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David Velupillail, Marketing Director for Airbus Corporate Jets, is confident that the new Sharklet and new engine options can deliver up to 15% in fuel savings, a huge consideration for airlines flying every day.

In addition, Airbus expect a reduction of 8% in operational costs and a huge 10% reduction in emissions compared to the A320 series.

Orders are expected to reach more than 4,000 of the new reworked engines, which should be completed between late 2015 and early 2016 and with order books containing 2,600 already, targets should be reached.

The new engine options will be equipped with either the CFM International advanced LEAP-X engine or the Pratt & Whitney PurePower PW1100G-JM.

Mr Velupillail said, “We will begin flight testing next year. The deliveries to the airlines won’t begin until the end of 2014. Eventually it will feed through to the corporate jets, but that is some way off yet.”

Blogging from Space in-Flight Internet – Testing of Earth-to-Space Communications

November 12, 2013

We have all heard of in-flight internet and many of us may have used it during long-haul flights. In-flight internet providers are constantly striving for faster, cheaper and more accessible features for passengers. But what about in-flight internet from space?

In-Flight Internet from Space may be here sooner than you think, as SatWest Communications prepare to test a temporary wi-fi hotspot in space on board a rocket.

“It’s our first test of the technology in space,” said Brian Barnett owner of SatWest, “We use the technology on the ground, and in airplanes already, and this will be the first test in space.”

Internet in Space will require an infrastructure to send messages and Mr Barnett is aware of the private sector demand for such technology, as well as Universities across the world.

The rocket will have aboard a satellite phone and an email device. After launch in New Mexico, there will be a series of messages sent from high school students in Albuquerque – famous lines and quotes from space movies, to be exact.

Once receive by a Phoenix ground station, the messages will be relayed to the closest Iridium satellite to the rocket, which will be travelling at a maximum altitude of 112 kilometers, just past the edge of space.

Currently the International Space Station does have the facility to transmit messages to the ground via NASA systems and although in the experimental stages, the SatWest technology aims for a cheaper and simpler option with the permanent installation of wi-fi.

$6 Billion Earmarked for Airport IT Investment

November 12, 2013

According to the recent release of the 2013 SITA/ACI/Airline Business Airport IT Trends Survey, around $6 billion will be spend in airport IT investments by the end of this year.

Approximately 90%, it is estimated; of global airports expect their annual IT spending to increase next year and the focus across all is upon passenger experience.

Airports are spending their investments on passenger processing technology, alongside passenger and information services to improve overall airport operations.

Growing steadily on the priority list is the management of IT information across the sector.

Business intelligence transforms airline data into useful information that can then be used to maximise revenue, improve passenger experience and monitor passenger flow, while effectively managing airport resources.

Airport management solutions can encompass a whole range of functions, from passenger processing, airport operations – front end and back office – and baggage handling.

Multi, common-use technology and systems can help to integrate the entire process, giving access to DCS and flight planning applications across a wide-ranging network and protocols.

Solutions such as ARINC AviNet Airport seamlessly manage operational and mission-critical messaging across the board, giving airports the flexibility they need, while managing costs with sharing capabilities.

Currently, only 8% of airports have achieved their data requirements according to the survey.

Airbus Cabin Services Communications Retrofit Approved for A380

November 12, 2013

Airbus, Panasonic Avionics and Lufthansa Technik have joined forces in a retrofit operation to improve cabin services for all in-service A380s. The agreement will bring broadband connectivity and mobile phone services to the aircraft.

David Bruner, vice president for global communications services at Panasonic Avionics said, “With this agreement we have made great progress with Lufthansa Technik towards providing this very important service to our airline customers and their passengers. We can now provide our broadband services on every aircraft type, which has always been our goal.”

In addition to the benefit for passengers with access to the Internet and the ability to send and receive calls and SMS messages, the retrofit will bring enhanced Cabin Services possibilities for cabin crew.

Cabin Services give cabin crew greater access to flight information, passenger information and can be forewarned of problems, i.e. lost baggage in advance to enable them to deal with issues on board, before touchdown.

Other cabin services providers, such as ARINC, offer global solutions to airlines to enable increased passenger services efficiency and experience.

Major Overhaul of Gatwick’s Vintage Technology Planned to Improve Communications Infrastructure

November 10, 2013

The communications infrastructure of Gatwick Airport is set for a major overhaul to replace vintage 1950’s technology for the latest cloud-based communications services.

Gatwick is the UK’s second largest airport serving an ever-increasing passenger list of 34.2 million every year. The project will vastly improve passenger services in addition to 2,500 airport end-users and commercial customers, while reducing costs as staff will be given access through any device.

A five-year contract to upgrade and revamp the communications infrastructure will be carried out by Xchanging, with support from Cisco and Fujitsu.

The aim is to understand the communications infrastructure with a heavy focus upon making Gatwick a key contender, not just for the UK, but for Europe as a key choice.

Michael Ibbitson, CIO of Gatwick airport said, “ By adopting this new approach, we will be transforming the way our staff operates – video conferencing with each other, for instance and working from home effectively during snow days. This slicker operation will have a significant impact on passenger experience which is what we are always striving to improve.”

The project began earlier this autumn and has a hosted voice and collaboration service.

It is critical for communications infrastructure to understand the messaging needs of an airport and operations to ensure maximum benefits and operational productivity. Consultancy providers are worth their weight in this respect.

General Aviation ‘Red Tape’ Regulations Alterations Planned by the UK

It has been announced that the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) plan to look at what are deemed as unnecessary bureaucracy regulations within the UK general aviation industry this week.

The GA Red Tape Challenge, launched in April, includes proposed changes by the CAA which have been suggested by GA industry stakeholders and operators, in the hope that a deregulation of certain aspects of the industry will be affected.

It has been said by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) that the Department of Transport in the UK can start to apply the same safety requirements expected of commercial aviation to non-commercial under EU regulations for the fitness and performance program (REFIT). The CAA will be looking for clarification of the regulatory conditions for GA aircraft.

Robert Goodwill, aviation minister for the Department of Transport said, “General aviation is an extremely important sector of UK civil aviation and it is right that we do everything possible to enable it to thrive. That includes making sure that, where appropriate, we ease the burden on what are often smaller operators and businesses who find navigating a complex regulatory framework particularly challenging.”

“We are absolutely committed to improving the way we regulate GA. We have made a start, for instance deregulating in some areas and delegating responsibilities in others. But there is much more we can do,” said Dame Deirdre Hutton, chairman of the CAA. “The new, dedicated GA Unit is a formal recognition that GA needs a different and less onerous regulatory regime to commercial air transport.”

In the US, similar reforms are being proposed by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, who are awaiting decisions to be made by the Senate in relation to smaller aircraft and the FAA’s regulatory conditions for the category.

ARINC AviNet Mail and ACARS Solution Chosen by Bingo Airways

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Bingo Airways, Polish charter airline has announced that it has selected ARINC’s AviNet Mail solution for mission-critical transmissions and GLOBALink ACARS solution for instant air-to-ground and ground-to-air data communications.

Bingo will use these industry-leading products for reliability, cost-effective messaging solutions and increased operational efficiency.

“Bingo chose ARINC because of our high quality European VHF and Global HF datalink services,” said Alexis Hickox, Senior Director, Aviation Solutions. “Our customers are telling us that the combination of superior products, low cost and outstanding service makes ARINC’s solution for airlines the best in the industry. We are excited to be working with Bingo Airways.”

The ARINC AviNet Mail brings operators efficient Type B, SMS and email messaging opportunities for business-to-business operations, such as maintenance, parts orders and ground-based supply staff.

ARINC’s combined solutions will give increased and enhanced flight safety insights to Bingo, which was their top priority.

NBAA Reaches Milestone 10,000 Members

For the first time in the organisation’s history, the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) announced last week that its membership has now reached 10,000 registered members.

The 10,000th member is named as TCB Air LLC from Kalamazoo, Michigan.

The NBAA was founded in 1947 by a small group of the Wings Club who met in a New York hotel in 1946. They realised the critical need for some organization within Business Aviation in the area of air space management and air traffic control.

Founding member, Mr Palmer J Lathrop or Bud to his flying associates, stressed the importance of the promotion and protection of the interest of business aircraft operators and led the way in an informal meeting of 13 aviators on May 17 1946.

Mr Lathrop wrote to the Presidents of a number of aviation companies and invited them to take representation at a further meeting to continue the important discussions.

A total of sixteen companies were eventually represented at the meeting on 21st November 1946 and led to the formation of the Corporation Aircraft Owners Association which was later to become the NBAA in 1953 following the Korean War, but the first A stood as Aircraft until 1997 upon its 50th anniversary, when the final decision was made to settle upon the National Business Aviation Association that it is today.

GoGo Introduce In-Flight Talk and Text Service for Passenger Connections