Aircraft system providing passenger entertainment and surveillance features, and associated methods

An aircraft comprising:

• a fuselage comprising a cockpit area and a cabin area;
• and
• an aircraft system carried by said fuselage and comprising
• at least one entertainment source,
• at least one passenger display for displaying images from said at least one entertainment source,
• a signal distribution network connecting said at least one entertainment source to said at least one passenger display,
• at least one passenger camera in the cabin area for providing surveillance,
• at least one pilot display in the cockpit area for displaying images from said at least one passenger camera,
• at least one pilot camera in the cockpit area for providing pilot images to said at least one passenger display, and
• said signal distribution network also connecting said at least one passenger camera to said at least one pilot display and said at least one pilot camera to said at least one passenger display.

An aircraft system comprising:

• at least one entertainment source;
• at least one passenger control unit;
• a signal distribution network connecting said at least one entertainment source to said at least one passenger control unit;
• at least one pilot camera in a cockpit area for providing aircraft surveillance;
• and
• at least one passenger display in a cabin area and connected to said at least one passenger control unit for displaying images from said at least one pilot camera and for displaying images from said at least one entertainment source;
• said signal distribution network also connecting said at least one pilot camera to said at least one passenger control unit.

A method for operating an aircraft system comprising at least one entertainment source, at least one passenger display, a signal distribution network connecting the least one entertainment source to the at least one passenger display, at least one passenger camera in a cabin area for providing aircraft surveillance, at least one pilot display, at least one pilot camera in a cockpit area for providing aircraft surveillance, and the signal distribution network also connecting the at least one passenger camera to the at least one pilot display and connecting the at least one pilot camera to the at least one passenger display, the method comprising:

• displaying images from the at least one entertainment source on the at least one passenger display;
• and
• displaying images from the at least one passenger camera on the at least one pilot display;
• and
• displaying images from. the at least one pilot camera on the at least one passenger display.