Paris, 4 June 2019 – At the International Paris Air Show in Le Bourget (Salon du Bourget), Air France, Latecoere and Ubisoft will be trialing their new LiFi (Light Fidelity) technology using light to transmit data and will run an in-flight video game tournament showcasing this technology.
During the International Paris Air Show, Latecoere’s stand (Hall 2a – B254) will feature a full-scale, medium-range Air France cabin mock-up featuring LiFi technology. Visitors at the show will be able to put the speed and reliability of this innovative new technology through its paces in a live demo.
Latecoere, a tier 1 partner to major international aircraft manufacturers, has designed a LiFi infrastructure solution enabling entertainment and communication system providers to deliver the best possible in-flight connectivity. This technology offers multiple benefits:
• Very high-speed multimedia data throughput (a speed currently 100 times faster than existing WiFi systems);
• Less on-board cabling (eliminating copper cables and replacing them with optical systems), leading to overall weight savings for the aircraft and making it more fuel-efficient.
It is thanks to the pioneering mindset of Air France Industries KLM Engineering & Maintenance, a major international player in aircraft maintenance, that it is possible to deploy this solution within an Air France Cabin for the first time. LiFi was spotted at an early stage by its cabin modification experts, who then began to think about how to implement this innovative technology on board an aircraft.
As Latecoere also identified the great potential for LiFi, the partnership arose naturally from a common desire to explore new technology-driven opportunities. Latecoere developed the system, while AFI KLM E&M obtained certification for the solution and oversaw cabin integration. This combined expertise is driving forward unparalleled advancements in the aerospace industry.
In order to demonstrate the power of LiFi transmission speeds, Ubisoft will launch a never-before-seen tournament based around its racing video game Trackmania² Stadium at 10:00 am (CET) on Monday, June 17, on Latecoere’s stand. Visitors to the International Paris Air Show will be able to take up the challenge by playing against each other online using tablets installed in a mock-up of a medium-range Air France cabin.
The official tournament will take place from Saturday 6 July at 8:00 pm (CET), with the final rounds taking place in September 2019 on a one-off Air France commercial flight in an aircraft specially kitted out for the occasion, with 12 seats equipped with Latecoere’s LiFi technology. Competitors will be able to discover customized racetracks created especially for the event and that will feature key elements of Air France’s and Latecoere’s universe.
Players will be able to register online at www.airfrance-tmcup.com as soon as the tournament opens.
The prizes as well as the terms and conditions of the tournament will be communicated shortly via the above site.
Yannick Assouad, Latecoere’s Chief Executive Officer, commented: “The development of on board LiFi technology, an area where Latecoere is market leader, will shake up how passengers and cabin crew receive and share data during flights over the next five years. We are proud to be spearheading this innovation, and this expert technology underscores our major R&T efforts over the past three years.”
Deborah Papiernik, Ubisoft’s SVP, New Business Development, added: “We are proud to be participating in the International Paris Air Show alongside two leading names from France’s aerospace industry. The exclusive partnership provides an opportunity to establish Ubisoft in a new arena, at an altitude 30,000 feet above where our games are normally played. In-flight entertainment is destined for tremendous growth over the next few years, and Ubisoft is ready to play a leading role”.
Antoine Laborde, Air France’s Head of Innovation, continued: “We are delighted to have the opportunity to trial LiFi on one of our aircraft, and to be holding an on-board video game tournament—two “world firsts”. In-flight entertainment is a cornerstone of Air France’s onboard experience, and so it is only natural that Air France is investing in innovative solutions that will provide new experiences for our customers in a few years time.”
