Qantas IFE brings CC close to breakdown

[VH-Cheer Up]

What's the go with the in-flight entertainment systems on long haul?

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2007/01/25/1169594422045.html

Is this Darth's secret weapon to get rid of the cabin crew unions? They seem to be getting quite worked up about this one.

No word yet from the head of the SLF and Punters union. now THEY may have a few choice words on the subject. 20 hours plus with no IFE, indeed! What next, have to speak to the neighbouring SLF? :oh:

[Angle of Attack]

Well in a short answer the go with the IFE's in longhaul is they are STUFFED.

Generally they are only working about 50-60% of the time and require numerous re-boots in flight to get them working again (which shuts the system down for about 30 mins.) I guess it was the cheapest option and now they got what they paid for.:ugh:

[chemical alli]

no doubt that the third floor will give a commitment to the higher powers that the ife will be fixed and 100% reliable.

how may you ask ?

employ a IFE manager that fixes everything.then you just can more spin

[Keg]

Yeah they can re-boot by individual seat and section PAF....it just never works!

So much for QF waiting for second generation in seat IFE to make sure it was reliable. Cheapest tender wins again! :ugh: :rolleyes:

[LME-400]

Cheapest tender wins again! :ugh: :rolleyes:

I believe Rockwell Collins have lost the maintenance contract in Sydney.

[BHMvictim]

ACP makes the decision as to what system will be fitted. Not engineering.

The rockwell system is absolute garbage.

[Bolty McBolt]

I believe Rockwell Collins have lost the maintenance contract in Sydney

Rockwell Collins have lost the whole IFE maint contract.
Which leaves the engineers and technicians employed/contracted by RC in limbo.

QF still need someone to maintain their IFE system because of its reliability problems..
QF are now negotiating on contracts for the same people to do the maintenance but cutting out the Rockwell Collin middleman.
This will cut a lot of costs as QF will be able to bully down the contract prices to small firms whom Rockwell contracted to do the IFE maint in the first place.

The IFE manager will look good and all will be the same, Same product and reliability for less money. This is how QF operates , no marketing of the brand or improving the product, just regurgitate the same old **** at a lower cost. :ugh:

Video Shmideo. I remember when in flight entertainment was cards ,a book and cold beer (occasionally served with a smile) :ok:

[LME-400]

ACP makes the decision as to what system will be fitted. Not engineering.


Aren't there professional engineers in the ACP department ?

[rammel]

A story I heard was that Marketing had a big say in which IFE we got, Engineering installs and maintains it. It was also not the one recommended by Engineering, why does this not surprise me?

[Ultralights]

Apple, My choice of IFE provider! Video Ipod.... each battery lasts about 3 hrs though...


come to think of it, a video ipod in every seat! plugged to aircraft power,
how much cheaper would a 60 gig ipod loaded with the latests movies and music cost per seat??

think of the maint costs, one breaks, just reomve from seat and buya new one..
once a week or whenever the Entertainment sschedule changes, just upload the new content using a multi ipod version of Itunes, just as you do with a PC!

[capt.cynical]

Ultralights,
With ideas like that you should be in QF marketing.:rolleyes: :bored: :=

[LME-400]

The future..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=609i-OhFhoQ

[peuce]

Apple, My choice of IFE provider! Video Ipod.... each battery lasts about 3 hrs though...
come to think of it, a video ipod in every seat! plugged to aircraft power,
how much cheaper would a 60 gig ipod loaded with the latests movies and music cost per seat??
think of the maint costs, one breaks, just reomve from seat and buya new one..
once a week or whenever the Entertainment sschedule changes, just upload the new content using a multi ipod version of Itunes, just as you do with a PC!

Why hasn't someone thought of that before?
Oh ... they have ... Virgin and Jetstar ... at a price ... user pays ... fine by me ... if it's broke ... swap it over!

[Pinky the pilot]

Video Shmideo No argument there Bolty.
I'm happy if there is a servicable audio and the comedy channel has a Goon show episode. Or a bit of Bill Cosby.
And what's wrong with taking along something to read? Are people so devoid of the ability to keep themselves occupied/amused/whatever that they must have the option of staring at a video screen??:confused: :ugh: :yuk:

[flightfocus]

You only have to fly with SQ or CX (among others) to realise that the Red Rat IFE was obselete when installed. :yuk:

Yes you can read/play cards/talk but I think that IFE is a product that most slf expect these days. Particularly on a "full service" long haul carrier with Red Rats alleged reputation.

LME-400 that IS the future. Talk about progressive.:D Our national carrier should be ashamed. :(

[chemical alli]

put the piano bar back in the hump on 747's i say.at least then you mght be able to pick up. A conversation with a blonde beats ****ty video and gamers with apposable thumbs anyday.while your at it lets bring back the smoking lounge as well.
but seriously this is why good old q had a lock down meeting with every other ife provider except for rockwell,for the A380 ife systems,it took a bunch of managers, engineers and pr types more then two weeks to come up with the 380 ife package and rockwell never even got an invite

[BHMvictim]

Aren't there professional engineers in the ACP department ?

True, but I guess they are told "we want this system. Make it work".

[BHMvictim]

Apple, My choice of IFE provider! Video Ipod.... each battery lasts about 3 hrs though...
come to think of it, a video ipod in every seat! plugged to aircraft power,
how much cheaper would a 60 gig ipod loaded with the latests movies and music cost per seat??
think of the maint costs, one breaks, just reomve from seat and buya new one..
once a week or whenever the Entertainment sschedule changes, just upload the new content using a multi ipod version of Itunes, just as you do with a PC!
Hmmmm... and it would cost a fortune, (being apple).

[roamingwolf]

Boys and Girls are you serious about iPods?

Can you imagine for a start the time involved in handing out then collecting around 300-400 iPods.You would have to have some sort of paper work or deposit or you would have at least 50 per sector walking off the flight.I don't know what sort of eyesight you guys have but staring at a 2" screen for 7 or 8 hours let alone more than 20 would create business for optometrists all right and I reckon the legal eagles would have a field day with the class actions for dmaged sye sight claims.

It's great Bolty to say a cold beer and a mag or book would do but if SIA and others have a IFE then we do too.

The problem with the rat is twofold.first the company always wants to pay as little as possible and I mean peanuts and secondly it expects the punter to have a short term memory as far as the ****e ife is concerned and it is wrong on both counts.

qf is not a lcc and you can't expect the punter to put up with the stuff that the company gives to them.

[priapism]

Why not put a pianola on board and the crew could lead a bit of a sing along!

[LME-400]

Why not put a pianola on board and the crew could lead a bit of a sing along!

¶...... I've been to cities that never ....... ¶

[Ultralights]

by ipods, i dont mean handed out to SLF, but permantly mounted in the seat back in front of you, or in the armrest. all wired to 1 pc in the usual IFE control centre hideout.

[blueloo]

Rather than ipods, why not contract apple to make an ife system using their software, rather than the unreliable windows rubbish that the rockwell collins system runs on.

[Led Zep]

Rather than ipods, why not contract apple to make an ife system using their software, rather than the unreliable windows rubbish that the rockwell collins system runs on.


So instead of having, "We're sorry, this application has suffered a problem and needs to close" on Windows systems, I'll be playing battleship when a bomb icon pops up and says, "Illegal Operation" and my only choice is to REBOOT? :} :E

[Chimbu chuckles]

I would just like everyone to know that, despite what the name of this thread indicates, I have never come even close to a breakdown because of QF's IFE system's shortcomings.

brgds CC:E

[peuce]

You only have to fly with SQ or CX (among others) to realise that the Red Rat IFE was obselete when installed. :yuk:
Yes you can read/play cards/talk but I think that IFE is a product that most slf expect these days. Particularly on a "full service" long haul carrier with Red Rats alleged reputation.
LME-400 that IS the future. Talk about progressive.:D Our national carrier should be ashamed. :(

This brings up an interesting (serious) question ... what is it that QANTAS provides, as opoosed to what Jetstar & Virgin provide, that makes it a "Full Service Airline", as opposed to a "Low Cost Carrier"?


In Flight Entertainment ... well it's shown that doesn't always work. Virgin has free audio IFE and pay for view Video. Don't know if Jetstar has free audio
Free Meals ... yes it does, but Virgin & Jetstar provide the same at a price
Better seat pitch ... NO
Safety .... I don't think you can say QANTAS is safer than Virgin or Jetstar
Better Pilots ... ???
Better Maintenance ... ??
Better Flight Attendents ... ??
... I'm done


So really, the only difference I see is free moves (when they are working) and free food. That's worth, say, about $15 plus $15 .... $30 extra value. Does that make it a full service airline?

Seriously, someone fill me in. Am I missing something?

[lowerlobe]

Before we get into another pi@@#$% contest (AGAIN) let's remember that this is about QF's Inflight Failure of Entertainment (IFE) and the cost to any potential buyer.

[flightfocus]

...and the cost to any potential buyer.

The "potential buyer" is the poor mug who believes the Rat's marketing blurb and hops on board expecting a product :{ :{

The whole fire sale of QF to international interests is a reflection of the Mgts mindset - Millions in bonuses and kick backs for us and keep the onboard ****e (among a lenghty list of other issues) for the people supporting the operation.

:sad:

[VH-Cheer Up]

Seriously, someone fill me in. Am I missing something?

just trying to help the process here...

QF Club?
FF scheme...

Seriously though - if the punter pays a premium for the premium service and then doesn't get the service they paid the premium for, what's the come-back?

None, I suspect because the essence of the contract is simply to carry the SLF from point A to point B without killing them.

[Led Zep]

Hey peuce, how about baggage transfers for connectiong flight? :cool:

[Animalclub]

... contract is simply to carry the SLF from point A to point B without killing them.

If you read the fine print there is no contract to carry you anywhere. A ticket is just a receipt for your money and a place to put the T's & C's... or a place where the carrier points you in the direction of the location of the T's & C's.

[Going Boeing]

Rockwell Collins dPAVES Now Offerable on Airbus Single Aisle Program

(Long Beach, Calif., September 8, 2008) -- Rockwell Collins' dPAVES(tm) in-flight entertainment system (IFE) is now offerable on the Airbus Single Aisle Program. The first system equipped Airbus aircraft completed factory testing and Airbus has officially installed and certified dPAVES system. The dPAVES system will now be included in Airbus' Buyer Furnished Equipment Catalog as an IFE system solution option for Single Aisle Programs.

"Passengers now can experience digital quality entertainment they see on the ground - while in the air," said Tommy Dodson, vice president and general manager, Cabin Systems for Rockwell Collins. "Enhancements to our dPAVES system allow customization to meet the needs of today's single aisle IFE customers. Successful reduction in size, weight and power ensure lower lifecycle costs and more operational benefits than existing analog systems."

Source : Rockwell Collins

EasyJet Debuts Rockwell Collins dPAVES IFE System

(Long Beach, Calif., September 8, 2008) -- easyJet recently debuted the first aircraft equipped with Rockwell Collins' new dPAVES(tm) in-flight entertainment (IFE) system. The system, which entered into service on an Airbus A321 aircraft, will also be installed on up to 13 additional easyJet aircraft.

"The dPAVES system provides easyJet passengers with the enhanced clarity of digital technology while watching movies and other IFE programming," explained Tommy Dodson, vice president and general manager, Cabin Systems for Rockwell Collins. "Our tailored approach to the dPAVES system meets the diverse needs of today's single aisle IFE customers. Its reduction in size, weight and power, as well as reliability improvements, provide operational benefits and lower life-cycle costs than existing analog systems."

Source : Rockwell Collins

[Taildragger67]

EK has an awesome IFE system (ICE). Plus the 380 has a bar down the back of business with lounges to congregate and enable that blonde pick up scenario you were referring to.

... and then showers for a bit of good, clean fun after you've got her going with the Bolly :}

Don't tell me they haven't been christened yet!

Hmmmm, now, if I were EK marketing and needed a 'celebrity' face to tout the benefits of airline 'rest rooms'... who could I go for... :E

[puff]

I believe now that SQs 773s,A380s, as well as EKs 773s and A380s have Panasonic IFE and it seems to be excellent quality. EK calls theirs ICE and of course SQs is Krisworld.

/// Panasonic Avionics Corporation - Elevate the Experience /// (http://www.panasonic.aero/xseries.html)

Even in Y the screen is huge and high definition, did have a couple of failures on one SQ A380 flight, but a 2 min reset of the individual unit worked. Made the older quality units on the SQ 772 look like crap! Even though it might not be the best though, it never failed!

[lowerlobe]

I think Darths idea of the acronym IFE is ...Inflight Failing Entertainment.

[Going Boeing]

Qantas has also ordered the Panasonic system for their A380's and all the indications are that it is a reliable system. Panasonic staff advise that QF have selected more system features than SQ and EK. Will have to check them out when it finally gets into service.

[L5Brassco]

The IFE on the 330 and 744 seems a lot more stable these days, thank goodness.
Still get individual seat failures, but these are usually fixed with resets and/or vouchers.
Complete IFE failures are rare and I have found are usually fixed with a system reboot. Which takes 45 minutes.

[speedbirdhouse]

Quote-
"Panasonic staff advise that QF have selected more system features than SQ and EK. Will have to check them out when it finally gets into service."
___________________

Which is of course the exact mistake QF made the the Rockwell Collins system that continues to prove so unreliable.

Legend has it that Rockwell Engineers told QF "management" that the multi language functionality QF wanted couldn't be successfully implemented due to the systems inadequate hardware bandwidth.

They said, "do it anyway" with disastrous results.

What happens when you have an airline run by marketing types??

Operational cluster f@#ks at every turn. :ugh:

__________________

L5brassco,

legend has it that a very recent software tweek is proving a disaster causing full IFE failures.

[splashman]

Thought the 330 was a test bed for the RC IFE, to qoute the instructor on the course i attended to maintain it, this is how it should work and will with future upgrades (promises promises) It's been a few years since I have had the misfortune to tangle with it, but is the operating program still Windows 95 ????
Bean counters, accountants should not be running anything, they should advise and if they fail, be held accountable. there are more CPA's and "accountants" in jail now for being proved to breach trust, than LAME's.

Engineers and Cabin Crew are the first in the firing line from pax as to why the IFE is crap, The people who decided that was the way to go, recieved their bonuses and are long gone from QF

Who are the one's that have to pick up the pieces of these maginificent management decisions.

Windows 95 opertaing system, what a joke, but yes!!!. It was cheap and bonuses have been paid, because on paper value ,money only relates to the bonus I get, not what the passenger pays for.


Another thought for you out there, and perhaps a new thread!!!

A330, QF, First 5 for domestic ops, -200's, domestic galleys etc etc.
-200 has a centre fuel tank for long range, yet QF ordered these with a config for short range, ended up with Jetstar.

Are people so stupid that they by a long range aircraft and order it configured for short range or LCC, and think we do not notice????

The answer is yes, it happened, I try to work to a 2 year plan, others 5 but QF ???????????

[hannibal lector]

hows HCM splashman

[splashman]

the worlds best kept secret Hannibal