Call +44(0)1442 257468 for aircraft structural design. www.h4aerospace.com  

Aircraft cockpit power installations

Integrated cockpits are the future, where modular instrument panels will be designed, fabricated and installed for retro-fit of emerging avionics and cockpit systems. This integrated cockpit will use an umbilical connection setup for mating it to the airplanes power, pneumatic and data bus systems.

This configuration would allow individual panel sections (radio stack, displays, etc.) to be removed for diagnostic, maintenance as well as systems upgrade. 3d CAD software is used to create the geometry for the retro-fit instrument panels. Field maintenance technicians will use new low cost standard installation practices. Eliminating the labour costs associated with updating aircraft avionics will pave the way for emerging technology to find its way into into today's aircraft, a volume market.

In-seat power installations

Aircraft in-seat power which connects aircraft electrical power to passenger provided carry-on devices must adhere to conditions.

The in-seat power supply system must be designed to provide circuit protection against system overloads, smoke and fire hazards resulting from system shorts or faults.

Each system must be designed to prevent any radiated or conducted electromagnetic interference (EMI) to critical or essential aircraft systems. This can be done by filtering. Also, the manufacturer must ensure isolation of the aircraft electrical system bus from any unacceptable electrical noise created by connected portable electronic devices.

The ISPSS design must allow for deactivation at any time below 10,000 feet above ground level (AGL). A clearly labelled and conspicuous means of deactivating the ISPSS must be provided on the flight deck for either the flight crew, the cabin crew or both. The switch must be available at all times and must allow for the immediate disconnection of all seat outlets. An ISPSS light should be installed in the cockpit for flight crew awareness.

Seat occupants should be protected against electric shock.

To provide for a power connection from the aircraft ISPSS to the portable electronic device, a special adapter should be installed for all connected PED’s to operate. The adapter must have a mating connector that will plug into a unique connector on the aircraft side which cannot be mistaken for, and is not compatible with, a conventional duplex alternating current (AC) outlet.

Power available at each seat outlet shall be limited to 100 watts.

Conducted/Radiated electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) evaluation of the in-seat power supply system should be measured with maximum load at each passenger outlet.

All audio must be delivered through headphones/ headsets.

The burden of establishing the suitability of use of a portable electronic device on a particular aircraft will remain with the operator.

Aircraft galley installation design

Innovative design services for commercial aircraft produce interior aircraft configurations or cabin reconfiguration by performing layout integration tasks and feasibility studies, striving all the while for improved galley flexibility, giving airlines a wider range of options in terms of galley positioning, while minimizing the total aircraft system weight. The process calls for a blend of industry experience, a network of quality industry contacts, as well as an in-depth knowledge of regulations.

Aircraft toilet installation design

Gravity does the business...

The first toilets in airplanes were simple buckets. Information on early flushing systems is not available, however aircraft cabins were not pressurized and it was easy to open doors and windows...

Today, happily for people living under flight paths, lavatory service carts collect the waste for final disposal into the airport sewage facility. The main constraint in aircraft lavatory design is weight. Toilet flushing systems, even when using recycled water, represent an important weight to fly around. Toilet design is a compromise between comfort and operating cost.

The vacuum flush lavatory is standard on all new aircraft. These toilets, designed on a modular concept, could very nearly be installed anywhere in aircraft cabins. Centralized waste tanks and water supply are connected to the toilets with small tubes instead of plumbing pipe. Fast and powerful pumps suck from below the bowls to discharge the sludge into the waste tank. The flush works in two stages, first a small quantity of water is released then a powerful vacuum is activated for around three seconds.

In-flight entertainment equipment installations

Pan Am was the first airline to use television monitors on its planes. The television monitors were installed in the first class section of the Lockheed L-10 Electra. However, all forms of in-flight entertainment were only being shown on domestic flights. The first airline in the world to show in-flight movies on an international route was Pakistan International Airlines PIA , also in 1963.

Early systems consisted of in-seat audio that could be heard with hollow tube headphones. It wasn't until 1979 that electronic headsets were available on selected flights and premium cabins.

8mm film cassettes allowed flight attendants to change movies in-flight and add short subject programming.

In 1975, there were video games to be played on board flights and in 1988, the first in-seat audio/video on-demand systems using 2.7 inch LCD Liquid crystal display technology appeared.

System safety and regulation

In-flight entertainment system design must consider system safety. Miles of wiring, voltage leaks and arcing become a problem. To contain any possible issues, the In-flight entertainment system is typically isolated from the aircraft's main systems. By separating the power supplies and data links from that of the aircraft's performance processor, the system is self sustained, and can not alter the functionality of the aircraft.

Cost efficiency

Most In-flight entertainment systems are purchased by existing airlines as an upgrade package to an existing fleet of aircraft. This cost can be anywhere between $2 Million and $5 Million for a plane to be equipped with a set of seat back LCD monitors and an embedded IFE system. Some airlines pass the cost directly onto the customers ticket price, while some are charging a user fee. Some are also attempting to get a majority of the cost paid for by advertisements screened on the IFE.

Software reliability

Software for in-flight entertainment systems must be aesthetically pleasing, reliable, compatible, and also must be user friendly. In-flight entertainment equipment is often touch screen sensitive, allowing interaction between each seat in the aircraft and the flight attendants even with Wireless communication in some systems. Along with a complete aircraft intranet,the software of in-flight entertainment systems must be reliable when communicating to and from the main processor.

Closed Captioning technology started in 2008. It is text streamed along with video and audio. This will enable passengers to enable or disable the subtitle/caption language. Closed Captioning is capable to stream various text languages.

Video entertainment

Video entertainment is provided via a large video screen at the front of a cabin section, as well as smaller monitors situated every few rows above the aisles. Sound is supplied via the same headphones distributed for audio entertainment. Personal televisions (PTVs) for every passenger are also providing passengers with channels broadcasting new and classic films, as well as comedies, documentaries, children's shows and drama series. Some airlines also present news and current affairs programming, which are often pre-recorded and delivered in the early morning before flights commence.

PTVs are operated via an In flight Management System which stores pre-recorded channels on a central server, and streams them to PTV equipped seats during flight. AVOD systems store individual programs separately, allowing a passenger to have a specific program streamed to them privately, and be able to control the playback.

In-flight movies

Personal on-demand videos are stored in an aircraft main IFE computer system. From there they can be viewed on demand by the user. Along with the on-demand concept comes the ability for the user to pause.

Personal media players PMPs can pop in and out of an enclosure built into the seat, or an arm enclosure.

Moving-map systems are real-time flight information video channel broadcasts through PTVs and cabin video screens. In addition to displaying a map that illustrates the position and direction of the aircraft, the system gives altitude, airspeed, distance to destination, distance from origination and local time. Moving-map system information is derived from the aircraft's flight computer systems.

In-flight Wi-Fi

Several airlines are testing in-cabin wi-fi systems. In-flight internet service is provided either through a satellite network or an air-to-ground network.

Mobile phone trials have allowed passengers to send and receive text messages and emails, but will not yet to make or receive voice calls.

Aircraft livery changes

New aircraft liveries are a vehicle for airlines to make radical changes to image, reflecting more progressive and confident airlines.

Enhancements are part of product revamps. Redesigned livery, corporate colours, operating in one of the most competitive industries in the world where passengers have greater choice and are more demanding, bold new looks project a more powerful brand. Any livery change will turn heads. Airlines are the national symbol of the economic force on the global stage of their nation.

Avionics upgrades, “glass cockpits” with digital avionics.

The attraction of new features, including a future air navigation system, wide area augmentation system-localiser performance with vertical guidance and liquid crystal displays, would seem obvious. An enhanced flight management system software update, which will give aircraft capability to operate required navigation procedures, would seem a no-brainer. There is plenty to consider, in the sense that to take advantage of new flight management system software features, additional upgrades to other systems as well, additional crew certification and training which may be required. New LCD options are retrofittable and capable of displaying with an LED backlight and wide-angle visibility technology.

Avionic upgrades are sold as an opportunity to operate safely, effectively, and economically in increasingly congested airspace. They provide high-value, low-risk retrofit solutions, products that will add value to a fleet. Avionics upgrades allow you to meet regulatory requirements for operating in reduced airspace, fly at optimum altitudes, perform approaches with more precision, reduce operating costs, and prepare for the future.