Air Canada

Air Canada (AC) Content Workflow

Content research, filtration and sourcing

Hollywood (Fav. & Classics)

Canadian/French (Movies & TV)

TV (Western & Intl)

Audio (Indian, Western, World)

Audio (Podcasts)

Hollywood Latest

International Movies

Prescreening, Reviews and Recommendations

Content Planning Meeting with AC

Prepare Proposal / PPT / Portal Updates

Proposal – Review & QC

Present to AC

AC Approved?

No

Yes

The Master Programming Chart (PC) (Movies, TV, Audio, Podcasts)

Others Content

Hollywood Content

Thales Grids (i4500)

Thales Grid (AVANT)

PAC EPD (eX2/eX3)

Streaming System (Gogo Content Grid)

Prepare Edit List, Prepare PO/SO

Prepare SO/PO

No

No

No

No

QC Pass

QC Pass

QC Pass

QC Pass

Send to Suppliers

Send to Studios/Distributors

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Send to all OEMs (In case of change in content set, revisions will be sent to OEMs)

Receive Contents from Suppliers

LAB Editing

Receive Images/ Synopsis from HW Studios/Distributros

Receive Images/ Synopsis from Suppliers

Videos

Audio

Shorten the synopses (Long & Short)

Prepare Master Images

Final QC Approval File

No

No

QC Pass

QC Pass

Yes

Yes

No

No

QC Pass?

Proofread?

Send Additional Edit if Any to LAB

Ingest/Make Ready for Editing

Yes

Yes

Prepare Systems Images (All Systems)

Translate Synopses (Various Languages)

Editing

LAB Compiled Additional Edit

Subtitling Req.

No

Update OEMs Platforms (MMA, DCMS, Streaming Portal)

Yes

LAB Encoded

Send for Subtitling

Audio Production

No

QC Pass

No

LAB QC Paas

Receive from Subtitling

Yes

Signoff Cycle

Yes

Send for Inspection

Follow-up LAB to send file to OEMs

Additional Edit

No

AOD

Broadcast

Podcasts

Confirm with OEMs, Files Delivered

Yes

Re-Edit

OEMs QC Pass

No

Send to AC dedicated lab for Encoding

Yes

Packaging/Integration (OEMs)

Encoding

Content Validation / RACK Testing

No

QC Pass

No

Yes

Ship Media to AC

OEMs QC Pass

Send to OEMs

Yes

Media Loaded and activated on A/C

MMA Workflow

Timeline (Leadtime Days)

PAC (eX2/eX3)

Remove dropped content

Prepare/update import sheets Movies, TV and Audio

Upload to MMA

MMA QC Pass

No

From 55 to 40 WEST

Yes

Content uploaded to MMA

Assign categories

Aggregate Series episodes

Assign Images

Initial Sign Off

Run QC Reports (until issues resolved)

Update/correct (subs, dubs, runtime, images, synopsis, etc.)

Group Templates Ad Blocks

Categories Sync between Systems (4 profiles)

From 40 to 35 WEST

Run Integrity Check

No

Integrity Pass

Yes

Fully Sign Off

DCMS Workflow

Timeline (Leadtime Days)

Thales (i4500, AVANT)

Remove dropped content

Prepare Thales grids and synopses files Movies, TV and Audio

From 55 to 40 From 40 to 35

WEST WEST Thales & WEST

Prepare System Images

DCMS Entries Metadata, Categories & Images

Export Order (Initial QC)

Update DCMS

No

QC Metadata

Yes

Review Images on the DCMS

Export Order (Final QC)

Update DCMS

Final QC Pass

No

Yes

Lock the DCMS

Packaging & Integration

Export Package (Content Bundles) from DCMS

Re-work on Packaging

Load the package on the Rack

From 35 to 10

Rack Test Pass

No

Yes

Prepare HDDs

Send HDDs to AC Engineering team to upload to Aircraft

Rack Test Manual

A defnitive guide to do a Rack Test for IFE (PAC & Thales) systems.

By West Entertainment

Table of Contents

3 4 5 6 7 9

1. Overview 2. QC Checklist - Media Files 3. QC Checklist - Metadata 4. QC Checklist - Images 5. Systems Check 6. Issue Reports

Overview

West will perform every cycle rack test for the following IFE systems as per Air Canada's strategy as well as rack availabilities.

Racks - i4500 and AVANT •

Racks - eX2 and eX3 •

Rack test has very essential advantages & benefts as:

1. QC the media and metadata elements i.e. synopsis, images, ads blocks, and change/update if required before media shipping onboard. 2. QC the sensitive media fles to ensure fles playing correctly. (Edited Files, VPAs, Safety, etc.) 3. Reduce the number of issues that might delay packaging and integration.

Below are the main elements that are being checked during the rack test:

1. Censorship Check 2. Main Menu Launch and Images Check

3. Background Images Check 4. Screensaver Images Check

5. VTSH (Video Touch Screen Handset) Images Check 6. All Content Media, Metadata, and Images Check 7. PRAMS, VPA's, Safety's and BGM Check

QC Checklist - Media Files

Make sure all relevant video fles (movies, TV shorts, ads, etc) and audio fles (Albums, Radio, VPA, PRAMs, etc.) are present and playing correctly on the GUI, including, but not limited to following checkpoints.

1. Media Files (Videos)

1.1. Full Check Ad blocks play for selected titles. • Correct fle launches when selected. •

The fle is complete and plays to the end correctly. • The audio level of ads and media fles is consistent. • All languages play as per GUI. • Lip sync of the audio and video match. • Spot-checking throughout the fle for video/audio drops. • All subtitles (CC/Embedded) are present and functional. • All subtitles (CC) are in sync with the audio •

1.2. Edit Check

Check all edits are applied as per the edit list of the content. •

1.3. Launch Check Launch the fle to confrm playback. •

2. Media Files (Audio)

1.1. Full Check Media plays the correct fle when selected. •

Spot-checking throughout fle for audio drops. (VPA) • The fle is complete and plays to the end correctly. (VPA) • Languages play as per GUI. •

1.2. Launch Check Launch the fle to confrm playback. •

QC Checklist - Metadata

Make sure all relevant metadata (movies, TV shorts, ads, Albums, Radio, etc.) are present and displaying correctly on the GUI, including, but not limited to following checkpoints.

1. Metadata (Videos)

1.1. Full Check Title and Short Title displaying correctly • Year, Genre, Runtime, and Rating displaying correctly. • Sound Tracks, and Subtitles displaying correctly. • Director, Cast, and Synopsis displaying correctly • Ensure to check all the above is checked in all GUI languages. • All aggregate episodes displaying correctly under the TV series. • No. of movies (new & held) in each category matching with the source fle. • No. of TV (new & held) in each category matching with the source fle. • 1.2. Visual Check Content showing with metadata. • All aggregate episodes displaying correctly under the TV series. • No. of movies (new & held) in each category matching with the source fle. • No. of TV (new & held) in each category matching with the source fle. •

2 . Metadata (Audio)

1.1. Full Check Title and Short Title displaying correctly •

Year, Genre, Runtime, Rating displaying correctly. • No. of albums in each category display correctly • No. of tracks are correct per album. • Synopsis displaying correctly • 1.2. Visual Check Content showing with metadata. • No. of albums in each category display correctly. •

QC Checklist - Images

Make sure all relevant images (movies, TV shorts, ads, Albums, etc.) are present and displaying correctly on the GUI, including, but not limited to following checkpoints.

1. Metadata (Videos & Audio)

1.1. Full Check The image is showing •

Correct image applied, resolution, quality, and/or cropping. • Correct featured images are present in each category. •

1.2. Visual Check The image is showing. •

System Check

Racks Full Check

The racks will be checked thoroughly as described below:

New Content (Delta)

Held Content

Section

Files Metadata Images Files Metadata Images

Full Check Full Check

Full Check

Main Menu

N/A

N/A N/A N/A

Visual Check

Category Structure

N/A

N/A N/A

N/A

Background/Screensaver

N/A N/A Pac N/A N/A Pac

Full Check

Featured GUI Images

N/A N/A

N/A N/A N/A

Edit Check Full Check Full Check Full Check

Edited Content Check

N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

Full Check Full Check Full Check Visual Check Full Check Visual Check Visual Check

Full Check Full Check Full Check Visual Check Full Check Visual Check Visual Check

Visual Check Visual Check Visual Check Visual Check Visual Check Visual Check Visual Check

Visual Check Visual Check Visual Check Visual Check Visual Check Visual Check Visual Check

Movies

N/A

TV Shorts

N/A

Audio

N/A

e-Reader

N/A

N/A

Meal Menu

N/A

N/A

Duty Free

N/A

N/A

Games

N/A

N/A

Full Check Full Check Full Check

Full Check Full Check Full Check

VPA Files

N/A N/A

N/A N/A

VPA/BGM

N/A N/A

N/A N/A

PRAMs

N/A N/A

N/A N/A

System Check

Spot-check QC is required when systems are sharing the same profle (video fles, metadata, and images), systems will be spot checked as described below: Rack Spot Check

New Content (Delta)

Held Content

Section

Files Metadata Images Files Metadata Images

Full Check Full Check

Full Check

Main Menu

N/A

N/A N/A N/A

Visual Check

Category Structure

N/A

N/A N/A

N/A

Background/Screensaver

N/A N/A Pac N/A N/A Pac

Full Check

Featured GUI Images

N/A N/A

N/A N/A N/A

Edited Content Check

N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

Launch Check Launch Check Launch Check

Visual Check Visual Check Visual Check Visual Check Visual Check Visual Check Visual Check

Full Check Full Check Full Check Visual Check Visual Check Visual Check Visual Check

Visual Check Visual Check Visual Check Visual Check Visual Check Visual Check Visual Check

Visual Check Visual Check Visual Check Visual Check Visual Check Visual Check Visual Check

Movies

N/A

TV Shorts

N/A

Audio

N/A

e-Reader

N/A

N/A

Meal Menu

N/A

N/A

Duty Free

N/A

N/A

Games

N/A

N/A

Full Check Full Check Launch Check

Full Check Full Check Launch Check

VPA Files

N/A N/A

N/A N/A

VPA/BGM

N/A N/A

N/A N/A

PRAMs

N/A N/A

N/A N/A

Issues Report

Rack inspectors prepare issues reports at the end of each testing day and share the combined report with Airlines , Panasonic, Thales and West Team accordingly. West team verifes the corrections on the rack after applies the fxes.

Sample report

Important Notes:

It is highly important to record all issues other than rack inspectors reported issues like:

New media added • Client change requests. •

So, the rack inspector will automatically verify it before marking it green.

On-time and error-free cycle delivery will enhance customer satisfaction and comfort.

Thank you