Lake Forest-based Panasonic Avionics is doing its part to improve air travel—at least in terms of in-flight entertainment options.
The firm, one of the largest employers in its hometown, displayed some of its latest passenger in-flight entertainment and information system developments at the CES technology show in Las Vegas earlier this month, including a new concept for video gaming enthusiasts.
“We are normally at airline trade shows,” Product Marketing Manager Jace Hieda told the Business Journal. “But it’s really fun to be here with this CES platform to speak to consumers. We’re all about pioneering the passenger experience for airlines.”
Gaming Options
Movies and TV shows are still at the top of the list for in-flight passenger pastimes, as well as information offerings, according to Hieda. But looking ahead, the company says passengers may one day be able to enjoy console video gaming right at their seat, while they may also be able to use their own devices as part of the entertainment system through wireless streaming.
“Gamers or those who are really into high-end gaming often travel with their controllers,” Hieda said. “So might we build in really high-end console gaming into the system one day?” Hieda asks before providing an answer: “possibly.”
Passenger Devices
One possibility for the future is “casting,” which involves playing content from one device on another. For example, casting videos or images from a mobile phone to a television. The mobile device could also be used as a control device, or even as a second screen.
The company has started to explore console gaming possibilities and casting in conjunction with its airline partners, and already offers a catalogue of mobile games to entertain what it calls “all levels of enthusiasm.”
Wellness, Arc
Another product especially appreciated by passengers on long-haul flights is called Wellness; Panasonic has put together a collection of comfort and care technologies for its inflight systems.
“It develops a schedule for you, especially on long-haul flights—when to sleep, when to maybe expose [yourself] to light, maybe when to do some stretching and be active, so that when you arrive, you might feel a little more refreshed and maybe have an easier time zone transition,” Hieda said. “We’ve brought in a portfolio of wellbeing partners who provide some of that content.”
A further development is Arc, an in-flight moving map to help pinpoint locations. The company said Arc, which formally launched last April, adds “geotainment” with interactive, contextual content to the inflight experience.
“In nine months we’ve secured a number of customers. The product will launch in June of this year with the carrier named Vistara in India, with many more that we’ll announce in the coming months,” Hieda said.
The company serves more than 250 airline customers worldwide. “United, American and Delta all use Panasonic systems,” Hieda said.
Some of those airlines could use the next-gen improvements sooner than others.
Delta was recently named No. 1 among major domestic airlines by the Wall Street Journal’s Middle Seat Scorecard, in terms of customer experience; a ranking based on on-time flights, lost luggage and other factors.
United and American were ranked the worst.
OC Advantages
Panasonic Avionics has 2,000 “direct employees” in Lake Forest, and is one of the city’s top employers.
Ken Sain, a former Boeing Co. executive, took over as Panasonic Avionics CEO last month.
The company’s competitors include Thales InFlyt Experience, which is based in Irvine, as well as Gogo Inc., Viasat and Zodiac Aerospace, a Safran company that has a hub in Brea.
