Aerospace Engineering Solutions (AES), a U.K. and Ireland aerospace design and certification organization, has been awarded the Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for the installation of the aircraft-powered version of Bluebox Aviation System's wireless in-flight entertainment (W-IFE) system, Bluebox Wow, by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
Recently issued by EASA, this latest STC (No. 10076801) applies to all Airbus A320 variants with an added feature of an automatic pause on PA functionality that pauses playback in the event of announcements from the flight deck or cabin crew.
AES believes this certification will open opportunities to provide aircraft operators of single-aisle, and wide-body aircraft in the future, with Bluebox's aircraft-powered W-IFE units. The installation is simple with wiring to the W-IFE units easily accessible via the panels in the aircraft cabin. Utilizing aircraft power eliminates the need for the logistical management of batteries and still offers a considerably lighter and lower-cost system than fully fitted W-IFE.