A Google Glass App for Flight Attendants on Private Jets

Although it's now possible to see a rare airline passenger with Google Glass milling around the boarding gate, flight attendants and pilots have yet to don the at-times controversial eyewear.

Aviation company Honeywell Aerospace has a vision to change that with a new Google Glass app that gives flight attendants onboard private jets a hands-free way to prepare the cabin and perform routine tasks like checking the temperature or closing window shades.

The app currently supports Honeywell’s Ovation Select Cabin Management System, which is its media, communications and control system used on private business planes.

Honeywell; however, imagines building apps specifically for pilots and mechanics on privates jets as well as commercial aircraft.

"Much of our initial testing and development starts in business jets, as the platform allows for flexibility and quick execution," says Justin Dye, a product manager of cabin management at Honeywell Aerospace.

"The app is not yet ready for commercial use, but using consumer devices to enhance the flight experience is something we will continued to research."

The use cases for a commercial flight attendant app expand far beyond those of a private staff member. In many of the same ways that cabin staff are now using mobile devices, the Google Glass app could be used to identify passengers, list their preferences or needs, and remind users of airline protocols.

The video below from Honeywell shows how the Google Glass app could be used onboard a private jet: