US-based Goodrich Corporation has been selected by Bahrain's national carrier Gulf Air to provide high density video reproducer units (VRU) to upgrade the airline's Airbus A330 fleet in-flight entertainment system.

Installation of the VRUs is expected to begin in the fourth quarter and continue through 2012. The VRUs will be produced by Goodrich's Sensors and Integrated Systems team in Monterrey Park, California.

The Goodrich VRUs are direct plug-and-play replacement units for the airline's current Hi-8 film-driven video reproducers. These new high-density file servers provide up to 40 hours of video and entertainment content, including "early window" movies that are not yet available for general distribution.

By replacing only the obsolete Hi-8 playback units, an airline makes use of its existing aircraft infrastructure while providing greatly enhanced video to customers at a minimum cost.

Bruce Seitz, customer management director at Goodrich, said, "Gulf Air joins dozens of international airlines that are enjoying our excellent track record of successful, easy-to-implement VRU upgrades. Gulf Air is our first Middle East customer for this upgrade and can expect exceptional local product support from our Goodrich service campus in Dubai."

"As a leading airline in the Middle East, Gulf Air has come to represent the highest standards in quality and service to our customers," said Mohammed El Assaad, senior manager, IFE & Communications at Gulf Air.

"The new Goodrich VRUs will greatly enhance our customers' experience with unique features like early window entertainment, with minimum cost and aircraft downtime for our A330 fleet,” he added. – TradeArabia News Service