Plessey Co Plc is hoping a new aircraft application of fibre optic and satellite technologies will result in a business worth around UKP1,000m a year by 1995. The company has developed an Integrated Flight Entertainment and Services System, IFESS, which adds entertainment and information facilities to an aircraft telephone system. Plessey says it is the first company to offer in-flight entertainment via fibre optic links; the fibre optic network will enable passengers to access films, music channels, tourist information, and video games for pleasure and profit, while satellite transmissions will provide crew and passengers with information on aircraft positioning, and telephone links by tapping into British Telecommunications Plc’s Skyphone system. A two-way service, IFESS will also enable passengers to make air to-ground calls to hire cars, make duty free orders and book hotel rooms. Installations are expected to begin in 1991, with UK charter airline Paramount the first to order a system – but it is pretty clear that once a major carrier moves, all the others will have to follow suit. Plessey wants 1,000 aircraft fitted by 1995, and forecasts annual revenue for a system on a Boeing 747 sized aircraft to be around UKP1m. The idea is that equipment will be provided at no capital cost to the airline, and profits will be shared between Plessey and the carrier. Revenue will come from a variety of sources, including advertising on the system, direct charges to passengers for videos, and sale of customer information derived from passenger orders. Plessey Avionics will develop the electronics, software and fibre optics, and the computer hardware will be sourced from Japan, with the 5.5 television monitors to come from Sony Corp. IFESS will be marketed by SkyTrading NV of Amstelveen, Netherlands, a joint venture between Plessey and the Dutch leisure firm Candle Star BV.
