Japan Airlines (JAL) has put into passenger service its first Boeing 747-400 equipped with the Rockwell Collins Total Entertainment System (TES). It will have to wait until the third quarter of the year to activate audio-and video-on-demand (A/VOD) services, however.
The aircraft, which has the TES fitted to every seat, is the first of 24 JAL 747-400s to have Rockwell's interactive in-flight entertainment (IFE) system. Installation on the second aircraft is under way, says the manufacturer. JAL is retrofitting its 747-400s with the system, while its new 747-400s have Sextant In-Flight Systems mSeries interactive hardware.
A/VOD is to be added through a software upgrade in the third quarter of this year, says Rockwell. JAL offers A/VOD on its 747s which have the Sextant system.
Meanwhile, an unidentified airline is to test A/VOD on the TES this quarter, says Rockwell.
The TES has been selected by Air France, Airtours, American Airlines, British Airways, Delta Air Lines, JAL, LanChile, TAM and Thai Airways International.
Rockwell competitors Matsushita, Sextant and Sony Trans Com offer A/VOD services on their interactive IFE systems.
Source: Flight International
