Inflight editor Alexander Preston summarises the latest happenings across IFEC and cabin technology.
“Right now we are living in some of the most exciting times in the history of aviation, and all of that is going to be on display at this year’s convention,” NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen told NBAA TV earlier this week.
With Las Vegas hosting this year’s NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE), the international business aviation community has spent the past three days discovering the latest innovations, learning about the future of air transport, exploring the best aircraft in the industry, and connecting with key vendors and manufacturers.
While there may have been some high-profile model launches, such as the G700 from Gulfstream, the common thread of this week’s announcements has been in-flight connectivity.
With business jet and VIP travellers expecting the luxuries of the home or office environment, manufacturers and suppliers are expanding their portfolios with new tail-mounted antenna technology to deliver high-speed broadband with low latency for video conferencing, streaming video and audio, on-demand movies, personal smartphone use, and real-time data for cockpit apps while in flight.
Recent STC approvals mean that IFC is becoming more accessible on a greater number of aircraft types either as a aftermarket option or as linefit.
Travellers can really start to work, rest and play at 40,000ft.
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