Cabin Announcement Task Force Peter Lemme Chairman

What if you cannot hear? Public Address Announcements Departure delay Food specials Jokes and Stories Weather enroute/destination Arrival Gate Assignments Airline Promotions

What if you cannot see? Where is the attendant call button? Is the seat belt sign still on? Is the lavatory occupied? Are the aisles clear to pass through?

Missed announcements even if you can see & hear Asleep Distracted Garbled audio Speech too fast or with accent

Reference Airplane Architecture

Passenger Safety Announcements 1. (PreRec) Safety information 2. (PreRec) Standardized emergency announcements 3. (PreRec) Takeoff instructions 4. (PreRec) When to stow/use electronic devices and use IFES 5. (PreRec) Turbulence instructions 6. (PreRec) Need for medical assistance from any medical professionals on board 7. (PreRec) Pre-Landing instructions a. Putting tray table up, putting seats in upright position, staying seated, trash collection, etc. 8. (PreRec) Instructions for taxi to the gate 9. (PreRec) Instructions not to congregate near the lavatories. 10. (ad hoc) Specific weather issues 11. (ad hoc) Unique emergencies 12. (PreRec) Return to Seat and Fasten Seat Belt

Cabin Services Announcements 13. (PreRec) Wi-Fi information and where to find power outlets 14. (PreRec) Customs and Immigration procedures for international flights 15. (PreRec) In-flight beverage service commencing/ending 16. (PreRec) Food menu choices (for long haul flights with meal service) 17. (PreRec) Post-Landing instructions a. Any announcement requests to pull down window shades to block the heat when landing in hot locations

Passenger Information Announcements 18. (PreRec) Routine delays in leaving the gate. 19. (PreRec) Welcome messages 20. (PreRec) Airline promotions for frequent fliers 21. (PreRec) Routine delays in takeoff and reasons why 22. (PreRec) Routine delays while taxi to the gate and reasons why 23. (PreRec) Special promotions/offers 24. (Radio) Connecting gate information 25. (Radio) Baggage claim information 26. (Radio ???) Specific destination information, which is especially vital for flights with stopovers so that the passenger does not get off at the wrong destination 27. (Radio) Ground transportation information 28. (ad hoc) Unique delays in takeoff and reasons why 29. (ad hoc) Unique delays in taxi to the gate and reasons why 30. (ad hoc) Landmark views (when the pilot tells passengers to look out their windows)

Charter DOT ACCESS Rulemaking Committee Provide report by Nov 2017

CATF Tasks text display of pre-recorded announcements on existing aircraft that uses an audio and video pre-recorded announcement machine (PRAM) with a connection to overhead or seatback monitors to convey pre-recorded cabin announcements; text display of pre-recorded announcements on a newly delivered aircraft and existing aircraft in order to sunset the use of audio-only PRAMs; text display of pre-recorded announcements on passenger-owned devices; text display of uplink announcements via ACARS/IP on seatback displays and passenger-owned devices; and  text display of PA announcements (such as speech-to-text recognition) on seatback displays and passenger-owned devices.

CATF Procedures Assess utility and feasibility of possible interfaces to alert and convey information to passengers.  Agree upon system features and architectures Assess system cybersecurity with respect to required avionics systems. Assess functional hazards from any new proposed interface and how these new proposed interfaces supplement required systems onboard Promote rapid prototype and trial application development Develop an open-standard, abstracted, extensible wireless interface between the airplane system and the passenger device. Identify necessary avionics or IFE interfaces or protocols needing new or revised standards or characteristics. Agree upon expectations from existing aircraft configurations. Note opportunities using the system to benefit other passengers

Configurations Airline fleets are comprised of aircraft where equipage may vary based on retrofit campaigns, type and model differences, and mission.  Each existing airplane may include one or more of configurations (overhead seatbelt/call and PA are basic) listed below: No IFE installed IFE Overhead monitors, in-seat headphone jack, public content IFE Airline portable player Wi-Fi Internet Access, Personal Device Wi-Fi Local Content Server, Personal Device IFE Seatback display, in-seat headphone jack Cellular Picocell Internet Access, Personal Device Other (Bluetooth, ???)  Internet Access, Personal Device Wi-Fi Internet Access, Airline portable device Wi-Fi Local Content Server, Airline portable device IFE Overhead multipurpose device

WAIFIND.org The task force will also identify opportunities and challenges in establishing a standard interface between aircraft network and passenger-owned devices to enable interactive capability such as calling or messaging with a flight attendant. It will evaluate trials and demonstrations to address these problems on or before November 15, 2017.

WAIFIND