iPad recruited for the latest inflight entertainment
(Credit: Apple)
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Far from being a killer of in-flight movies, Apple's iPad could soon become a central part of an airline's in-flight entertainment system.When news of the iPad first hit the world in January, Jetstar chief information officer Stephen Tame had speculated with ZDNet Australia that the iPad "may lead in the future the end of airline in-flight entertainment systems" as everyone started to take their own devices onto the plane for entertainment.Yet, even those who don't possess their own iPads could get an in-flight taste of the swanky devices if Bluebox Avionics, which provides technology and content to enable in-flight entertainment, has its way.Bluebox Avionics has announced it will soon provide iPads to airline passengers in the US as part of its in-flight entertainment service. According to a press release, the Bluebox Ai, as the company calls it, will be "the industry's only in-flight entertainment system to utilize the Apple iPad".The customized iPads will include a select number of games, magazines and ebooks from the iTunes store, as well as Bluebox Avionics's own movie player application designed specifically for airlines.The company announced that the iPads will be launched in July on one yet-to-be-named "international carrier" and will be available to other airlines shortly after.Via CNET.com.au
, a Qantas owned Australian low-cost airline, has announced plans to trial Apple  as an in-flight entertainment option. This trial would make Jetstar one of the first airlines in the world to offer the iPad.

Starting later this month, Jetstar plans to begin a two-week trial, during which passengers will have the option to rent iPads for 10 on domestic flights longer than an hour. Thirty iPads would be available on each test plane. These devices would be preloaded with games, e-books, music and video content. Internet access however will be disabled as per Jetstar's policy on internet connected devices, said spokeswoman Andrea Wait. 

The iPads offered by Jetstar, will be specially customized by . Bluebox Avionics, at present, is the only company to offer iPads as part of an in-flight entertainment system. Jetstar will be the first to offer the Bluebox Avionics iPad based systems, though, Bluebox Avionics has said the system will be available to other airlines soon.

Shortly following the initial release of the iPad, Jetstar chief information officer Stephen Tame speculated that the iPad "may lead in the future the end of airline in-flight entertainment systems". Depending on the results of the trial, iPads may replace existing Jetstar in-flight entertainment systems.

Jetstar chief executive Bruce Buchanan said he expected the iPads to be very popular during the trial. If the trial is successful, the airline would “be looking to roll out the devices across our entire domestic and international network later in the year", said Buchanan.