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Tens of thousands of football fans will be arriving this arriving in Poland this summer to attend the EURO 2012TM tournament matches. The Gdansk Lech Walesa Airport has recently more than doubled its passenger capacity by increasing airside infrastructure and adding a second passenger terminal

The sharp increase in passenger numbers expected has led the airport to chose vMUSE Enterprise hosted technology from ARINC Incorporated as its common-use passenger check-in and departure solution.

ARINC say “Unlike common-use systems that require costly IT hardware on site, ARINC’s vMUSE Enterprise solution delivers passenger processing as an Internet service. The check-in and departure functions use inexpensive “thin client” terminals in conjunction with an Internet connection.”

Because the data processing for vMUSE Enterprise occurs at an off-site data centre managed by ARINC, there is no need for the costly servers, core rooms, and computer workstations typical with other common-use systems. The need for on-site server maintenance, back-ups, and health checks is also eliminated. Airports can lower their IT capital and support costs while enjoying advanced common-use passenger services with improved overall system reliability and security.

As an added benefit, vMUSE Enterprise greatly reduces power consumption compared with conventional server-based core systems, enabling airports to lower their carbon footprint.

Along with Warsaw, Poznan, and Wroclaw, Gdansk is one of Poland’s four Host Cities with venues for the UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) EURO 2012 matches. With the opening of Terminal 2, Gdansk Lech Walesa Airport will serve 5.0 million passengers a year. In addition to facility improvements for EURO 2012, the airport will enact a special management plan to ensure efficient and friendly service for the volume of fan traffic expected from all over Europe.

In Focus – Aviation Type B Messaging Costs

April 23, 2012

Cost-saving strategies are the current hot topic for all business aviation users. As airline operational costs continue to rise with airport taxes, fuel prices, maintenance, staffing and the multitude of ‘back end’ costs we look at one of the ways that business jets can improve their bottom line.

Type B messaging services are one of the airlines essentials. Operational messaging can be expensive – but is not something that can be compromised on. There are of course many providers of these services but I want to focus on a supplier that actually offers a calculator tool to find out if you could make savings before you need to get in touch,.

Not all Type B business messaging services are the same. There are major differences between network providers in pricing, support, and efficiency of their applications.

ARINC Direct’s ‘Type B Check’ allows you to calculate your potential savings in this area. As a leading network provider, ARINC has pioneered many advanced features and widely publicise that their Type B messaging applications the most user-friendly available today.

Because ARINC offers several flexible pricing plans, including a flat rate option, new customers could benefit from savings as much as 60% of their messaging costs.

ARINC’s Type B access products are built on ARINC’s technologically advanced AviNet platform and deliver unsurpassed reliability and user-friendly operation.

For more information please visit typebcheck.com

Restructured Regional Coverage for ARINC Aviation Voice Network

April 23, 2012

Last week we heard that ARINC Incorporateds Air/Ground Domestic Radio VHF voice service in North America announced that it has restructured its regional network design. The Air/Ground Domestic Radio VHF voice service has been restructured from 12 separate networks into 6 regionally divided networks operating on 6 frequencies across the continental United States. This change improves the ease-of-use for the air crews while maintaining the high quality of service and availability customers expect from ARINC. The network restructuring is the final phase of a system-wide technology refresh, including digital connectivity and replacing analogue radios with state-of-the-art digital transceivers. The digital connectivity and radios have demonstrated greater voice clarity, improved reliability, and real-time network monitoring. The digital technology also allowed ARINC to make the overnight transition with minimal service interruption.

As the critical communications medium for thousands of today’s commercial and business aircraft, it is vital for ARINCs VHF voice radio service to respond to the requests of our users, said John Metzger, Program Director, ARINC Aviation Voice Services. The new regional network structure offers a single frequency for each region to minimize frequency changes across our customers’ major route structures. This will greatly improve the air crews ability to select the correct frequency relative to aircraft position and reach the ground for priority company communications.

Even with the increased use of data link communications, VHF voice radio remains the industry standard used by commercial air carriers and business and general aviation. VHF voice radio enables airlines to communicate emergency or other non-routine situations to company dispatch, maintenance and medical advisory services, limiting unnecessary diversions and providing the critical communications link from the aircraft to the ground.

ARINC Direct offers a full suite of flight planning, flight support and flight deck communications solutions for business aviation. For the full range please see: www.business-flight-support.com.

55th annual AEA International Convention & Trade Show

The largest gathering of avionics manufacturers, distributors and government-certified repair stations in the world is taking place now in Washington DC! An opportunity for manufacturers, distributors, technicians and business leaders to network and look at new solutions for avionics.

The official event site boasts:

More than 75 hours of FAA-accepted regulatory, technical and business management training.
More than 100 exhibitors in the AEA Exhibit Hall.
Meet the regulators and learn the latest issues impacting the avionics industry and your business.
The introduction of new avionics products for 2012.
AEA’s Show Specials – deep OEM to dealer discounts that could offset the cost of attending the entire show.
AEA’s social events, including the First-Nighter Party with a Crab and Beer Fest, the annual Awards
Luncheon and the Last Call Reception.

One exhibitor will be ARINC Direct offering flight support, flight planning, flight tracking, data services and flight deck communications for the business aviation community. For more information on these solutions please visit: business-flight-planning.com

Easter Mayhem Expected at UK Airports

Aviation made it into the news this week for all the wrong reasons. Airlines warn that Britain’s airports could be reduced to ‘gridlock’ over Easter due to security staff shortages.

Airlines have warned that the UK Border Agency does not have enough staff to check the passports of everyone coming into Britain, and long queues could leave passengers stranded on planes.

1.5 million holidaymakers are expected to travel this weekend but if the security halls are blocked passenger will need to remain on the aircraft resulting in security risks and serious operational delays for airlines.

New Canadian Passenger Reporting Requirements Met by ARINC’s Electronic Borders

The Canada Border Services agency (CBSA) has introduced new reporting guidelines in response to privacy and data quality concerns. ARINC announced this week that it will use its product Electronic Borders to assist the migration of airlines to the new Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) Advance Passenger Information (API) and Passenger Name Record (PNR) Push Program.

ARINC Electronic Borders

The program accepts a direct transfer of API/PNR data from air carriers and service providers. Airlines that use ARINC network solutions can send API/PNR messages directly to CBSA via the carrier’s reservation and departure control system or global distribution system. “ARINC technology offers the flexibility to support any airline in meeting the CBSA’s new API/PNR initiative,” said Thad Baringer, ARINC Business Development Director, Global Networks & IT Solutions.

“ARINC achieved a major milestone in January by transmitting its first live API message between airlines and the new CBSA data acquisition system,” stated Baringer. “We continue to offer seamless interoperability with existing airline technology and CBSA.”

CBSA set an initial compliance deadline of December 31, 2011 which was extended to March 31, 2012. The agency continues to work with airlines to migrate to the new data acquisition system.

ARINC’s Electronic Borders products are robust and safe, with a proven track record of four years live deployment and millions of passengers cleared in Europe. It aligns with current strategic e-Border security initiatives, supports the existing tight security rings and complies with the inspection processes already in place; all while keeping Border traffic moving as efficiently as possible. For more information please visit:

Boeing 737 Max Business Jet – now for VIPs?

More good news for business aviation this week. The re-engined business jet 737 Max is to be expanded with a new variant – the BBJ Max, targeted at VIP Business Jet customers.

The Next Generation Boeing 737 Family - www.boeing.com

The president of Boeing Business Jets, says: “We are working with several existing customers and one would like to be the launch customer for that aircraft.” The plans come in response to the view that the target customers are looking for shorter lead times.

It looks as though the CFM International Leap-1B-powered Max will start production in 2017.

Boeing Business Jets said that the BBJ 2 Max – the VIP equivalent of the 737-8 – will offer a potential range of 6,200nm (11,470km). It also hopes to sell three former 787-8 test aircraft to the VIP market. Although it has 12 VIP 787s in its backlog, delivery will not begin until 2014.

ARINC sees Cabin Connect deal imminent

This week FlightGlobal reported that ARINC expects to have a launch airline customer for its wi-fi hotspot product Cabin Connect flying before the end of this year.

ARINC Cabin Connect Passenger Communications

It was at the APEX Expo last September that the company debuted its Inmarsat SwiftBroadband-supported wi-fi solution. “We expect it to be flying commercially before the end of the year,” says ARINC’s director, satellite solutions and cabin solutions, Lee Costin, adding a customer announcement is likely in “weeks not months”.

ARINC says it has had strong activity in its SwiftBroadband business since Inmarsat appointed it an aero distribution partner. “Last year was our first full year and we’ve had phenomenal growth,” says Costin.

Inmarsat is due to roll out enhancements to the SwiftBroadband service, and ARINC hope to benefit from this. Enhancements include multiple voice channels and data speed increases from 432kbps to 700kbps. Further ahead this will be followed by Inmarsat’s Ka-band Global Xpress system based on the new generation Inmarsat-5 satellites, set for the airline market in 2014.

For more information please visit: cabinconnect.aero

Aviation Week Announces MRO of the Year Awards