next Gen will be relatively low because of this.

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Lufthansa Systems
The following headlines sum up the news from Lufthansa Systems at AIX:

1. Surfing above the clouds: Lufthansa and Austrian Airlines going online on short haul and mid-range flights too

• Lufthansa and Austrian Airlines starting next phase of testing to include free
service to passengers
• Internet access also on inner-European routes
• Product launch in the first quarter, initially on 10 Airbus aircraft from the A320
family
• Three service packages available in future, priced at EUR 3, EUR 7 and
EUR 12.
• In the first quarter of 2017, the number of Lufthansa aircraft fitted out with Internet access will rise to around 20. One by one, the entire Lufthansa A320 fleet is to be equipped with the latest advanced technology by the middle of 2018. The re-fitting of all 31 aircraft at Austrian Airlines is planned to be completed before the end of April 2017. As well as Lufthansa and Austrian Airlines, Eurowings also has plans to bring the Internet on board its
aircraft – estimated launch is to be by the end of the first quarter 2017. A total of 69 Eurowings aircraft are to be fitted with the systems by the summer of 2017.

2. More than in-flight entertainment: The digital BoardConnect platform from Lufthansa Systems

•  Lufthansa Systems presents BoardConnect 5.0 as the perfect platform for digitalization in the aircraft / mCabin enhanced with new features and apps

BoardConnect enables passengers to stream content from an airline’s entertainment offering to their own tablets or smartphones during a flight. The BoardConnect product suite is available in three hardware versions. In addition to the permanently installed classic BoardConnect IFE solution, there is also the flexible BoardConnect Portable version. It combines all of the technical components in a single device which can be installed quickly and easily on any aircraft. BoardConnect Portable received the Crystal Cabin Award at AIX 2016. The third option available is the BoardConnect Plus connectivity solution. Lufthansa Systems is responding to the growing demand for new on-board digital services by further developing its software – with the new BoardConnect 5.0, which runs on all three versions of the system. BoardConnect 5.0 features a fresh design with a new user interface and an open platform architecture.
“Our digital BoardConnect platform is far more than just a pure IFE solution. Airlines can use it to significantly improve their passengers’ digital experience and further personalize their services. It is also part of our company strategy to share our expertise so that our customers can achieve their digital transformation goals,” said Norbert Müller, Senior Vice President BoardConnect at Lufthansa Systems.
The core of the digital BoardConnect platform is its open architecture. New technologies have turned BoardConnect into a kind of cloud provider above the clouds. It enables airlines to run their own applications in the aircraft on the basis of BoardConnect. This also applies to applications from an airline’s external partners, and it supports use cases for crews and passengers. The solution makes it easier for passengers to use on-board services as well. They simply have to connect to the on-board WiFi to access all of the connected services via a standardized user interface. The layout can naturally be adapted to the individual corporate design of each airline. BoardConnect 5.0 gives airlines numerous options for integrating new offers and generating additional revenues. The platform is designed for fast and easy technical integration.
Connectivity is the future of IFE, because on-board Internet is the prerequisite for real-time communication, streaming live events and additional services from external partners. Connectivity thus remains a focal point at Lufthansa Systems – for airlines both inside and outside of the Lufthansa Group. Among other things, the aviation IT specialist is currently working with its partners Inmarsat and Lufthansa Technik to install broadband Internet on the short- and medium-haul fleets of Lufthansa, Eurowings and Austrian Airlines.

3. Lufthansa Systems and Waves Audio demonstrate Waves Nx 3D Audio and Head Tracking for inflight entertainment systems at AIX

Lufthansa Systems and Waves Audio ltd are collaborating to bring a superior and immersive 3D Audio & Surround Sound experience to airline passengers.
•  Waves Nx is a high-end 3D audio solution that works with any grade of standard stereophonic headphones, offering tremendous sound quality improvements using preexisting hardware.
• Waves Nx greatly reduces ear-fatigue, allowing users to listen to audio content over headphones for prolonged periods of time with no discomfort.
• Waves Nx enables listening to 5.1 and 7.1 content over regular headphones, bringing an unprecedented cinematic experience to in-flight entertainment systems.

4. Lufthansa Systems – the right IT partner to help airlines go digital

Everyone is talking about digitalization. Many companies are wondering how to future-proof themselves in the digital world. Lufthansa Systems turned this vision into reality a long time ago. For years, the aviation IT specialist has been advising and supporting airlines in their digital transformation, demonstrating what sustainable airline processes can look like and helping customers implement concrete projects. The spectrum includes solutions and consulting services for improving the efficiency and differentiation of all aspects of an airline as well as for optimizing the entire travel chain for passengers.

5. Lufthansa Systems acquires new customers for its digital BoardConnect platform

• Use cases at Azul Linhas Aéreas, EL AL, Air Dolomiti and Lufthansa Group airlines demonstrate the flexibility of the BoardConnect product suite

Azul Linhas Aéreas (Azul) is the first American customer for BoardConnect Portable, EL AL has opted for the portable version in addition to BoardConnect Classic, and the installation of the connectivity solution for Austrian Airlines, Eurowings and Lufthansa is progressing. BoardConnect Portable has also been successfully implemented for Air Dolomiti. This wireless in-flight entertainment (IFE) solution from Lufthansa Systems will soon be in use on more than 300 aircraft worldwide. The corresponding app has been downloaded over 5 million times. Lufthansa Systems is therefore heading into the Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) in Hamburg this week (April 4–6) with a series of success stories as well as numerous new features to present for its BoardConnect and mCabin product suites.

Hamburg, DE | April 3, 2017– Dozens of thought leaders and industry figureheads came together today to discuss the latest ideas and innovations shaping the passenger experience industry at the Passenger Experience Conference (PEC).

The annual event marks the start of Passenger Experience Week, hosted at the Hamburg Messe, which also encompasses Aircraft Interiors Expo and the World Travel Catering & Onboard Services Expo.

New to the PEC this year was the Airline Breakfast Forum. The forum presented an opportunity for airline attendees to debate informally and to share industry best practice insights. Those who attended were welcomed by a keynote from Jeff James, vice president and general manager of the Disney Institute. His inspiring presentation focused on the importance of creating experiences that matter for customers and staff alike.

Following this, an address from Dick Powell, Co-Founder and Chairman of SeymourPowell, discussed the concept that reality and ideas are utterly inseparable and encouraged attendees to foster creative thinking in order to innovate effectively. This inspiring and creative session was followed by the Head to Head with the Innovators which saw industry leaders from businesses including; Plug and Play Tech Centre, Swiss International Airlines and Bombardier Commercial Aircraft, share their experiences of generating passenger appeal.

From mid-morning the conference broke out into three concurrent streams, each of which analysed a different aspect of the passenger experience. The profiles of speakers from all three sessions can be found here.

Generating Revenue
The sessions in this stream took attendees through the innovations that are set to redefine customer expectations in the future and thought-provokingly encouraged the audience to disrupt conventional thinking about the onboard experience. Key highlights
Victoria Loomes, Senior Trend Analyst, TrendWatching talked about the trends airlines need to consider to create new digital products that consumers will enjoy
Nigel Duncan, Chief Executive Officer, STG Aerospace shed some insight regarding on-board discretionary spending and how aspects such as cabin lighting make a difference
John Baumgartner, Sales Director, Inflight & Catering, Gebr. Heinemann discussed strategies to ensure profitable retailing, looking at issues such as crew engagement and smart supply chain thinking

Comfort and Wellbeing
Focusing on passengers’ moods and physical reactions to their onboard experience as well as the learnings the industry can take from neuroscience, this stream enabled attendees to go back to the basics of human behaviour and apply it to the passenger experience. Key highlights:
· Dr G. Clotaire Rapaille, Founder, Archetype Discoveries Worldwide discussed the psychology behind flying, explaining that what people say about their flying experience is often wrong. He explained that the ‘reptilian’ brain often says it wants one thing – but in reality wants something completely different
· David Watts, Managing Director, CCD Design & Ergonomics talked about the British High Speed 2 rail network and those elements that will deliver a great customer experience based on passengers’ psychology and behaviour
· Avi Mannis, Senior Vice President Marketing, Hawaiian Airlines talked about how they have redesigned their cabin interiors to give a premium leisure experience to customers

The Connected Journey
This stream took industry attendees through the thinking behind the innovations streamlining the passenger journey from A to B and the designs revolutionising travel. Key highlights:
Loic Rigaud, Operations Manager, Peugeot Design Lab looked at the importance of connectively for car design in order to deliver the best experience
David Lavorel, Chief Executive Officer, SITONAIR discussed how inflight connectivity is opening up a stream of new content and services that consumers want to buy into
Jon Cobin, Chief Commercial Officer, Gogo joined a discussion about new revenue models for connectivity

The day provided many networking opportunities for attendees to make new connections and discuss the inspiring sessions with their industry peers. It also provided a platform for companies to launch new products. Notably, Hawaiian Airlines, revealed its distinctive cabin design for its new A321 neo fleet which will make its debut later this year.

The day closed with the Industry Networking Party which brought together industry leaders and attendees from across the airline supply chain under one roof. The event provided an ideal opportunity to facilitate new business connections in an informal environment.

Isle of Wight | February 20, 2017– IFPL are leading the way with peripheral integration in to the seat thanks to working with seat vendors and IFE OEMs. Visitors to their stand at AIX Hamburg will have the opportunity to experience their ground-breaking developments and see the products demonstrated.

IFPL has developed a fresh approach to the development of peripheral integration that can be applied to new seats or as an update to existing seat peripherals.

IFPL’s aim has been to provide seamless seat integration, whilst maintaining a consistent design language and aesthetic. There has also been a focus on ensuring the ergonomics deliver a truly enhanced passenger experience. This process has enabled IFPL to reduce the complexity, weight and cost therefore delivering a competitive advantage to an airline.

Visit IFPL at Booth 2C10 to see how their work with Mirus Aircraft seating has led to the joint development of a smart seat and the introduction of new technology into their economy seat, whilst still maintaining the design aesthetic and delivering passenger ergonomics. IFPL has worked to integrate an embedded screen with NFC payment and their latest magnetic audio jack.

IFPL has also developed the smart tray, a unique in-tray table which includes a Passenger Control Unit (PCU) that provides the passenger service functions (call bell and reading light) into the tray. The unit has been designed to ensure the functions are ergonomically placed at the customers’ fingertips, to save passengers having to search for the functionality in awkward locations.

IFPL have recently extended their PCU range using an aesthetically stylish, gloss plastic capacitive touch units. The benefits of this technology ensures the unit is not accidently activated by inadvertent pressure (that traditional switches are subject to). The smart tray also includes a range of charging/power solutions including USB A and C outlets and an inductive charging in the tray.

In addition, IFPL has developed The Nexus Integrated Seat Arm – a ground-breaking concept that addresses the issues faced by the IFE industry regarding seat integration, whilst delivering an enhanced passenger experience.

The passenger expectation of integrated charging and connectivity in-seat for Personal Electronic Devices (PEDs) is met as the product seamlessly blends passenger connectivity, the Power Supply Unit (PSU) and audio functions into the arm of the seat. The demands on airlines to deliver an ergonomic and aesthetically-pleasing product for passengers are delivered, whilst counter-balancing the requirements for smaller and more compact seats.

Isle of Wight | February 6, 2017– Inflight Entertainment and Connectivity (IFEC) specialists IFPL will be showcasing their latest power solutions at AIX 2017 in Hamburg.

With new consumer devices adopting USB-C as standard, IFPL has actively engaged its customers on how this technology can be applied to IFEC and how to transition from USB-A. Along with its baseline USB-C outlet, IFPL are currently developing a range of USB–C 3.1 peripherals and solutions. Visitors to stand 2C10 can see their USB-C outlet and discuss industry adoption of this technology.

In previous shows IFPL demonstrated their high power and data USB-A 2.0. These are now in-service along with IFPL’s clever reversible option. Recently, IFPL has worked closely with GORE® to develop the new USB-A 3.0 module, that combined IFPL USB 3.0 with GORE Aerospace USB 3.0 cables and provides the ideal solution for delivering high power (2A, 5V DC) and data transfer (up to 5Gbps) as per USB 3.0 requirements. This gives passengers the ability to maximise the benefits of both charging their Personal Electronic Devices (PEDs) and interfacing with the Inflight Entertainment (IFE) system.

IFPL has enhanced the capability of its existing 1225 unit, the 110V AC Universal Remote Power Outlet, with the addition of a high power USB-A socket and will be demonstrating the new 2011 unit on the stand. In addition, IFPL has been working with key industry partners to develop a new range of power solutions that focus on ensure ergonomic and aesthetic seat integration. The combined approach delivered a system that maximises the use of the physical space of the seat and seamlessly design the USB outlet into the actual seat arm. The result is an attractive installation of a fully integrated system that has no impact on passenger legroom.

As always, IFPL’s established range of IFEC products and solutions will be on display and the expert team from IFPL will be on hand to discuss any requirements that visitors to AIX 2017 may have.

• Over the past 10 years, the Crystal Cabin Award has become established as a global seal of quality for innovative products and ideas in the field of aircraft cabins.

Hamburg | March 30, 2016– For three days each April, the international aviation industry turns its gaze to Hamburg. At Aircraft Interiors Expo, the world’s biggest trade fair for aircraft cabins and on-board products, decisions are made about what creature comforts passengers can expect when they fly in the future. And for 10 years now, the Crystal Cabin Award has been an established feature of the event and a clear point of orientation for the industry. The prize, launched by the Hamburg Aviation cluster, is awarded to the most innovative new products and ideas in eight different categories. Over the years, it has gone from a niche event to become a world-renowned “Oscar” for the aviation industry.

Amongst the many sponsors of the trophies, to be awarded on 5 April this year, are such respected corporations as Airbus, Emirates, Panasonic and Lufthansa Technik. The list of winners and finalists in the Crystal Cabin Award provides a good overview not just of the highlights of the Aircraft Interiors Expo, but also of general trends in global aviation. Included in that list are products that have since become successfully established in the market, such as the “Skycouch” in Air New Zealand’s Economy class, which folds out as a bed, along with such bold visions as the futuristic “LIFE” cabin from Portuguese design agency Almadesign, and practical inventions like the double armrest from Paperclip Design in Hong Kong. To mark the tenth anniversary of the award, the team are taking a look back at some of the highlights of a decade of winners on the official website, www.crystal-cabin-award.com, and on the Crystal Cabin Award Youtube channel.

The Crystal Cabin Award was launched to strengthen and reinforce the awareness of the aviation industry for cabin fittings as an increasingly important aspect of the passenger experience. It represents the idea of an independent platform for the industry to promote and honour innovation in aviation worldwide. The list of entrants to date is a veritable “Who’s Who” of the aviation industry, and the striking trophies are recognised as a seal of quality and a marketing tool within the industry. For several years now, the Crystal Cabin Award has been avidly followed well beyond the borders of the aviation industry. Just being shortlisted is enough for many companies and products to attain international visibility. The event benefits not only participating companies but also the City of Hamburg and the cluster, Hamburg Aviation, as the world’s leading competence center for aircraft cabins.

A new record was set for this year’s race to win the coveted Crystal Cabin Award trophies, with 95 entries from 18 nations. The big trends of 2016 include large-screen entertainment systems, broadband connectivity above the clouds, and lighting concepts to set the right mood in the cabin. The Crystal Cabin Award is being presented in eight categories for the first time in this jubilee year, with three finalists fighting it out in each category. The spectrum ranges from technological areas such as the “Materials & Components” category, where the world’s first approved timber floor for an aircraft cabin has reached the final three, to new business models for entire airlines in the “Visionary Concepts” category. An overview of all categories and finalists for 2016 can be found here.

The eight winners in this jubilee year will be announced during the Aircraft Interiors Expo trade fair (5 – 7 April, 2016 in Hamburg) at a gala event to be held on the evening of 5 April at the Hotel Atlantic Kempinski in Hamburg. Speakers at this year’s dinner will include Sir Tim Clark, President of Emirates Airline, and Brigitte Zypries, Germany’s Federal Parliamentary State Secretary for aerospace policy. First, though, each of the finalists has to personally face the critical questioning of the 24 expert judges. The international Judging Panel consists of representatives of various airlines, aircraft manufacturers, suppliers and technical service providers, along with university professors and expert journalists. A victory at the Crystal Cabin Award is unmistakeable regognition by the global community of specialists in the sector.

Finalists’ products and concepts are all on display in the Crystal Cabin Award Gallery at the Aircraft Interiors Expo 2016 (Cabin Space LIVE Auditorium in Hall B1, upper level). And on the second day of the trade fair (6 April, 12:30 pm), the winners will personally present their concepts to the public.

The Crystal Cabin Award is supported by the following sponsors and media partners: Airbus, Aircraft Cabin Management, Aircraft Interiors Expo (Reed Exhibitions), Aircraft Interiors International Magazine, Aircraft Interiors Middle East, APEX, B/E Aerospace, Bishop GmbH Aeronautical Engineers, Dabelstein & Passehl, DIEHL Aerosystems Holding, Emirates Airline, FERCHAU AVIATION Division, Flightchic, HAECO Cabin Solutions, Inflight Magazine, Jetliner Cabins, Lufthansa Technik AG, Panasonic, Reaktor.Aero, Runway Girl Network and SEKISUI SPI.

Wow, where did the time go at AIX in Hamburg last week? The three days at the Hamburg Messe showcased a lot of technology in the inflight entertainment and connectivity world. Presently, almost 8000 visitors attended and the final tally will not be made for a week or so. This puts the show on par with visitor numbers last year and for challenging airline times like these, the show sponsors should breathe a sigh of relief. We do think the overall airline participation was reduced (airline employees per airline visiting AIX) but if that is true, it would be because of the economics. We did not see as many airline badges as last year.

Approximately 500 exhibitors focused on existing product lines with an emphasis on new technology. This was especially true in the seat and interior halls but to a great extent this was true in the IFE and Connectivity exhibits as well. Inflight connectivity, portable IFE, fiber optic IFE, and new concepts such as 3D entertainment and expanded bizjet offerings were shown as well. We plan to show-and-tell much more in the IFExpress Blogs so keep you eye on those parts of our new and improved website. Many of the new products and show images are available in our Flickr photo gallery so be sure to check that out too! Our goal there was to bring a little bit of the show flavor to the folks who make it possible in the labs and offices of the vendors who show there wares. Further, we covered a lot about the trip and the greater Hamburg visit there as well. We have a few surprises planned too, but you will have to explore our website in the next few days to find out what they are.

Overall, there was a reasonable amount of new technology, but many vendors told us that they will unveil even more at the WAEA Conference this fall. One large IFE manufacturer told IFExpress that they are looking at totally new concepts to come up with the technological baseline for their next generation of hardware – expect some real eye-openers! Next year, we believe the AIX show to be the biggest ever and it is planned for May 18 – 20, 2010. Don’t miss it. www.aircraftinteriorsexpo.com

Visitor figures for Aircraft Interiors Expo have remained steady this year in spite of the uncertain economic outlook for the aviation industry. Nearly 8,000 visitors attended to see the usual raft of new product development across all areas of the interiors sector, displayed by more than 500 exhibitors. Innovations in terms of seating development and inflight connectivity were particularly strong this year. The total attendance figure will be available after the event has been ABC audited in the next couple of weeks.

The last day of the show is traditionally a race for exhibitors to rebook their preferred stand position for the ensuing show; this year was no exception with exhibitors queuing to reserve their preferred space for Aircraft Interiors Expo 2010.

Aircraft Interiors Expo’s Event Director, Katie Murphy said: “In spite of our pre-registration visitor figures remaining strong we weren’t really sure what to expect when the doors to the show opened this year. It’s a testament to the whole Aircraft Interiors Expo team and our exhibitors that we have been able to maintain the same levels of interest in the show that we achieved last year even though there is currently much hesitancy in the aviation sector.

“On top of all the essential supply chain networking that happens at this show, a significant amount of business has been done again this year and we’ve received good feedback on our move to the B halls. Being able to host the World Airline Awards this year has only added to our profile among the top eschelons of the airlines.”

Next year’s Aircraft Interiors Expo takes place from 18 to 20 May 2010 at the Hamburg Messe. www.aircraftinteriorsexpo.com

2nd April 2009 – Cathay Pacific picked up the award for Airline of the Year award last night at the first live World Airline Awards ceremony, held during Aircraft Interiors Expo.

Organised by Skytrax, the World Airline Awards was celebrating its 10th anniversary at the same time as Aircraft Interiors Expo was commemorating its own 10th edition milestone with an exhibitor and airline networking event. Around 500 exhibitors and visitors attended the awards ceremony to see 24 airlines go up to receive their awards.

Edward Plaisted, CEO of Skytrax, handed out awards in 34 categories. The winners are selected by the airline industry’s most important audience – its customers. More than 16 million passengers, representing 95 different nationalities, took part in completing the Skytrax World Airline Survey this year. The awards are recognised around the world, and renowned for being the only truly global, independent passenger survey of airline standards. The survey does not receive any outside or third-party sponsorship; it is entirely funded by Skytrax Research.

Edward Plaisted, CEO of Skytrax, said: “Cathay Pacific’s achievement can be attributed to its strong showing across most of the survey categories reflecting a great consistency of service and product, which is clearly satisfying customers – be they in first, business or economy class. It was also apparent that Cathay Pacific’s airport services in its home airport of Hong Kong performed very well for the airline in terms of pleasing the passengers.”

Aircraft Interiors Expo’s Event Director, Katie Murphy said: “Hosting the World Airline Awards presentation during our 10th edition party has really topped off what has been a great show for us. We are really pleased with the level of airline and general visitor attendance – as well as the rebookings we have already taken for the 2010 show.”

Full listing of the winners:

Airline of the Year Cathay Pacific
Best Cabin Staff Malaysia Airlines
Best Inflight Entertainment Emirates
Best First Class Singapore Airlines
Best Business Class Etihad Airways
Best Premium Economy Class Virgin Atlantic
Best Economy Class Qatar Airways
Best Low Cost Airline Air Asia
Best Low-Cost Airline – Asia Air Asia
Best Low-Cost Airline – Australasia JetStar
Best Low-Cost Airline – Europe Air Berlin
Best Airline – Africa South African Airways
Best Airline – Asia Cathay Pacific
Best Airline – Australasia Qantas
Best Airline – China China Southern Airlines
Best Airline – Europe Swiss
Best Airline – Middle East Qatar Airways
Best Airline – North America Continental Airlines
Best Airline – South America LAN Airlines
Best Airline – Central Europe CSA Czech Airlines
Best Airline – Southern Europe Turkish Airlines
Best Airline – India / Central Asia Kingfisher Airlines
Best Transatlantic Airline British Airways
Best Transpacific Airlines Asiana Airlines
Best First Class Onboard Catering Singapore Airlines
Best Business Class Onboard Catering Etihad Airways
Best Economy Class Onboard Catering Asiana Airlines
Best First Class Airline Lounge Thai Airways
Best Business Class Airline Lounge Virgin Atlantic
Best Regional Airline – Asia Bangkok Airways
Best Airline Alliance Star Alliance
Best Low-Cost Airline – North America JetBlue Airways
Best Low-Cost Airline – Middle East Air Arabia
Best Regional Airline – Europe Aegean Airlines

The next Aircraft Interiors Expo takes place from 18 to 20 May 2010 at the Hamburg Messe. www.aircraftinteriorsexpo.com

About the organiser
Reed Exhibitions is the world’s leading events organiser, with over 470 events in 37 countries. In 2008 Reed brought together over seven million industry professionals from around the world generating billions of dollars in business. Today Reed events are held throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific, and organised by 38 fully staffed offices.

Reed organises a wide range of events, including exhibitions, conferences, congresses and meetings. Its portfolio of over 470 events serves 44 industry sectors, including: Aerospace & aviation, automobiles, broadcasting, building & construction, electronics, energy, oil & gas, engineering, manufacturing, environment, food service & hospitality, gifts, healthcare, interior design, IT & telecoms, jewellery, life science & pharmaceuticals, machinery, medical education, printing & graphics, property & real estate, security & safety, sports & recreation, travel.

Working closely with professional bodies, trade associations and government departments Reed ensures that each and every event is targeted and relevant to industry needs. As a result, many Reed events are market leaders in their field.

Reed Exhibitions is part of Reed Elsevier Group plc, a FTSE-100 company and world-leading publisher and information provider. In 2007, Reed Elsevier made an adjusted profit before taxation of £998 million on turnover of £4,584 million.

Our stalwart party of trade show journalists have been busily snapping photos while they seek out the “hot scoop” in Hamburg.

In between long days slogging across the show floor and their early evenings turning in to regenerate energy for the next day (Editor’s note: Yeah right, hello… bar photos?) they managed to find time to upload a few of their photos for your viewing pleasure.

If you’d like to see just a tiny slice of all there is to see at AIX, head on over to our photo gallery hosted on Flickr.

I bet you expected us to write about the Airline Interiors Expo in Hamburg didn’t you? Ok, you’d be partially correct — we are going to touch on that subject. That’s not our big news though.

The big news — for us anyway — is that we’re launching a redesigned website and e-mail newsletter as part of our coverage of AIX 2009. This redesign is intended to be much more user friendly for you the reader, while at the same time providing us with the flexibility to post news and other information much more frequently.

The new software underlying our site will also allow us to add new features when we want to and enhance our ability to cover special events. You’ll find an example of that in our AIX Blog that is now available. In this section we’ll be posting occasional updates directly from Hamburg to give you a “behind-the-scenes” look at our team’s adventures in Germany.

Keep an eye on the new website and your e-mail inbox if you’re an IFExpress subscriber, we may have a few suprises in store for you as the week progresses. We’ll give you one little hint… think bluetooth.

We heard from a few companies about what they will be showing at the Aircraft Interiors Conference in Hamburg Germany, March 31 thru April 2. See the details. From an IFE perspective, you should go to this show! Not only is it the “other” IFE showcase, it is the biggest airplane interiors show in the world. There are lots of cheap fares, cheap hotel rooms and the show is free to visit and walk thru the displays. With respect to the show itself, we will be covering it in a new way so keep checking our new web presence… ’nuff said.  

While there, here are a few tips we gleaned: 1. Don’t miss VT Miltope, not only will they be rolling out a new broadband service, they have a BIG DEAL partner. 2. Both IMS and digEcor promise new portable entertainment options that sound very interesting, 3. No doubt, Lumexis will showcase a smaller in-seat HD module. 4. We hope and pray Panasonic brings back the massage chairs! 5. Thales has a 3D product that appeared in demo form at the WAEA last fall but we want to see a new product based on that technology. We are expecting advances in seat weight technology; new, smaller IFE devices that marry portable technology with imbedded mounting and power; a new wireless connectivity entrant; and a new IFE supplier. We are also wondering if digital projection will ever make a comeback because the projection hardware has become much more reliable, lower in weight and size as well as costs. It will also be interesting to see next phase in fiber optic IFE development from Sicma/Zodiac. 

Almost finally, a wireless caller asked if we were going to run some news this week or more of that “portable IFE legal wrangling stuff” again? “Yes and No” was our answer. Here is a link to a response from digEcor about the recent court ruling between them and e.Digital. And finally, here is a link to the Temporary Operating Ticket from Row44 to put that one to bed too.

See you at AIX!

Our crack staff of IFE sleuths are about to jet their way halfway around the world in order to bring you the latest developments in the IFE industry. That’s right, we’re going to Hamburg!

While we’re there we’ll be posting regular updates to our AIX Blog so be sure to check back regularly to get the inside scoop on what we find at the Aircraft Interiors Exp 2009.