Seats-R-U!

We just got wind of a VERY Important meeting before AIX that all of our readers should take notice and possibly attend. Read on!

"The WAEA is optimistic that its Single Focus Workshop: Seats and IFE—being held on May 17 in Hamburg on the eve of AIX—will have the important effect of stimulating greater cooperation among the stakeholders involved in seat/IFE integration. Hosted by Airbus at its Hamburg facility, the event brings together both Boeing and Airbus, along with IFEC suppliers Thales and Panasonic, and seat manufacturers Recaro, Weber and Sicma, with others who might yet turn up. With OEM emphasis on lighter weights for both seats and IFE systems, and renewed airline interest in many parts of the world in Premium Economy seats to help bring back the business traveler—whose propensity to purchase tickets has lagged the leisure traveler in the current recovery—this is the time for all of these guys to get together, work together, and innovate together.

As the re-proposed merger of United and US Airways, and the pending merger of British Airways and Iberia indicates, a whole lot of airlines aren’t making any money nowadays. Lighter, more comfortable—even life-flat—seats, and lighter and more robust IFE systems are necessary. Panasonic, who once called their solution Fusion, and withdrew the name in favor of the less sexy "smart integrated seat" will be there to discuss the issues involved in merging high-end IFE with slim-line seating, and Thales will be there talking about the ARINC 832 document.

And the seat guys are there. Better that a whole lot more people from IFEC turn out as well to get behind WAEA’s effort and move toward some common seat specs. It’s conveniently timed—the Monday before AIX—and there will be easy transportation provided from your Hamburg hotel. Besides, you’ll get an Airbus tour, free lunch, and an evening reception out of it.

We urge you to go to this workshop – as the presentations on the "integrated smart monitor" (think "fusion seat" but that term is not politically correct) by Panasonic, and the Arinc 832 (future cabin network for the A350) by Ken Brady of Thales will be great insights. Plus, another goal of the workshop is to really get Airbus and Boeing "working together" again on specs for IFE in the seats – they were doing this until recently and now seem to be going their own way... so, IFE suppliers face the prospects of designing to two different specs again.

Check out all the details on the WAEA website.

I signed up for the weekly news letter, and this is the 1st one relative to our subject matter. Based on the Mar 11, 2010 artical I found in Google and posted yesterday, it appears we are not involved at this point in time.