Why the peripheral bar is Astrova’s secret IFE weapon

Changing cabin hardware is, to put it plainly, a pain.

Between aircraft down time and trying to keep on top of fast-changing technology trends, modifying or swapping out IFEC — or, retrofitting an entire aircraft — is often an expensive endeavor with dividends that really only pays off after years.

That’s why Panasonic Avionics created the all-new peripheral bar.

The peripheral bar is a removable, elegant, plug-and-play solution that allows airlines to introduce new power outlets, audio jacks, function buttons, and wireless features like Bluetooth without having to remove the entire seatback screen. It’s a key feature of Astrova, Panasonic’s newest in-flight entertainment system.

Andy Masson, Vice-President of Product Development at Panasonic, says the modular nature of the peripheral bar is a response to the growing desire among airlines to customize their in-flight experiences as part of their sales pitch to customers.

The ability to design a unique passenger experience is more important today than ever before, and modular architecture is an excellent way to differentiate oneself from the pack. “The engaging, immersive, and connected experience it creates for passengers is matched by an operational ease of ownership that makes Astrova a win-win for airlines,” says Masson.

Plus, the peripheral bar can be upgraded and changed on-wing in two minutes flat, without having to remove the monitor itself. No one else in the airline industry offers that kind of fast, easy upgrading capability.

It’s this approach to modularity that allows Astrova to be 30% lighter than earlier IFE systems, itself a cost savings to you when it comes to weight reduction and lowering carbon emissions.

Right now, Astrova’s default peripheral bar comes with two USB-C power outlets, offering up to 100W of power — enough to fast-charge a laptop from zero to 85% within an hour. It also features Bluetooth and spatial 3D audio to the seatback system, once and for all doing away with the tin-can effect.

But the beauty of its design is that it can be continually updated over the length of an aircraft’s lifespan while minimizing down time, as well as labor and equipment costs. This equips your airline with the ability to stay on top of wider technology trends, giving you high market relevance and giving your customers the latest, most natural passenger experience available.

Not only does that reduce total cost of ownership, but it also empowers you to break down your IFEC investments into more affordable, bite-size pieces over time.

Want to learn more about Astrova and its peripheral bar? Write us here to get the specs and costs of the all-new Astrova in-flight entertainment system from Panasonic Avionics.