Wessex Advanced Switching products Ltd (WASP), has been exhibiting at Aircraft Interiors for several years. In 2008, WASP went to the Hamburg show to exhibit some of its new products used by some of the worlds leading airlines.

WASP is an established UK electronics company operating from the south coast. The company has its foundation in the seventies as a leading manufacturer of customised professional rotary switches, and later as a leading UK manufacturer of membrane switches keypads and touchscreens.

WASP began working on switching panels for the aviation market about 15 years ago. During this time these Seat Control Units (SCU's) have developed as the seats (or suites as they tend to be called today) have developed with the demand from airlines for more and more features on their first and business class seats. The SCU's manufactured by WASP will typically have controls for the seat (backrest, footrest, armrest, headrest, massage, lumbar, heating and cooling) lighting (mood lights, reading lights, wash lights, overhead light) and suite (attendant call, privacy divider, IFE control) features.

WASP is currently working on several SCU's for airlines from all over the world and some of their recent work can be seen in the futuristic "suite" design which won the Crystal Cabin Award earlier this year. This suite designed by Priestmann Goode and built by BE Aerospace for JET Airways, shows the way forward for the new "Super First Class" seating expectations of the world's airlines.

WASP's MD, Roy Middleton said: "That as the world's airlines demand these highly complex multi-functioning suites for their passengers, so WASP must produce control systems that compliment these products. This means that our engineering team must be innovative in it's designs and must look to use leading edge technologies"

"Over the years we have developed some fantastic products many of which today use touchscreen technology as a method to allow for the large number of switches needed to control all the features of modern aircraft seats. In the beginning we would use membrane switch panels (still popular on business class products) with may be 10 switches to control the seat and a reading light. However, with the modern first class product the functionality may require over 100 switches and this lends itself to a menu based touchscreen system as opposed to a large membrane style switch panel"

"By incorporating an LCD based control, WASP has replaced the traditional switches with simple touchscreen menu's. As a result of this WASP has now taken this design still further and developed the technology into a complete suite control, information and entertainment system. Passengers can now use the screen to access information on duty free goods, in-flight meals, destination guides, flight maps, games, music, video and even the Internet"

"Our activities in this market have made us aware of what passengers want" said Middleton,"as a result we have become innovators with a range of our own products, in addition to those which we design and build specifically for customers. Our new Graphic User Interface (GUI) is a totally flexible fully programmable Suite Control Unit. Once programmed we can fit into a customised hand held unit either corded or fixed ready to stow in the armrest or side panel."

"Add this to our ever expanding range of lighting products we now offer, and we are confident that we can continue to grow and expand within the aerospace market. Continuing to supply our customers with leading edge products that meet the ever increasing demands of the traveller".