Cabin Systems
Subcommittee
Last Update:
July 22, 2010
Chairman: Dale Freeman - Northwest Airlines
APIM: 02-003: 3rd Generation Cabin Network
APIM: 03-007: Additional New Seat Integration Work
APIM: 05-020: Mobile Phone Network
APIM: 06-008: 4th Generation Cabin Network as an Enhancement to 3GCN
APIM: 07-002: Wireless Distribution
APIM: 07-008A: Ku Band Broadband Connectivity Satellite System
APIM: 07-009: EMC Recommended Practice
Goal: Passenger entertainment equipment is subject to frequent upgrades on the airplane. The goal of this AEEC activity is to develop cost effective and valuable network infrastructure for the airlines to cope with the rapid and evolving electronics/infotainment industry that will meet or exceed passenger expectations. This includes interface standards to allow airlines to implement preferred systems for their passengers. Cabin communications, broadband satellite connectivity, wireless distribution, cabin interface protocols, and connector standardization are all intricate components of this activity.
Project: Document 2nd, 3rd and 4th generation cabin equipment interfaces.
Scope: The scope of this project is to develop 3rd and 4th generation standard interfaces that will provide airlines with freedom of choice in the installation and expansion of cabin equipment. Cabin telecommunications, mobile phones, interface protocols, and connector standardization are also a part of this activity. Standards being developed by the Cabin Systems Subcommittee (CSS) are embodied in the following areas, listed by tasks.
- ARINC Specification 628 Part 0 provides an introduction and overview of the ARINC 628 series of Specifications (updated periodically).
- A supplement to ARINC Specification 628 Part 1 will provide digital camera and video Ethernet interfaces.
- Supplements to 628 Part 2 improves seat interfaces and integration standards (for more details, see SIWG WPF).
- Supplements to 628 Part 4A includes a standard in-seat power network definition and add a standard IFE system to Master Control Unit (MCU) interfaces definition.
- ARINC Specification 628 Part 9 broadens the distribution system to a standard internetworking communications definition for email, intranet and internet access, high speed data exchange, etc.
- ARINC Characteristic 765 includes a standard wired network connection between equipment in the cabin and cockpit.
- ARINC Specification 485 Part 2 complements Part 1 by adding standard electrical characteristics and protocol and data content for a data bus used with seat end electronics.
- ARINC Specification 808 defines a standard 3rd generation aircraft backbone wiring system to support plug and play installations of IFE systems.
- Project Paper 809 defines a standard 3rd generation aircraft backbone wiring system seat associated equipment. A standard ARINC 809 connector definition is provided as an attachment.
- Project Paper 820 defines a standard 3rd generation aircraft backbone wireless system (recently placed on hold and is awaiting user requirements).
- Project Paper 824 will define a standard mobile phone system.
Benefit: Cabin systems provide entertainment and service improvements to the passenger. To keep up with passenger’s desire for better accommodations, systems are becoming more sophisticated and complex. Home entertainment and office type computing systems and peripherals are finding applications in the cabin to facilitate data handling and data link to the ground. These growing complexities and scope of cabin equipment has resulted in the expansion of ARINC 628 to eight parts. New series of specifications are added as new concepts and next generation systems and networks are developed. The benefits of the cabin standards are numerous. They provide the airlines freedom of choice, unit price reduction through increased volume, interchangeable spares, more upgradeable options, and creation of more sub- markets for integrators and software/hardware suppliers. These benefits are being realized on the A380, B787, A350, possibly regional and business jets, and retrofit aircraft programs.
AEEC General Session (October 2008) Update:
The CSS was complimented for the significant amount of work accomplished and the many projects ahead.
AEEC General Session Results:
- AEEC adopted draft Supplement 2 to ARINC Specification 628: Cabin Equipment Interfaces (CEI), Part 0, Cabin Management and Entertainment System - Overview
- AEEC adopted draft Supplement 4 to ARINC Specification 628: Cabin Equipment Interfaces (CEI), Part 1, Cabin Management and Entertainment System - Peripherals
- AEEC adopted draft Supplement 1 to ARINC Specification 808: 3GCN Cabin Distribution. A Pink Page was included with this adoption to add new Management Information Bit (MIB) fields to appropriate software element branches.
- AEEC adopted draft Supplement 1 to ARINC Specification 809: 3GCN Seat Distribution
AEEC approved the following APIMs:
- 07-007A: Cabin Connectors and Cables
- 08-011: Cabin Boxes Mechanical Interfaces
- 08-012: Cabin HMI Style Guide
Future Work Program:
The main focus in 2009 will be development of Project Papers 800, 824, 831, 832, 833, and on updating ARINC 628 Parts 1, 3, 5, 7, 8 and 9. The work will include:
- Project Paper 800 – documenting cabin connectors and wiring currently being specified in other ARINC Standards.
- Project Paper 824 - form, fit, function and interfaces to mobile phones that support multiple phone protocols such as GSM, CDMA, etc.
- Project Paper 833 - a wireless distribution system that can be used by multiple broadband systems to provide wireless services, such as WiFi, mobile phone, etc. within the aircraft cabin.
- Project Paper 831 - a set of general design guidelines to ensure Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) of cabin equipment to be installed in aircraft.
- Project Paper 832 - 4th Generation Cabin Distribution System (4GCN) that combines the advantages of a wired and wireless IFE Cabin Network with emphasis on robustness, reliability, and reconfigurability. Airlines expressed the importance of not adding more weight onboard the aircraft to achieve 4GCN objectives.
- ARINC 628 and ARINC 809 will updated the areas of IFE equipment interface definition, cable bend radius, use of grommet strip material, methods of in-seat wiring, cabin equipment cooling, system performance and health monitoring. Standardization of cabin systems control with a common Graphical User Interfaces (GUI) will be initiated in 2009. Cabin box form factors including electrical and mechanical interfaces will also be initiated in 2009.
Current Drafts:
Draft 2 of Supplement 6 to ARINC Specification 628: Cabin Equipment Interfaces (CEI), Part 1, Cabin Management and Entertainment System - Peripherals
Draft 3 of Supplement 2 to ARINC Specification 628: Cabin Equipment Interfaces (CEI), Part 3, In-Flight Entertainment System (IFES) to Aircraft System Interfaces
Draft 1 of Supplement 6 to ARINC Characteristic 746: Cabin Communications Systems (CCS)
Circulation Prior to Adoption Action
Draft 2 of Supplement 2 to ARINC Specification 808: 3GCN Cabin Distribution (pdf, 775K)
To Obtain Complete Document
Draft 2 of Project Paper 820: 3rd Generation Cabin Network - Wireless, In-Flight Entertainment System
Next Meeting Announcement:
Cabin Systems Subcommittee (CSS) (pdf, 115K)
August 24-27, 2010; Berlin, Germany
Register On Line
Connector Technical Working Group (CWG) (pdf, 146K)
August 24-26, 2010; Berlin, Germany
Register On Line
Cabin Mobile Phone/Wireless Distribution (CMP/WD)
Technical Working Group (pdf, 146K)
August 24-25, 2010; Berlin, Germany
Register On Line
Working Papers:
Strawman for Project Paper 800: Cabin Cables and
Connectors (pdf, 2M)
Strawman for Project Paper 832: Cabin Equipment Inferaces, 4GCN Cabin Management and Entertainment System, Cabin Distribution System (pdf, 777K)
Strawman for Project Paper 833: Wireless Distribution (pdf, 370K)
Strawman for Project Paper 837: Cabin Human Machine Interface Style Guide (pdf, 687K)
Last Meeting Report:
Cabin
Systems Subcommittee (CSS)
May 25-28, 2010; in Evreux, France
Associated Handouts
Click here for information regarding Ku-Band.
