In-flight entertainment-getting from wishlist to reality

Much of what we see in the consumer electronics stores will eventually find it's way into airplanes in the form of in-flight entertainment (IFE). This consumer electronic equipment is often referred to as "the leading edge of technology". Unfortunately, that same equipment that is the "leading edge" of consumer electronics, often starts to feel like the "bleeding edge" when you try to integrate it into IFE systems for today's modern aircraft. Unlike Avionics systems, the technologies behind IFE equipment are not usually mature before they are integrated into the aircraft. What may work well in a home environment, may not work well at all in the aircraft environment. Often this problem results in last minute redesign in an effort to make the equipment function as intended on the aircraft. Both the FAA and the aircraft manufacturer impose many requirements on the suppliers and products of IFE. Systems need to be designed for the aircraft environment. Many variations on in-flight entertainment systems have forced the creation of new standards for integration into commercial aircraft. Power, cooling, and EMC issues are becoming more of a concern as we move to full aircraft implementations. Beyond the technical evaluations and lab/aircraft testing, one key component is customer satisfaction. This paper will cover some of the methods and tools we use to get IFE from wishlist to reality.