Panasonic Dials up Deal for Control of Aeromobile
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AIRCRAFT INTERIORS EXPO: DAY 1 27MARCH 2012 ISSUE 1 Panasonic dials up deal for control of AeroMobile Panasonic Avionics reveals at the Phone product uses AeroMobile’s AeroMobile’s sole owner – retains this transaction, our customers will show today it has taken a majority airborne mobile phone service, and a minority stake in the company. benefit from an increased level of stake in in-flight connectivity pio- is a “key element in the company’s Panasonic and AeroMobile are integration between our two neer AeroMobile Communications. long term in-flight connectivity and sharing a stand (6F15) following companies,” says Yasu Enokido, California, USA-headquartered communications strategy”, says the announcement of the deal. Panasonic Avionics president. Panasonic Avionics’ onboard eX- Panasonic. Telenor – previously “We believe that, as a result of Pål Bjørdal, AeroMobile president, adds: “We believe that this arrangement demonstrates the importance of this business A pleasant attack both to Telenor and Panasonic, of the vapours: and by taking an active SkyMax’s Oliver ownership position, Panasonic is Kloth enjoys clearly demonstrating its a drag on the commitment to supporting this Fumirette business in the future.” Panasonic says AeroMobile will “continue to operate as an independent company”, offering in-flight voice and data services, maintaining its global telecom roaming agreements. Panasonic vice president, global communications services David Bruner says that Telenor will remain an active shareholder but that Panasonic – with its Smokey long-established airline relation- ships – will be able to drive the marketing and delivery of the and the service to the airline market. “It’s very complementary to our broadband business,” adds Bruner, banned hit noting that out of 25 broadband BillyPix customers all but three have the eXPhone service as well. When it comes to promoting The “cigarette” has a silver director. The airline can The eXPhone enables passengers opportunities for smokers to shell and bright blue LED, meanwhile draw pleasure from to use their mobile phones to make safely indulge their passion designed to extinguish any the fact that the electronic and receive voice calls and SMS for cigarettes on the wing, concerns from fellow passen- disposable cigarette delivers “a text messages in flight, along with SkyMax (stand 6B62) is far from gers that its user is actually turnover of ten euros on three data services such as emails. passive. smoking. square centimetres of space on Operators of the eXPhone The Fumirette 2go is a “Upon request, one can get a the tender”, says SkyMax. include Emirates, Virgin Atlantic disposable electronic cigarette personal Fumirette designed – SkyMax is also showing a and Malaysia Airlines, and that its maker claims produces snake leather, sterling silver, or new automated beverages Lufthansa and Gulf Air will soon “very little vapour” while special engraving – there are no trolley called Sky-Tender, and a join them. Commitments have been providing “300 inhalations of limits to the fantasy here”, says new glass for out-fitting aircraft secured from Etihad, SAS, Cathay pure pleasure for its user”. Oliver Kloth, SkyMax managing cabins. Pacific and Turkish Airlines. HALL HIGHLIGHTS Keep up-to-date with latest IFE industry developments flightglobal.com/ife Portal offers Form for a function chance to Pitch Aircraft Seating (stand 5G50) is hoping to conquer the win iPad economy class retrofit market OnAir (stand 6G35) with its new lightweight seat. has teamed up with Being unveiled at the show, the Reed Exhibitions for PF2000 is designed for high-densi- the third year run- ty, single-aisle aircraft and weighs ning to provide an- less than 25kg for a triple unit yone attending thanks to construction from light- Aircraft Interiors weight composite materials. Expo with a mo- Sculpted to closely mould the bile portal for the human form, the PF2000 opti- duration of the mises knee and leg room, while show. This year, for the first time, a its curved shape enables an extra competition – with the prize of an 2.5 in of legroom over standard iPad – is open to anyone who economy seats. works for an airline. The modular back rest The portal, available for any allows an integrated IFE package, Pitcher perfect: Stewart Cordner reveals the PF2000 smartphone or tablet, provides iPad carrier, or a high or low litera- the event’s daily schedule, an ex- ture pocket and are interchangea- Pitch is advancing plans to sup- who says that the company is also hibitor search and a site plan plus ble allowing customers to change port the Airbus A320 family and intending to deliver the seats in other useful information. It also IFE solutions at any point with the Boeing 737 series according to record time through new produc- provides direct access to news minimum modification. its sales director Stewart Cordner, tion techniques. and the show’s Twitter feed. To win the iPad, Aircraft Interi- ors attendees need to take part in OnAir’s “infohunt”, answering a series of questions about Global Cobra’s metalized polymer lightweight awaits first order at AIX Xpress, Inmarsat’s global Ka-band solution, which is due to be Cobra UK (stand 5C17) is debuting what est from the airlines by sealing its first launched in 2013 and for which it claims is the world’s lightest economy order at the show. OnAir is a distribution partner. aircraft seat. The company says the “Using principles honed in the auto- “We are using this portal to breakthrough will cut average per-aircraft motive sector, our engineering team has showcase OnAir’s ability to pro- carbon emissions by up to 1,500t and adopted a total-cost solution to reducing vide customer-specific portals,” fuel costs by £850,000 ($135,000). the weight of aircraft seats,” says Cobra says Ian Dawkins, CEO of Sita- The company chemically metalizes a managing director Gary Seale (left). owned OnAir. “Our bespoke por- range of high strength polymers to pro- “The technology provides a metal fin- tals provide the contextual infor- vide a 15% weight reduction compared ish for coating strong polymers, ensuring mation to passengers on the move with current-generation seats. a lighter option (21kg for a trio of seats) in the most appropriate way. Cobra is hoping to build on initial inter- that doesn’t compromise strength.” Connect to the portal by going to www.aixnow.com. 6 | Flight Daily News | 27 March 2012 flightglobal.com/aix12.