A multi-engine, instrument rated pilot, James Wynbrandt has been an AIN and Business Jet Traveler contributor since 2003. His in-depth reporting and insightful features have won more than a dozen editorial honors, including two National Business Aviation Association Gold Wing Awards (2019; 2021), and his articles have also appeared in the New York Times, Barron’s, Fortune, Forbes, and Smithsonian Air &amp; Space. He has flown his Mooney M20K 252 on assignments throughout North and Central America and the Caribbean. Wynbrandt is also the author of Flying High (Wiley &amp; Sons), a biography of Jet Blue founder David Neeleman, as well as histories, references works, and books on a variety of other topics from major publishers. He lives in New York City.

Contributor - Business Aviation

James Wynbrandt

DPI Labs and SkyCinema Aviation debuted at NBAA-BACE 2022 the world’s first airborne application of the Dolby Atmos immersive audio system, as well as DPI’s newest dotless remote phosphor LED Smartlights. Both the Atmos sound system and LED lighting are on display in a specially outfitted van at the companies’ booth (4895) where visitors can immerse themselves in the products.

 


Dolby Atmos allows up to 128 channels of audio to 64 independent speakers for in-theater applications, while the consumer version uses a smaller number of speakers.

 


“What we love about this system is that it’s perfect for VVIP retrofit installations,” said Jay McGrath, co-founder and managing partner of UK-based SkyCinema Aviation. “We’re able to deliver a truly professional, immersive cinematic experience to the end customer at less than 15 percent of the cost of a full cabin audio replacement.”

 


A joint-engineering effort between California’s DPI Labs and SkyCinema Aviation, the main theater area on the Boeing includes DPI Labs’ 65-inch OLED UHD ultra-thin 4K display and its SmartLink cabin management system, paired with a Dolby Atmos processor and 57 speakers situated around the cabin and above the viewers. The 65-inch 4K OLED display, introduced in 2020, is the largest and thinnest display available for aircraft today, according to the companies.

 


First introduced to cinemas in 2012, the most recent theatrical release featuring the audio technology is “Top Gun: Maverick.”

 


DPI also introduced its new dotless remote phosphor LED Slimline Smartlights, which provide homogeneous lighting for cabin wash, toe kick, and accent lighting. Unlike typical LED strip lighting where individual LED diodes cast their own light cones, dotless remote phosphor technology uses studio-grade royal blue LEDs to energize a coating of phosphor inside the strip, providing “seamless, uniform lighting consistency,” said Greg DeSmet, DPI’s engineering manager.

 


The technology creates a smooth “dot-free” homogenous lighting product resembling traditional fluorescent tubes but with the benefits of much smaller size, minimal energy consumption, and much longer life than even normal LED strip lighting, according to DPI.

 


Slimline joins DPI’s line of SmartLight LED strip lighting products, which use studio-quality flicker-free LEDs for cabin-lighting applications. SmartLights can be measured and cut-to-fit by MROs during installation providing a zero-lead time solution for both new aircraft installations, as well as quick fluorescent lighting retrofit replacements. DPI’s compact lighting power supply modules support integration with legacy cabin control systems.&nbsp;

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

DPI, SkyCinema Display Dolby Atmos Bizav Sound System 

SkyCinema and DPI Labs are showing the airborne Dolby Atmos sound system new dotless phosphor LED cabin lights at NBAA-BACE. 

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

As competitors drop out of the eVTOL race, Eve is pressing ahead.

Testing Starts For Eve Air Mobility’s eVTOL Aircraft Prototype

Charles Alcock

News about commercial airlines, including regulations, aircraft orders, safety, acquisitions, and mergers.

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Conversion of E190 passenger airliner now certified by Brazilian, U.S., and European regulators

EASA Certification Clears E-Freighter for Global Operations

AmyWilder

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

BAAFEx 2025 to host Boeing, VistaJet, Lufthansa, and more in Singapore

New Business Aviation Leaders Set for BAAFEx 2025 Show

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

News and developments about aviation fuel, including jet fuel, aviation gasoline, and biofuel.

European aerospace group says it will not meet target of certifying a hydrogen-powered aircraft in 2035

Airbus Admits Hydrogen Airliners Could Take Longer to Deliver 

Hanneke Weitering

Oita's local government partners with SkyDrive and Kyushu Railway Company

Japan’s Oita Prefecture Plans Integrated eVTOL and Rail Services

Kerry Lynch

Shipments increased by eight aircraft to 146 in 2024

Bombardier Deliveries, Services Up in 2024

Montreal airframer believes impact of tariffs would be felt equally across the U.S. and Canadian border

With Tariff Uncertainty, Bombardier Defers 2025 Guidance

News and issues concerning the aviation charter and fractional-ownership industries and markets, including company announcements, regulations, new developments and labor issues.

NBAA-BACE 2022

More In Aircraft