1337Delta764 From United States of America, joined Oct 2005, 5753 posts, RR: 2 Posted (1 year 6 months 5 days 21 hours ago) and read 4868 times:
I was wondering, does anyone know if AA has selected a manufacturer for the new IFE system on the 777-300ER? Will it be Panasonic or Thales? AA's 777-200ERs have Rockwell Collins, who has exited the widebody IFE market a few years ago.
I would think that Panasonic would have the edge, considering AA has been installing new Panasonic Digital Overhead systems on their 738s and 752s. However, Thales has yet to secure a U.S. customer for their TopSeries AVOD systems, so maybe they could offer AA a sweet deal for new IFE. DL, UA, CO, and US are all using Panasonic for their newest AVOD systems.
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Independence76 From United States of America, joined Jul 2007, 165 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (1 year 6 months 5 days 17 hours ago) and read 4535 times:
I hope they choose Panasonic, but with whatever choice they prefer, I think we can at least be happy that they will be more advanced than the ancient Collins systems they have on board now...
[Edited 2011-11-17 18:58:25]
"In general, pride is at the bottom of all great mistakes." - John Ruskin
mrskyguy From United States of America, joined Aug 2008, 1203 posts, RR: 3 Reply 2, posted (1 year 6 months 5 days 12 hours ago) and read 4270 times:
I don't think a decision has been made yet. I'm not sure why you would prefer Panasonic over Thales' IFE product, as Thales' latest stuff is pretty darn amazing.
"The strength of the turbulence is directly proportional to the temperature of your coffee." -- Gunter's 2nd Law of Air
CRJ 900 From Canada, joined Mar 2001, 584 posts, RR: 1 Reply 4, posted (1 year 6 months 5 days 8 hours ago) and read 4014 times:
Im not a big fan of Thales. AC and Jazz both use it. It was a frickin nightmare when we first got it. SO bad that there used to be Thales Reps onboard the aircraft going overseas so they could trouble shoot when the whole system failed (it did that often). I find its still got bugs and some functions will work when others won't,,,, I've travelled on DL and UA and prefer Panasonic. Go with them I say AA.
qf002 From Australia, joined Jul 2011, 2554 posts, RR: 1 Reply 5, posted (1 year 6 months 5 days 7 hours ago) and read 3921 times:
Panasonic seems to be the IFE of choice for the rest of the industry, and for that matter the top end of the industry. I'd expect Panasonic, though if they wanted to align with BA (doubt it would be a big consideration) they'd pick Thales.
1337Delta764 From United States of America, joined Oct 2005, 5753 posts, RR: 2 Reply 6, posted (1 year 6 months 5 days 5 hours ago) and read 3779 times:
Quoting CRJ 900 (Reply 4): Im not a big fan of Thales. AC and Jazz both use it. It was a frickin nightmare when we first got it. SO bad that there used to be Thales Reps onboard the aircraft going overseas so they could trouble shoot when the whole system failed (it did that often). I find its still got bugs and some functions will work when others won't,,,, I've travelled on DL and UA and prefer Panasonic. Go with them I say AA.
Quoting airproxx (Reply 3): I pray for the AMR guys they'll go for Panasonic.... Thales stuff is so full of bugs and malfunctions. Better put nothing than a Thales system!
Thales isn't quite as bad as Rockwell Collins though. The Rockwell Collins system that QF installed has been a total nightmare I heard.
The Pink Delta 767-400ER - The most beautiful aircraft in the sky
mrskyguy From United States of America, joined Aug 2008, 1203 posts, RR: 3 Reply 8, posted (1 year 6 months 5 days 3 hours ago) and read 3612 times:
Quoting 1337Delta764 (Reply 6): Thales isn't quite as bad as Rockwell Collins though. The Rockwell Collins system that QF installed has been a total nightmare I heard.
That's true, but it's also important to point out that the former Thales IFE systems (1st and 2nd generation) are nothing compared to the products they have available today.
"The strength of the turbulence is directly proportional to the temperature of your coffee." -- Gunter's 2nd Law of Air
PRAirbus From Puerto Rico, joined Apr 2005, 1013 posts, RR: 1 Reply 9, posted (1 year 6 months 4 days 19 hours ago) and read 3342 times:
Will this happen during bankruptcy or afterwards????? . Uncertain times at AA, pity! They need new Upper Management ASAP, the IFE should be AA's least worry.
1337Delta764 From United States of America, joined Oct 2005, 5753 posts, RR: 2 Reply 10, posted (1 year 6 months 4 days 19 hours ago) and read 3309 times:
Quoting PRAirbus (Reply 9): Will this happen during bankruptcy or afterwards????? . Uncertain times at AA, pity! They need new Upper Management ASAP, the IFE should be AA's least worry.
Yes, I understand IFE isn't the most important issue, however, since the 773ERs will likely have an IFE system factory-installed, I think the discussion is worthwhile, since Rockwell Collins (the manufacturer of AA's 772ER IFE system) exited the widebody IFE business a few years ago, focusing solely on narrowbody IFE. Thus, AA will have to choose a new manufacturer, and the options are either Panasonic or Thales.
The Pink Delta 767-400ER - The most beautiful aircraft in the sky
gothamspotter From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 586 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (1 year 6 months 4 days 19 hours ago) and read 3268 times:
For what it's worth, the overhead IFE systems installed on various AA aircraft over the past few years are built by Panasonic, so there is an existing relationship.
1337Delta764 From United States of America, joined Oct 2005, 5753 posts, RR: 2 Reply 12, posted (1 year 6 months 4 days 18 hours ago) and read 3255 times:
Quoting gothamspotter (Reply 11): For what it's worth, the overhead IFE systems installed on various AA aircraft over the past few years are built by Panasonic, so there is an existing relationship.
Yes, I pointed that out in my original post. However, considering Thales doesn't have any U.S. customers for their TopSeries AVOD, perhaps Thales could offer AA a sweet deal on new AVOD systems for their 773ERs.
BTW, who performs the maintenance on AA's IFE systems? I know Panasonic maintains all of DL's systems regardless of brand.
[Edited 2011-11-18 17:30:41]
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1337Delta764 From United States of America, joined Oct 2005, 5753 posts, RR: 2 Reply 14, posted (1 year 6 months 20 hours ago) and read 2478 times:
Sorry to bump, but I heard rumors from a friend of a Panasonic employee at FlyerTalk that AA has selected Panasonic for their 773ER IFE. I don't know how reliable the info was, however, the user seemed pretty confident as he said he heard it from a Panasonic employee.
That is not surprising, considering some past relationship AA has had with Panasonic (such as the new 738 and 752 IFE systems). I also heard once that AA used the Matsushita/Panasonic 2000e system on their A300s during the short-lived A300 transatlantic venture (AA's 772ERs use Rockwell Collins TES).
The Pink Delta 767-400ER - The most beautiful aircraft in the sky
aacun From Mexico, joined Jan 2004, 431 posts, RR: 2 Reply 15, posted (1 year 6 months 20 hours ago) and read 2446 times:
I have also heard it will be panasonic....there's also configuration rumors, but they are just that for now. But it should be a 4 class airplane if you take into account premium coach.
1337Delta764 From United States of America, joined Oct 2005, 5753 posts, RR: 2 Reply 16, posted (1 year 6 months 20 hours ago) and read 2404 times:
Quoting aacun (Reply 15): I have also heard it will be panasonic....there's also configuration rumors, but they are just that for now. But it should be a 4 class airplane if you take into account premium coach.
I am pretty sure the Y seats will be Weber 5751s, considering that is what AA has installed on their new config 738s and 752s. However, I wouldn't be surprised if AA introduces a new flat-bed J seat, and perhaps a new F suite.
Perhaps an all-Weber cabin might work, with the Weber Catalina in F, the Weber Cirrus in J, and the Weber 5751 in Y.
AA has historically split their seat business mostly between Weber and Recaro, where Weber made both the old and new 757 Y seats, the 767 Y seats, the new 738 Y and F seats, and both the old and new F seats on the domestic 757s.
Recaro made the current AA J sloped-flat seats, as well as the Y seats on the MD-80s, 772ERs, and the old 738 Y seats.
AA also occasionally ordered from B/E Aerospace, who made the old J and international F seats (which are found today on the 762ERs), as well as the MD-80 F seats and old 738 F seats. I think they also made the A300 Y seats.
The 772ER F seats were made by Rumbold, now known as Contour.
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