The in-flight entertainment and connectivity industry has never lacked vision or enthusiasm. Yet its eagerness to continually push the limits to hasten technological advancement has proved its weakness in years past. Reliability problems have long marred what would otherwise be an impressive history of accomplishment and ingenuity for the sector.
But a collective move by the industry to dramatically improve reliability in recent years is starting to pay off for IFEC firms. Airlines are increasingly convinced that while IFEC platforms - like all aircraft systems - will never be 100% free of disruption, their foundation has been sufficiently fortified that a large financial investment in the equipment is now warranted.
"In-flight entertainment is really avionics meets Hollywood. But if a disruption occurs, it is going to be more acute than what happens in the cockpit. Technology is getting to a place where basics are easier to achieve than 10 to 15 years ago, so we're at a place now where it should be a lot more reliable and stable," says Paul Margis, chief executive of IFEC giant Panasonic Avionics.
This renewed confidence in the IFEC industry is most evident in the substantial number of new orders being placed by carriers for embedded IFEC systems that promise to provide a reliably positive experience for passengers.
And it was highlighted last week at the Farnborough air show, where Thomson Airways announced plans to fit its Boeing 787s with seat-back displays from Panasonic Avionics plus connectivity, and Emirates confirmed an agreement with Airbus/Sita joint venture OnAir to bring in-flight wi-fi and mobile connectivity to its 90 Airbus A380s.
Also at the show, airframers of all sizes discussed plans for offering connectivity and state-of-the-art in-flight entertainment on their aircraft. Sukhoi, for instance, says it is studying its connectivity options for the Superjet 100, and is currently in talks with IFEC manufacturers.
Russia's Irkut, meanwhile, displayed a mock-up of its planned MS-21 narrowbody, complete with Zodiac unit Sicma embedded systems. Even turboprop manufacturer ATR is offering drop-down entertainment systems on its Series 600 aircraft.
For Panasonic, a large amount of financial resources have been used to test the very elemental components that go into its devices, everything from the server boxes to the line replaceable units, to ensure that systems are reliable and capable of supporting myriad software applications for today's tech-savvy travellers.
"We have quite a bit of testing of thermal vibration liquid ingress. It is quite a bit beyond the basic qualification requirements for aviation. When we're testing units, we're pushing it to failure to see where the weak points are to try to improve that. It doesn't mean we're perfect, but there is an appreciation that you have to make sure your bricks are good before you build your house," says Margis.
But reliability is just one of the factors driving a turnaround for the IFEC market, among them the ability to bring mobile and internet connectivity to passengers, and use connectivity to offer truly integrated IFEC platforms.
"I think connectivity is a huge enabler that will finally yield some of that the value or the opportunity that the ground space already appreciates," says Margis. "Once you connect the airplane, the range of opportunities for these embedded systems are significantly enhanced, then you leverage the mash-up of rich onboard content with the infinite depths of ground-based internet entertainment. It's a pretty cool combination."
That IFEC has seen its credibility factor significantly improved is perhaps most evident in the fact mammoth defence contractor Thales brought its IFEC kit - and placed it prominently on display - in its chalet at Farnborough.
Thales vice-president of marketing and customer proposition Stuart Dunleavy notes that there are still challenges for the IFEC industry, such as the fear of some carriers that, with technology moving so quickly, they could bring a here-and-now solution to market only to find it becomes obsolete in the near-term.
What is clear, however, says Dunleavy, is that "connectivity is here to stay. It is becoming a given and fundamental expectation for most aircraft passengers."
Source: Flight International
