Micro-LEDs offer major power, weight, efficiency savings for airlines

As airlines seek to extend the range and missions of both their widebody and narrowbody aircraft, lightening the load with new technologies is a hot topic — as, indeed, is aircraft lighting, which requires not only power, wiring, harnesses and backend equipment, but also heat sinks. Collins Aerospace’s steerable micro-LED lighting system was enough of a gamechanger to take this year’s Crystal Cabin Award in its Material & Components category, and the system is indeed impressive not just in itself, but in the way that it can free up often constrained onboard power systems for other uses, including charging opportunities for passengers.