Ian Verchere
Sextant In-Flight Systems - a new joint-venture between French avionics giant Sextant (51%) and the US cabin interior products firm B/E Aerospace (49%) - expects to fit the entire fleet of United Airlines with its d-Series inflight entertainment (IFE) system by the end of next year, according to chairman and chief executive Francois Lureau.
Two pilot projects for fitting 23 Boeing 767s and 36 Boeing 747s with the IFE package have been extended to include 30 of UAL's Boeing 777 fleet, he says.
Video
The d-Series provides multi-channel distribution of video and audio services and has the capability to interface with various new IFE products including live television. Sextant In-Flight claims it already has 50,000 aircraft seats equipped with its i-Series or on order.
Another customer breakthrough, adds Lureau, is a letter of intent from Japan Air Lines to equip three more Boeing 747-400s with its fully interactive m-Series package. This brings to 10 the number of JAL 747-400s carrying the system. They are being line-fitted by Boeing before delivery to the Tokyo-based carrier.
The decision by Sextant to target the troublesome IFE market is primarily motivated by a need to expand successful avionics activities so as to provide customers with a "total product range".
It makes sense, says Lureau, because it brings together both the interior equipment and avionics aspects of aircraft manufacture.
"We also have the same airline customers," adds B/E Aerospace chairman Amin Khoury.
Double
Currently worth $650 million, the IFE market is global, fast-growing and projected to double in the next four years, claims Lureau. In an industry dogged with reliability problems, Sextant believes existing customers want avionics expertise expanded to embrace IFE by combining engineering and installation skills.
The biggest IFE growth, however, is expected to be in live inflight television, says Lureau. To this end Sextant has created another joint-venture called LiveTV with Harris to provide in-seat video applications and direct broadcast satellite programming. "This will give passengers the ability to select TV programming and - in its current form - is ideal for short-haul overland segments," he feels.
Source: Flight Daily News
