DISPLAYS MEET DEMANDS IN GROWING, CHANGING AIRPORT
Portland International Airport (PDX) is the 33rd largest airport in the U.S., with passenger traffic exceeding 12.9 million annually, and total annual arrivals and departures of 184,000. Committed to ongoing enhancement in passenger convenience and customer service, PDX embarked on a project to replace the airport's legacy-technology flight information display system (FIDS) and to purchase state-of-the-art displays from Planar Systems. With this decision, all existing CRT and plasma-based displays have been retired, replaced by nearly 300 of Planar's LCD-based units, the M-Series. As a result, PDX employs a display system that is consistent in form and function throughout the airport, is reliable and adaptable to change, and offers a better cost of ownership than the older displays and other alternatives on the market as well.
PDX began refreshing its flight information system in late 2008, purchasing from Planar 40" direct-view LCD displays, specifically designed for both stand-alone and tiled applications. An objective in deploying the new information system was to communicate in uniform fashion throughout the airport, so passengers could easily get the information they need regardless of where they are within the airport. Along with flight arrivals and departures the airport also included visual paging monitors and digital maps as part of each display system.
Using a program called ECLIPSX — provided by Com-Net Software — flight and paging information is fed from PCs and multi-port video transmitters located in secure network areas throughout the airport. The Planar units are equipped with video receivers, allowing them to accept and display a new page or any change in a flight status the instant it is sent through the ECLIPSX system.
PDX passengers and visitors now view flight, paging and airport information in display structures that are both attention-getting and convenient. For example, a group of 12 individual displays appears suspended above a popular coffee bar, just inside the secure area leading to terminal concourses D and E. Even against a floor-to-ceiling window backdrop, and bright vistas of the tarmac and the Columbia River in the distance, the information on the Planar displays is bright, crisp and easy to read.
In addition, PDX designed a floor-standing display structure for areas outside of security as well as in the concourses, leading to the gates. These sleek-design structures house complements of the Planar 40" displays in a tiled fashion, in both vertical and horizontal orientation. The content includes visual paging as well as arrival, departure and gate information for all flights—again, delivered in real time by the ECLIPSX software.
The Planar m40L (40") displays are long-life (~50,000 hrs.) direct-view LCDs, specifically designed for airports and similar public-venue environments. Key features include full HD resolution (1920 x 1080p), high brightness (700 nit), and built-in sensors that provide automatic backlight adjustment. The displays have narrow bezels (0.6") that facilitate almost seamless tiling, protective front faceplates, and viewer-friendly viewing (178 deg.). They also support 16.7 million colors and all worldwide data and video input standards.
A graduate of DeVry Institute of Technology, Doug has been in the Technology industry since 1976 and actively oversees Fearing’s daily operations. Along with his wife, Lois, and three others, Doug started Fearing’s in a 600 square-foot facility in Portage, Wisconsin. In the 25 years since, the company has grown to over 30 employees with offices in Madison and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Doug likes to say he’s a “TV Technician with a dream� going back to his history with the family’s original business-Fearing’s TV and Appliance.
Doug values time with family, watersports, hiking, snowshoeing and skiing. In addition to being a devoted member of his church, Doug serves as Board President for Kinship Mentoring of Columbia County, Board member of Schools for Haiti and Scripture Chair of the Gideons-Portage camp.
A graduate of MATC, Lois oversees Fearing’s daily book keeping along with various HR responsibilities.
Along with Doug, Lois is deeply connected to community outreach, serving as a Board member and Fundraising Committee Chairperson for Kinship Mentoring of Columbia County. She also serves on the Schools for Haiti Fundraising committee. In addition, Lois’ ongoing passion and commitment to provide care for the elderly comes from her 10-year history of working in a Reedsburg, Wisconsin Nursing home.
Lois enjoys singing, hiking, sunny days on the pontoon, and spending time with her 4 grandchildren.
Ehren drives Fearing’s technology by continually seeking out trends to enhance capabilities while supporting Sales, Engineering and Installation teams. Throughout his years with Fearing’s, Ehren’s talent and vision have joined forces to create a wide variety of projects and strategic solutions that exceed expectation.
Ehren loves music, family time, movies, nature, sustainability efforts and electric vehicles.
With 10 years with Fearing’s and over twice that long in the industry, Ben continues to lead, coordinate, and develop the Commercial AV team.
By consistently delivering an outstanding experience and outcome, Ben contributes to the Fearing’s legacy of long-lasting partnerships that truly make a difference. Whatever the Commercial AV need may be, Ben and team deliver at the highest level.
Ben is an avid fisherman and photographer. He enjoys coaching his sons and other youth.
Chris has been with Fearing’s for 20 years and in the industry for over 2 decades. As a Certified leader in Sales Acceleration and trained in EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating Systems), Chris successfully utilizes his skills to lead the Fearing’s Salesforce. Chris and team are motivated and driven to develop new client partnerships while continuing to reinforce loyal long-term relationships with ongoing Service excellence.
Married for 19 years with 3 children, Chris enjoys skiing, hiking, fishing, boating, hunting, camping and golf. He’s also been actively involved as a Youth Football and Softball coach for his family and others.
