Last week's Singapore Airshow injects hope
for an aviation world that we can actually look forward to. The biggest air
show in Asia this year put emphasis on emerging technologies, with forums and a
whole exhibition zone dedicated to the topic. This might just be what we can
look forward to over the next few years.
3D Printed Planes?
More than 1,000 pieces of this plane is made
by 3D printer. Airbus's development of the A350 struggled to keep pace with
deadlines in its early days. To fix the problem, it turned to 3D printing. More
than 1,000 parts of the A350 are now made by 3D printing -- more than on any
other commercial aircraft. That's a trend that's going to keep on growing,
according to industry experts. It will start with the spare parts on an
airplane that require replacement from time to time, like handles. In addition
to non-critical plane parts, tools used in aviation manufacturing can also be
printed. By 3D printing, it significantly reduces the complexity to make some
of the parts and save cost, time and weight. Don't expect a whole plane to be
3D printed anytime soon, though.
Multi-tasking
Inflight Entertainment
Now attention spans can be stretched in the
air as well as at home. Seatback screen or tablet? How about both? It will be
like when you're at home, you'll turn on the TV, at the same time work on your
laptop and play with your smartphone. Thales' new inflight entertainment system
AVANT accommodates the habit. The gadget is controlled by an Avii, a
smartphone-like remote with intuitive navigation, which will mainly be adopted
in premium cabins. It acts as a second screen, allowing users to do things like
browse the ratings of other movies while watching one on the main monitor.
Personal smartphones can be synced with the system. Movies can be browsed and
bookmarked ahead of boarding, while an unfinished movie can be saved and
effortlessly picked up from the same place on the next flight, preserving every
vital movie-watching second.
Singapore Airlines has just signed up to the system and the carrier's new A350XWBs will be
installed with AVANT in 2018. The deal also includes a new touch-screen system
in economy class cabin -- the world's lightest seatback monitor -- and Ka-band
-- currently the fastest inflight Internet.
Eye
Control
Watch out for eye-tracking technology. The
next-gen inflight entertainment system is targeted at business or first class
passengers whose seat monitors may not be at arm's length. Instead, monitors
will be controlled by eye movements. As a passenger looks away -- say when the
flight attendant comes to pour a glass of champagne, the screen will
automatically stop the movie. It resumes when you the passenger sits back and
stares at the screen again. We can expect to see the technology in five to
seven years.
Morphing
Apps
An all-in-one app for everything flying
related. Turns out we've been carrying excess digital baggage. Developers are
now working on adaptable apps that change according a user's location and need.
Unlike most current airport apps based around static layout maps, the
all-in-one version would use Bluetooth beacons to filter information before
sending it to users at the right time. It could transform check-in processes
and be used to track luggage. If your baggage is lost, your app will be able to
tell -- and you don't have to wait to find out at the baggage carousel. Miami International
airport recently became the first to install beacons feeding data including
walk-to-gate times, details of nearby food outlets and updates on baggage
collection.
Call Rawhide Travel and Tours and start
planning that special vacation or event today. 602-843-5100 or visit our
website rawhidetravel.com
Presented By:
Rawhide Travel and Tours Inc
6008 West Bell Road # F105
Glendale, Arizona 85308-3793
(602) 843-5100
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