Web Extra: Rockwell Collins Venue and Tailwind Available for Retrofit

Rockwell Collins unveiled two key cabin systems retrofit programs at EBACE: an expansion of the capabilities of the Tailwind 550 direct broadcast satellite TV system and a Venue HD retrofit for Bombardier Globals. The Tailwind 550 upgrade provides replacement of the fuselage-mounted antenna for better satcom connectivity over Europe and the Middle East, improved coverage and reliability, and the live streaming of high-definition (HD) MPEG-4 content, said Greg Irmen, v-p and general manager of flight controls and information systems. The new Tailwind 550 antenna is priced at about $740,000.

The Cedar Rapids, Iowa-based company will also make its Venue-based HD cabin system available for Bombardier Global XRS and 5000 models equipped with the company’s cabin electronic system, beginning in the middle of next year. Venue HD runs on a high-bandwith, scalable fiber-optic backbone, easing installation and saving weight over copper-wire systems.

For operators of smaller business jets and turboprops, Rockwell Collins offers its combined Airshow 500 and Skybox content distribution device, providing real-time flight information and entertainment to cabin displays and passengers’ Apple mobile devices.