Singapore Airlines today became the third carrier to publicly discuss its decision to allow passengers to play music and video content from their own Apple iPod players over installed Panasonic in-flight entertainment (
Also, just this week Panasonic revealed that Air New Zealand has opted to retrofit 13 Airbus A320s and five Boeing 767s with Panasonic's X Series IFE systems, which features iPod integration. Folks, this is just the beginning. And boy is Panasonic in a sweet spot. The company says its
"Based on my involvement with our sales and marketing team, I can tell you that just about every airline we speak with has asked us to demonstrate this feature," Panasonic Avionics director, product line management Marshal Perlman tells Runway Girl.
"Just as in the PC world, device integration and system expandability are hot topics. And if you break it down, iPod integration is a simple and cost effective solution that helps bridge the gap between the
So how does all this work? Here are some visuals for your pleasure, and some facts from Panasonic about the the world's biggest and highest flying iPod accessory (as someone from Apple put it).
1) Allows audio and video to be sent from a passenger's iPod to the IFE system while simultaneously powering and charging the iPod.
2) eXport solution consists of two main components: eXport jack (installed in the seat) and eXport cable (connects the iPod to the eXport jack).
3) Cabin crew will make the eXport cable available to passengers during the flight.
4) Solution is the world's first Apple approved "Made for iPod" and "Made for iPhone" solution designed specifically for the commercial airliner market.
5) Natively supports Apple's authentication technology.
6) In the near future Panasonic will introduce additional functionality that allows for two way communication between the iPod and IFE system.
7) Both iPod and iPhone (in "airplane mode") are supported.
So, does this mean regular USB - or other non proprietary interfaces - will be supported as well. Is this another apple marketing scheme, or an honest attemp from the aviation industry to integrate personal entertainment.
BTW. How can this be safe if I even have to shut down my mobile phone because of the possibility (or fear thereof) of my phone interfering with flight contrl signals... surely an willing and able individula could use this link between their powerful electronic device and the IFE to... promote their personal goals?
Offcourse the IFE and flight control systems are completely seperate (are they?) But I would be rather annoyed by commercials playing on my screen the whole time, or the IFE beeing set to spanish.
The possibilities are endless. Both good and bad
So, does this mean regular USB - or other non proprietary interfaces - will be supported as well. Is this another apple marketing scheme, or an honest attemp from the aviation industry to integrate personal entertainment.
BTW. How can this be safe if I even have to shut down my mobile phone because of the possibility (or fear thereof) of my phone interfering with flight contrl signals... surely an willing and able individula could use this link between their powerful electronic device and the IFE to... promote their personal goals?
Offcourse the IFE and flight control systems are completely seperate (are they?) But I would be rather annoyed by commercials playing on my screen the whole time, or the IFE beeing set to spanish.
The possibilities are endless. Both good and bad
Great questions. A USB port is integrated into the IFE hardware, so this does indeed look like an honest attempt to integrate personal entertainment.
With respect to in-flight usage of mobile phones, you shouldn't have to shut it down (but the US FCC and FAA continue to insist upon it). The avionics interference argument holds less and less credence. Check out what Europe and the Middle East have accomplished (via AeroMobile and OnAir, which use picocell technology).
Consider fully integrated IFE with in-flight broadband connectivity. Now the possibilities for pax entertainment/infotainment are endless.