Aircraft Interiors Expo, Hamburg | April 12, 2018– In response to a request from its long-standing client Icelandair, STG Aerospace has designed, developed and patented a powerful and simple saf-Tsign® product, introduced to upgrade dated Passenger Service Units (PSU), complete with a switchable Wi-Fi sign.

As one of the first airlines to roll-out high-speed Wi-Fi connectivity across its entire fleet of aircraft, Icelandair turned to STG Aerospace to effectively communicate this major enhancement in the passenger experience on its fleet of Boeing 757 aircraft.

Through a powerful combination of photoluminescent and LED technology, the new PSU lens removes the need to backlight the No Smoking icon by moving it to a central position and illuminating the command with blue glowing photoluminescence, ensuring the sign is always visible even in low light and dark conditions.

Creating a switchable display on the left, now converted to LED, the No Smoking icon has been changed to a Wi-Fi icon, allowing airlines to manage the availability of the service and advertising to passengers that Wi-Fi is available on-board.

Dr Sean O’Kell, Director of Innovation at STG Aerospace, commented:

“When Icelandair approached us, we were only too pleased to respond. By applying our commitment to innovation and our expertise in both photoluminescent and LED technologies, we were able to rapidly develop an elegant solution and, using our in-house facilities, bring a new product to market in a remarkably short space of time.”

Sigurður Ingi Ljótsson, Industrial Designer at Icelandair, said: “Our long-standing relationship with STG Aerospace made them a first choice for this PSU upgrade project. By changing the switched no-smoking symbol for a Wi-Fi available one, we can let passengers know in the day or night that Wi-Fi connectivity is available on our planes.

In addition to the practical and aesthetic benefits, the new patented PSU lens is a lighter, simpler, retrofit solution that can be customised to provide effective on-brand messaging to all passengers on-board. To complete the modernisation process, STG Aerospace offers direct, filtered white LED’s to illuminate the sign and its latest square beam reading light.

Hamburg, DE | April 5, 2017– STG Aerospace, a research-driven innovator of aircraft cabin lighting, is delighted to announce that Icelandair, has selected their latest saf-Tglo® blu photoluminescent floor path marking system for install on its new fleet of Boeing 737 MAX 8 and MAX 9 aircraft.

Since its launch at the end of 2016, saf-Tglo® blu has already been awarded the prestigious title of ‘Best Cabin Innovation’ of 2016 by APEX, gained FAA and EASA approval across the majority of Boeing, Airbus and Embraer aircraft types and been retrofitted with several major airlines, including one of the world’s largest low-cost carriers as well as a major Boeing 777 operator. Furthermore, STG Aerospace is delighted to announce that it is soon to be added to the options catalogue for major OEM programs.

Icelandair has already installed STG Aerospace’s green-glowing SSUL system across its Boeing 757 and 767 fleets, and its decision to install the latest evolution of saf-Tglo® on its latest fleet to enter service at the end of 2017 shows the airline’s commitment to deliver the highest possible standard of cabin experience to its passengers.

Sigurður Ingi Ljótsson, Icelandair’s Industrial Designer, commented: “We are excited to be installing such a new and innovative product that will help us improve even further the passenger experience on our newest incoming fleet, the Boeing 737MAX. saf-Tglo® improves the appearance of the cabin, has proven to be highly reliable and will provide Icelandair with cost savings compared to electrical alternatives.”

Marcus Williams, Global Sales and Marketing Director at STG Aerospace added: “It is great when an airline so renowned for delivering innovative and exceptional passenger experience chooses our latest generation solutions for their latest aircraft fleet. saf-Tglo® blu shows that you can combine a critical safety system with something that can enhance your brand.”

Based on the proven technology of the original and market-leading saf-Tglo® photoluminescent range, the unique and patented design of saf-Tglo® blu shifts away from the traditional green glow to an aesthetically pleasing blue glow that beautifully bridges the gap between critical safety performance and cabin aesthetics

Thales:
This year at the Singapore Air Show, the Asian growth that everyone talks about, raised it’s head and the folks at SpeedNews duly noted it and said: “A total of 50 deals were made at Singapore Airshow 2016, representing an increase of 14% over 2014. These included 10 deals with a total value of US$12.3 billion, as well as 40 deals with undisclosed values announced by 20 companies. Singapore Airshow 2016 saw close to 10% increase in trade visitors, as well as a nearly 5% increase in the number of VIP delegations. There was also an increase in the number of local companies exhibiting in the Singapore Pavilion, with 36 companies taking part this year, compared to 29 companies in 2014.”

As you know, this Hot Topic is partially about recent Thales activities in Singapore since they announced that they won a deal with Singapore Airlines and the Thales CEO told IFExpress: “This is a major win for us and a significant step forward in becoming number one in the IFE market. It’s a contract that is more than a year in the making.” Dominique Giannoni, CEO, Thales InFlyt Experience. He went on: “This presence was crucial in winning Singapore Airlines, the campaign to win over Singapore Airlines lasted more than a year, with major factors being Thales’s willingness to understand how the airline wants to integrate with passengers and customizing the system accordingly.” Here are some facts & figures from Thales’s  Giaime Porcu, about the recent activity there to give our readers a frame of reference:

• Thales has been present in Singapore since 1973 and today boasts one of the largest local operations of any European Aerospace groups
• Production of Flight Controls and electrical systems for A320 A350 and B787.
• Avionics Equipment produced in Singapore is equipped across China Southern Airlines fleets and Philippine Airlines and Silk Air as well.
• 80% of market share in IFEC in China + a number of clients across the Asia Pax
• Singapore hosts 1 of 3 global repair hubs which handles MRO operations for one third of Thales’s global MRO operations.
• Thales is also responsible for the entire securitization of Singapore’s air traffic, with the LORADS III ATM system (the most advanced system in the world), all tower operations at Changi Airport and the operations and security systems at Changi airport.”

Further, he notes an interesting, Thales supported, design/innovation concept called the Innovation Hub. Here is what he had to say about it:

• Singapore Innovation Hub, a multidisciplinary establishment inspired by Asian concepts, Asian innovation and Asian thinking.
• The Hub will engage customers and utilize new concepts and practices such as Design Thinking to identify needs and jointly develop solutions.
• The innovation team benefits from government support and partnerships with Singapore’s institutions as well as a global network of Thales innovation teams. Strong focus on research and technology with launch of regional innovation centre to meet local requirements through Design thinking.
• The Hub engages customers and partners in user-centred innovation, enabling cross-functional collaborations in co-designing, prototyping and testing new concepts across areas ranging from aerospace, air traffic management, smart cities to defense and maritime security.
• The concept behind this Hub is to seek inspiration from Asian concepts, Asian innovation and Asian thinking, to arrive at a deeper understanding of the operational needs of clients in the region, and design new products and services that address these specific requirements.
• The innovation team has been trained by the Design Thinking and Innovation Academy from the DesignSingapore Council in order to apply the concept of Design Thinking innovation a new, goal-oriented, problem solving approach developed to look at all potential alternatives of a particular design problem.”

Jean-Noel Stock country director for Singapore rounded the whole issue off by highlighting how important some of the aspect of their presence in Singapore was to the signing of Singapore Airlines when he explained that the Thales Singapore Innovation Hub, the first such centre in the Eastern Hemisphere, centered around the concept of design thinking, was inaugurated in 2014 and one year later Singapore told Thales they had been chosen. After looking into some of the product features we asked a few questions about the deal:

1. IFExpress: How many and what type of aircraft are involved in the Singapore deal?

Answer: “A350XWB configured for medium haul operations. At this time we cannot disclose the number but delivery is set to begin in 2018.” (Editor’s Note: Singapore has 67 A350XWB on order.)

2. IFExpress: What all is included in the “line operation services” noted in the report and will these be at Singapore destination airports?

Answer: We will have service locations in Singapore and other airports around the globe for line services including maintenance, logistics, replacements and spares. A number of service locations around the globe allow us to be responsive to customer needs anywhere.

3. IFExpress: Can you expand on the “wide selection of connected services”?

Answer: “Though we cannot directly comment at this time on what is being offered to this customer we can say that our connectivity applications can run the gamut to include shopping, gaming, meals and beverage service, air to ground connectivity for operations, crew connectivity and more.”

4. IFExpress: One product feature caught our eye – please tell our readers about the “application portal”?

Answer: “The application portal is a service we developed in order to allow any android application developer to interface directly with us and the airline. This allows developers to tailor their apps to the airline’s needs. It’s a great way to ensure that passengers can access the latest and best applications available on the Android market and just another example of how we are innovating to ensure that the passenger experience is as close in the air as on the ground.”

5. IFExpress: Can you supply more information on the “Avii”?

Answer: “Avii is a second-screen application platform that enables premium-class passengers to select, control and enhance their multi-media experience. Avii provides contextual remote control capabilities for the monitor and can be used as an independent handheld screen for many applications, enabling multi-tasking. The Avii platform consists of a 5” LCD with 1080p resolution, multi-touch capacitive touch screen, and an Android operating system. With a balanced & ergonomic design and context based applications, Avii provides an intuitive user interaction.”

Congratulations!

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Astronics:

We thought you might like to check out Astronics Corporation 2015 Fourth Quarter results and Full Year Financial Results is a short, concise form – so here it is:
• Aerospace sales up 6% in quarter driven by Electrical Power & Motion products
• The company realized record annual sales of $692 million and record net income of $67 million in 2015
• Achieved record annual Aerospace sales of $550 million, up 11.1% over 2014
• 2016 sales guidance revised to $665 million to $725 million
That pretty much says it all – nice going everybody!

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News:
1. And speaking of Asian pacific airplane sales, Boeing is projecting demand in Asia Pacific for 14,550 aircraft worth $550b over next 20 years which means one heck-ova-lot of IFE

2. The folks at Gogo announced today that American Airlines has dismissed the declaratory judgment action it filed against Gogo on February 12, 2016. The flap was brought about by American who announced that they wanted to use ViaSat. (Editor’s note: We are thinking 2Ku might be in AA’s future.)

3. Icelandair and Global Eagle Entertainment, (Nasdaq:ENT) (“GEE”) announced the introduction of gate-to-gate Wi-Fi connectivity on the airline’s full fleet of aircraft. Passengers flying on Icelandair operated flights between North America and Europe can now connect to the internet from jetway to jetway. This airline milestone in Wi-Fi connectivity designates Icelandair as the first airline in both the European and North Atlantic markets to provide gate-to-gate connectivity.

Hamburg, Germany | April 9, 2014– Panasonic Avionics Corporation (Panasonic), the world leader in in-flight entertainment and communications, has signed Icelandair as a customer for its FlightLink solution. FlightLink leverages Iridium’s global satellite-based communications solution to support flight deck voice and data, independent GPS, continuous real-time aircraft tracking, and weather data aggregation everywhere commercial airplanes fly. Aircraft that are equipped with FlightLink are connected to an airline’s ground operations 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and 365 days a year.

A key component of FlightLink is Panasonic’s patented Tropospheric Airborne Meteorological Data Reporting (TAMDAR) sensor, which collects extremely high quality weather data from the atmosphere during the flight. Data is streamed back in real time via satellite to Panasonic’s weather operations center. It is then assimilated into specialized, high-speed computing clusters that produce the weather industry’s most accurate forecast information used by Fortune 500 companies, governments, insurers, energy providers, investors and commercial airlines to make intelligent business decisions.

Icelandair, Iceland’s national carrier, will install the FlightLink system, including TAMDAR across its fleet of 21 Boeing 757s, allowing key weather data gathering from the North Atlantic and Arctic regions, as well as throughout significant parts of Europe and North America. Weather data gathered by the system will enable improved operational efficiencies for Icelandair and more accurate weather forecasts for the aviation community throughout Iceland.

As part of the relationship, Panasonic will also be providing FlightLink’s TAMDAR data from Icelandair aircraft to the Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO). The installation of FlightLink and the associated streaming of weather data will greatly increase the quantity and quality of weather information available in the region. TAMDAR data received by the IMO will be ingested into local weather models to improve regional aviation forecasts in Iceland.

“Icelandair’s unique network over the Arctic and North Atlantic makes it a key partner for Panasonic,” said Paul Margis, President and Chief Executive Officer for Panasonic Avionics Corporation. “The ability to connect an aircraft to an airline’s ground operations and the incredibly accurate weather data obtained will be a key driver for greater operational efficiency, and we welcome them to our global partnership – this offers huge opportunities for the industry.”

The data from the TAMDAR system provides significant potential cost saving advantages through superior four-dimensional data analysis and numerical weather prediction. Improvements in forecast accuracy allow numerous industries to enhance their operational efficiency, save on fuel costs, and better prepare for significant severe weather events.

TAMDAR is installed across a network of hundreds of commercial aircraft that are operated by more than a dozen partner airlines throughout the northern hemisphere. It collects tens of thousands of highly detailed and accurate readings from the atmosphere each day.

– Icelandair to be First North Atlantic Airline to Operate Wi-Fi Fleet Wide

Reykjavik, Iceland & Westlake Village, California | May 31, 2012 — Row 44, the leading provider of inflight WiFi and device-based entertainment content for airlines around the world, announced today that it has partnered with Icelandair, the leading carrier of Iceland serving Europe, the United States and Canada, to enhance their passengers’ travel experience. Row 44 will equip Icelandair’s fleet with high-speed WiFi, starting this year. Upon rollout, Icelandair will be the first North Atlantic airline to operate WiFi fleet wide

According to Iceland’s tourism board, there was a 16 percent increase in foreign visitors last year from the year prior. A breathtaking island, Iceland is known for its hot springs, geysers, waterfalls and volcanoes, and with a growing economy and continued increase in tourism, Icelandair desired to provide its passengers with a travel experience as inspiring as their destination. In partnering with Row 44, Icelandair enhances the exceptional atmosphere and flight experience that it strives to deliver to customers.

“Icelandair has built a system of outstanding flight services between Iceland and other countries, and Row 44 now allows us to continue to build on that system, and our present inflight entertainment system, by equipping our flights with an outstanding passenger experience inside the cabin,” said Birkir Hólm Guðnason, Icelandair CEO. “Row 44 was the only provider to offer the breadth and depth of services we favored that will allow our customers to get connected and be entertained, and to do so in a way that we believe they desire – straight to their own devices.”

With Row 44’s inflight WiFi, passengers get connected quickly and reliably. An additional benefit is that it is the only device-based service that operates over land and water, making it a particularly desirable provider for airlines like Icelandair with numerous Transatlantic routes. Among the list of growing services Icelandair customers will enjoy on their own WiFi-enabled devices:

· High-speed Internet connectivity

· Shop in-flight specials

· Research and book local services at their destination

“Icelandair has earned a stellar reputation as an innovative, passenger-focused airline that is committed to providing safe and efficient air travel, and unique services,” said John LaValle, Row 44’s CEO. “We look forward to enriching these services and continuing to delight their customers, a top priority for both Icelandair and Row 44.”

Icelandair and Row 44 expect to begin fleet installation in the fourth quarter of 2012.

Icelandair, the innovative airline and Iceland’s flag carrier, has chosen CabinVu from AD Aerospace, an AD Group company, to improve safety and security on board its B757 aircraft. CabinVu increases cockpit security by giving the pilots’ a clear view of any activity outside the cockpit door and in the adjacent galleys from their usual seated positions and therefore greatly improving their situational awareness.

“At Icelandair our first focus is on providing safe, reliable and convenient services and the addition of CabinVu makes our aircraft and therefore our customers safer ” said Jens Bjarnason VP Icelandair Technical Services. “We see AD Aerospace as the best choice as they, like us, focus on their customers needs.”

CabinVu, the popular choice for cockpit door surveillance, provides pilots with a forward looking, clear and unobstructed view of the area outside the cockpit door and in the adjacent galleys. A series of cameras are linked to either one or two monitors and associated controllers within easy reach of the pilots for ease and comfort of use.

With the view provided by the system the pilots can visually identify anyone requesting entry and take appropriate action, should an incident arise. This is in line with recommendations from ICAO Annex 6, EUROCAE ED-123 and provides compliance with EU-OPS 1.1255 Sub Part S, FAA 14 CFR 121.313(k) and 14 CFR 121.584 (a). CabinVu is also good for operators due to its low weight and simple installation.

“Icelandair is a very prestigious addition to the family of airlines across Europe and the World fitting AD Aerospace safety and security systems,” said Mike Horne, Managing Director, AD Aerospace Ltd. “We are very pleased to have won the business of such an exciting and dynamic airline.”

FlightVu equipment has been or is being installed on aircraft for Icelandair, Europe Airpost, Boeing, airBaltic, Autrian Airlines, GECAS, ILFC, Orient Thai, Comair, Hing Kong Express, bmi, British Airways, JetBlue, Thomsonfly, Air Asia, Corsair, easyjet, Hainan, Germania, TUIfly, Sama and Mytravel amongst others.

AD Aerospace Ltd. designs and manufactures aerospace video camera systems for commercial aerospace, including state-of-the-art video security and safety systems. AD Aerospace is the parent company of Innovative Sensor Developments (ISD), designer of video system for Rugged and Mobile Military Applications and both are part of the AD Group. The company has EASA approvals for Manufacturing and Maintenance, and is an approved supplier to the Boeing Company. AD Aerospace has facilities in Cheshire UK, Atlanta USA and Singapore.

For more information please visit www.ad-aero.com

About AD Group
AD Group with its headquarters in Warrington, England, was established in 1997, its primary objective being to create and bring to market leading edge CCTV solutions. The pioneering nature of the Group’s products, with the emphasis very much on R&D, has undoubtedly been a critical element in AD’s success to date.

The principal shareholder of AD is Mike Newton who founded UK CCTV giant Dedicated Micros in 1982 which ranks No1 globally for multi channel digital video recorders. In 2001 Dedicated Micros became an integral part of AD Group. Since that time all AD companies have been able to take advantage of a shared technology base, offering the potential for flexible CCTV solutions on the ground, in the air and on the move. Members of AD Group include: AD Aerospace, AD Aviation, AD Network Video, ChipWrights, Dennard, Dedicated Micros, D-Tec, ISD, RemGuard, TSS and TES.

More information on AD is available at www.ad-group.co.uk