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Back issues of IFExpress are available at:
http://www.airfax.com/airfax/ifexpress/ 
 

• AIX as we know it will get even bigger! After an announced acquisition by Reed Expositions, the following is the upcoming AIX schedule. A) The Hamburg show will continue there each Spring, 2) The AIX Hong Kong Conference will alternate years with the Reed sponsored Singapore Air Show, 3) Interestingly, a show rumor identifies a Fall AIX in the US… in Seattle. Note the Boeing and Airbus connection. While this is speculation, we wonder when the movie houses will debut in an AIX?
• Portable IFE supplier numbers continue to grow however, it looks like there is a trend toward integrating them, to one degree or another, with aircraft systems.
• Personal IPOD integration with aircraft IFE made its debut at more than one supplier. Panasonic has a beautiful interface and LCD screen while IMS provides power, seatback screens, audio output, a USB port and a very useful shelf built into the seatback plug-in module.
• In-flight connectivity, interestingly enough, took a leap forward in market demand, largely due the influence of the now defunct Connexion By Boeing. A number of providers (service, connectivity, satcom and airline) told IFExpress that they are rushing to fill a demand void voiced by passengers. There may be some scrambling in the L Band front because of rumored technical issues while we are seeing more interest and new activity in the big bucks Ku Band market…internationally, that is.
• While Wi-Fi continues to stretch its legs, we hear of more FAA interest in the issues surrounding interference. On the plane, 802.11 B/G are the common needs based on passenger PEDS but the science people tell us that 802.11 N is the savior of interactive video on installed systems. Power, battery life, interference, worldwide licensing, passenger commonality, encryption, hacking are all making in-cabin Wi-Fi a real challenge – at the system or laptop level.
• While we are on the subject of international radio licensing, along comes the Visionary IFE system running DVB-T at 900 MHz – keep your eyes on them. Their wireless IFE solution (Seatback client – head end server) can be legally operated worldwide without the same problems CBB was working thru.
• Where’s the fiber? Tyco (formerly AMP) showed a new fiber optic interconnect system that has a lot of promise for the eventual introduction of a full up, fiber-to-the seat IFE system…Its Coming!
• If you think the old issue of talking neighbors will not be a problem in Europe, think again. Airplane noise is airplane noise and the introduction of OnAir and AeroMobile GSM cell phone use may prove to be a social issue in genteel Europe. Watch for some airline rollouts to feature SMS and email first.
• The Big Box IFE system manufacturers (Panasonic, etc) are very busy being the cabin entertainment integrators for Airbus and Boeing and are sitting on millions of dollars of back orders. Resultantly, they are busy delivering product for new and retrofit markets and thus we are seeing the latest round of innovation coming from the little and middleware hardware manufacturers. If you are looking to invest some money, we suggest you look there.
• While not an IFE topic, we heard a lot about carbon offsetting and it’s impact on the travel market, airlines, corporate travel responsibility, and ultimately the efficiency of air travel. Here is how it works – airlines or other entities determine the carbon footprint of aircraft and ultimately the carbon cost of each flight and on each aircraft. Corporations will have to demonstrate, on their annual reports, the carbon cost of employee travel so their “greeness” can be touted, while airlines will do the same for their airplanes. Pundits feel passengers will be making travel decisions based on aircraft while citizen groups report to their eco-contingencies about carbon liabilities. Corporations will then be subject to market forces and possibly have to off-set theses expenditures by buying carbon credits. Check out these websites for more information on this subject: http://www.trx.com/media_center/press_02_12_2007.html and http://www.terrapass.com/flight/index.html
• And last but not least - magnesium is the new aluminum – you heard it here first!

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Astronics' Awarded $17 Million in Multiple Commercial Airline Orders
4/23/2007 8:46:14 PM

Row 44 Satellite Broadband System Takes Off at High Speed
4/23/2007 8:45:17 PM

Aviation Capital Group Orders 20 Airbus A320 Aircraft
4/23/2007 8:44:17 PM

Boeing, Aviation Capital Group Announce Order for 20 Airplanes
4/23/2007 8:42:01 PM

Boeing Honors Top Suppliers with Performance Award
4/23/2007 8:40:20 PM

Boeing, CIT Sign Order for Five Additional 737-700s
4/23/2007 8:37:30 PM

Panasonic Avionics selected by Hamburg International for A319 aircraft
4/23/2007 8:36:14 PM

Panasonic Avionics Showcases Starling's Broadband Antenna System in Its Aircraft Interiors Expo 2007 Display
4/23/2007 8:33:13 PM
 

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BMW presents Bond-style 787 cabin concept for Russian tycoon
Flight Global
 

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WAEA TV Market
5/21/2007 - 5/22/2007

7th Annual European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition
5/22/2007 - 5/24/2007

WAEA Conference and Educational Workshops
5/23/2007 - 5/24/2007

28th Annual WAEA Conference & Exhibition
9/17/2007 - 9/20/2007
 

IFExpress is sponsored in part by: