One of the new products you will see at APEX is a new, seat integrated solution from Lufthansa Systems. So we contacted LHS in order to provide our readers with a glimpse of it prior to APEX and we asked them the following series of questions:

Q: Firstly, what is it called?
LHS: It’s called the “Seat Integrated Tablet Solution”. It’s another feature for its integrated wireless BoardConnect platform.
Q: Are we correct in understanding that the system described in the release will be basically a wireless IFE solution with a tablet replacing the existing IFE seatback unit?
LHS: Yes, high-resolution audio and video content can now be streamed over WiFi not only to passenger devices but also to tablets integrated in the seat. The in-seat tablet solution integrates commercial of the shelf (COTS) hardware into the seat. Therefore, a seat needs to be modified to accommodate a common tablet.  A seat structure is added to firmly mount the tablet onto the seat frame. In addition a tablet frame/case surrounding the tablet itself holds it in place. The tablet frame adapts to the dimension of the tablets which will be adjusted in case of replacement. This “adaptive frame” is mounted to the seat structure and can easily snapped in or off.
Q: What about head-strike and about certifying the tablet to DO-160?
LHS: It is mandatory for every seat to pass HIC. The same requirement applicable to legacy in-seat IFE systems applies to a seat integrated tablet solution too. To avoid additional HIC tests when updating to the next tablet generation we add a transparent polycarbonate cover (or similar materials) that need to be closed for the critical flight phases Taxi, Take-off and Landing (TTL.) The cover closes like a shade that is pulled up by the passenger. An appropriate announcement could be made as part of the cabin ready check (seat in an upright position and stow the tray table.)
Q: We assume a personal tablet works with the system? Android, iOS Windows… is there an app in use here… what OS?
LHS: Yes and no, personal tablets can be used, just like in any other BoardConnect installation, however they are not to be mounted into the seat integrated tablet frame.
The tablets inside the frame are airline supplied devices, enabling the airline to feature safety videos as well as early window content. The key differentiator to classical in-seat screens is the possibility of a cost efficient technology refresh in case newer tablets become available.
Q: We hear that you folks are working with an Airframmer and possibly a seat manufacturer for the product — any truth to that?
LHS: The prototype on display in Anaheim was developed with partners, however at current we are not in a position to reveal their names.
Q: Are you working with a connectivity service provider who will deliver the speedy Internet?
LHS: BoardConnect was and remains to be as a very capable and robust, wireless on-board platform coming along with a cutting edge wireless IFE offering. In respect to connectivity BoardConnect remains provider agnostic. We can attach both satellite and Air-to-Ground solution to our platform.
Q: Could your “new” system be considered an embedded wireless IFE solution?
LHS: In fact it is a more than this since it allows any form of hybrid solutions containing Personal Electronics Devices (PEDs), Airline Owned Devices (AODs) and Seat Integrate Tablets (SIT) all served by a single server and a high performance wireless network.
Q: If what we think is true, LHS has a real technical achievement, especially with using only wireless to each seat as there are many roadblocks like interference to keep the system from working, would anyone from LHS wish to comment?
LHS: Norbert Müller, Senior Vice President BoardConnect at Lufthansa Systems:
“Nowadays, it becomes more and more apparent that legacy IFE systems can’t keep up to speed with the developments in the consumer electronics sphere. To overcome this gap between customer expectations driven by consumer electronics and the current reality within an aircraft cabin we specifically designed the seat integrated tablet solution. This will allow our customers to integrate state of the art, affordable, commercial off the shelf devices into the seatback leading to an improved customer experience.”

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Next, IFExpress got a sneak peek the the latest technology from VT Miltope, (via their new nMAP2 technology) and when you visit their booth at APEX, write this down – APEX Booth 1641 – you will be amazed! Why? Because for almost 6 months now, we have been told we can’t report on “Cognitive HotSpot Technology” but Stay Tuned. Take our word for it, this is a first in smart aircraft routers considering today’s access points can use only approximately 10% of their network capacity because of antenna technology, internal software analysis capability, and aircraft physical configuration … you will be amazed because now, routers from VT Miltope can collaborate!

Late Breaking Inside Info: Here is what we do know about nMAP2 – VT Miltope has added an IEEE 802.11ac Multifunction Access Point (nMAP2) as its latest wireless product. nMAP2 builds upon the success of VT Miltope’s wireless access point products and nMAP2 features Cognitive Hotspot Technology, an integrated MIMO antenna assembly and has a second radio to support legacy 802.11n client devices. Cognitive Hotspot Technology (CHT), available exclusively with nMAP2, is state-of-the-art wireless control technology tailored specifically to improve wireless performance in congested aircraft cabins. With CHT, nMAP2’s provide intelligent roaming, auto wireless power control, auto channel assignment, load balancing, interference mitigation, and failure recovery.

You probably know that as s a pioneer in introducing wireless access point technology to the aviation industry and VT Miltope has a proven history of delivering highly reliable access point products. Importantly, nMAP2 weighs less, is more compact, and improves reliability as far as we can tell. We do know that it is standards compliant, designed to ARINC 628a Part 1 and ARINC 836. Up to 64 VLANs (IEEE 802.1q) are available to support separate user networks.  Customized network and user group profiles are possible using 16 concurrent VSC’s (Virtual Service Community), each having configurable SSIDs, QoS, security, and filtering.

As an access point, clients connect to aircraft LAN via intelligent bridging that restricts client traffic to only flow to-and-from the access controller. In the absence of a router, nMAP2, we understand may also be configured as an access controller to provide router functionality with robust firewall. Incredible stuff, don’t miss it!

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IFExpress got a call from a company seeking to acquire or invest in companies serving the inflight entertainment industry and rather than spin their message, here it is, and please contact them directly if you are interested. “Our Company is developing a unique IFE system offering including; passenger entertainment, e-commerce and other unique passenger and airline benefits. Additionally, the Company has very significant backing that will allow for the “roll up” acquisition(s) and/or investment(s) in related companies offering synergies within the IFE industry. These synergies might include; existing airline distribution, existing airline accounts, existing or near term revenues and profits, unique software and/or hardware technology, unique passenger or airline services, and services that can generate passenger and airline revenues either in flight or on the ground. All inquiries will be responded to and should contain a brief description of the opportunity, which can be followed up with a Non Disclosure Agreement where necessary. Please address all inquiries to MJEL@mjel.com.”

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And lastly, do you want a great info-graphic on passenger Wi-Fi demand?

Editor’s Note: We usually put these notices at the end of our Hot Topic but this week we wanted to let our readers know that while our “Readers Predictions” are in the forefront we have a really interesting paper from Dr. Junkang Ma of CETCA fame. Dr. Ma put together an interesting piece on the inflight connectivity market in China… with an even more interesting solution to the problem of airline-ground interoperability  – think SIP! Be sure to check it out.

The IFExpress team usually solicits yearly IFE predictions from our readership for our first issues and 2014 is no different. As you can imagine, they vary from the sublime to the incredibly interesting. You be the judge. Lets look at what some of our advertisers said first:

• The FAA’s and the EASA’s decision on gate to gate operation of PEDs in flight mode will further accelerate the trend towards wireless inflight entertainment. More than 50% of all European legacy airlines will adopt the new guidance in 2014.  Norbert Muller, LHSystems
• “There will be a big shift away from brand name portables to portables specifically designed for inflight use.” Attribute prediction to Josh Rasmussen, digEcor.
• “Airlines across the world will continue to increase the provision of both Wi-Fi and cell phone connectivity: the technology is reliable, affordable and very easy to install and operate. The US will remain the exception, until the debate about voice services is resolved.” Axel Jahn, TriaGnoSys

Readers also sent in their predictions and we really like the following:

• “With increased gate-to-gate PED use, the demand for seat power will increase tremendously on regional aircraft.” – Mr. Mark Milauskas, Armstrong Aerospace Inc.
• “The inflight use of cell phones in US won’t cause any more problems than it has in the rest of the world. And there have been no problems in six years, over five continents”, Ian Dawkins, OnAir
• “ The demand for streaming IFE over Wi-Fi will see the highest increase in customer demand and force the movie studios to implement an encryption process to allow for early window viewing.” – Mr. Todd Hamblin, Global Aerospace Design Corp.
• “By the end of 2014, a bird strike compliance path will be forged and system providers will begin installing IFE satellite antennas again.” – Mr. Mark Milauskas, Armstrong Aerospace Inc.
• “US airlines will not allow inflight mobile calling because of the feedback from their frequent fliers and flight attendant unions.” – Mr. Todd Hamblin, Global Aerospace Design Corp.
• “4k Ultra High Definition (4k UHD) Networked monitors designed specifically for Business and Commercial aircraft use will be in service by midyear 2014.” Bill Baltra, Retired
• “By the end of 2014, the US government (FCC) will lift the ban on the use of cellular technology while in-flight.” –Joe Kupfer, Armstrong Aerospace

Lastly, as can be seen from the above, inflight cell phone connectivity has a lot of interest, and a lot of different opinions so we asked John Courtright to opine on the subject and he sent us the following:

Here is my prediction and a follow up clarification to the question,

• In the US, at least one airline will “test” the applicability of inflight cellphone calling.

Prediction:  Yes, I expect a small number of U.S. airlines to permit inflight cell phone calling.  Furthermore, I expect the first airlines to allow inflight cell phone calls on short-haul flight, flights of two hours or less.  The first to test the cell usage issue will either be a.) an independent Regional Operators, such as Mesa, Republic, and Nantucket, or b.) Regionals affiliated with a Major Carrier, such as American Eagle or Jet Blue.

The first set of carriers found in a.) above will figure that their flight operations are short haul and the “obnoxious factor” is mitigated by the short duration of the flights as well as being affected by the higher ambient noise on RJs.  The second set of carriers, those associated with a Major Airline( (b.) above), will see a competitive advantage in and out of the Major’s hubs as well as being a guinea pig for the major carrier to assess passenger acceptance.

Longer range prediction:  Carriers will NOT create a cell-phone usage section, like the old smoking section.  Too much policing by the flight attendants.  Carriers will initially allow cell phone usage on short-haul, high density routes.  Think SFO-LAX or LGA – DCA where the clientele is largely business based.  I see cell phone usage to expand to a flight duration-based judgment and  to have a cut-off point at two hours.

The above predictions, of course, are moot if the DeFazio Amendment is extended and thus inflight cell phone calls are prohibited by statute.  But absent a specific law, I see the usage to be flight time based. (Editor’s Note: We called Senator DeFazio’s office and he has yet to get back to us on the status of his Bill.)

While predictions seem to have taken center stage in this IFExpress, we have been working with Dr. Junkang Ma, a brilliant Program Manager at the Chinese avionics manufacturer CETCA, and he has put together a very good vision of the developing Chinese inflight connectivity market for us. Here is a bit of the story: “In December 2013, the MIIT of China (Ministry of Industry and Information Technology) released the 4G frequency license to the three government-owned telecom operators (China Mobile, China Unicom, and China Telecom), establishing that the Telecom industry of China has officially entered into the 4G generation, beginning from TD-LTE, although 3G has only been used for around 4 years in China. While the ground-based Telecom industry is rapidly developing, one large area in China appears to be forgotten – the area in the air. The cabin of the civil aircraft has become the last “isolated island” of the information age, which makes the passengers on board feel like being back in the early years of the 20th century. The Chinese civil aviation market is experiencing accelerated growth and as more travelers are flying, passengers require a similar communication experience like they enjoy on the ground, which will result in an accelerated and diversified growth phase for China’s connectivity market…” You can read the whole story here .

And lastly, A large French IFEC company is looking for engineers in the Irvine area we have heard and if you are so inclined you might send your resume to them! Systems, Software, Platform, Project, Logistics, Field Service Engineers and even Financial Analysts… so we understand. Good Luck!