Flight Display Systems (Booth 700), based in Alpharetta, Ga., is showcasing six new products at the 57th annual AEA International Convention and Trade Show, being held March 12 to 14 in Nashville, Tenn. Smart Cabin CMS combines control of cabin management, in-flight entertainment and wireless connectivity, allowing passengers to use their own personal electronic device to control HD video equipment, cabin lighting, audio and more.
“With Smart Cabin CMS, Flight Display Systems allows a business jet owner to create an experience that mirrors the essence of an office or living room,” according to David Gray, president of Flight Display Systems. “Smart Cabin empowers passengers with everything necessary to connect, stay informed, be entertained and manage the aircraft cabin environment.”
At the core of Smart Cabin is the latest-generation JetJukebox, a wireless hub that, along with a Wi-Fi router, creates a local area network within an aircraft cabin. The device will stream movies, music or images via Wi-Fi to as many as eight passengers and allows them to use any iOS, Android or Windows device to connect to cabin management and in-flight entertainment systems. JetJukebox also allows them to share files and view Flight Display’s Worldwide Moving Map. Flight Display is promoting JetJukeBox at the AEA show by offering a $7,500 trade-in on any brand of moving-map system.
Complementing wireless control is a line of hard-wired touchscreens and OLED buttons that control galley equipment, lights, window shades, attendant calls and cabin temperature, among other things. Flight Display Systems also offers a full line of HD displays ranging in size from seven inches to 42 inches, connected to the company’s Fly HD line of HD components such as audio/video converters, switches and amplifiers.
Also being introduced at AEA is what Flight Display Systems calls a modern solution to aging ceiling-mounted displays. Small, outdated overhead monitors can be replaced with 15.4-inch widescreen LCDs. The operator removes the left- or right-hand base units and sends them to Flight Display Systems to be retrofitted with new HD displays.
The updated units, now holding slim lightweight displays, retain their motorized capabilities and are deployed with a remote control. The updated units carry a one-year warranty. “This display allows older ceiling-mounted displays to be replaced with new technology using the same cutout,” said Gray.
The Georgia-based company is also introducing a new, more compact version of its satellite radio streamer that is easier to install. The DAPS360 Ver 2, weighing less than a pound and already PMA'd, comes with voice-assisted set-up with step-by-step instructions using headphones. Up to 16 units can be installed in an aircraft, giving passengers access to more channels from every seat. Flight Display says the DAPS360 Ver 2 interfaces with the majority of cabin management systems and streams satellite radio channels to a variety of personal devices either wired or wirelessly, iPhone or Android. Channel selection, artist and song name are all controlled via an RS-232 serial port, and the streamer is compatible with the Sirius XM antenna.
Flight Display has released an HD-SDI version of its auxiliary input panel. When installed near a seat, the panel provides audio and video inputs (composite video, VGA, HDMI, and left/right audio input) for the Smart Cabin CMS. The unit’s HD-SDI output is designed to integrate with HD-SDI displays and components. It can also work with third-party components that use standard single-ended line level audio and SDI/HD-SDI video interfaces.
Flight Display Systems’ new HD glareshield color camera, when mounted in the cockpit, provides passengers with the view ahead during taxi, takeoff and landing. “Flight-view cameras add a new dimension to the flying experience for passengers,” said Gray. “This new offering provides a crystal-clear high-definition image transmitted through an HD-SDI backbone.” Equipped with a 6-mm f3.6 lens, the camera produces 1080p output at 30 frames per second and 720p at 60 fps via HD-SDI. The effective pixel resolution is 1944 x 1092, and minimum illumination is 0.1 Lux. The camera (FD600CAM-3) comes with a mounting base.
Rounding out Flight Display’s product introductions at AEA is a drop-in replacement for the Teledyne AvVisor moving map, which is no longer supported. The Flight Display solution is a 9-inch widescreen LCD display that drops into the same cutout. The moving map is provided by the JetJukebox.
