In a landmark development around June 1979, Ian Hall, then a “contractor” at Bristow Helicopters in Redhill, Surrey, UK, envisioned a groundbreaking solution to enhance communication and passenger experience in helicopters.
Addressing the challenge of passengers sitting in the back of the aircraft with ear defenders and pilots relying on hand signals for communication, Hall proposed a system that would allow passengers to listen to music through modified ear defenders while facilitating communication with the pilot.
Inspiration struck when Hall observed numerous ear defenders scattered across aircraft seat backs. After engaging with fellow technicians and engineers about their purpose, he conceived the idea of transforming these ear defenders into stereo headsets. As an electronics enthusiast, Hall had recently implemented fingertip controls in his car to remotely operate all functions on his new radio cassette player.
Hall meticulously developed a draft schematic, outlining the materials and equipment required for the modification. Earpieces would be integrated into modified ear defenders, hardwired to terminal blocks on seats through shielded cables to prevent interference. Quick disconnect “Cannon plugs” would connect seats to the aircraft cabin wall. The aircraft wiring would link to an impedance matching circuit and a chosen cassette player, at that time a Pioneer deck situated in the center console.
After a collaborative meeting with George Arnold, Alan Brown (Drawing Office), and Hall, a plan for a trial installation was formulated. The trial, titled In-Flight Entertainment (IFE), was executed on an AS-330 Puma based in Sumburgh, Shetland Islands.
Accompanied by contractor Roger Roylance, Hall completed the installation in a remarkable 10 days. Passengers welcomed the new IFE with enthusiasm, noting its transformative impact on their sometimes lengthy journeys to offshore oil rigs, making them more relaxing and pleasant.
The trials extended for about a month, during which the system was refined to allow passengers control over music volume and enable pilots to interrupt the music for direct communication. Approval from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) was sought and granted, marking this modification as a valuable contribution to enhancing safety in the offshore oil support transportation industry.
Following the success of the project, Ian Hall’s ingenuity earned him a recommendation for full-time employment by George Arnold, leading to his hiring on November 1st, 1979. With support from George Arnold and Alan Bristow, Chairman and founder of Bristow Helicopters, Hall was sponsored for training at CSE in Oxford and Cranfield Institute of Technology, Bedford. Graduating with flying colors, he became an Engineer on August 13, 1981, with approval on all aircraft in the Bristow fleet, securing the title of the youngest person to achieve this milestone at the time.
Ian Hall’s illustrious career at Bristow encompassed years of system designs, modifications, enhancements, installations, and detachments to various locations around the world, including, Norway and Nigeria. His notable contributions included spearheading Search and Rescue (SAR) development and integration, the development of Health and Usage Monitoring Systems (HUMS), and serving as an Avionics instructor on the Bell 212.
In a significant turn, Ian Hall resigned from Bristow in December 1986 to relocate to the USA, leaving behind a lasting legacy of innovation and excellence in helicopter avionics.
Contact Ian G. Hall – ighall@atiss.com
