American Airlines Introduces Galaxy Note to Onboard Flight Attendants
American Airlines Introduces Galaxy Note to Onboard Flight Attendants by UCStrategies Staff
On Wednesday, American Airlines will distribute 17,000 Samsung Galaxy Note devices among their flight attendants as a tool to enhance their various onboard tasks. In addition to storing basic customer information such as name and seat number, the device will be used to keep track of beverage and meal preferences of each customer.
American Airlines plans to start implementing these devices in their flights by the end of the year and will continue to do so through mid-2013.
The Galaxy Note was chosen after a series of tests using several different mobile devices. The final selection was based on the feedback from the 40 flight attendants who made up the pilot study.
American Airlines stated that the highlights of this device include its thin design, the easily readable 5.3 inch screen, and the security features. The size allows the attendants to hold it in one hand and put it in their pocket when it is not in use. This size allows for greater freedom of mobility for the flight attendants to perform their duties without being constrained by a larger-sized tablet.
The manual will be built into the Notes devices so that the flight attendants will not need to carry a bulky paper manual as they familiarize themselves with the programs.
Although Samsung categorizes the Galaxy Note as a smartphone featuring tablet components, American Airlines prefers to call it simply a tablet because of its size. In the video provided through the airline’s website, they also show flight attendants using the touch screen option over the included digital stylus known as the S-Pen.
Maya Leibman, American Airlines CIO, makes the claim that adding this new technology is part of an overarching corporate program “to build a new American and return to industry leadership."
Furthermore, American Airlines plans to incorporate the tablet into the cockpit during the flight as well. This airline is the first of its kind to secure FAA’s approval to use these devices in the cockpit.
Another expansion of this device in the company, still awaiting FAA approval, would involve using the tablets to transfer connecting gate information, flight changes, and weather updates directly to customers. When wireless technology becomes available on all aircraft, Wi-Fi will be used to update this information.
According to American Airlines, 90 percent of their domestic aircraft carriers will be Wi-Fi ready by the end of 2012. (RP) Link