Symbiotic relationship ensures IFE's continued survival

For years in-flight entertainment manufacturers have been staring down the irritating threat to their existence in the form of personal media players. IPods and MP3 have quickly been making in-flight entertainment (IFE) a thing of the past. After all, who really wants to watch the same film four times on that long haul flight to Oz? Exactly.

With the prospect of becoming an endangered species staring these manufacturers square in the eyes, they’ve decided to take on a role which is no longer competitive but companionable. In-flight entertainment manufacturers have made the leap in logic previously seen in smaller species that are staring down those big predators; symbiotic existence is king. Instead of trying to keep up with the latest technical advances they’ve decided to develop systems that support personal media players and therefore provide a better experience for passengers all over the world. Singapore airlines are the first to use these great products, just outmanoeuvring other major names at the last.

Audio and visual feeds are sent from the iPod to the IFE system, which in turn sends power to the iPod. So even better you’re iPod isn’t going to die during your flight. So, from this point onwards we could all be looking to great music, great movies and, with the developments of the eBook, great reads on our flights, no matter who we fly with or where we go.

Featured Job - MANAGER MMI TRAVEL

MANAGER MMI TRAVEL - DUBAI

The Position: You will manage the operations and expansion of MMI Travel and its portfolio, whilst ensuring that the Departmental strategic business objectives are achieved, and a position of influence and excellent reputation is maintained in the Travel industry. This shall include the retention and growth of current market shares and the achievement of targets for MMI Travel. Other key aspects to the role are to monitor changing market situations, and to continuously adapt the business strategy to meet market conditions and challenges of the future. In addition to this you will also track competitor activity and initiate changes in processes, systems and strategy for business growth, to address these needs. The ability to maintain effective working relationships with internal departments is also necessary.

Salary & Benefits: We offer an attractive tax-free salary, paid in Dirhams, the local currency of the UAE

For a full job description & to apply online please click here

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Any further A380 delay would create “acute problem” for Emirates

As Airbus re-evaluates its production ramp-up plan for the A380, Emirates has warned that any further delays to the programme would cause an "acute problem" for its near-term expansion plans....to read the full article click here.

Featured Job - DESIGN / ENGINEERING MANAGER

Due to expansion, our client has instructed AircraftEngineers.co.uk to seek a Design/Engineering Manager to join their growing company on a permanent basis.

In this role you will lead a small, highly motivated team of engineers to produce and interpret engineering concepts that meet the needs of our customers on time and within budget.

You will require a good understanding of the manufacturing process and be able to conceptualise ideas using design philosophies that are based on quality, ease of produceablility, material costs, commonality and minimum number of parts.

Good knowledge of AutoCAD and solid modelling experience would be an advantage.

To Apply for this Job please click here - Design/Engineering Manager

EasyJet Attempt to Guard Passengers Against Price Increase

EasyJet have taken a stand against the new 21% passenger charges increase for 2008-2009. In a letter to the new BAA chief executive Colin Matthews, which has just been made public, EasyJet CEO Andy Harrison wrote:

“Now that the new charging system is in force, some decisions have to be made about how you as airport operator and we as one of your biggest customers handle the situation until the court has ruled, which is likely to be some months away.

“We would prefer to do this in collaboration with you. With that in mind I would propose an interim arrangement. We will hold back a proportion – the amount is to be agreed – of the £6.97 ($11.04) you have been permitted to charge for each passenger at Gatwick. We will keep the money in a separate account.

“To the extent that our challenge fails, we will hand over the money withheld to you along with any interest accrued. If our challenge succeeds, and a lower charge is then set, we will implement a mechanism to return what we have saved to our customers.”

Here’s hoping that the outcome of a judicial review against Gatwick’s price regulator, conducted by the UK Civil Aviation Authority, will go in their favour and the favour of passengers.

UK Engineers Deserve More Recognition

Specialist recruiters in the UK Aerospace industry are concerned about the exposure of the industry to young engineers. With the term engineer being “diluted” to include all levels of expertise, from the man who services your washing machine to the man who, working along side scientists provides the practical knowhow to pioneers rocket propulsion; Industry specialists fear that they are loosing out on potential young recruits in the aerospace industry because there is not enough exposure to the career prospects.

Ian Bryson, managing consultant with West Midlands-based Jonathan Lee Recruitment commented that it was difficult to find qualified and exceptional people for the industry because they don’t often come in contact with the product: “How does someone such as an aircraft or parts manufacturer demonstrate their product to people who don’t come in contact with it, who maybe jump on an aircraft once a year to go on holiday?”

And the question is a valid one, engineers working in the aerospace industry find that the career is challenging, fulfilling, varied and innovative. But if people are not exposed to it, then they are unlikely to choose to pursue a career in it. What can companies do to entice people to the industry? Ian Bryson believes that greater respect should be given to engineers and that we should start to differentiate between a true engineer and those who, in other countries like France and Germany, would be given the title of Technician.

Would it therefore be beneficial both to the industry and the individual to instate a formal title for engineers, to give them the prestige they deserve? Bryson, and other specialist in the industry, believe it wouldn’t do any harm.