CABIN ENTERTAINMENT EQUIPMENT

CABIN ENTERTAINMENT EQUIPMENT

 The passenger entertainment system is a vital system of a large modern airliner. It is one of the most complex system in the aircraft. It is also the system that causes most trouble. Fortunately, it is least likely to affect the safety of the aircraft unless bad servicing leads to a fire or loose-article hazard. Even on the same type of aircraft, a variety of services will be available since different operators will offer different entertainment in a bid to capture more customers. In view of the above comments, the following description is particularly brief avoiding complexity involved.

 Public address system: The PA system comprises PA amplifier, tape deck, annunciator panel, attendant’s panel, PA accessory box, control assemblies, speaker switch panel and loudspeakers. The various PA messages have an order of priority assigned to them: (i) Pilot’s announcements, (ii) Attendant’s announcements, (iii) Pre-recorded announcements and finally (iv) Boarding music. All PA audio is broadcast over the speaker system and also, except for boarding music, overrides entertainment audio fed to the passenger stethoscope headsets. A pre-recorded emergency announcement may be initiated by the pilot or an attendant, or automatically in the event of cabin decompression. A chime is generated when the pilot turns on ‘fasten seat-belt’ or ‘no smoking’ signs.

 Films, video, television & audio system

Films: The passenger entertainment video system provides pre-recorded video programs via projector or CRT display or LCD display through out the passenger compartments. After amplification, the audio for the video programs is connected through the music system junction boxes for distribution over the loudspeakers via the entertainment music system and/or individual passenger seat control units.

Pre-recorded programs, stored in the video tape cassettes, are switched through the system control unit. The recorded picture are projected or displayed onto the screen in each viewing zone. The recorded films configuration differs by the system installed in the aircraft. Normally the film is high density 0.5” (inch) width Beta cassette tape, with two magnetic audio sound tracks, for dual language or stereo programming, is used to provide up to 180 min. of pre-recorded video entertainment.

Video: 

The Video Tape Reproducer (VTR) is a compact, light weight, front loading cassette reproducer with dual channel audio output. The unit is capable of reproducing PAL, SECAM, NTSC. Normally on the front faces of the VTR available features are: REW (rewind), PLAY, FF (fast forward), STOP and EJECT button.  Besides these STANDBY/ON, CASSETTE INSIDE, video signal format indicator, mode selector, elapsed time indicator, tracking adjustment control knob, cassette access door etc. are available. 

Television: In projector type video system, three-gun projector is mounted in a specially strengthened and modified container in the centre hat rack channel in each viewing zone. Three mono-chromatic cathode ray tubes (red, green and blue) and acrylic lenses are used to project video images on to the screen.  In television type monitor, the monitor receives the video signal from the system control unit. The video picture is visible on the video monitor screen. Maintenance adjustments for vertical hold, colour, hue, bright and picture are in front of the video monitor.  In LCD type display, the LCD monitor shows the video program on Liquid Crystal Display (LCD). The LCD monitor provides an individual power ON/OFF switch. A maintenance load switches ON/OFF to switch the 50 ohm termination ON/OFF is on the top of the LCD monitor.

Audio System: Audio system in the aircraft is a part of the passenger entertainment system. Music system i.e. audio system provides pre-recorded audio entertainment programs for the aircraft passengers. Programs can be individually selected and heard over a headset connected to the passenger control unit in seat armrest. In addition the system provides boarding music.

The systems uses an audio tape reproducer and a power amplifier to provide stereo and mono channels of audio entertainment to the PCU’s in the seat armrest and in addition, one channel of the boarding music fed from the tape reproducer to the PA amplifier. The audio signals are distributed through under floor cables via the Audio Junction Boxes (AJB) to the Floor Disconnect Boxes (FDB) in the cabin floor. The channel arrangement in the AJB in relation to the PCU channel selector to be pre-set.  The audio entertainment channels can be individually selected at the seat PCU’s and heard through headsets. Volume control can also be made at the PCU. Provision has also been made for selecting video channels of video program sound at the PCU’s and listening to the program over the headsets. The components of audio systems are Tape reproducer, Power amplifier, Attendant control unit and passenger control unit.