AIX 2019

comfort & enjoyment

AIM Altitude Ultraflex cabin features transformable spaces for passengers on long-haul flights. Communal and individual areas focus on delivering a tailored passenger experience.

photos: https://www.aimaltitude.com/ultraflex

Haeco’s Eclipse hybrid seat delivers more privacy for short-haul business class and long-haul premium economy passengers while, together with the integrated cabin, creating up to 14% more space for passenger places (PAX) within the same cabin space.

photo: https://www.haeco.com/en/Press-Room/Press-Releases/HAECO-Cabin-Solutions-to-Debut-Eclipse-Cabin-and-Announces-Launch-Customer

British Airways is rolling out new Club Suite seats which will feature wi-fi, a door, IFE screens and PC/USB power.

Safran’s VERSA business class seat offers a fully horizontal bed and is built to be a modular, customizable solution that can work with different airline requirements.

photo: https://www.safran-seats.com/media/safran-reveals-versa-new-enhanced-generation-herringbone-state-art-long-haul-business-class-seat-20190402

The Cambiano business class seat was created by Iacobucci HF Aerospace and Pininfarina and can offer a fully flat bed at a 67in pitch.

Butterfly Seating showed its business class solution that enables two seats to turn into one lay-flat bed in a matter of seconds.

Bucher’s galley shopping window enables sales of duty-free goods in an easy to use vending-style interaction. Sales and inventory can be tracked with its inventory management system and sophisticated EPS system.

SkyTender’s Sky Barista Trolleys allow passengers to have a barista-style coffee, including frothy milk, at their seat while in the sky.

A handful of exhibitors acknowledged the littlest passengers in their offerings.

the internet of flight

Stelia Aerospace’s connected passenger seat concept for first class and business class aims to collect and leverage data to aid with maintenance, enhance the passenger experience and drive loyalty and royalty opportunities.

photo: http://www.stelia-aerospace.com/en/2547-stelia-aerospace-presents-new-passenger-connected-seat-demonstrator-at-aix-2019/

Panasonic’s Jet Lag Advisor app processes flight plans and passenger data like height, weight and circadian rhythms to produce a personalized plan to combat the effects of long-range travel.

image: https://www.panasonic.aero/whats-new/press-releases/etihad-airways-and-panasonic-avionics-introduce-new-wellness-solution

Astronics subsidiary, Astronics Ballard Technology, displayed their IoT Smart Cabin System, which leverages sensors and technology to monitor some systems electronically. The system can communicate where there is available space in luggage bins and which seats are occupied, among other functionality.

The Airbus Connected Experience concept includes connected galleys, meal trolleys, seats, luggage bins and more. The concept has now received the green light to become a real IoT solution that they’re calling the Airbus Connected Experience. It is expected to be flying at the end of 2020.

One challenge mentioned at AIX was the need to find a common language to share across the Internet of Things, as lack of standardization is a current issue.

image: https://www.airbus.com/newsroom/press-releases/en/2019/04/airbus-connected-experience-goes-from-concept-phase-to-reality.html

Ultimately, the human experience is what will make passengers come back and fall in love with a brand. Digital is just part of the experience.

Vision Systems’ Info-Vision Window integrates both SPD and electroluminescent technologies. Passengers can view travel information on the panel easily, as the tint can automatically adjust in real-time, providing optimal contrast and readability.

“Future trends in connectivity hardware systems include cabin wireless access points featuring WPA3-Enterprise (protocol that supports security measures such as perfect forward secrecy), which is the latest evolution in data encryption and security enhancements for Wi-Fi.”

Michael Kuehn, President, Astronics CSC

Google recently announced STADIA, a gaming platform that can be used across multiple devices and screens. With Netflix now streaming in-flight on some carriers, we wonder who will be the first to support gaming on an airplane?

Developed by Astronics AeroSat, in conjunction with partner Phasor, the new SATCOM inflight connectivity antennas feature electronically steered array (ESA) technology that will deliver unprecedented connection reliability for aircraft. Astronics’ E-Series antennas will feature Phasor’s active electronically steered array to provide maximum antenna performance. Unlike competing systems, the E-Series will feature technology that enables a simultaneous transmit and receive from a single antenna array, with no need for bulky extra panels that drive up costly size and weight.

Astronics CSC’s cutting-edge server acts as the cornerstone of inflight entertainment and connectivity (IFEC) solutions. The team can help you solve how to implement or evolve streaming multi-media applications and wireless internet services for passengers' personal electronic devices.

Astronics CSC’s Sierra is the company’s the third-generation, streaming, portable InFlight Entertainment (IFE) system. It is designed to meet requirements of short-term aircraft trials as well as long-term IFE solution needs.

controls

In-seat control took many forms at AIX 2019.

materials & lighting

Lighter, tougher, more interesting and even kind of magical, materials and finishes caught our eye throughout the show.

Patterns can add interest and support an airline’s brand identity.

Finish options on galley faucets.

PriestmanGoode worked with Schott to create in-seat reading lights with beautiful finishes that enhance the seating ambiance.

Winter Created exhibited a number of technologies integrated into their Alcantara fabrics, which is durable and has a zero carbon footprint.

LED lights are embroidered on Alcantara, a soft, strong, carbon-neutral fabric, and connected with conductive yarns.

Astronics PGA introduced new Nuancia RGBW Strip Lights to provide flexible illumination options for aircraft seats and cabins. With this system, aircraft manufacturers and airlines can program mood-lighting systems to accommodate more than 16 million colors, create preset color scenarios, and present color changes.

Pitch seating shows a clever, simple and elegant seat back storage solution.

MGRSoftWall® by MGR Foamtex is a padded vertical wall covering that is capable of meeting the latest heat release and smoke density requirements.

branded

Whether crew wear, amenity kits, or dishware, exhibitors at AIX featured some well-designed, head-turning options.

Pleasant surprise seeing some of the process and inspiration behind designs.

eco friendly

“...humans are now producing 150m tons of single-use plastic every year, more than 8m of which are dumped into the sea. Half of all plastic is used just once before being thrown away.”

-Campaign group Plastic Oceans Foundation, https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/plastic-cutlery-plates-banned-uk-oceans-sea-pollution-marine-life-economic-defra-a8425626.html

The EU parliament voted to ban single-use plastic cutlery, straws, and coffee stirrers as part of a ban on single-use plastics. The law will go into effect by 2021 in all EU member states. Cutlery suppliers are responding with more sustainable offerings made with materials like bamboo, wood and paper.

Airline amenity kits were also seen leveraging the green movement, this one made with cork, signaling to passengers their goal of delivering a more eco-friendly experience.

https://www.staas.com.sg/ST-Aerospace-Spacelite