Rockwell Collins dPAVES now offerable on Airbus Single Aisle Program

Rockwell Collins' dPAVES™ in-flight entertainment system (IFE) is now offerable on the Airbus Single Aisle Program. The first system equipped Airbus aircraft completed factory testing and Airbus has officially installed and certified dPAVES system. The dPAVES system will now be included in Airbus' Buyer Furnished Equipment Catalog as an IFE system solution option for Single Aisle Programs.

"Passengers now can experience digital quality entertainment they see on the ground - while in the air," said Tommy Dodson, vice president and general manager, Cabin Systems for Rockwell Collins. "Enhancements to our dPAVES system allow customization to meet the needs of today's single aisle IFE customers. Successful reduction in size, weight and power ensure lower lifecycle costs and more operational benefits than existing analog systems."

The dPAVES system provides up to an 85 percent reduction in volume, a 70 percent reduction in weight and a 75 percent reduction in power over the previous analog system. Additionally, dPAVES' Broadcast Digital Server (BDS) offers 160 gigabyte storage capability, with up to 60 hours of video, including encrypted content, and 128 hours of audio. The large storage capability allows airlines to store two play periods of entertainment content, and the server automatically selects the new content when the new play period starts.

dPAVES' Flyable Data Loader (FDL) eases loading of digital content and saves time and resources. Fifty gigabytes of video and audio programming can be loaded via a single Blu-ray disk and automatically transferred to the server.  Simultaneously, entertainment can be presented to the passengers. Once loaded, dPAVES automatically delivers programming perfectly timed for the length of the route through the system's dynamic scripting capabilities.

As a result of this successful introduction, UK based carrier easyJet went into service with the first dPAVES system equipped A321 on June 9, 2008.