AirAsia Uses FlightVu Cockpit Door Surveillance System to Improve In-Flight Security

Aug. 17, 2005
Malaysian low-cost carrier to install surveillance system in seven Boeing B737-300 jets

AirAsia, the Malaysian Low Cost Carrier pioneer, has selected FlightVu Cockpit Door Surveillance Systems (CDSS) for seven Boeing B737-300 aircraft. As a forward looking innovative airline AirAsia is taking this important step to increase the safety and security of its passengers.

With this order FlightVu CDSS can now be truly said to be aiding aircraft security worldwide with airlines using the systems in Asia, Europe and America. AD Aerospace of Manchester, UK and Aircraft Engineering & Installation Services Inc. (AEI) of Orlando, Florida, USA are providing the video security system and installation design respectively. The FlightVu CDSS system enables the flight crew to view the area outside the flight deck door, including the adjacent galleys, from their usual seated positions. The pilots can visually identify anyone requesting entry and take appropriate action should an incident arise.

"AirAsia considers the safety and security of our passengers as our top priority," said Tony Tang of AirAsia. "We believe that FlightVu CDSS further improve the systems and procedures we already have in place by giving our pilots a clear view of activity outside the cockpit door."

Security measures are being progressively improved and increased throughout the airline industry in recognition of the potential risks arising from terrorism and air rage. Although intrusion resistant cockpit doors have made pilots and the airlines safer, it has also isolated pilots leaving them unaware of what is happening in the cabin. This is where Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) comes into use.

"We are extremely pleased to be providing FlightVu CDSS for AirAsia as our first of many customers in Asia. By installing CDSS they have demonstrated that they take the safety of their passengers and crew very seriously," said Mike Horne, Managing Director, AD Aerospace. "We believe that Cockpit Door Surveillance is an important part of in-flight security and adds to passengers' confidence in flying with an airline."

The FlightVu CDSS consists of two or three CCTV cameras linked to a LCD monitor or monitors strategically mounted in the cockpit pedestal. The system provides the flight deck crew with clear, forward viewing, real-time video of the area outside the cockpit door. The CCTV cameras are flush mounted, in low-profile color coordinated housings, to the aircraft interior outside the secure cabin door and in the galley area. Infra Red Illuminators are included to allow the area to be viewed even with the cabin lights extinguished.

FlightVu surveillance systems have been or are being installed on aircraft for, Air Seychelles, AirAsia, bmi, Britannia, BWIA, Corsair, easyJet, FlyJet, Germania, Hapag Lloyd, Britannia Nordic, MyTravel and JetBlue amongst others.

AD Aerospace Ltd., designs and manufactures aerospace video camera equipment, including state-of-the-art video security systems, it produced the worlds first aerospace certified video server in 1999. The company is part of the AD Holdings Group, which is the world leader in multi channel digital video recorders. AD Aerospace is a CAA/EASA approved designer and manufacturer of video camera systems for commercial aerospace, and an approved supplier to the Boeing Company. It has facilities in Manchester UK, Atlanta USA and Singapore.

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