Idair, the joint venture between Lufthansa Technik and Panasonic Avionics, opened for business last month.
The Hamburg-headquartered company revealed yesterday that it became operational in mid-April after gaining approval from regulatory authorities, including the European Commission, earlier this year. The partnership was firstly announced last October.
The aim is to bring together the MRO provider's Nice cabin management system for business aircraft with the US supplier's X series suite of in-flight entertainment and communications equipment, and to develop new products for VIP aircraft as well as commercial jetliners.
The venture is working on products with "specific VIP requirements", which have neither been seen in the business jet nor commercial aircraft markets yet, says Andrew Muirhead, Idair's chief executive and LHT director of innovation.
Some first developments are to be shown at NBAA later this year.
Source: Flight Daily News
