News
Major airlines to present at Seating & IFE Integration event

Newly confirmed speakers include: Kevin Callahan, Associate Technical Fellow, Systems Concept Center and Bryan K.Wiltse, Lead Engineer for Cabin Systems Future Strategy at Boeing Commercial Airplanes; Rodolfo Baldascino, Marketing & Sales Manager at Geven; Jason Johnson, Director, Technical Services and Engineering at Omni Air International; Rick Lockhart, President at Skypaxxx Interior Repairs; Rod Pulbrook, Manager Customer Experience and Line Maintenance Operations at Qantas Airways as well as a senior Executive from Zodiac In-Flight Innovation.
 
The theme for the opening session of this year's symposium, taking place ahead of Aircraft Interiors Expo Americas, will be 'Inspiration and Opportunity.' The first two presentations will cover 'Consumer trends: the impact of smart mobile technology' and 'Evolving seat-centric technology,' which will be followed by 'The evolution of the connected cabin,' featuring Kevin Callahan and Bryan K. Wiltse from Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Topic areas will include the capabilities on offer within the connected cabin and the types of opportunities created by offering universal wireless connectivity in the cabin and how this connectivity can change business models.
 
The second session's theme will be 'Making the Business Case' and the first topic will be "Saving time, saving money by working smarter," to be followed by a panel discussion on "The business case for closer integration," which will now include Rodolfo Baldascino, Marketing & Sales Manager at Geven and Rod Pulbrook, Manager Customer Experience and Line Maintenance Operations at Qantas Airways. They will join previously announced panellists who will consider and discuss some of the critical issues affecting all stakeholders in the industry.
 
The third session's focus will be "Making Integration Happen" and the afternoon agenda will open with a scene-setting update on critical industry standards and the impact of regulations on closer integration between seat, IFE and connectivity.
 
The final session, under the heading of "Delivering Innovation," will open with "new models for delivering seat-integrated IFE and collaborative working practices – Omni Air International B777 IFE Integration case study," to be presented by Jason Johnson, Director, Technical Services and Engineering at Omni Air International. This airline perspective and experience will provide an overview of factors including the pitfalls for IFE selection; the pros and cons of new or refurbished seats for IFE integration; assembling the IFE integration team and selecting the right vendors; project managing IFE integration and establishing clear lines of responsibility across a multiple vendor project.
 
Rick Lockhart, president at Skypaxxx Interior Repairs, will then deliver the experience from an integrator's viewpoint highlighting key areas such as co-operation with airlines, ways in which to prevent and admit errors while fixing them speedily and IFE collaboration with engineering and other organisational nominated representatives.
 
A senior executive from Zodiac In-Flight Innovation will provide the final topic entitled, "The IFE experience' to be followed by a Q&A discussion which will bring the Symposium to a conclusion. The Aircraft Interiors Expo Americas exhibition halls will then open for an Exhibition Preview and Industry Networking Party that will take place from 1700 – 2000.
 
These new speakers will be joining an impressive line-up of confirmed keynote speakers who include Jason Adams, Aircraft Interiors/IFE Supply Chain General Manager at Delta Air Lines, Zuzana Hrnkova, Head of Aircraft Interiors Marketing at Airbus and Alex Pozzi, Vice President, Advanced Design Group at B/E Aerospace.
 
Katie Murphy, Exhibition Director for Aircraft Interiors Expo Americas, said: "I'm delighted to welcome these new speakers to this year's Symposium as their subject-matter expertise and industry experience will provide invaluable thought leadership on many levels. The topic of IFE and seat integration is clearly a focal point within the industry at present and by adding to the quality list of speakers, there is no doubt that the appeal and relevance of the Symposium will provide a unique and timely platform to fully debate emerging trends and issues."