August 29, 2008 – HANDHELD IFE supplier digEcor is to offer an IFE parts service drawing on the established capabilities of parent company Wencor.

“Wencor has been in this business for decades and has a large engineering staff that works closely with the FAA to certificate replacement parts for aircraft,” says Brent Wood, chief executive of Utah-based digEcor. “We will source Parts Manufacturing Authority (PMA)-certificated components for IFE systems both as a Wencor distributor and through other distributorships.”

According to digEcor, many airlines have problems obtaining IFE spares in a timely or cost-effective way. “Our sales representatives will be trained to source the best products with the shortest lead times at the lowest prices,” Wood declares.

The move fits with the business strategy that digEcor announced at the beginning of this year. Then the company said it aimed to become a full-service operation, broadening its content offering, helping its airline customers to earn ancillary revenues, and entering markets beyond air transport in pursuit of a doubling in sales and a 300 per cent increase in profits.

“We will be offering new programmes and becoming a more complete service provider,” said chief operating officer Brad Heckel. “In addition to more flexible content and hardware services, we will also package revenue from advertisers and other sources to provide reduced costs or income opportunities for our customers.”

Other digEcor news includes a revamp of its Website as part of a marketing push in the run-up to next month’s WAEA show in Long Beach. Facilities include a remodelled version of the portal the company first introduced four years ago to allow passengers to reserve digEplayer handhelds before leaving for the airport. The portal gives access to systems operated by digEcor’s airline customers, including original client Alaska Airlines.