• Imagik and Thompson Aerospace announce joint venture launch of Allure Inflight Entertainment System with industry leading technology for Passenger Interactive Experience and lowest cost content management.

Irvine, CA | March 31, 2015– Today, Imagik of Miami, Fla and Thompson Aerospace of Irvine, CA announced the joint venture and launch of the Allure Inflight Infotainment System, with 1NET Private Cloud Technology. The Allure is the lightest weight and lowest cost complete Inflight System offering the full complex for entertainment and infotainment.

On April 14-16, Imagik will be unveiling the new Allure In-Seat line as well as a USB charging system at the Hamburg Interior Show. The Allure features a 10.1 inch HD touch screen,row-centric architecture, together with the lightest weight and lowest cost for a full complex for flight entertainment. The QUATRO in seat USB outlets support personal device charging, and can be installed with the IFE system or as an independent charging system, providing airlines with the unique capability to enhance the passenger experience.

With almost 20 years of experience in the airline In Flight Entertainment business, Imagik is one of the world’s leading suppliers of flat panel In-flight entertainment monitors, with products flying on many of the world’s most prestigious airlines.

As the leading company in commercial aircraft IT security and data management solutions, Thompson Aerospace has developed a unique method of content management providing airlines the ability to update content from the cloud anytime the aircraft is connected to GSM/LTE. This allows for providing passengers up-to-date and relevant information on their destination or world events. In a similar environment as browsing, the web passengers will be able to click on different features such as the points of interest on the 3D map, gaining a more in-depth view of available attractions or local information.

Mark Thompson stated, “Entertainment solutions are big data solutions and with our partnership with Imagik allows us to focus on the data to provide the best value to airline customers. Our innovative 1Net Private Cloud technology enables the airline to tailor content solutions and enrich the infotainment experience similar to personal devices”.

Imagik and Thompson Aerospace have reached an agreement to combine and market their unique capabilities and offer a one of a kind system that is within reach to all commercial airlines.

Pablo Vadillo of Imagik stated: “With this agreement we can offer our customers almost every option they can look for in an IFE system, from movies, to e-commerce to global tracking.

Thompson Aerospace will focus on security, data management and connectivity with their new CSUv2 server that is the core of the 1NETv2 Airborne Local Area Network. The “Always Connected” secure data solution is an ecosystem for managing all aircraft data including position tracking1, performance, ACMS, FOQA and other required data while simultaneously maintaining the capacity for streaming passenger content.

++1 Thompson Aerospace provides secure IT management solutions with service level agreements allow airlines to pay for the service not the equipment. These services include 15 minute aircraft tracking, virtual flight data recorder, ACMS, FOQA, real time credit card processing and passenger data solutions.

Thompson Aerospace’s joint venture with Imagik is another agreement to allow airlines access to secure IT networks. Thompson Aerospace is partnered with BE Aerospace for the manufacturing of their 1Net server product line.
Thompson Aerospace and Imagik will be showing the new systems at the Interiors Conference in Hamburg Germany on April 14-16 Booth Number 4B40.

Editor’s Note: This Hot Topic is a head swimmer and we really recommend downloading the mentioned links in the article and studying them while reading.

If the concept of the Internet and aviation makes you nervous, you aren’t alone. More specifically, connectivity of any kind and airplanes are an issue that will keep tongues wagging for some time to come. While we must admit, aviation data communication and hacking are not our strong suit; we are none-the-less concerned and have been trying to keep up with the rapidly changing connectivity landscape. Further, if you are up on terms like “Lizard Squad”, “Syrian Electronic Army”, or exploited vulnerabilities like “MS 15-011” or “CVE-2015-0235 (Ghost)” then you are probably ahead of us in the future shock workings of electronic hacking. Make no mistake, if “Malaysian Airline System” and “A380” appear in Recorded Future/Cyber Daily listing of cyber attacks… you will be involved! And if you want to know more, SITA has been on the forefront of this technology and might be a good place to start. In the past, we have referenced the Recorded Future folks’ efforts in this arena – Check out the webinar. In the aforementioned webinar, Dave Ockwell-Jenner of SITA points out some hacks like “ADS-B Hack” and “Operation Cleaver” that are just the beginning of the nightmare that will grow with time.

But, this Hot Topic is more about the airplane security side of aviation data communication. To that end, we have been working with one of our industry’s experts in data security, Mark Thompson (Thompson Aerospace). We suspect that his interest began in IFE but has now morphed to include secure connectivity. We asked Mark to chime in on the subject and he quickly sent us a presentation that his team presented at an ARINC 848 meeting.

You might also remember a Hot Topic we discussed with Mark (October 2014) when he noted, “The biggest problem in this business has always been managing the data.” To that end, Thompson has employed some very clever solutions and the key to their data management schemes is to maintain a secure connection between the aircraft and the ground and provide a scheme for validation between the airborne unit and the cloud. With the advent of a lot of credit cards sales, both onboard and off board the aircraft, Thompson designed their server with FIPS 140-2 Level 3 security… ”Equal to that used by the US Federal Reserve,” he noted. Thompson has had this gateway in development for the past 3 years and the company told IFExpress that in 2020 the US government is requiring asymmetric keys security from airborne satellite communications… and Thompson Aerospace can provide it now.

One point that seems to be at issue is: data communication is not necessarily best sent point-to-point, especially if there is a lot of it. Rather, storage is best, either on the plane, but eminently more useful, if stored in the Cloud. While safer stored on a plane, it is usually not available till the plane has landed. Not only is localized permanent storage of gigabytes of data challenging, access and usage may be needed worldwide and thus very secure, Internet storage is chosen as more favorable for Big Data. And, we have not even mentioned passenger data, but the Thompson solution includes that too. While we have not addressed the subject of costs, transmission and storage have their costs but the utility of data may just be worth it – think MH 370.

The real reason we chose to talk to Mark is because airlines, aviation communication specialists, and airframe manufactures are talking to Thompson Aerospace about his solution to one big problem – secure data communication in the air. His recent communication system developments triggered our interest so we caught up with him and he told IFExpress: “Here is a simple presentation on our system. We really just make the aircraft a node on the Internet, to achieve this requires an approved means of security. Our system provides the same level of security used by DoD ‘secret’ communications, FIPS 140-2. Hence, we can pass any data over any type link and make sure it is not modified or hacked.” To backtrack a bit, we understand that Thompson Aerospace has been in the data business for some time now and Mark impressed that fact on IFExpress at the last APEX Conference in Anaheim, CA. At the time he told us that his aircraft data solution used 2 encryption keys, one public and one private – that means his security levels are government levels and the same as DoD levels.

We naturally asked Mr. Thompson for a rundown on his security solution so please refer to the title chart above and the Press Release on Real -Time Flight Tracking and Performance Solution product.

Q. The green units on our cover chart are connected how? One box, 2 boxes, 3 boxes (cards)?
Mark: The green units show the logic, we have one CSU per aircraft, it has 3 processors, hence, can do 400 Mb/s in streaming video on demand using only 20 percent of a single processor, we recommend (2) WAPS but each WAP is an 802.11n, hence a single WAP could do a 200 seats. The antenna is to show the connectivity solutions, we have two small antennae.

Q. The Connectivity Server Unit does what, to what, how?
Mark: The CSU does it all, all the aircraft interface, the Iridium, 3 processors, 2,000 Gigabytes of user stowage (2) cell phones, plus a Quad channel GPS, and accelerometer, and some other interfaces, it is a system in a box. One of these units used as an IFE server could do 400 seats of Video on Demand and stow over 2000 hours of content.

Q. Maintenance access is oft times cell, and I guess now Wi-Fi… through what?
Mark: We use the Wi-Fi for maintenance access and have an additional Bluetooth channel for added functions.

Q. Does all the Aircraft Data go thru Iridium?
Mark: Only high value data as this is an expensive link.

Q. What data goes where and how and through what? Crew, aircraft, main, pax, cabin?
Mark: All the data on the aircraft goes to the CSUthe CSU talks to the Cloud, and the Cloud can send any data securely to anybody in the world that has an Internet connection

Q: How many boxes and how many cards are involved?
Mark: 1 CSU, 2 WAPs and a 10.1-inch control panel is recommended.

Q: The cost?
Mark: We are offering a one time set up charge of $10K, plus a month fee based on what services they want. It is a service level agreement, so customers only pay for what they use, we provide all the hardware, and they never have to buy an LRU again. If they agree to share revenue from the passengers with our approved third parties we will write them a check each month.

See you at Aircraft Interiors America in Seattle? Today, the The Seating & IFE Integration Symposium begins at the Washington State Convention Center and the event and is a one day feature wherein industry experts lead presentations and debates on the evolving relationship between the seat and inflight entertainment & connectivity systems. The floor opens Tuesday night with a preview and for two days following will accommodate visitors. By the way, there is a new AIX App.

Before we get into the ‘meat’ of this IFExpress, we wanted to give some mention to Mark Thompson, (CEO, Thompson Aerospace) and his team at APEX for their clever promotions, and while this is not the medium to cover promotions, Thompson Aerospace concocted an easy way for attendees to build their own advertising banner for his IFE system, built on the spot by the attendee (get the message?),  and offered an Internet tablet to the advert that got the most ‘hits’ at the show on their system. Not to be outdone by his tablet deal was the ‘Free Money’ campaign (Our words not his) that rewarded everyone that heard his spiel with a gold $1 coin. He was telling airlines that advertising and promotion on his IFE was like free money. You bet he had our attention… free money, we liked it!

At APEX, Lufthansa Systems had their official press briefing on the sale announcement of their BoardConnect IFE system to parent company airline, Lufthansa. The deal covers some 20 Lufthansa A321 aircraft and will begin in the summer of 2014 and Lufthansa Technik will carry out installation. To date, the company noted that there are some 30 active BoardConnect aircraft flying. Presently, the BoardConnect shop is up and running and the BoardConnect folks are looking into progressive developments like NFC and content upgrades such as games and onboard advertising. BoardConnect is focusing on single aisle installations in a retrofit application while they, no doubt, will also work on twin aisle solutions. “Line-fit is our eventual goal,” according to Dr. Jorg Waber, Corporate Communications. We note that the Lufthansa Systems solution uses an app-based approach to content delivery (User download on board or on-ground) and thus DRM requirements are met for Early-Window content. Further, their moving map solution is imbedded in the app and does not rely on browser-based workings inside passenger PED’s. We will have more on Lufthansa Systems developing IFE solutions in the future. Stay Tuned.

No IFE exposition would be complete without the creative new product concepts from Geoff (and Claire) Underwood of IFPL. The crew was in true form at APEX this year and two new product concepts stood out – their Contactless Retail System (CRS) and their answer to a magnetic breakaway earphone jack. The Contactless Retail solution is ingenious, as it does not require seat power to read credit cards (NFC) or communicate with the head-end for information storage and credit card charge updates. It does so through a battery that only requires changing every 5 years (guaranteed). The seatback device (about the size of an iPod) uses E Ink (electrophoretic) display technology for a readable and low power screen. Need to charge for seat power, drinks, food… here is your answer. Unused, the display goes to sleep but awake, it ‘talks’ via a low power wireless connection to the front-end cabin crew terminal. The unit only powers up when activated by a user at the seat. This product ought to get some award at a future show as it breaks a lot of barriers for display technology, power, and communication technology. We also note that their breakaway headset jack has a new magnetic solution… it uses only one magnet and gives virtually 180 degrees of breaking direction. This is a great product and it simplifies the issues surrounding magnets and positioning them on the jack and plug… not to mention weight and price.

Quite by accident, the IFExpress team ran into Todd Hamblin (VP Business Development) at APEX and he gave us a pretty convincing reason as to why we should run a story on his company, Global Aerospace Design Corp. After a little research we thought it a good idea as well. Firstly and right up front, we don’t do many stories about after sale, new cabin reconfiguration projects (like IFE and connectivity), but these folks have been doing this kind of work for years now and our readers might need some help from them. With partners like Zodiac, Astronics, Thales, Avio and others, we thought we had better listen to their story.

From a description point of view, Global Aerospace is an engineering services organization that provides aircraft integration and certification services to airlines, maintenance repair organizations, and aviation equipment manufacturers. A complete list of services relating to certification and installation are as follows:  Consulting, Program Management, Purchasing, Installation Design, Certification Support, On-Site Installation Support, Product Support and Business Development. Further Global provides its customers the ability to install new systems into existing aircraft and return the aircraft to revenue service in the most efficient manner. If you want to look at it this way, Global takes care of the installation and certification process after your hardware is sold to an airline and you might want to contact them for background info or specification updates. “Global is comprised of ex-airline personnel who are experts at aircraft integration and certification, and have a complete understanding of how the system will be maintained once on the aircraft,” explained Mr. Hamblin. “With the benefit of having DERs, certified A&P mechanics and licensed pilots on staff, Global can truly take a program from beginning to end.”

We sought out an airline reference to back up Mr. Hamblin’s praise of their services and we got this quote from Mr. Tahawar Durrani, GM of Engineering Services at Air Nugini – “On behalf of Air Niugini Engineering Services, I would like to thank all the Global team for a job well done. They have a professional, hardworking and dedicated team with a high sense of duty, engineering acumen and spirit to work effectively in an environment with competing milestones and alternating time-lines.” Global has over 30 years of efficient FAA and EASA certification experience. If you have the job of installing and certificating IFE and Wi-Fi or need to understand the process, be sure to give Todd Hamblin a call at +1 513 304 9315 (thamblin@gadc.com) and check out this link (Icelandair Partnership and Global Data Sheet) for a bit more information about their experience and services. All the new single-aisle IFE and connectivity hardware shown at APEX is going to need install and certification assistance and these folks in Cincinnati, Ohio just may be your installation solution.

An old friend popped up at APEX, Peter McLaughlin (see this week’s IFEC Buzz). As CEO of Stellar Entertainment, Peter has an airline past at Qantas and we first met him there in the early 90’s. This fellow knows the IFE business and showed a few new products the Stellar team is flogging. One caught our eye – their Home-to-Hotel digital Newspaper & Magazine service. But there’s more and we will cover their offering in a future Hot Topic. By the way, they will also be at AIX Hamburg 2014!

Last week we noted these new BOSE QuietComfort 20 headsets and here is link to the official image and the press release/spec.

 

Each year we offer readers the opportunity to get their show booth information out there for show goers to print out and take with them for easy reference. This year is no different. Not only did we get a plethora of responses, a couple of the vendors called us with news about their show offerings; we suspect in part, due to the the booming economic conditions. However, we hope to reward the callers’ enthusiasm with footnotes to their exhibit information.

Aircraft Cabin Systems
Booth#: 1528
Contact: Ben Ludlow e: ben@aircraftcabinsystems.com Cell: +1.206.612.1979
Product/Services: In 15 years Aircraft Cabin Systems (ACS) has grown to be the most respected manufacturer of IFE LCD monitors. We are committed to delivering the highest level of customer service, product support, and certification efforts. ACS offers LCD monitors ranging in size from 5.7” to 65” for any aircraft type.

Astronics
Booth#: 1413
Contact: Dennis Markert e: dennis.markert@astronics.com Cell: +1.425.442.8195
Product/Services: The aviation and IFE industry recognize that USB charging, specifically high-power USB charging, is necessary in order to keep passenger devices charged and available in the air. Astronics’ latest USB power supply provides enough power to charge 4 iPads simultaneously … while in use! The system delivers up to 2.1 Amps (configuration dependent) at +5 volts using aircraft 115AC power (360 Hz to 800 Hz AC) and is designed to the meet the latest aircraft OEM and regulatory requirements. Come see the latest product innovations from Astronics as you charge your devices at our latest charging station demonstration.

digEcor Inc.
Booth#: 1626
Contact: Ben Fuller e: bfuller@digecor.com Cell: +1 801.691.7225
Product/Services: digEcor provides the aerospace industry a low cost, turnkey in-flight entertainment solution by specializing in content sourcing and management, personal media platforms (PMPs), embedded systems, and end-to-end digital programs for the entire cabin. With years of experience, digEcor focuses on increasing traveler satisfaction, creating easily executed solutions, and generating revenue opportunities for clients.

Gogo
Booth#: 1034
Contact: Channing Fleetwood e: cfleetwood@gogoair.com Cell: +1.404.519.1322
Product/Services: Gogo is the global leader of in-flight connectivity and a pioneer in wireless in-flight entertainment solutions. Using Gogo’s exclusive products and services, passengers with WiFi-enabled devices can get online on more than 1,900 Gogo equipped commercial aircraft. In-flight connectivity partners include American Airlines, Air Canada, AirTran Airways, Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines, United Airlines, US Airways and Virgin America. In-flight entertainment partners include American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Scoot and US Airways.

IFPL
Booth#: 415
Contact: Neil Thomas e: neil.thomas@ifpl.com Cell: +(44).778.698.7454
Product/Services: Generate ancillary revenue with IFPL’s Contactless Retail System (CRS).

IFPL has developed an in-seat payment system that takes advantage of the new NFC contactless Credit Cards for low value purchases. These let your passenger pay quickly and simply with their credit card for on-board transactions at their seat, eliminating the requirement for cash on-board. Contactless payment is enabled by Near Field Communication (NFC).

CRS is easy to install with no in-seat wiring required. It will run for up to 24 months on the optional built- in battery, is easily configurable and can be used as part of an IFE or as a stand-alone system.

Our CRS is great for your installation engineers, cabin crew and passengers. Simple installation allows easy upgrade of you EPoS system, quick order fulfilment and pleased passengers. The service level is customisable for the grade of seat and enables easy catalogue updates over Wi-Fi for special offers or to simply update food menu options.

We look forward to working with you directly or with your EPoS retail partners. So whether you are a low cost or full service carrier, this CRS system will generate revenue for you.

Call, click or come to Booth 415 at the APEX Expo to find out more …

Inmarsat
Booth#: 1800
Contact: Paula Ferrai; e:paula.ferrai@inmarsat.com Cell: +41.79.874.0608
Product/Services: Inmarsat will be discussing GX Aviation, the only global Ka-band satellite network. Combined with SwiftBroadband, Inmarsat provides the most comprehensive inflight connectivity available. It is suitable for every type of aircraft, and is able to suit the needs of every airline.

KID Systeme
Booth#: 1433
Contact: Maren Münte e: maren.muente@kid-systeme.com Cell: +49.171.566.0630
Product/Services: At this years APEX in Anaheim, KID will display their innovative cabin systems. The company’s product portfolio encompasses seat power, onboard connectivity and wireless content services, enabling passengers to use their own personal electronic devices while in the air as if on the ground. KID-Systeme supplies the world’s leading aircraft manufacturers, including Airbus, Boeing and Embraer. We are looking forward to welcoming you on our booth.

Note: KID hinted to IFExpress that their booth may contain a new product -SKYfi… not to mention a new website coming soon as well. Sounds like a whole new plan game at KID.

Lumexis Corporation
Booth#: 1417
Contact: Jon Norris e:jnorris@lumexis.com Cell: +1.949.436.1434
Product/Services: Lumexis®, supplier of the highly successful Fiber-To-The-Screen®(FTTS®) IFE system, introduces its FTTS Second Screen™ capability to APEX EXPO 2013. FTTS Second Screen combines the best of all passenger experiences by providing uninterrupted HD video entertainment on a passenger’s seatback, in-arm or bulkhead-mounted main screen FTTS monitor, while allowing them to use their own PEDs to wirelessly access moving maps, order food, buy duty-free goods, play games or use every application available on the platform.

OnAir
Booth#: 1041
Contact: Aurélie Branchereau-Giles; e: aurelie.branchereau@onair.aero Cell: +41.78.676.1546
Product/Services: At APEX, OnAir will launch OnAirPlay, which is set to revolutionize the way airline passengers spend their time onboard by combining inflight connectivity with films, TV, live news, music, games, magazines and newspapers. Passengers will now have access to a full range of content including live news and sport, updated throughout the flight and can buy destination-based goods and services to ease their arrival.

Panasonic Avionics
Booth#: 1205
Contact: Rebecca Atchison e: Rebecca.Atchison@panasonic.aero
Product/Services: At the 2013 APEX Expo, Panasonic Avionics will demonstrate how IFE systems combined with broadband connectivity and technical services can positively impact key issues like competition, profitability, consolidation, managing costs and fuel prices, that airlines face every day.

Rockwell Collins
Booth#: 1000
Contact: Jerry Thomas e: jwthoma1@rockwellcollins.com Cell: +1.949.293.5295
Product/Services: Rockwell Collins will be showcasing its latest innovations for cabin management and entertainment, including its PAVES On-demand and PAVES Broadcast IFE systems. The two solutions bring unprecedented reliability and versatility to single-aisle aircraft for keeping downtime to a minimum and allowing flexibility for the different mission needs of airlines. Also, Rockwell Collins’ industry-leading Airshow 3D Moving Map will be on exhibit, as well as its Venue HD cabin management and entertainment system for VIP aircraft.

StoreBox InFlight
Booth#: 316
Contact: Web Barth e: info@StoreBoxInFlight.com Cell: +1.425.746.4335
Product/Services: StoreBox InFlight provides the E+ System; a complete in flight, video on demand WiFi streaming program that is turnkey for airlines (hardware, installation, content, advertising sponsors, content refreshment) that provides passengers with 60+ hours of free entertainment; movies, TV shows, music, games, books, popular magazines, daily newspapers, daily news show, shopping from popular catalogs and destination based information and coupons.

Note: New kin on the block, StoreBox InFlight, will be at APEX with news about their new E+SYSTEM Wi-Fi solution that promises no ongoing content charges for the airline adopting their low cost, light weight system. And yes, there are some high names involved.

Thales
Booth#: 1022
Contact: Lori Krans e: lori.krans@us.thalesgroup.com Cell: +1.949.923.0976
Product/Services: Delivering Innovation and Performance is the Thales theme for Apex 2013. With focus on Applications, Systems Flexibility, Connectivity and Future Innovations, Thales brings to APEX over 25 demonstrations for today and tomorrow. Come visit us!

Thompson Aerospace
Booth#: 1644
Contact: Lisa Nielesky e: LisaNielesky@ThompsonAerospace.com Cell: +1.714.501.3302
Product/Services: 1Net system demonstration showing ecommerce, advertising campaigns, usage statistics, and system integration for both wired and wireless systems. Stop by our booth, create your own advertising campaign, and your advertising artistry may win you a Samsung Galaxy Tablet!

Note: Mark Thompson called us with the exuberance of Christmas kid… and I don’t blame him. 1Net is now connected to a cloud server and talks to the Flight Operations Cloud. A couple little secrets – you have to see their real-time, airborne, advertising, QR code generator and be sure to enter the make-your-own-advert-and-win-a-Galaxy contest. Such creative solutions… go there!

TriaGnoSys
Booth#: 935
Contact: Axel Jahn e: axel.jahn@triagnosys.com Cell: +49.172.292.8125
Product/Services: TriaGnoSys will discuss the development of its ‘one-box-wonder’, the small, lightweight GSMConneX. It is used to provide mobile phone and Wi-Fi connectivity, as well as for the wireless streaming on IFE content. Importantly, TriaGnoSys will be discussing the airline customers that already use GSMConneX, and the prospects for the coming year.

VT Miltope
Booth#: 1822
Contact: Jeff Drader e: jdrader@miltope.com Cell: +1.949.278.5856
Product/Services: Miltope’s family of network products offer the required functionality necessary to create custom airborne networks similar to how office networks are created. Our products optimize the combination of interfaces and computing resources to meet operational, spatial, and functional requirements of simple to complex airborne systems at minimum cost. Products include servers, Ethernet switches, wireless access points, TWLU aircraft to ground wireless bridging, ARINC 744 network printers and ARINC740 printer, control panels, and data storage devices.

Zodiac Inflight Innovations
Booth#: 1400
Contact: Harry Gray e: hgray@imsco-us.com Cell: +1.714.683.3793
Product/Services: We are showcasing our latest developments of RAVE, the only IP-safe passenger-centric IFE system. System demonstration capabilities include business class and economy class integrated seats from Zodiac Aerospace. In addition, we have some new connectivity options that we are excited to discuss.

Aircraft Cabin Systems
Booth: 6B18
Contact: Ben Ludlow
Telephone: + 1 425 629 4129
Email: ben@aircraftcabinsystems.com

ACS will be debuting our new overhead retractable monitors in 9.7” and 12” sizes. The new ACS retractable monitors are a direct replacement for the existing retractable systems for A320 aircraft. Considering the frequency of removals and high cost of repairs to the old systems, making the switch is easy. ACS’ patented design allows us to offer a 50,000 operational cycle guarantee and a 5 year warranty.

Astronics
Booth: 6C40
Contact: Dennis Markert
Email: dennis.markert@astronics.com
Telephone: +1 425 442 8195

Come see the latest innovations from Astronics in power conversion, intelligent power management, and distribution to passenger devices and IFE. Also included are the other Astronics divisions including aircraft lighting products, safety devices, aircraft interface devices, and test equipment.

Bose Corporation
Booth: 6A31
Contact: Hratch Astarjian
Email:Hratch_astarjian@bose.com
Telephone: +1 508 766 4075

Products at show: Bose will demonstrate the QuietComfort® 15 Acoustic Noise Cancelling® headphone and the A20® Aviation headset at its stand. The QuietComfort 15 is the best performing noise reduction headphone ever from Bose. The A20 Aviation headset is an active noise reduction, communication headset for the cockpit and offers an unmatched combination of noise reduction, clear communication and comfort.

digEcor
Booth: 6D39
Contact: Ben Fuller
email: bfuller@digecor.com
Phone: +1 801 691 7225

At the digEcor booth this year we’re excited to be launching our all-new low cost GLIDE IFE embedded system, a tape replacement solution, and our newest portable tablet dubbed the digEtab featuring the Samsung Tab 2 10.1. We’ll continue to tout our content services as well as introduce the industry to our new media management system. Being known as the traditonal portable IFE provider, we’re effectively evolving into a one-stop shop for all IFE needs and that will be on full display in Hamburg.

Gogo
Booth: 6A18
Contact: Steve Nolan
Email: snolan@gogoair.com
Connect with us at www.gogoair.com/international

Gogo will be showcasing its latest developments in global satellite technologies as well as focusing on its ground breaking wireless products including: Gogo Vision – Gogo’s wireless IFE solution; and Text and Talk – Gogo’s new text messaging and voice product.

Gogo is a global leader of in-flight connectivity and a pioneer in wireless in-flight digital entertainment solutions. Using Gogo’s exclusive products and services, passengers with Wi-Fi enabled devices can get online on more than 1,800 Gogo equipped commercial aircraft. In-flight connectivity partners include American Airlines, Air Canada, AirTran Airways, Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines, United Airlines, US Airways and Virgin America. In-flight entertainment partners include American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Scoot and US Airways.

IFPL
Booth: 6C10
Contact: Neil Thomas, Business Development Manager
Mobile: +[44] (0778) 698 7454

We have brought airlines the hardware to enable the payment system of the future. Our Near Field Communication in-flight payment technology eases payment and therefore increases airline’s ancillary revenue generation. In addition, it can provide destination e-vouchers to the passenger so not only Improves the passenger experience, but also the operator’s revenue.

We also have other innovative products that the pioneering team at IFPL have developed; our brilliant Breakaway jack has no moving parts, offering minimized headphone operating cost for these cost-critical times; and our maintenance saving / time saving Self-Testing jack – we don’t need to tell you that if you are saving time you are also saving money!

KID-Systeme GmbH
Booth: 6B30, Hall B6
Contact Maren Münte
Email: Maren.muente@kid-systeme.com
Telephone: +49 40 743 71245

KID-Systeme GmbH, a hundred percent Airbus subsidiary, is well established in the industry since 1999. Focused on cabin electronic systems, KID started their business with their innovative In Seat Power Supply System. With a permanent development of its product portfolio KID is able to offer complete cabin system solutions in the field of Connectivity, such as mobile telephony and Internet access on board with the passengers own devices and In Seat Power. KID-Systeme GmbH is still on the cutting edge of the industry and is able to install their products in every type of passenger aircraft.

Lufthansa Systems
Booth: 7A7
Contact: publicrelations@lhsystems.com
Telephone: +49 69 696 90776

Lufthansa Systems adds new functionalities to its wireless IFE system BoardConnect. For the first time the new features were presented at the AIX 2013. In addition to accessing on-demand audio and video as well as information about their destination, passengers can now read electronic magazines by using the eReader functionality of BoardConnect. System maintenance will be further improved through the use of a so-called maintenance front-end.

Unlike conventional in-flight entertainment systems, BoardConnect does not require any complicated wiring for each seat. Instead, it works with a regular WLAN based on the established WiFi standard, meaning that just a few access points need to be installed in the cabin. This makes it possible for the first time to offer passengers an extensive range of information and entertainment on short- and medium-haul aircraft such as the Airbus A320 family and the Boeing 737. Since BoardConnect is lighter than conventional IFE systems, airlines can also achieve considerable fuel savings with it.

Lumexis Corporation
Booth: 6E40
Contact: Doug Cline, CEO
Email: dcline@lumexis.com
Mobile: + 1 714 813 8550

Lumexis will be demonstrating the leading-edge FTTS® system with its next-generation seat displays, and will be introducing its highly advanced FTTS Second Screen™.

OnAir
Booth: 6D38
Contact: Charlie Pryor
Email: charlie.pryor@leidar.com
Telephone: +44 7958 975 667

As well as issuing a number of stories about new customers and extensions of existing customer agreements, OnAir will be talking about the Connected Aircraft 3.0. This is the next stage in the development of the connectivity market, building from passenger communications to incorporate cabin crew and cockpit applications which will help streamline airline operations.

Panasonic Avionics
Booth: 6C20
Contact: Rebecca Atchison
Email: Rebecca.Atchison@panasonic.aero
Mobile: +1 949 421 8529

At this year’s Aircraft Interiors Expo, Panasonic Avionics will showcase ways to amplify your brand, foster passenger loyalty, and generate more revenue. Check out our latest designs that deliver smaller, lighter systems, and witness firsthand how we are building business platform solutions that deliver more opportunities for you and your passengers.

Thales
Booth: 6A30
Contact: Lori Krans
Email: lori.krans@us.thalesgroup.com
Tele: +1 949 923 0976

Key Booth highlights: Thales will feature several new seat configurations with production TopSeries AVANT® equipment. Key announcements focus on three new partnerships tied to connectivity and advanced system applications. Innovations cover an end-to-end, home to hotel, connected passenger experience, and a first time ever shown, immersive seat that embraces more futuristic capabilities designed around passenger comfort. Come visit!

Thompson Aerospace, Inc.
Booth: 5E51
Contact: Mark Thompson, President/CEO
Email: markthompson@thompsonaerospace.com
Mobile: +1 949 690 8668

Thompson Aerospace will be showcasing their 1Net product. 1Net provides an Intelligent Aircraft for a Connected World, Accelerating Business Innovation for Airlines. The key aspect is Cabin Marketplace Enabler, to allow Airlines to monetize the passenger experience. 1Net provides the same levels of passenger satisfaction and revenues as the Internet.

TriaGnoSys
Booth: 6D40
Contact: Charlie Pryor
Email: charlie.pryor@leidar.com
Telephone: +44 7958 975 667

TriaGnoSys will be launching AeroConneX+. It is the latest in the company’s series of connectivity hardware solutions. It builds on the highly successful GSMConneX solution, that provides both GSM and Wi-Fi in a single box, enabling service providers to extend the connectivity solutions they provide passengers, as well as to cockpit and cabin crew. It also has the potential to incorporate machine-to-machine communications to make the maintenance process more efficient.

VT Miltope
Booth: 6B49
Contact: Markus Gilges
Email: mgilges@miltope.com
Telephone: +44 7793 758755

On Display: In addition to printers, servers, and Ethernet switches, VT Miltope will be exhibiting the latest in wireless products featuring developments of a cellular + Wi-Fi™ ground link (product: cTWLU) and an IEEE 802.11ac wireless access point (product: nMAP2).

Zodiac In-Flight Entertainment (formerly The IMS Company)
Booth: 6B20 (Hall B6
Contact: Harry Gray, Vice President Sales and Marketing
Mobile: +1 714 683 3793

Zodiac In-flight Entertainment (formerly The IMS Company) has provided innovative solutions for the aviation industry for over 17 years.

RAVE (winner of the 2011 Crystal Cabin Award) is on display and provides the latest innovation for Audio/Video On Demand (AVOD). Our (patented) seat-centric system architecture provides for a simple installation and operation, and the highest reliability of any in-seat design.

The system is fully certified and flying today on over 30 aircraft providing state-of-the art features, as well as a system that is about one-half the weight, power and price of the traditional IFE systems available today.

This Hot Topic is all about Smartphones and the eventual complete immersion in, and interface with, the commercial airliner. We recently wrote a story about one IFE vendor (Thompson Aerospace) who has developed a Google-like Pay-Per-Click solution and that got us wondering about the future interactions between passengers and the plane’s wireless and/or wired systems. When we queried a number of IFExpress readers about this impending pax/plane interface we got a lot more data than we expected. For one thing, emerging technologies and industries will surely come to play in the interface revolution. And yes, we did say revolution. For example, there is no reason why the airlines won’t expect in the future to allow you to “turn on” all seat wireless connectivity and/or screened interface with a credit card, password, or whatever. In other words, ancillary revenue and real or perceived valued improvement. As people move away from credit cards into mobile wallet technology, expect the revenue hunters to zero in on your flight. For the seatback crowd, the credit card seems to be the de rigueur way to take money out of your pocket. There is a better way.

The Smartphone has a few more tricks: Carrier Billing, Card Readers, Apps, and Near Field Communication. While these are mostly self explanatory, we contacted Geoff Underwood regarding NFC, arguably our industry leader in that subject and got this response: ” As with most things, you will see adoption of mobile wallet technology and applications onboard as a follow on to when the technology gets adopted on the ground. What’s holding it back on the ground is the usual in-fighting between the various providers who still can’t agree on a standard. It’s getting there, and once they are all in agreement, then it will explode, but it needs a universal standard. It is a great opportunity for the IFE industry to actually get ahead of the game for once.”

Geoff went on, “Historically, we react to changes and trends in the consumer world, but this means we are always running behind, trying to play catch up. Because of our industry’s long development and certification lead times that inevitably means that airlines and their passengers get the technology too late. Over three years ago, IFPL saw the emergence of mobile payment technology and we decided to invest in its development and promotion. We have been encouraging the IFE majors to adopt the technology now – before their customers are even aware that its out there – so that when the industry wakes up to the great opportunities that this technology can offer, the IFE systems will be ready to go.”

Finally he noted: “When people get to understand mobile payments, they will understand how easy it is to pay for things (albeit small value items), and before long they won’t even think about it. When airlines realise how easy it is for their passengers to pay for small value items, such as sodas, sandwiches, movies etc., then they will be beating a path to the IFE suppliers to have the mobile payment capability on their aircraft.” We know IFPL has also been working on the UK branded “Chip and Pin” technology and the forthcoming IFE trade shows will most certainly be a showcase for these types of technologies.”

No doubt the field of Smartphone/Seatback future interactions will be involved in the trade for a viewing connection. If airlines can charge for a stowed bag can ALL IFE be far behind? The problem (and solution) is that the technologies are just arriving. We like to point out Mark Thompson’s (Thompson Aerospace) QR code use and how his system is taking Pay-Per-Click data collection to a new level. While many Smartphone users are just spooling up their Smartphone QR capability, he has implemented a data takeaway solution using them. And while we are on the subject of Future Interactions that might be revenue generators, here is a short list we have assembled: Payment (including passwords and coupon codes, i.e. loyalty deals), Pay for Play, Pay Per Click, Data Takeaway/Download, Entertainment Control, Crew/Pax inform, Wi-Fi Connectivity (Messaging, Surfing, etc.). All mentioned can, and will probably, be involved with some future form of payment, loyalty or data gathering efforts.

There will be a new world of IFEC when aircraft technology catches up with Smartphones, tablets and novices yet to be designed. No doubt the recent relationship between Boeing and Samsung will test and explore everything from crew device interfaces to better pax/airplane connection. The message here is think outside the box… no, make that think outside the plane!

“The airline industry is a great industry, but it is also a terrible business.” – anonymous

This Hot Topic began as a simple phone call to Thompson Aerospace as a result of the CEO’s request for a return call. Planning a standard set of questions about new hardware, airline take-up, weight (Oh, it does weigh 3.2 pounds per seat) our interview began as most. Mark Thompson (President & CEO) began the data run down and if you have met him, you just hang on because a LOT of data is coming your way. And it did, a lot. Somewhere in the middle of the second question about advertising on the system he said: “… and we are generating somewhere between $20,000 and $30,000 per month per plane with the IFE.” “Wait,” I yelled, “How do you do that?” That’s where our IFE story took a recalibrating turn and our total discussion launched off on pay-per-click adverts, Google pay model, QR codes, and after-flight airline revenues. If I have your attention, read on.

To begin at the beginning, Thompson Aerospace is the brainchild of Mark Thompson (and his inspired team) who had a better idea. Actually, they have had a lot of them. Their one goal was to build an airline IFE system that actuality paid the airline for it’s costly purchase, installation, fuel burn costs and content fees. That was 5 years ago. The 1NET system hardware has gone through a number of iterations. According to the company the narrowbody IFE market has matured… but the advertising concept has blossomed. No doubt, he was inspired by Silicon Valley’s Page & Brin, the co-founders of Google. Simply put, if you see advertising (text or images), advertisers will pay for click-thru’s because that is how the world works – you see it, you might buy it. The advertiser is betting on the power of the screen – it happened when TV was invented and it happened when Mark Thompson first put his system on a plane. Our image this week is the result of many hours of hard work by the Thompson team and represents a pretty simple design: fliers choose the menu choice, press one (or more) of the capacitive touch screen numbers on the right side of the screen and at least 2 things happen: (1) the flier gets the selected menu screen selection and (2) the computer registers a click-thru. This goes on for the duration of the flight. Advert selection, destination choices, entertainment viewings… it all gets stored. You might guess the next step – every 2 weeks the airline and the advertising service bureau receives a summary of the requests/viewings and the airline gets a check. At 1 to 5 cents per click, the tally adds up as daily flights, sometimes short as an hour, record revenue and usage every passenger, every flight, every day, and every month. This is a proven model and we think Thompson Aerospace has broken the IFE pay-per-click barrier!

There is a lot riding on a statement from Mark, “We can guarantee that each airplane will generate $20,000 per month.” In fact, the Thompson folks note that a plane with the 1NET system can generate twice the passenger profit with it. You be the judge of that statement. From an advertising perspective, Thompson notes that there is $6.8 Billion in out-of-home advertising and that he plans to garner some of those expenditures. Further, Mark notes, “Seventy percent of that money is spent by a person who takes at least one airplane flight each year.”

Another feature we really like is the smartphone QR code passenger interface. You will notice that the “Athens Cab” banner advert has a QR code on it. Mark Thompson saw the passenger UI value in this optical technology. With a QR code, the passenger downloads data from the advertiser that, when activated on the ground, gets location information, coupon deals, and a future “connection” with the airline and the advertiser. Oh yes, the onboard click-thru counter registers a hit. Get it? Thompson has found a paperless way to connect to passengers, register a viewing, get the passenger more information, provide later mapping for the viewer, and deliver deals thru the QR system. More importantly, they have found a way to service the passenger, provide a service for the advertiser, develop revenue for the airline and get the system hardware paid off. And, as Mark notes, “Our per seat prices for hardware are around $3000 per seat… the system pay’s for itself and makes revenue after the fact.”

Airlines, to garner more revenue, are adopting some bus-like promotions. If you think pay per view advertising is not consistent with airlines, check out this link from one of Thompson’s teammates, Global.Onboard.Partners. There are a lot of mutual future benefits of a connection between the two companies. The message here is promotion means money to airlines and your flying future will no doubt interact with advertising messages and techniques pioneered by Thompson. Our only question was one of wonderment that it has not shown up in the US yet. This story just gets more interesting as Mark cautiously mentioned a new post-flight revenue system, “…that I can’t say much about just yet!” Stay tuned!!

If you work for an airline – you may want to show this story to your boss and check out the Thompson Aerospace website and their advertising site.