Greater in-flight connectivity and faster streaming for voice communications and Internet data remain the primary drivers in the cabin electronics market this year. Business aviation users tired of coverage gaps and latency issues with existing Ku-band systems eagerly await the widespread deployment of Ka-band systems that promise data streaming speeds up to 10 times faster than the current state of the art.

“We’ll definitely see a broader range of options ahead in the coming years,” Justin Dye, product manager for cabin management and in-flight experience at Honeywell Aerospace, told AIN.

Customer expectations have also driven business aviation suppliers and OEMs to focus on developing immersive cabin environments, offering single-point control for in-flight entertainment (IFE), lighting, seating, cabin temperature, galley services and window shades, rather than cabin management systems (CMS) that consist of a series of different supplier components.

All-In-One CMS Common on High-End Aircraft

As just one example, Honeywell’s Ovation Select system has been installed on more than 100 aircraft from Boeing, Bombardier, Dassault and Gulfstream since its introduction in 2011, and is standard equipment on the Embraer Legacy 450, 500, 600 and 650 and Lineage 1000.

“As the aircraft grow larger and more capable, so too does the level of cabin amenities and control expected by the customer,” noted Alvadi Serpa-Junior, director of medium jets product strategy for Embraer Executive Jets. “The [Ovation] system is also compatible with the most common consumer electronics devices–tablets, video games and streaming boxes–and can be controlled through mounted touchscreen units and portable devices, such as Apple and Android tablets and smartphones.”

At Textron Aviation, Heads Up Technologies’ Clairity cabin technology system has become an integral part of the Cessna Citation line, including the Citation X+ and the recently certified Citation Latitude, and optional on the Citation M2 and CJ3+. The system provides Internet connectivity and entertainment to passengers on larger aircraft through seat-mounted touch-screen displays, or through a smartphone interface. Clairity will be further reinforced with fiber-optic hardware for the upcoming Citation Longitude, to support enhanced communications capabilities and passenger control of lighting and window shades.

While some higher-end technologies have filtered down to smaller aircraft, an emphasis on portability continues to dominate the lower end of the market. Cessna’s smallest jet, the Citation Mustang, provides two 12-volt DC outlets for passengers to charge their personal electronic devices, while passengers on the Grand Caravan EX turboprop single can enjoy a DVD-based entertainment system with individual screens as part of the Oasis executive interior package.

Embraer’s Serpa-Junior noted a similar trend for his company. “If you look at our [entry-level] Phenom 100E and the Phenom 300, you will notice cabin management is centered more on portable devices, with less onboard installed equipment,” he said. “In this case, the aircraft provides power outlets and audio and video auxiliary input ports to support personal devices and to share content in the cabin,” he added.

The Brazilian manufacturer anticipates the next step for private jet cabins will be an emphasis on a “home-like” experience for passengers, with greater focus on comfort-oriented amenities. “Additionally, we expect more integration with portable devices, higher-speed Internet and more automation in the future,” Serpa-Junior concluded. “Since IFE and CMS will become so vital for both productivity and leisure, reliability will also improve.”

Dassault Falcon’s 7X, 900LX and 2000LX, as well as the upcoming Falcon 8X long-range jet, have the FalconCabin HD+ cabin management system from Rockwell Collins. Based on the Venue CMS, FalconCabin HD+ offers user control of the cabin environment through an app on Apple devices. The optional Skybox wireless media server is available for passengers to enjoy video and music through iTunes.

Gulfstream Expands Cabin Offerings

Rather than seeking a third-party CMS, or integrating diverse components into the cabin environment, Gulfstream developed the proprietary Gulfstream Cabin Management System introduced on the company’s flagship G650 and now offered in the G280 and above, including the upcoming G500 and G600. (The G150 offers a similar, though non-proprietary, CMS.)

“When we began looking at various systems, we came up with certain requirements we felt our customers would want,” explained Naveed Aziz, Gulfstream’s director for cabin research and development. “We wanted that technology as quickly as possible, but found that timelines and flexibility from leading CMS suppliers didn’t meet our expectations. What was forecast to take six to nine months from a supplier, we were able to implement within a few weeks.”

The Gulfstream CMS features handheld control of temperature, lighting, monitors and entertainment systems through an app for iOS and certain Android devices. More capabilities and equipment are added to this baseline system as you climb up the company’s model range, with Gulfstream’s higher-end offerings including such equipment as convection ovens and galley amenities necessary to support trip lengths that may extend as long as 14 hours on a G650ER.

Cindy Halsey, Gulfstream vice president for completion planning and design, noted the company has also recently expanded its research into cabin lighting. “We pay close attention to providing the customer with a variety of features and choices to personalize their aircraft cabin,” she explained. “Lighting plays an important role in relaxing on an [ultra-long-range] aircraft. Passengers need to arrive at their destination refreshed.”

Halsey added that the company’s sales, outfitting and delivery processes continue to evolve to produce the smoothest possible transition from purchase, through working with the completions team and ultimately to taking delivery of the aircraft.

Configurability, Security Important for Customers

As always, customers also want options for configuring their aircraft only for the capabilities they need. TrueNorth Avionics began shipments this year of its Optelity Cabin Gateway communications platform, which offers four configurations ranging from basic in-cabin Wi-Fi to the Optelity Pro able to control multiple cabin systems.

Departing from industry trends, the TrueNorth system is controlled through a dedicated touchscreen handheld device called Optelity Valet. TrueNorth CEO Mark van Berkel said the decision to use an aviation-certified device offers several advantages over app-based controls.

“Passengers’ smartphones were never designed for use in the cabin environment,” he explained. “We’ve also found that integrators and completion centers are often frustrated by commercial off-the-shelf [COTS] devices. Every time a new operating system is rolled out, they run the risk of seeing a $60 million business jet rendered obsolete by a $500 smartphone.”

That said, TrueNorth hasn’t abandoned customers seeking to use their cellular phones in flight. The company earned certification this year for its Simphone {{Production: insert line over i}} Mobile GSM system, installed by Amac Aerospace in a private Boeing 747-8 operated by a Middle East customer. The system supports quad-band cell and Wi-Fi-enabled smartphones, allowing customers to use their own mobile devices in flight.

That capability is the primary selling point for the new GlobalVT service offered by Satcom Direct. Once users enable the GlobalVT app on their smartphones (iOS devices for now, with an Android version nearing rollout) the devices use voice over Internet (VoIP) service through the aircraft’s onboard Wi-Fi network supplied by the Satcom Direct Router (SDR). Passengers can continue to receive calls and text messaging through their device’s existing cell number, with that number also appearing on Caller ID services during outbound calls.

“This is our ‘golden app,’” explained Satcom Direct founder and CEO Jim Jensen. “Although our Global One Number and FlightDeck Freedom [datalink] services offer clear benefits to their end users, both were driven primarily by the needs of flight departments and aircraft maintainers. GlobalVT is our first product that puts Satcom Direct front-and-center before the passengers and executives who are paying the bills.”

The SDR has been installed on approximately 150 aircraft through the end of June, with that number expected to rise following recent FAA approval of the SDR for installation on new and retrofit Gulfstream G550s and G450s. Jensen also noted that SDR users have increasingly discovered the security benefits of Satcom Direct’s data network.

“We’re talking about a private company operating a private jet, using a private network through our private data center,” he noted. “Our infrastructure allows private information to be rerouted back to that private company, which in turn allows the aircraft’s data network to comply with that company’s IT security policy.”

Security is also one of the benefits provided by Satcom Direct’s SkyShield, which can block unwanted data traffic to and from an aircraft. In addition to freeing up the data pipe for only the most urgently needed information (customers may set different options to block automatic downloads, for example, or to limit broadband-hogging video streaming), SkyShield offers geo-fencing that recognizes when the aircraft approaches a geographic area where the security of streamed data might pose a concern, and alerts the crew so they can warn passengers their data might be intercepted.

Airline Options Filter Down to Corporate Segment

In something of a shift from past trends that saw product innovations introduced in the private and corporate aviation segments, the airline industry has been a primary driver for implementation of inflight Ka-band communications systems. Among the companies at the forefront of the Ka-band revolution is ViaSat, with the company’s ViaSat-1 satellite providing Ka-band connectivity across North America for passengers flying on JetBlue Airlines since 2013.

“Everyone has moved to the expectation of doing in the air what they can do on the ground,” noted James Pearson, ViaSat’s director of global general aviation/VVIP business. “Data needs are growing at an exponential rate.”

While airlines have been quick to embrace Ka-band connectivity, most of ViaSat’s business aviation clientele continues to use the company’s Ku-band services for the flexibility and greater coverage area it provides. That includes Gulfstream, which recently signed an agreement for ViaSat to serve as the exclusive Ku provider on existing and upcoming aircraft.

However, Pearson expects a shift in business aviation preferences as Ka-band connectivity becomes more widely available. Scheduled for launch late next year, the higher-capacity ViaSat-2 will expand Ka-band coverage seven-fold over North America, Central America and the Caribbean basin. Perhaps most important, ViaSat-2 will also provide Ka-band coverage across the North Atlantic corridor between North America and Europe.

“Our approach is very much aligned with the cellular industry model,” Pearson added. “When Verizon launched its first 3G networks more than a decade ago, it put them where people would need 3G the most–big cities–and expanded outward from there. We’re doing the same thing with airborne data usage; 85 percent or more of that activity is within a confined area across North America, the North Atlantic and Europe. It’s no coincidence that’s where we’re focusing.”

The JetBlue agreement has also provided ViaSat with valuable usage data to test the robustness of its network. Pearson said approximately 300 aircraft using ViaSat services are flying over the U.S. at any one time, and many of the passengers on board aren’t using the network simply to check their email; they’re also streaming media.

“We’ve had people try to break the network,” Pearson chuckled. “Recently, a test group connected 36 iPads to stream content at once, as they would at home on the ground, just to see when–or if–those streams would stop. They kept going; the network supported it all.”

To prove that point firsthand to a prime business aviation audience, ViaSat mounted one of its aircraft dishes on top of the Palexpo convention center during this year’s European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE). That antenna was connected to a Ka-band terminal and routed to video monitors and a wireless hub at the company’s booth on the show floor.

“We also set up a video conferencing system at one of our [off-site] offices,” Pearson continued. “Our booth was set up as a business/VIP cabin environment with a 50-inch monitor so visitors could interact as they would during an in-flight conference between an aircraft and multiple sites on the ground. There was no latency; we blew people away, especially after we told them that while this was going on, the system was also supporting video and web access for other guests.”

Honeywell has also collaborated to provide Inmarsat’s GX Aviation global high-speed Ka-band network to airline and business aviation clients, with Bombardier’s Global line the corporate launch customer for GX Aviation service. Optional on the Global 5000 and 6000, the system will be standard on the upcoming Global 7000/8000.

“We’re excited about the capabilities this will bring to the business aviation segment,” said Becky Sidelinger, Honeywell’s senior director for satellite communications. “Although we haven’t published anticipated speeds yet, I can say that passengers will enjoy an experience comparable to what they see in their homes and offices on the ground.”

The companies successfully completed high-speed data tests earlier this year, using a GX Aviation antenna mounted atop a Boeing 757 testbed and paired with Honeywell’s JetWave MCS 8200 Ka-band cabin connectivity system. That antenna will be scaled down to fit inside a typical tail-mounted radome on business aircraft. In fact, the system is designed to fit within the same aerodynamic profile as an existing Ku-band radome, Sidelinger noted.

Business aviation poses an interesting marketing opportunity for companies that have traditionally served airline customers. “We’re actively looking at the corporate market,” noted Dave Kingstone, airline account manager at BAE Systems. “Of particular interest to us are aircraft coming out of airline service into charter or business use, [Boeing 737-based] BBJs, and 777s starting to replace VIP 747s. There are interesting possibilities there for some of our existing products, like cabin controls.”

One of those products is BAE Systems’ IntelliCabin Tablet IFE system, which was launched this year with Indian air carrier Vistara. As the name implies, IntelliCabin Tablet IFE consists of Linux-based server and wireless access points (WAPs) controlled through customized Samsung Galaxy tablets. Menus are preloaded onto the tablets, so they connect to the server only to download content the passenger wants.

The IntelliCabin server also offers wireless streaming to passengers’ bring-your-own-device smartphones and tablets. In-flight connectivity isn’t part of the system just yet, though Kingstone expects broadband capabilities to be added in the near future.

“We’re engaged with customers to look at opportunities in the marketplace,” he added. The tablet is one area, but another important focus area for BAE is providing in-seat power. The company is also working with clients “seeking lighting upgrades and other enhancements to the cabin experience.”

What’s Next?

Even as aircraft OEMs and equipment manufacturers ramp up their offerings to meet customers’ current technology expectations, they must also look toward future trends.

“We realized a few years ago that our system needed to be future-proof and able to support upgrades over the next several years,” said Gulfstream’s Aziz. “Already we have seen over the past few years the evolution of cabin displays, from standard definition to high-definition and now ultra-HD displays. The Gulfstream CMS is designed to support such upgrades without any major teardowns.”

Marc Kirmoyan, associate product manager for Bombardier Business Aircraft, expects wider Ka-band connectivity to drive demand for “a home-like Internet experience, with easy access to video streaming sites such as YouTube and SlingTV.

“A key customer demand is providing excellent integration between mobile devices and the aircraft cabin,” he continued. “To that end, we’ve recently introduced Bluetooth Audio Streaming from personal devices to cabin speakers on the Challenger 650. We also offer the ability to store and stream on-demand video content to personal devices.”

Another area of focus is improving component serviceability to reduce maintenance downtime, particularly for aircraft in the field. Bombardier’s web and tablet-based SmartFix Plus tool provides flight crews and technicians with descriptions, troubleshooting recommendations, images and diagrams of systems.

“All our aircraft are designed with a requirement for quick access to any line-replaceable unit [LRU] installed in the completion cycle, ensuring ease of maintenance,” Kirmoyan added. “Many installed LRUs have separate configuration modules that can be easily swapped out without the need for reconfiguration, [and] all completion installation procedures must pass an ergonomic study for ease of access by maintenance personnel.”

Lufthansa Technik Expands Cabin Offerings

Once known primarily for its MRO and aircraft completion and outfitting businesses, Lufthansa Technik is working to expand its portfolio of cabin products. That includes development work on a magnetic induction cooktop that, if introduced to the market, would complement the recently introduced Dishwashair purpose-built dishwasher for use on aircraft.

“We’re expanding the galley beyond the microwave,” noted David Crossett, department head of sales and marketing with the company. “We believe there’s been a lack of innovation in this area.” Although Lufthansa Technik hasn’t made a final decision about production, a working prototype of the cooktop includes venting for smells and heat, and the magnetic surface secures cookware in turbulence.

Later this year at the NBAA Convention in Las Vegas, Nev., Crossett also expects to announce a partnership to supply a major business aircraft OEM with the next generation of the Nice HD cabin management system on a previously announced, long-range aircraft program. The vastly updated CMS will feature a 10-GB, fiber-optic Ethernet backbone, providing what Crossett terms “an extremely solid platform to support highly advanced audio and video distribution, as well as future upgrades.”

Lufthansa Technik’s completion business was also responsible for one of the more whimsical product unveilings at this year’s EBACE show in Geneva. According to the company, the Fireless Fireplace simulates a fire by “illuminating water mist combined with an illuminated imitation of burning wood. This creates a realistic 3-D impression of a real fire.” Officially a “design study,” the Fireless Fireplace already meets certification requirements and weighs 30 kg (66 pounds), consuming up to 1,300 Watts of power depending on setting.

Meanwhile, Crossett said Lufthansa Technik will continue building its presence in the complete cabin segment through partnerships similar to its Inairvation joint venture with List Components and Furniture. “Other providers are entering this segment through buying other companies,” he noted. “We’re trying to team organically with partners who want to work with Lufthansa Technik.”

Honeywell: Passengers Aren’t the Only Customers in the Cabin

Whether speaking about control systems for aircraft engines and electronics, to tweaking a cabin display to minimize possible confusion for a first-time passenger, the “Honeywell User Experience” is a recurring theme throughout the company’s development efforts. A key part of that process is “voice of the customer” feedback–and not just from those seated in the cabin.

“We are extremely focused on the overall user experience,” said Justin Dye, product manager for cabin management and in-flight experience. “The passenger is obviously important, but the use case for the entire journey–and for the people needed to support it–must also be considered."

For example, earlier this year Dye’s team followed a flight attendant as she provisioned one of Honeywell’s aircraft for a trip. “To be blunt, we found that certain aspects of setting up the cabin were painful for her,” Dye noted. “Setting up the cabin represents a significant amount of time, and she had 100 things to do, from stocking newspapers and food, to adjusting the cabin environment. We asked ourselves, ‘How great would it be if she could perform these tasks off the airplane?”

The team initially looked toward a touchscreen app to assist with the process, but that presented its own challenges. “How does that help at all, if she has to put down what’s in her hand to use the touchscreen?” Dye asked. “It seems obvious now, but I’d never really thought of that. Also, the flight attendant had no pockets in her apron to place a tablet or smartphone.

“So then we asked, ‘What if some tasks can be performed without using your hands?’” Dye continued. “Google Glass enabled voice control over certain aircraft cabin functions when on the aircraft’s Wi-Fi network, including turning on the lights, raising the blinds and adjusting temperature. That saved about 20 percent of her time spent provisioning the cabin.” These findings may ultimately lead to apps supporting “wearable tech,” not only for Google Glass but also for wearable devices such as the Apple Watch and similar Android smartwatches.

Another revelation came when the team examined a case where a personal control unit (PCU) failed in flight. “The flight attendant represented Tier-1 tech support. She was unable to fix it, so her escalation point was the pilot,” Dye explained. “That meant the pilot was out of his seat, back in the cabin, trying to fix a PCU.

“That’s a pretty glaring point of failure, and several changes came about from that experience,” Dye continued. “The PCU needed to be much easier to repair in the field, and the escalation procedure needed to be changed [to remove the pilot from the process.]” Thanks to these findings, Honeywell’s customer research now includes input from flight and cabin crews as well.

Gogo Business Aviation Provides Connectivity Options for Aircraft Large and Small

Another option for smaller aircraft is the Gogo Vision IFE on-demand system, offering a large database of in-flight movies, TV episodes, news, destination weather, moving maps and flight information for download to aircraft equipped with the nine-pound UCS 5000 router while on the ground. Passengers can then stream these features on their personal Wi-Fi-connected laptops or tablets in flight.

The system is installed in NetJets’ Signature Phenom 300s, with streaming services available through a growing network of Signature Flight Support locations. “Gogo Vision is attractive for users seeking an IFE system without a full CMS,” said John Wade, executive vice president and general manager for Gogo Biz. “Content may be downloaded to the aircraft as it taxies into the FBO, so you don’t need to chase airplanes around.”

The company formerly known as Aircell also offers five variants of Gogo Biz air-to-ground service–with systems installed in aircraft as diverse as the G650 and a Cessna 421 piston twin–as well as SwiftBroadband and Iridium satellite communications services.

ELECTRONICS CLIPS

The Astronics EmPower in-seat electrical power supply has been installed on more than a half million seats, across more than 140 airline and business aviation OEM customers. Offering 28VDC to 115VAC connection and dual-use AC/USB outlet support, the system can also be retrofitted to business aircraft through PMA.

ExecJet’s BizJet Mobile offers a portable air-to-ground communications system for SMS texting and email through a personalized iPad.

FlyHT’s lightweight Dragon portable satcom for small aircraft, business jet and helicopter operators avoids the need for a supplemental type certificate by pairing the company’s satellite communications technology with an iPad.

The HondaJet is outfitted with Emteq’s SkyPro HD in-flight entertainment and CMS, complete with an interactive 3-D moving map and exterior camera display. The HondaJet is also the launch aircraft for Nuance electronically dimmable windows provided by Vision Systems.

ICG recently partnered with Flight Display Systems (FDS) on an enhanced in-flight entertainment system for business aircraft, combining ICG’s eRouter with FDS’s next-generation JetJukebox wireless media streaming device. FDS has also introduced a cockpit camera option for its Smart Cabin CMS, providing passengers with a real-time, high-definition view of what’s ahead.

One Aviation is developing a cabin intercom system for its Eclipse 550 very light jet, as well as “several additional features which we have not yet completed,” according to Eclipse president Ken Ross. The company currently offers Eclipse buyers in-cabin Iridium satellite phone.

Rockwell Collins’s Venue HD cabin system may also now be retrofitted to Bombardier Globals previously equipped with the company’s Cabin Electronic System.

SmartSky Networks recently launched an airborne 4G/LTE network, employing the 60-MHz spectrum to provide improved speed and capacity for air-to-ground voice communications and data transmission.