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Airline Services is making its debut in the IFE Zone at this week’s Aircraft Interiors Show in Hamburg 31 March – 2 April (Hall 6, Stand D15) to showcase its new range of IFE products. The ASL 175 AeroScreen is a 17.5” HD-ready Monitor, designed and developed in-house by ASL’s own engineering team. Five of the new light-weight, Centre-Aisle drop-down screens with a fully automatic retraction system are currently being trialled onboard a Boeing 757 currently operating on behalf of bmi.
The state-of-the-art system is the first in a series of IFE products being developed by Airline Services in response to market demand for what ASL is calling “lighter, brighter, faster” technology. The ASL Series AeroScreens offer improved reliability, reduced weight and lower energy consumption, whilst delivering a screen image of remarkable clarity and brightness with a wider viewing angle, (in excess of 160 degrees horizontal and 130 degrees vertical). The HD-ready screens will accept all input formats including PAL, NTSC and SECAM and video inputs from composite to RGB and S-VHS.
The 17.5” Screen is available for currently Centre-Aisle installation with a fully approved automatic retraction mechanism or as a Bulkhead mounted unit also with an approved mount. Further versions planned for release are a 10" Overhead Bin system and a seat-back mounted version. The AeroScreen confirms to the latest D160 standards.
Airline Services will also be demonstrating its digital Audio and Video Delivery Unit – AeroStream – a compact, digital, multi-channel device aimed at replacing heavy and outdated tape systems. Scheduled for launch in the fourth quarter of 2009, the unit has been designed with space, weight and energy saving in mind. It has the speed, clarity and flexibility of a digital delivery system with improved reliability. The unit comes with Airline Services’ own moving map application – StarStream – bringing stunning satellite enhanced imagery in a range of visual configurations including an innovative head-up display perspective.
The AeroStream system will include a Touch Screen cabin control interface for use by cabin crew. Currently designed to deliver broadcast / distributive content across 6 channels of video and 12 audio channels, the system will ultimately offer full aircraft AVOD.
Bryan Bodek, Airline Services CEO commented: “We are delighted and very proud to be showcasing our new IFE products in Hamburg this week. We took the decision back in 2007 to expand into the IFE sector. Through our close relationships with our customers we consistently heard complaints about the poor reliability and image quality of existing IFE systems. We decided this was an opportunity to develop new IFE products tailored to the demands of modern airlines and passengers putting to good use the experience and skills of our engineering team and by adopting the latest developments from the world of consumer electronics. The downturn in the market and increase in fuel prices have increased the argument for simpler, more cost-effective solutions for on-board passenger entertainment.”
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
