Bringing the sky inside the plane

New technology could project starry nights in a jet, with hope of making trips more pleasant for people

Boeing has submitted a patent for a projection system — not yet approved by the U.S. patent office — to change the view for its passengers.

The system would be attached to a bulkhead, adjacent to the ceiling. The projected image could move, such as a depiction of clouds in the sky or a shooting star, or the image could be static, such as a scene from the plane’s destination. The device could also include a sound system.

The system was invented by Jagdish Madhav, 70, who works as a mechanical and optical engineer for Boeing.

Madhav said his technology would rely heavily on LED lights, which last significantly longer than, for example, tungsten halogen lights, and provide the colours required to create the system’s themes, moods and effects.

Boeing is “exploring” the technology as part of a bid to improve the “sense of physical space” passengers feel, said Kent Craver, regional director, cabin experience and revenue analysis for Chicagobased Boeing.

“We want to provide as much physical space as we can within the limitations of the aircraft . . . (and) lighting plays a key role in the architectural expression of physical and psychological space in an airplane.”

Would this improve an airline’s competitive reputation?

Mara Lederman, a director at U of T’s Rotman School of Management, said not necessarily: “Anything Boeing introduces into the planes it sells to one airline, it will likely offer other airlines, so it’s hard to see how this becomes a source of competitive advantage . . . it’s not obvious to me whether passengers will care enough about it to pay more.”

The proposal is part of a “mood lighting” trend in the airline industry. Broadly speaking, this can include functional lighting, such as that found on seats, and dynamic lighting, which is the utilization of colour without saturating the entire cabin.

All of Boeing’s newest aircraft currently have or will have dynamic lighting, Craver said.

BOEING Boeing has a patent pending for an image projection system that projects pictures such as clouds and starry nights on the ceiling of the cabin.