Avionics 1.qxp_Finance 23/02/2021 13:05 Page 1
AVIONICS GERRARD COWAN is a freelance journalist who focuses on aerospace, defense and finance. He can be found on Twitter @GerrardCowan
Upgrading Cabin Management Systems: What to Know Business jet operators upgrade their Cabin Management Systems (CMS) for a range of reasons. Gerrard Cowan speaks to some of the industry’s
experts to find out what operators should know when planning a retrofit… abin Management Systems are central to passenger interaction with the aircraft they’re flying on, enabling them to control their environment – from temperature and lighting, to window shades, to in-flight entertainment (IFE). Many Business Aviation operators today look to upgrade their CMS when the aircraft is in the MRO shop for other work, or to increase its appeal in the pre-owned market when they are contemplating a sale. Indeed, such upgrades have become an increasingly common request in recent years, according to Steve Elofson, an Avionics Sales Representative at Duncan Aviation, which upgrades CMS as part of a wide range of maintenance services. This demand is driven by two main factors, he says. First, CMS become obsolete over time, meaning the equipment is no longer repairable, or
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68 Vol 25 Issue 3 2021 AVBUYER MAGAZINE
is not supported by the original manufacturer. Second, technology is always changing in the electronics world, and operators may wish to exploit new developments. “What we had in our houses and our cars 10 years ago is vastly different to what's available right now,” he says. “It's really the same with aircraft and their cabins. There's a demand for the latest and greatest in electronic capabilities.” As an example, Elofson highlights the move to High Definition (HD) displays. “This is a very common CMS-related request,” he shares. Additionally, there’s growing demand for wireless connectivity and control, where users can control their cabin systems from a Personal Electronic Device (PED), such as a smartphone or a tablet. They might stream their own movies or television shows on the aircraft’s screens, or stream from the aircraft to their personal devices (via an onboard Audio and Video On-Demand server). www.AVBUYER.com
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