TAG Aviation Farnborough Maintenance Services in the UK recently completed its first Global Express cabin management system (CMS) upgrade with a Rockwell Collins’ Venue cabin management and entertainment system.

This state-of-the-art, high definition (HD) system brings a whole new standard for cabin entertainment technology and connectivity, integrating in-flight entertainment and business capabilities into one easy-to-use system.

Adapted from the latest technologies, and emulating the home electronics experience through HD intuitive interfaces via touch-screen controls and wi-fi, Venue delivers unsurpassed content options including audio and video on demand (AVOD), an interactive Airshow moving map accessible to all passengers, plus 16:9 displays, software programmable switch panels and access to iTunes and the App store.

“As consumer technologies advance rapidly, existing systems are fast becoming obsolete as their technology has become dated,” says Stuart Kirkwood, Sales Director for TAG Aviation Farnborough Maintenance Services. “Our Maintenance Services’ team at Farnborough is impressed with this first installation result and with a growing demand for future generation CMS system upgrades, we can now support customers who want to add value and airborne enhancements to their aircraft with this fully-supported and exciting upgrade.”

"The aircraft owner is absolutely delighted with the Venue installation,” says Paul Burke of PB Engineering Solutions, the customer’s onsite technical representative. “It has provided greatly increased flexibility in the cabin, with functionality for audio, video, LED lighting, temperature control and window shades now readily available via cabin controllers or iPads. The introduction of cinematic sound along with AVOD, multiple source options and multiple cabin zones to HD monitors and iPads has vastly improved the experience.

“Performing this upgrade at the same time as our 180-month major maintenance event made perfect sense as most of the interior had to be removed for the inspection which has made this modification far easier to achieve. We also took the opportunity to perform some much needed work on the soft furnishings as well as some refurbishment of the hard furnishings and finishes. TAG Aviation Farnborough Maintenance Services managed the refurbishment from the outset, taking responsibility for bringing the various partners together. Their planned approach when faced with a number of difficulties brought the project together smoothly and efficiently. "