Germany’s Idair (Booth T95), developer and manufacturer of in-flight entertainment and communication (IFEC) and cabin management systems (CMS) for VIP airliners, announced winning contracts for a trio of head-of-state aircraft—two B777s and a B787 for two undisclosed customers—this week at EBACE 2019. 

Its tailored IFEC/CMS for the 777s incorporates 4K UHD displays, overhead surround and in-seat audio, window shades control, a dynamic lighting system, moving map, and audiovisual on demand. It is operated through an intuitive graphical user interface, “allowing passengers and crew to experience an easy and elegant method of controlling the cabin environment with seamless accessibility from mobile devices,” according to Idair.

The company provided identical systems for two 777s delivered in the second half of last year. “This award underlines the positive results of our previous installations and deliveries,” said Idair managing director Alan Cumming.

Meanwhile, Idair's system for the 787 Dreamliner features Wi-Fi access, wireless and wired Ethernet, passenger device integration, and a satellite broadband internet solution, delivering an experience that passengers would expect in a home or office environment on the ground, the company said.

Content of Idair’s IFE systems can include the latest cinema releases, music, and games, along with a wide range of TV channels. The communication system supports onboard use of passengers’ mobile and personal devices, and the surround-sound audio features an advanced trim panel speaker sound distribution system that turns side-walls and overhead panels into speakers, delivering a wider frequency response than traditional loudspeaker systems.

Meanwhile, its highly customizable, true 3D moving map incorporates real satellite imagery and includes chase-plane views, information pages, and banners that depict aircraft location, flight route, and nearby points of interest.

Established in April 2011, Hamburg-headquartered Idair is a joint venture between Lufthansa Technik and Panasonic Avionics Corp. Its successes to date “demonstrate the flexibility of its product and service portfolio from standalone to fully integrated IFEC/CMS systems on narrow- and widebody VIP aircraft alike,” said Idair CEO Dr. Wassef Ayadi.