I need as much information as possible about a piece of software that
appears in many airline cabins, and about the company that makes it.

Details:
On many airliners, particularly those used for long-haul flights,
there is an in-flight system that shows passengers the location of the
plane, superimposed over a map of the ground beneath them  This is
viewed on the television or movie screens in the cabin.  Other
statistics that are shown are speed, altitude, ETA, time at
destination, etc.  This service is usually turned on between movies,
during the descent to landing etc.  Note that this is something for
passengers, not pilots.

I need to know as much as possible about this software and the company
that provides it.  It may be just a built-in product from an aircraft
manufacturer like Boeing, Airbus, etc, but I think I have seen it on
aircraft from both companies.  I am not sure of this however.

Software:
- Name
- Age / version
- Cost
- Technical details -- platform requirements, what language is it
programmed in, any certifications that are required, how it interacts
with the avionics to get the location information, etc.

Company that produces it (I am assuming it is not an aircraft
manufacturer)
- Name
- Location
- Website / contact information
- Other products

If this turns out to be a product of an aircraft manufacturer I'd
really like to know the division in charge of it -- contact
information, webisite, etc.

Thanks

---

Clarification of Question by garrulous-ga on 11 Oct 2002 17:41 PDT

I should perhaps add that I would be pleasantly surprised if all of
the points listed are addressed in the answer.   I would be content
just to know who I can call, email or write to learn more.

Hello Garrulous-ga and thank you for your question.

Airshow 420 is the moving map and flight information display we see on
our flights.

The Airshow 420 system by Rockwell Collins  provides airline
passengers with real-time aircraft location, flight time, nearby
points-of-interest, air speed, altitude and temperature information,
as well as safety briefings and many other customer-specified items.
“Airshow introduced the industry's first moving map product with the
Airshow 100™ in 1982, and has subsequently introduced versions of the
product with high-resolution graphics, CD-ROM technology and enhanced
storage capacity. 2002”
http://airshowinc.com/ws_display.asp?filter=airshow420.overview

Airshow was purchased by Rockwell Collins in 2002
http://airshowinc.com/ws_display.asp?filter=company.milestones

Products:

“Airshow has a longstanding reputation for being the first to
commercialize new technologies that provide information to airborne
passengers. Airshow was the first to introduce the moving map display,
a real-time data communications service and live satellite TV. Airshow
provides the business aviation market with an integrated cabin
information and control solution that is unique to the industry.”
http://airshowinc.com/ws_display.asp?filter=company.products

Airshow currently has systems in service on more than 3,500 aircraft
operated by over 130 airlines worldwide, and on nearly 4,000 of the
11,000 corporate aircraft flying today.
http://airshowinc.com/ws_display.asp?filter=company.business

Customers:

Airshow sells directly to the airlines within the air transport
market. The over airlines that utilize Airshow's products represent
virtually all of the world's major long-haul airlines and include
industry leaders such as Delta, American, British Airways, Cathay
Pacific, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, Swissair and United.
http://airshowinc.com/ws_display.asp?filter=company.customers

For technical details cost and product information you may use the
handy form they provide. Just choose the product from the drop-down
menu and fill in your contact information and submit.
http://airshowinc.com/ws_display.asp?filter=contact.contactus

Here is the contact information you requested:

Corporate Information

Headquarters
Rockwell Collins
400 Collins Road NE
Cedar Rapids, IA 52498
U.S.A.
319.295.1000 (voice)
319.295.5429 (fax)

Tustin CA
Rockwell Collins
2742 Dow Avenue
Tustin, CA 92780
U.S.A.
888.AIRSHOW (voice)
714.730.1698 (fax)
 
Kirkland Office
Rockwell Collins
10801 120th Ave. NE
Kirkland, WA 98033
U.S.A.
425.250.0250 (voice)

Wichita Office
Rockwell Collins
6730 West Kellogg Drive
Wichita, KS 67209
U.S.A.
316.941.3900 (voice)
316.941.4563 (fax)
 
Delaware Office
Rockwell Collins
1003 S. Chapel St.
Newark, Delaware 19702 
U.S.A.
302.369.1880 (voice)
302.369.1882 (fax)

Toulouse Office
Rockwell Collins
Batiment Euclide
17, avenue Didier Daurat
31700 BLAGNAC
33.5.34.606.909 (voice)
33.5.34.606.915 (fax)
http://airshowinc.com/ws_display.asp?filter=contact.corporate

Customer Service
Monday through Friday, 7am - 5 pm PST
(714) 734-6400 | (714) 832-3441 (fax)
E-mail: customer.service@airshowinc.com
http://airshowinc.com/ws_display.asp?filter=contact.support

Airshow Homepage
http://airshowinc.com/ws_display.asp?filter=home


Search Criteria:

software  in-flight altitude temperature map passengers
passengers map during flight 
screen flight information on flights and aircrafts
passengers flight map altitude temperature
detailed flight information on long flights
in-flight entertainment map with flight information


I hope this provides you with the information you are seeking.

Best regards,
Bobbie7-ga

---

Clarification of Answer by bobbie7-ga on 11 Oct 2002 22:46 PDT

Given that I found this search so interesting I dug deeper into my
search results and came across AvVisor Plus cabin display from Spirent
Systems.

AvVisor Plus features moving maps to keep passengers apprised of the
aircraft ’s position. Users can select map zoom levels to track the
aircraft ’s progress with varying levels of geographic detail.

An excerpt from their website:

“AvVisor Plus also provides passengers with cabin audio interface,
accurate, real-time flight data, and has the capability to display
customized graphics as well as integrate Microsoft PowerPointŪ
presentation video clips, providing an opportunity for in-flight
presentations. AvVisor Plus utilizes a full VGA, bright, flat-panel
Active Matrix Liquid Crystal Display (AMLCD), allowing for a
completely digital information stream. It is easy to install, easy to
use, and provides a wide range of streaming information to your
passengers.”
http://www.spirent-systems.com/spirent5/products_services/avionics/cabininfo/avvisor_plus.htm

AvVisor Plus Data Sheet
http://www.spirent-systems.com/spirent5/datasheets/pdfs/AvVisor_PLUS_ss.pdf

Information request form
http://www.spirent-systems.com/info_request.htm

Contact Information for worldwide locations
http://www.spirent-systems.com/spirent5/contact/contact.htm

Additional information that may interest you:

The Plane and Pilot Magazine
http://www.planeandpilotmag.com/content/buyersguide/movingmaps.html

Perfect, exactly what I was looking for.  Thanks so much.