The days of costly and frustrating airline inflight entertainment (IFE) system failure due to headphone pin breakage are a thing of the past for Etihad Airways. The UAE flag carrier is the first airline to implement the new Magnetic Jacks designed and manufactured by Phitek. This magnetic connector product has been adopted by Panasonic as a Remote Jack Unit in their latest IFE offering.
The new Remote Jack Unit is reverse compatible with most traditional ARINC headphone types and all headphones equipped with Magnetic Plugs (MJ-Plugs™).
Mechanical pin breakage and the resulting IFE system failure at the aircraft seat is completely eliminated when Phitek’s Magnetic Jack Units are used in combination with passenger headphones equipped with MJ-Plugs™. If passengers get up with their headphones still attached, the force exerted separates the magnetic combination, releasing the headphones without any damage.
Before accepting the Phitek Magnetic Jack, Etihad Airways conducted extensive flight trials using their existing Yes-Hope headphones fitted with MJ-Plugs™.
Etihad Airways’ Manager BFE Program and Projects, Quentin Couturier, said: “The results of our 60-day trial were encouraging with no defects logged and no Magnetic Jack replacements required. Our survey also revealed a positive response from our guests with a majority expressing their overall satisfaction.”
The MJ-Plug™ is an open design, available to all headphone manufacturers, making the operation of magnetic jack units a seamless and cost effective option for airlines.