Turning an in-service aeroplane into a flying laboratory can be a challenge. How do you turn a plane into one?
Well, there’s a lot of planning to turn an aeroplane into a lab.
And there’s a lot of cabling to start with.
In terms of studio space, there isn’t a lot – with the galley and the aft business class section being converted into a studio space.
Gotta love the cabling rig for this.
From here, presentations are streamed across the plane using the Lufthansa Systems BoardConnect service (a separate service to the Lufthansa FlyNet service offered by T-Mobile and powered by Panasonic Ku connectivity).
The idea is that you can watch the coverage from your personal device on the plane.
The Lufthansa flying Lab in flight – lead by Olivier Krueger CEO Lufthansa Systems and Joe Leader, Chief Executive Officer Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX)
I streamed the presentation it onto the laptop whilst tweeting on the my phone using FlyNet. Others were using iPads, iPhones and other devices.
From here, presentations went off from the presenters, as well as question and answer sessions (curtailed by some annoying turbulence).
Anaïs Marzo – Head of Aircraft Interiors Marketing at Airbus on the A350 Cabin Experience – Airspace by Airbus in action
Klaus Steinmeyer VP Strategy, Products and Programs, Recaro on “Seating experience – the next level!“
It was an interesting session, with a lot of the traditional aviation language replaced with a language much more suited to a wider audience – and with over 100 people tuning in on the plane (in all three classes), with interest beyond the normal aviation crowd.
And that helps with interaction across the plane, bringing forward questions from different cabins and different groups.
I’ve loaded my initial reactions as a Twitter Moment which is a lot easier to read and captures what I saw on the day aboard the Flying Lab. Lufthansa Systems also released a video – look out for yours truly beavering away.
Suffice to say, there is a lot of room for manoeuvre in an event like this, and I’m happy to see Lufthansa experiment in the sky this way. The concept is a great one
Many thanks to Lufthansa, Lufthansa Systems, T-Mobile and The APEX association for hosting an interesting event in the sky.
Disclosure: Recaro Aircraft Seating kindly invited Economy Class and Beyond, as a guest on the Lufthansa Flying Lab, as well as paying for the flights as part of this.
All opinions and thoughts are the author’s own, and are not directed by Recaro A/S, Lufthansa Systems or The APEX Association
Welcome to Economy Class and Beyond – And we’re on the Road to APEX Expo and AIX Americas starting Saturday 22nd August 2018. Join us aboard the Lufthansa Innovation Flight, The APEX Conference, APEX Expo and Aircraft Interiors Expo Americas. Find out more here!
Economy Class and Beyond is your no-nonsense guide to network news, honest reviews, with in-depth coverage, unique research as well as the humour and madness as I only know how to deliver.
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Not even zip ties? Wow…