In the hi-tech world of In-Flight Entertainment (IFE) the lure of Video-on-Demand,Direct Broadcast TV and satellite telephony can easily overshadow the humblecord reel and its cable. In truth the link between the passenger’s handsetand its cradle in their seat is a critical lifeline, providing power plusanalogue and digital data links. Failure of the cable will render the IFEsystem inoperable for the unfortunate passenger.

The cable is a vital component that must withstand the normal actionsof pulling, twisting, bending and cleaning plus attack from bored passengerswith fingernails, scissors, knives and teeth!  To meet safety regulations,the cable must not exhibit kinks or knots that can prevent the handsetfrom being stowed in the cradle and of course must be non-flammable andnon-toxic. Also exposed surfaces will be regularly subjected to cleaningfluids and therefore should not retain moisture.

The problem for the supplier then, is to design a product that meetsall the above criteria and of course is small, lightweight, reliable andaffordable.
 

MBM Aerotech has supplied over ¼ million cordreels to the IFEindustry worldwide and gained considerable experience of the operationalissues for passenger, airline and IFE system supplier. Before any new productis introduced into service MBM Aerotech carries out extensive human interfacetesting to create all the real life conditions that the product will encounterin-service. Unlike in-flight telephones, which are used infrequently and in a benignfashion, IFE handsets are constantly in use for video selection, gamesplaying or often just left hanging out of their cradle. The demands onthe cable are therefore significantly greater and care must be taken toprovide effective strain relief at both the cradle and handset ends. MBMAerotech now provides total handset-cradle solutions, thereby taking controlof all the associated interface problems and ensuring in-service reliability.

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