Internet of things to come?

An early report card for the Internet of Planes

Engines that know when they’re about to break, notify mechanics, and order parts. Live weather applications that interact with air traffic control to give pilots advanced options. Seats that know who you are and just how much you like to be reclined. Inflight entertainment that remembers where you are and suggests what you might like to watch. These were the promises of the Internet of Things when Australian Aviation last delved into the IoT in October 2015 (“The Internet of Planes”), in an article that was filled with much promise of the future.

But are we there yet? Australia’s airlines have lagged behind their international comparators in adding inflight Internet, even while early benefits of the Internet of Things have arrived before the radomes, satellite dishes and wifi access points in our skies.