UK-based BlueBox Avionics has announced the bluebox Ai, a portable IFE solution that combines the iPad with the company’s proprietary security technology. This allows BlueBox to protect “early-window” content, such as movies that have been cleared for in-flight showings but not yet for pay-per-view, DVD or digital sales.

The company is impressed with the iPad’s 10 hour battery life as well as the fact that it can be loaded with games, magazines, ebooks, custom apps, and video for each airline. Since iPads are wireless, new content can be loaded to the devices at any time. Individual iPads would also weigh less than the built-in IFE units.

The bluebox Ai is to be formally launched at the Aircraft Interiors Expo this week in Hamburg, Germany. BlueBox has announced that at least one international air carrier will begin distributing the iPads to passengers in July.

via iPads as in-flight entertainment systems? There’s a market for that.