Lufthansa Technik’s Two-In-One-Solution (TIOS) type approved for Boeing Business Jet 3 (737-900ER) aircraft on Inmarsat’s advanced high-speed Jet ConneX broadband network

EBACE, Geneva, Switzerland | May 23, 2017– Inmarsat (ISAT.L), the world’s leading provider of global mobile satellite communications, announced today that its next-generation Jet ConneX inflight wi-fi service is now available to a growing number of Boeing Business Jet customers worldwide using the advanced Lufthansa Technik Two-In-One Solution (TIOS) radome.

The TIOS radome, which connects to Jet ConneX using exclusive JetWave hardware produced by Inmarsat partner Honeywell, was recently type approved for Boeing Business Jet 3 (based on the Boeing 737-900ER aircraft). In addition, it has already been approved for Boeing Business Jets 1 and 2, which are based on Boeing’s 737-700 and 737-800 aircraft respectively.

TIOS has been specifically developed by Lufthansa Technik to accommodate two antennas in one radome, using an innovative space-saving tail-mounted assembly that reduces drag and noise. Operators also benefit from reduced installation and operational costs.

Kurt Weidemeyer, Inmarsat’s Vice President of Business and General Aviation, said: “Boeing VVIP and corporate customers are globe trotters that need a consistent, reliable and global high-speed Wi-Fi solution now. Lufthansa Technik’s TIOS installation is faster and customers are eligible for the same data plans as fuselage mounted antenna installations. It’s a win-win, allowing Inmarsat to offer our next-generation Jet ConneX service to an even wider market.”

Melbourne, FL | May 10, 2017– The nicemedia® premium content service launched by SD at MEBAA 2016 for aircraft equipped with nice®HD cabin systems is now available for all IFE/CMS platforms. Together with Lufthansa Technik, SD has expanded the types of jets which can benefit from the nicemedia SmartBox system, which delivers Hollywood blockbuster movies and contemporary TV shows to the cabin. SD will be booking appointments for onboard demos during EBACE 2017 at Booth S80.

The wide selection of movies and TV shows, available via the portable system, can be viewed on cabin monitors or can be streamed to personal electronic devices including iPhones, iPads, Android phones and tablets. Multiple devices and users are supported allowing passengers to watch different content on PEDs and cabin monitors at the same time. To maintain currency, automated monthly content updates can be downloaded to the SmartBox while on the ground, avoiding additional data usage onboard. Up to 450 movies and TV shows per year will be made available.

“Together with our partner Satcom Direct we are pleased to receive a lot of interest in our new nicemedia service from operators, OEMs, completion houses, and retrofit companies,” says Philip von Schroeter, Director of OEM Programs at Lufthansa Technik. “It seems the market is realizing the need for legal media content and we’re offering exactly what they need.”

“The demand for in-flight entertainment is rising as passengers increasingly expect a similar entertainment experience in the air, as on the ground. Our partnership with Lufthansa Technik allows us to provide great entertainment in a convenient format. The option to preload the data, carry on the box, and plug and play, is a real bonus for any operator or owner,” said Ken Bantoft, SD Chief Technology Officer.

Movies are guaranteed to be shown in English, German, Spanish and French across a variety of genres including action, adventure, comedy, family and science fiction. The content is DRM-secured and licensed, and includes new releases and high definition content.

“jetlite” founders help design lighting concept for new Lufthansa Airbus A350 // Startup makes use of Hamburg infrastructure with Airbus BizLab, cluster and ZAL
Hamburg, Germany | February 7, 2017– When Lufthansa’s new long-haul Airbus A350-900 enters service this coming Friday, passengers will experience a cabin lighting concept tailored to the human biorhythm for the first time. 24 different lighting scenarios on board ensure that passengers reach their destination well-rested and with less jetlag than is typical for a long-haul flight. Hamburg’s aviation industry played a substantial role in the development of this world-first innovation for long-haul flights. The scientific concept for the new lighting technique originates with the “jetlite” startup, anchored in the aviation cluster, and was brought to market-readiness assisted by the six-month Airbus BizLab accelerator program. With the successful market launch, the young company will leave the Airbus startup center in March, moving into offices in the ZAL Center of Applied Aeronautical Research.

“We are thrilled that our lighting concept is making a visible contribution to improving the atmosphere on long-haul flights. Credit for this achievement is also due to the very effective infrastructure in Hamburg. The targeted support in the Airbus BizLab and the efficient connections between the various players in the aviation cluster and in ZAL meant that we were able to benefit from a unique network from day one,” says Dr Achim Leder, CEO of “jetlite”.

“jetlite” came into being as a result of Leder’s doctoral thesis on improving physical wellbeing on-board an aircraft by means of the targeted use of light. Warm light at the beginning of a night flight makes a demonstrable contribution to comfort and relaxation. In 2016, “jetlite” was one of six startups chosen to move into the newly opened Airbus BizLab Hamburg. The six-month accelerator program, also offered by the Airbus Group in Toulouse and Bangalore, provides targeted support to external and internal projects, guiding them to market-readiness. At the same time, the young company has from the very beginning been active within the cluster, Hamburg Aviation. This platform for all of the location’s aviation industry players, substantially supported by the Department of Economic Affairs, Transport and Innovation, has won several international awards for its successful networking.

Hamburg is the world’s largest competence center for aircraft cabin technologies. In the long- haul Airbus A350 alone there are several cabin features originating in the metropolitan region, including the “jetlite” lighting technology, the overall cabin concept (Airbus), mountings produced with 3D printing technology (Laserzentrum Nord/SLM Solutions) and the design of the Lufthansa Premium Economy Class (müller/romca). The CFK Valley Network in Stade and Lufthansa Technik at Hamburg Airport mean that regional players also play a definitive role in the development and maintenance of the Airbus A350.

APEX/IFSA
The other day, we got a note from Robin Applebaum, APEX Marketing Communication Director we thought you might like to see: “I wanted to reach out to you today with some exciting news from the Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX) and the International Flight Service Association (IFSA). This morning, APEX and IFSA announced a more tightly aligned relationship to better serve the global airline industry. This step will help to further solidify APEX as the industry’s most influential member-based organization dedicated to elevating the entire passenger experience; and will help IFSA to grow globally as the pivotal airline association of the catering and in-flight services market. While both APEX and IFSA will remain fully independent, this alliance triggers additional collaboration in the planning of association co-locations and events, joint working groups, reciprocal guest board member attendance at board meetings, as well as now having a common Chief Executive Officer serving both associations.”

When we asked for more background info, she responded: “As I am sure you are aware, APEX and the International Flight Service Association (IFSA), have had a long established ‘sister-association relationship.’ Last week’s announcement only serves to further align the two groups. As part of this strategic relationship, APEX will be leveraging IFSA to represent the foundation of the association’s catering and services sector. “This will not only help the association to grow its footprint, but will also further solidify APEX as the industry’s most influential member-based organization dedicated to elevating the entire passenger experience. For IFSA, aligning with APEX will help them to expand its reach globally, build additional strategic partnerships with like-minded organizations, and establish itself as the industry’s global representative of the growing catering and in-flight/onboard hospitality market.”

“Additionally, the inclusion of more catering and service elements at APEX events will attract greater numbers of senior airline decision makers who oversee this sector as well as IFE by offering a greater diversification of products, services and information. As demonstrated at APEX EXPO in Singapore, this type of approach yields an increase in potential customers for event exhibitors and other vendor participants. Finally, it will help to better position APEX events against the backdrop of assertive for-profit show competition.”

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Gogo
“To celebrate the fleet-wide upgrade to their new JAL SKY NEXT product, the airline will start offering free Wi-Fi on all equipped domestic flights from February 1, 2017 till August 31st 2017. Connectivity is provided through Gogo using our satellite Internet technology. You’ll find the SKY NEXT product on select 777 -300, 777-200, 767-300 and 737-800 aircraft. JAL was our first international customer, and we’ve been honored to partner with them since 2014 on connectivity and entertainment for their domestic passengers.

This promotion from JAL is just one of the latest to offer Gogo products and services free to their passengers. Last year, we partnered with T-Mobile to provide free Wi-Fi to their subscribers, and most recently, Alaska Airlines rolled out their Free ChatTM product which lets passengers access popular chat apps like iMessage, Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp on their smartphone.

In addition to connectivity promotions, we also provide the technology allowing airlines to offer free wireless entertainment to their customers. The product, called Gogo Vision, streams movies and TV shows from our airborne server to most mobile devices, laptops and tablets. Movies and TV shows from Gogo Vision can now be found on more than 2800 aircaft on some the largest airlines in the world. Today, many of Gogo’s airline partners are offering all or some of the content free to passengers.”

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AirSatOne
Aviation Satcom provider, AirSatOne, announces lower rates for its SwiftBroadband connectivity. Taking care of customers is a top priority at AirSatOne and one reason why the company maintains a 99% customer retention rate. So when Inmarsat, the leader in global satellite communications, lowered its prices AirSatOne was quick to pass the savings on to its customers.

Customers using AirSatOne as their service provider have access to its custom global network for the same price as the generic network used by the competition. AirSatOne’s custom network includes worldwide teleports and IP PoP (Internet Point of Presence) with advanced network security and our globally deployed Flightstream SA which provides web filtering, compression, consumption tracking and firewall customized for mobile communications.

“We think this is an exciting time for the Satcom market. With more and more operators and executives finding it essential to conduct business and stay in sync with the home office while traveling, we hope reducing airtime charges will encourage more aircraft owners to invest in installing Satcom systems in their aircraft,” says Kremsreiter. Satcom systems work everywhere (except at the poles) so in addition to increasing productivity, Satcom hardware increases the aircraft’s value and worldwide marketability when it comes time to sell.

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SITA
Airlines and airports are investing in technologies to help predict and prepare for future events. This is according to The Future is Predictable, a report published today by air transport IT provider, SITA. It outlines how efforts are being made to tackle the estimated US$25 billion[1] cost of flight disruptions to the air transport industry by harnessing artificial intelligence, cognitive computing, predictive analytics and other progressive technical capabilities.

SITA’s analysis reveals that predictive tools using artificial intelligence and cognitive computing are likely to be adopted by half of airlines and airports over the coming five to 10 years. However, a few front runners are already trialing predictive modeling, machine learning, and data mining. These efforts are mainly focused on initiatives that will provide passengers with more relevant information about their journey to create more seamless and personal experiences.

During 2017, SITA Lab will be validating delay predictions with airlines and airports and expects to complete up to five trials with its industry partners. The next stage will be to incorporate its delay prediction algorithm and disruption warning feeds into SITA’s services to the air transport industry. In the report, leading airports and airlines share their experiences including Gatwick Airport where a seamless passenger experience from curb to gate is the goal. Here several different areas of airport activity are tracked to measure performance and move towards predicting it.

As artificial intelligence develops the importance of maintaining the human touch is not lost on the airlines and airports. Indeed, the combination of people and artificial intelligence is described as transforming the travel experience. The science of artificial intelligence is developing quickly and airlines and airports are turning to the academic community to help them with predictive tools to tackle disruptions. SITA’s report discusses research that is being carried out with scientists from Binghamton University, State University of New York; University of Nottingham as part the European Union-funded consortium PASSME; Carnegie Mellon University; Oxford University’s Data Science Laboratory in the Mathematical Institute and University College London School of Management.

The Future is Predictable combines SITA’s global industry experience and studies with commentary and case studies from airports and airlines that are investing in the latest research and technologies.

Check out the full press release here.
For further details download SITA’s full report – The Future is Predictable

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Phitek
New Zealand-based audio equipment and technology developer Phitek Systems has been sold to New York-listed Amphenol Corp, providing an exit for a number of domestic VC investors. Phitek’s previous backers include Direct Capital-managed TMT Ventures and Stephen Tindal’s K1W1 investment vehicle. TMT, which has been invested since 2005, has a direct 27 per cent and a 14 per cent holding shared with the New Zealand Venture Investment Fund. Meanwhile, K1W1 owns 39 per cent. Phitek designs and supplies aircraft in-flight entertainment interconnect products for the commercial aerospace industry. You can read more here.

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Lufthansa Technik
Luftahansa Technik has announced a two-in-one solution (TIOS) antenna radome for the Boeing 737-700 and -800. The antenna, installed on the vertical stabilizer to reduce drag and positively affect the aircraft’s center of gravity, will make it possible to install Ka-band antennas to provide high-speed internet, TV connections and a high-definition camera. The radome is up to 200 lb. (100 kg) lighter than the original and is FAA validated and has an EASA Supplemental Type Certification. You can find satellite communication options, products, services and companies in MRO Links, MRO-Network.com’s searchable directory.

TIOS – Two antennas under one radome – YouTube

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Notes

• Rich Salter told IFExpress: “Re: data transmission via light (LiFi), I just signed on to Moderate a session at AIX’ Passenger Experience Conference (PEC) on April 3 in Hamburg. It is the Tech Horizons session (last one of the day) in the Connected Journey track, and one of the presenters is Prof Harald Haas of Edinburgh who is founder of PureLiFi  – and he coined the term “LiFi” too.”
• Richie Sugimoto reports that Aircraft Cabin Systems has just received Certification of ISO9001 and AS9100 – Congratulations!

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More Stuff

• The death of IFE? The death of in-flight entertainment? American Airlines scraps screens and tells fliers to bring their own
• Cabin networks and Wi-Fi feature in Crystal Cabin Awards 2017
• Is this starting to smell funny? Delta Halts U.S. Flights as Another Computer Failure Strikes – Bloomberg

MEBA Dubai, UAE | December 6, 2016– Aircraft operators can now stream the latest movies and hit TV shows in-flight.

Today at MEBAA 2016 Satcom Direct announced that SD and Lufthansa Technik are partnering to provide business jet operators with a wide selection of movies and TV shows. Initially available on aircraft equipped with nice® HD cabin systems, nicemedia content is delivered via an easy-to-use portable memory device that connects directly to the CMS. No internet connection is required onboard to view the content, and new movies and shows will be added on a monthly basis. SD will be showcasing the content to delegates during the event on Booth 477.

By mid-2017, the system will be available for all IFE/CMS platforms via the nicemedia Smartbox, powered by SD. The system will enable passengers to view content via the cabin monitors or stream to personal electronic devices including iPhones, iPads, Android phones and tablets.

“Satcom Direct’s DNA is similar to ours,” says Philip von Schroeter, Director of OEM Programs at Lufthansa Technik. “Both companies established a strong reputation in the business jet market based on superior technology and customer focus. Together we will make licensed premium content accessible and affordable to a large customer base.”

“Partnering with Lufthansa Technik allows us to provide quality inflight entertainment to passengers through a convenient, plug-and-play system,” said Ken Bantoft, SD Chief Technology Officer. “With this solution, passengers can enjoy the latest blockbusters and hit TV series.”

Content is available in English, German, Spanish and French across a variety of genres including Action, Adventure, Comedy, Family and Science Fiction. The content is DRM-secured and licensed.

The nicemedia system includes 50 movies and 30 TV shows, and is updated monthly with brand new content.

• Partner network expands possibilities / New service for crew members

Raunheim, Germany | October 20, 2016– Lufthansa Systems today announced that at this year’s APEX in Singapore it will present innovations relating to its multi-award-winning BoardConnect and BoardConnect Portable inflight entertainment (IFE) solutions as well as an additional feature for its mCabin crew app.

“Our developments in the IFE field are currently being shaped largely by the trends toward digital transformation and commercialization,” said Norbert Müller, Senior Vice President BoardConnect at Lufthansa Systems. “Connectivity is becoming an increasingly important topic for airlines because passengers expect to be able to use the same online and streaming services on board as on the ground. Our BoardConnect platform is the ideal enabler for this. We have also expanded our partner network so that airlines can tailor their IFE offers perfectly to the needs of their respective target groups.”

Together with Inmarsat and Lufthansa Technik, Lufthansa Systems has established a long-term partnership to offer airlines a modern, multifunctional on-board IT platform with broadband access.

Thanks to the open software architecture of the BoardConnect platform, partner services in the areas of entertainment, infotainment and ancillary revenues can also be integrated easily. The diverse, high-quality offers benefit passengers as well as airlines, since integrated ads and services provided through subscriptions generate additional revenues. Together with its partners, Lufthansa Systems covers the entire travel chain, from researching a trip, to booking a flight, hotel and excursions, and finally following up after the journey.

Lufthansa Systems will use sample language versions for the Asian market, including Chinese, Japanese and Malaysian, to demonstrate the attractiveness of its BoardConnect platform for airlines worldwide. The services can also be easily adapted to other languages.

BoardConnect enables passengers to stream content to their own tablets or smartphones during a flight. In addition to the permanently installed “classic” version of BoardConnect, Lufthansa Systems offers a flexible BoardConnect Portable solution. Its advantage is that all of the technical components are combined in a single device which can be installed quickly and easily on any aircraft. BoardConnect Portable received the renowned Crystal Cabin Award in spring 2016.

Lufthansa Systems will also be presenting a new module for its mCabin crew app at APEX. mCabin/CityGuide is an exclusive guidebook platform for the crew with local information about all of an airline’s destinations. In addition to layover information such as contact details, the crew hotel and pick-up times, the app offers tips and tricks for excursions and restaurants. The tips are entered by the crew itself, which makes the app a highly personalized crew travel guide. Crew members can rate and comment on locations they have already visited, so these recommendations are continually updated and optimized. Crew management has an editing and administration tool at its disposal to check entries and update content as required.

Prior to departure and during the flight, the mCabin crew app provides the cabin team with all of the passenger service information they need, including a passenger manifest complete with information about the passengers’ seats, status, food preferences and special requirements. And to bring mobility to IFE, the BoardConnect crew front-end has been integrated into mCabin.

APEX will take place from October 24–27 at the Marina Bay Sands Convention Center in Singapore. Visit Lufthansa Systems at stand 1737.

• Green light from EASA: Supplemental Type Certificate issued

Frankfurt, Germany | June 27, 2016– In October of this year, the first Lufthansa short- and medium-haul aircraft will take off with broadband internet on board. Lufthansa’s entire A320 family fleet is expected to have the innovative technology installed by mid-2018. One key milestone has already been reached: Lufthansa Technik is the first MRO company in Europe to have received the Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) from EASA to install a Ka-band antenna on the A320 family, i.e. the A319, A320, and A321 models. The STC serves to verify that the modifications to the aircraft (hardware or software) conform to the design specifications stipulated by EASA. Said specifications ensure aircraft’s continued airworthiness.

The first aircraft was equipped with the technology in June. In the coming weeks, the onboard system will be tested for functionality and stability. Lufthansa passengers will likely be able to use the new internet service from October. Other airlines in the Lufthansa Group will follow at a later date.

The future service from Lufthansa and its technology partner Inmarsat is based on the latest broadband satellite technology (Ka-band) and offers seamless, reliable coverage on short- and medium-haul flights through Inmarsat’s Global Xpress network. Passengers will be able to access the internet using their own mobile devices via Wi-Fi. In addition to basic surfing and email, other more sophisticated applications will be possible, including video streaming. At a later date passengers will be able to use their cellphones for SMS and data transfer via their own mobile accounts.

With its many years of experience in the aircraft modification sector, Lufthansa Technik is responsible for installing all systems and components as well as for the works required to comply with aeronautical and statutory regulations. In Europe, this was the first successful installation involving the GX communications network and the Honeywell-designed Ka-band antenna. To install the system, electrical and structural modifications were required both inside and outside the aircraft cabin. All modifications were developed and approved by Lufthansa Technik’s licensed development unit. The installed components were integrated in the cabin infrastructure in such a way that they are virtually invisible for passengers and easy to operate by the cabin crew. The work can be completed in up to four days or during regular maintenance layovers.

Lufthansa Systems provides the required IT infrastructure onboard the aircraft. This includes network operations as well as the innovative FlyNet portal for passengers.

Lufthansa Systems and Lufthansa Technik have also established a long-term partnership with global satellite operator Inmarsat in order to offer a modern, multifunctional onboard IT platform with broadband internet access to the market. Both the Lufthansa Group as well as airlines around the world will benefit from this strong partnership through comprehensive services.

Lufthansa carried out the world’s first scheduled flight with broadband internet access on January 15, 2003. Despite its growing popularity among passengers, the technically reliable service had to be discontinued in 2006 because the Connexion by Boeing satellites ceased commercial operations. Since December 2010 Lufthansa has once again been the first airline to provide broadband internet access on intercontinental flights. Since June 2015 FlyNet has been available on all 107 long-haul aircraft in the Lufthansa fleet. Lufthansa operates the world’s largest internet-connected long-haul fleet.

Frankfurt, Germany | February 12, 2016– Lufthansa, Airbus and Pratt & Whitney holding a delivery ceremony in Hamburg – First scheduled A320neo flights with better fuel efficiency and more passenger comfort achieved through quieter engines – 40 years of partnership between Lufthansa and Airbus – Lufthansa Technik gains expertise in maintenance of the A320neo

Lufthansa, together with Airbus and the Pratt & Whitney engine manufacturer, celebrates the delivery of the world’s first Airbus A320neo. Carsten Spohr, Chairman of the Board and CEO of the Lufthansa Group, Airbus President and CEO Fabrice Brégier and the President of Pratt & Whitney Robert Leduc invited 700 guests and media representatives to the official delivery at Hamburg-Finkenwerder. Following the ceremonial handover, the first two new-type airplanes were presented to the public. The first A320neo, with the registration D-AINA, has already flown scheduled service since January. The second “neo” is expected to complement the Lufthansa Airbus fleet soon. The first experiences with the A320neo clearly show that the 15 percent lower fuel consumption mark has not only been achieved but even slightly exceeded. The significantly quieter engines also increase customer comfort on-board and provide relief to residents near airports by reducing noise emissions.

The development and introduction of the quietest and most fuel-efficient aircraft on short and medium distances is further evidence of the successful cooperation in the aviation industry at European level. “Europe has been a leader in this fascinating industry since the early days of aviation,” says Carsten Spohr. “Lufthansa and Airbus have developed a trusting and productive 40-year partnership. Together we have pushed ahead and brought to market many innovations and contributed to the success of the European aerospace industry. With new and efficient aircraft, such as the A320neo and the A350 XWB, we set new standards for our passengers, while reducing the impact on the environment and, not least of all, on the people living near airports.”

“On behalf of everyone at Airbus, I congratulate Lufthansa on being the A320neo launch customer. Together, we’re opening a new chapter in commercial aviation and I am confident that the A320neo will support Lufthansa objective to raise its environmental performance. The A320neo not only cuts emissions at every operational stage but also halves its noise footprint compared to previous generation aircraft,” said Fabrice Brégier, Airbus President and CEO.

“At Airbus we are have been proud to support Lufthansa’s growth over the past four decades with our partnership now spanning almost the entire Airbus family, from the A320 right up to the A380.”

“Pratt & Whitney is proud to build on its long and deep history with Lufthansa and Airbus by together marking a new era in commercial aviation with the delivery of the A320neo equipped with ultra-high bypass ratio Geared Turbofan engines,” Pratt & Whitney President Robert Leduc, said. “We applaud Lufthansa for being the first to enjoy the many benefits this aircraft and engine technology affords in terms of fuel efficiency and in reducing noise and emissions.”

This afternoon, the A320neo will take off from the Airbus facilities in Hamburg- Finkenwerder as a special flight with flight number LH9917 with guests and media representatives on board and fly with a short stop in Hamburg’s City Airport Fuhlsbüttel towards Frankfurt. The A320neo was fitted with a special logo. “First to fly A320neo – Less noise. Less fuel. Less CO2“ adorns the rear fuselage of the Lufthansa aircraft.
Another cause for celebration is the 40-year partnership between Lufthansa and Airbus. On 9 February 1976, Lufthansa received the first Airbus A300 at Hamburg-Finkenwerder. The airlines within the Lufthansa Group have ordered a total of 582 Airbus aircraft in the past 40 years. Lufthansa is the largest Airbus customer with currently 392 aircraft from the European manufacturer, including 284 aircraft from the A320 family and 14 A380.

The Lufthansa Group has ordered a total of 116 A320neos and A321neos, to be delivered in the next years. 60 aircraft will be delivered with the new PW1100G-JM engine from Pratt & Whitney. A special intermediary 3:1 gear conversion system ensures optimum speed of the 2.06 meter-cross-section fans and the turbine inside the engine. The new engines and improved aerodynamics allow a significant noise and emission reduction. With the new engine technology, the 85-decibel noise footprint of a new A320neo is only about half the size as a comparable aircraft of the existing fleet. In addition, the A320neo is at least 15 percent more fuel efficient than the previous A320 version. Calculated per-seat, this efficiency advantage increases to as much as around 20 percent, because the A320neo, through improved use of space in the cabin, allows more space in the business class compartment and two more rows with twelve additional seats on board.

Just in time for the adoption of the first A320neo, Lufthansa Technik is also ready for maintenance of the new airplane type and its systems. In the preparatory phase, Lufthansa Technik has laid out all technical, operational and personnel foundations for complete technical support of the A320neo. In the first step, employees at the Frankfurt mechanics hub were trained in Hamburg and Munich and equipped with the necessary resources. The training subsidiary of Lufthansa Technik has been certified by the Federal Aviation Authority. Currently, Lufthansa Technik has about one third of the world’s A320 fleet under exclusive component supply contracts.

NBAA, Las Vegas | November 16, 2015– Lufthansa Technik AG announces a High Definition (HD) video system upgrade for the Challenger 300* aircraft. The update is designed specifically to integrate with the current nice® system and existing Ethernet backbone. The HD upgrade requires limited wiring and hardware changes and provides support of the latest consumer interfaces and HD digital video streaming on the nice® network.

The enhanced HD package will increase the current video source selection from one standard definition DVD to three High Definition sources (Blu-ray, USB, and HDMI) with an Audio and Video on Demand (AVoD) fourth source coming free-of-charge in Q1 2016 (field loadable software will enable the AVoD function).

The upgrade is certified by a Bombardier Business Aircraft Service Bulletin and can be installed at any one of Bombardier’s wholly owned seven Service Centre facilities: Singapore, Amsterdam, Dallas, Fort Lauderdale, Hartford, Tucson and Wichita. To have the upgrade installed at one of Bombardier’s diamond-award winning facilities, contact a Bombardier Regional Manager from the Customer Service Centre network.

The update was designed for easy installation and minimal downtime. Wiring changes are kept to a minimum and consists of the addition of the HDMI, USB and Ethernet ports. All wiring is contained within the LH Wardrobe Closet and removal of the Wardrobe is not required to facilitate the installation.

Technical features of the Challenger 300* aircraft nice® HD upgrade includes:

-Two 20″ HD Smart Displays with internal decoding for noise-free high resolution picture;
-Media Center Unit includes Blu-ray Player and AVoD server hardware;
-USB media port for media playback on the forward and aft displays;
-HDMI interface for consumer device connection to the forward
display;
-Upgrade software compatible with industry standard audio and video formats (including, but not limited to, .mp4, .mov, .wmv);
-Software Update and advanced Color Graphical User Interface;
-AVoD server software (available Q1 2016) – allowing stored
content to be individually streamed and controlled on the network to the forward and aft displays.

• Innovative sensor technology allows for colors to be displayed in a consistently uniform manner for the first time ever

Hamburg, Germany | April 7, 2014– With their new lighting solution HelioJet SpectrumCC (Color Control), SCHOTT and Lufthansa Technik will be introducing an innovative cabin lighting solution that ensures that color is rendered in a stable manner and is known for its cost efficiency. This is made possible by innovative sensor technology that displays colors homogeneously. SCHOTT will be unveiling HelioJet SpectrumCC at the Aircraft Interiors Expo at Booth 6B57 in Hall B6.

Conventional LED systems are unable to render color in a consistently homogeneous manner because they contain a single chain of individual LEDs. Each individual diode in the LED chain ages at a different pace and colors are rendered differently depending on the color shade and the temperature of the LED. This ultimately results in inhomogeneous colors that cannot be controlled in a uniform manner to produce the desired colors even if a light management system is used due to the different LEDs.

With HelioJet SpectrumCC, on the other hand, SCHOTT and Lufthansa Technik have taken a more innovative approach. The new True Color Sensor ensures that each and every LED installed in the system renders colors in a perfectly balanced manner and emits precisely the right color shade. The sensor is about as sensitive as the human eye in order to be able to render the results as realistically as possible. The individual diodes are controlled by managing the light online and comparing it with a predefined target value. In fact, the colors emitted by the lighting solution can even be controlled using the cabin management system “nice” from Lufthansa Technik.

HelioJet SpectrumCC is based on an optical light converter at the ends of which four LEDs each emit red, blue, green, and white light. The HelioJet system consists of up to three subsections that are each illuminated by colored LEDs at the ends, in other words 6 LED clusters in total per product unit. The individual LEDs in RGBW emit points of light in the primary colors that are then mixed into even color shades inside the light converter. It is therefore now possible to produce any desired color shade and maintain it across all of the HelioJet SpectrumCC units at a consistently defined level for an extended period of time.

HelioJet consumes considerably less energy than conventional fluorescent tubes and lasts much longer. This also lowers the operating and maintenance costs. And compared with LED solutions, HelioJet beats out the competition in a competitive comparison of the costs thanks to its average lifespan of at least 50,000 hours of Mean Time Between Failure. Furthermore, maintenance and repair costs are lower because the LEDs can be replaced very easily and cost-effectively when they cease to function. With conventional LED systems, the entire lamps need to be replaced.

“We have received extremely positive feedback from potential customers. This confirms that we are on the right track. We expect the qualification phase for HelioJet SpectrumCC to be completed in the second half of 2014,” explains Dr. Armin Plichta, General Manager Transportation at SCHOTT Lighting and Imaging. SCHOTT and Lufthansa Technik cooperate in the area of cabin lighting concepts for commercial airlines, business jets, and VIP airplanes. The goal is to develop lighting solutions for the best possible mood lighting scenarios in airplanes.

A new dimension in cabin lighting: SCHOTT and Lufthansa Technik deliver homogeneous colors with HelioJet SpectrumCC.

HelioJet SpectrumCC is based on an optical light converter at the ends of which four LEDs each emit red, blue, green, and white light. It is thus now possible to produce any desired color shade and maintain it across all of the HelioJet SpectrumCC units at a consistently defined level for an extended period of time

Lake Forest, CA | November 12, 2013– Panasonic Avionics Corporation (Panasonic) and Lufthansa Technik have won the right to retro-fit all in-service A380s with Panasonic’s advanced Global Communications Services.

The joint agreement allows in-service A380s to be equipped and certified with Panasonic’s broadband connectivity and mobile phone services. It is the first time that Airbus has allowed this type of communications hardware to be retrofitted onto this unique airframe type.

With Panasonic’s Global Communications Services, passengers will be able to access the internet, log into their favorite social networks and watch live, global television content with Panasonic’s eXTV service, which includes BBC World News, BBC Arabic, CNBC, CNN International, NHK World, Euronews, and IMG Media’s Sport 24. They will also be able to use their mobile phones to send and receive phone calls or text messages and to use GPRS services.

The first customer will be Lufthansa, with the installation being undertaken by Lufthansa Technik.

David Bruner, Vice President for Global Communications Services at Panasonic Avionics, said: “With this agreement we have made great progress with Lufthansa Technik towards providing this very important service to our airline customers and their passengers. We can now provide our broadband services on every aircraft type, which has always been our goal.”

Bernd Freckmann, Vice President, Base Maintenance Services for Lufthansa Technik, said: “We are very pleased to partner with Panasonic Avionics as they have an established wide A380 Customer base of high-quality in-flight entertainment and communications services.”

With installations beginning in 2014, the developed platform complies with current manufacturer and industry standards allowing full commonality with a concurrent line fit installation.

Elmsford, NY | October 1, 2013– The first joint development of Lufthansa Technik and SCHOTT the LED cabin lighting solution HelioJet can now be experienced in normal airline operations; it has received a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) from the European aviation authority EASA for the A320 aircraft family and is currently used for continental flights in an Airbus A319.

HelioJet has received a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) from the European aviation authority EASA for the A320 aircraft family, and is currently used for continental flights in an Airbus A319.

HelioJet delivers white light for extremely homogeneous and pleasant cabin lighting in passenger aircraft. Another advantage of the system is a significant reduction in maintenance costs.

“We are delighted that HelioJet has already received an STC for the A320 and is being used on scheduled flights,” says Dr. Armin Plichta, General Manager of Transportation at SCHOTT Lighting and Imaging. “The solution’s expected operational life amounts to at least 50,000 hours. This represents an enormous gain in longevity over customary fluorescent lights, which only last around 1,000 hours.”

Andrew Muirhead, Director of Innovation at Lufthansa Technik AG, explains further: “Since Heliojet is a plug-and-play solution, a conversion from fluorescent lighting can be carried out in just two days which applies to aircraft from the Airbus A320 family and in the future as well to the Boeing 737.”

Light plays an important role in creating a pleasant atmosphere on board an aircraft. With HelioJet, the two companies have achieved their goal of creating an innovative lighting solution that durably offers passengers the comfort they desire. HelioJet requires only one-fifth as many light diodes as other LED lighting. This has a positive effect on reliability, maintenance and costs and makes the solution extremely attractive for any airline. LED lighting also boasts significantly better environmental compatibility than traditional fluorescent lighting with mercury vapors.

The solution’s color version HelioJetTCS (True Color Stabilization), with colored and white LEDs will be launched in 2014. A total of 16 million colors, color sequences and color scenarios ensure that any mood lighting that can be imagined can also be created.

SCHOTT (schott.com) is an international technology group with more than 125 years of experience in the areas of specialty glass and materials and advanced technologies. SCHOTT ranks number one in the world with many of its products. Its core markets are the household appliance, energy, pharmaceuticals, electronics, optics, transportation and architecture industries. The company is strongly committed to contributing to its customers’ success and making SCHOTT an important part of people’s lives with high-quality products and intelligent solutions. SCHOTT is committed to managing its business in a sustainable manner and supporting its employees, society and the environment. The SCHOTT Group maintains close proximity to its customers with manufacturing and sales operations in 35 countries. Its workforce of approximately 16,000 employees generated worldwide sales of $2.6 billion (approximately 2.0 billion euros) for the 2011/2012 fiscal year.

The Lufthansa Technik Group, with more than 30 subsidiaries and about 26,000 employees worldwide, is one of the leading manufacturer-independent providers of services for the aviation industry. Lufthansa Technik is licensed internationally as a repair, production and development enterprise. The Group’s portfolio encompasses the entire spectrum of services in the areas of maintenance, repair, overhaul, modification and conversion, engines and components.

HelioJet delivers white light for extremely homogeneous and pleasant cabin lighting in passenger aircraft.

• Franz Josef Kirschfink from Lufthansa Technik to take over as new “chief pilot” at the Aviation Cluster Hamburg Metropolitan Region from 1 January, 2014

Hamburg, Germany | September 24, 2013– The “Hamburg Aviation” cluster is bringing Franz Josef Kirschfink (58) from Lufthansa Technik on board as new Managing Director. The new Managing Director, with a doctorate in physics, will lead the association’s office from next year, taking over the controls from Walter Birkhan, who is leaving to retire. Franz Josef Kirschfink has held various leadership positions with Lufthansa Technik AG, where he is currently Director of Technology Projects.

“Franz Josef Kirschfink is a proven aviation expert with a profound understanding of the aviation industry and aviation research. This makes him the ideal person to manage Hamburg Aviation, an organisation that was honoured as a Leading-Edge Cluster by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research in 2008,” says Bernhard Conrad, President of Hamburg Aviation. Kirschfink is also already very involved with the network, serving for example as a member of the Management Board.

Hamburg Aviation is an agile industry network, a public-private partnership with more than 90 members from the aviation industry, research, academic teaching and training institutions, and representatives of the government of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg. Together, the partners want to bring more innovations to fruition, secure wide-ranging education and training for the next generation of specialists, and promote the attractiveness of the world’s third-largest civil aviation location. This will secure the competitiveness – and therefore the future viability – of this industry in the metropolitan region.

“I can see a great deal of potential that can still be exploited,” says Franz Josef Kirschfink with conviction. The 58-year-old Doctor of Science, a Belgian citizen, is married and the father of two grown children. Kirschfink studied physics at the RWTH University in Aachen during the 1970s, completed his doctorate in the field of particle physics, and then in 1989 began his career at Lufthansa. He held a range of positions in the field of materials management and logistics at Lufthansa until 1995, when he took on the reorganisation of Lufthansa Technik’s engine overhaul services and led the Service Center, after which he spent three years in Rome as Chief Operating Officer at the Lufthansa Technik subsidiary, Alitalia Maintenance Systems. Since 2009, he has been Director of Technology Projects at Lufthansa Technik in Hamburg.

Melbourne, FL | November 1, 2012– AuthenTec, a leading provider of mobile and network security, announced today it has teamed with Lufthansa Technik to ensure secure delivery and distribution of premium high definition (HD) content via Lufthansa Technik’s In-flight Entertainment and Cabin Management System nice® HD for Business and VIP Jets. AuthenTec’s DRM Fusion solution enhances security of Lufthansa Technik’s in-flight system by protecting HD content from the point of origin to the point of playback.

AuthenTec DRM ensures the secure upload of content licenses to aircrafts as they are being serviced on the ground, and is used to securely deliver licenses to traveling passengers for viewing HD content on passenger screens once the plane is airborne.

“The DRM protection that AuthenTec adds to our nice HD In-flight Entertainment and Cabin Management System, allows us to offer passengers premium, high-definition entertainment with robust security that’s approved and endorsed by the leading content owners,” said Andrew Muirhead, Director BU Innovation of Lufthansa Technik. ”AuthenTec was able to quickly adapt their proven DRM solution to the unique requirements of our system, allowing us to meet our ambitious delivery schedule and service launch.”

“Our collaboration with Lufthansa Technik on In-flight Entertainment and Cabin Management results in a unique implementation of our proven DRM that we believe will be very useful for a growing number of customers,” said Dr. Simon Blake-Wilson, Vice President of AuthenTec Embedded Security Solutions.

nice HD® is a modular and highly flexible Ethernet (IP) based Cabin Management and In-flight Entertainment System that offers Passengers an easy and simple way to control cabin functions such as lighting, entertain themselves with audio and/or video, and remain productive with internet connectivity. Flying on over 200 aircraft today, the nice system has been judged by many aircraft owners as the best cabin management, communication and entertainment systems on the market today.

AuthenTec offers DRM content protection as an embedded or downloadable solution, and is becoming the DRM security of choice among the world’s leading service providers and content owners. AuthenTec’s DRM Fusion offering combines standards compatibility with ease of deployment, allowing customers to quickly and cost-effectively bring new content services online. DRM Fusion enables secure content distribution via a wide range of services and devices including smartphones, tablets, PCs, TVs, set-top boxes, and now in-flight entertainment systems.

– The product is being developed for the VIP and business jet aviation markets – under the brand name ECLIPSAIR.

May 14, 2012– IDAIR, the joint venture between Lufthansa Technik AG and Panasonic Avionics Corporation, announces its wireless infotainment system ECLIPSAIR at EBACE 2012, which provides passenger information and entertainment in the form of news, video, audio data and flight information.

The product is being developed for the VIP and business jet aviation markets – under the brand name ECLIPSAIR. The technology will be made available to the VIP market segment directly by IDAIR and will in addition be offered to the business jet market as an integrated part of Lufthansa Technik’s nice® HD system.

ECLIPSAIR will be offered as a standalone system or integrated with IDAIR’s global communication solution and in-flight entertainment and cabin management system. This single-box solution combines an IEEE 802.11n Wireless Access Point (WLAN) and a web-based media server providing wireless distribution of streaming media to a variety of mobile passenger devices.

The aircraft installation requires only this one LRU, which provides multiple individual media streams compatible with Android™, Apple® iOS, Windows® and other popular WLAN enabled portable devices with web-browser capabilities. The system supports various content protection and Digital Rights Management (DRM) frameworks established in the consumer market and will be offered with a studio approved content service.

The product availability is foreseen for customer installations in the second quarter of 2013.

ECLIPSAIR is a good example of innovative design for the air, created using the expertise that IDAIR brings to the market together with its parent company relationships.

Andrew Muirhead, Chief Executive Officer of IDAIR said, “ECLIPSAIR represents a wireless solution, which has been designed not only with the consumer device user in mind, but also with the requirements of the equipment installer and operator at the forefront. Through our one-box solution, we are offering a unique package both easy to use and simple to install.”

Craig Depner, President and Chief Technical Officer of IDAIR said, “ECLIPSAIR represents a further evolution in in-flight entertainment, providing our customers with additional infotainment options on top of the existing in-seat and in-cabin solutions we provide to the market today. It contributes towards our strategy of augmenting traditional in-flight entertainment with consumer devices to provide the optimal on-board experience.”

Established in April 2011, IDAIR is a joint venture between Lufthansa Technik AG and Panasonic Avionics Corporation, headquartered in Hamburg, Germany. IDAIR develops, manufactures and supplies In-Flight Entertainment, Communications and Cabin Management Systems for VIP aircraft as well as custom products for commercial airlines.

nice® is a trademark of Lufthansa Technik AG, registered in Germany and other countries.

Android™ is a trademark of Google Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.

Apple® iOS is a trademark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.

Windows® is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation, registered in the U.S. and other countries.