APEX: 4K, Fun Facts and Data Dashboard Come to FlightPath3D’s Moving Map

Flying Over Places, one of the latest features of FlightPath3D’s moving maps, provides information about points of interest as passengers fly over them.

FlightPath3D is building atop its popular moving map with higher resolution imagery and features to further enrich the in-flight entertainment experience while increasing sponsorship revenue and analytics benefits for airlines.

When FlightPath3D learned one of its airline customers was installing 4K seatback screens, it saw an opportunity to get ahead of the curve and went to work on a higher resolution, crisper moving map that could offer the same satellite, window and cockpit views its customers already knew, but in finer detail.

“The hardware has moved faster than the content that’s available,” said Jon Norris, vice-president of Marketing, FlightPath3D, explaining that most in-flight entertainment content is still in HD or standard definition formats, even though 4K screens are gradually making their way on board. “We wanted to get there sooner rather than later.

“Post-COVID-19, airlines will want to know where their passengers want to travel and when. We can gain this intelligence through the data dashboard.” - Jon Norris, FlightPath3D

FlightPath3D had hoped to launch its 4K upgrade, demonstrate two other features and make multiple customer announcements at Aircraft Interiors Expo earlier this month, but the event was canceled due to the coronavirus outbreak.

In addition to the native 4K moving map (different from lower-resolution maps that are scaled up to emulate 4K) the company is also introducing Flying Over Places. The feature, which is available on seatback and wireless IFE systems, adds educational and historical facts about more than 50,000 points of interest to the moving map. The information auto-plays as the flight progresses and tells passengers the aircraft’s distance from the different destinations. Norris sees potential here to feature sponsored points of interest, bringing additional revenue to airlines, as well as relevant promotions to passengers.