FANS Component UpdatesThe Future Air Navigation System or FANS component updates for the FAA’s NextGen air traffic control modernisation plans have been released in an instructional eBook by Duncan Aviation.

The company released the updates at the NBAA Convention and compiled the information to include an explanation of the FANS Component 1/A, what equipment will be needed to upgrade, how it works, all the regulatory information and what the benefits will be of the enhanced communications systems for CPDLC and ATS services.

Justin Vena, a Duncan Aviation avionics installations sales representative said, “Although there are no easy answers in the retrofit market, our ‘Straight Talk About FANS’ is meant to clarify the FANS protocol and how the mandates affect communications systems in various aircraft.”

An instructional information ‘class’ was held at the Las Vegas Convention Centre, to explain CPDLC (Controller-Pilot Data Link Communications) and ADS-C (Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Contract), including component bases, set-up and ATC hand-off.  In addition, the session also addressed the NextGen FANS component updates for the mandatory introduction in Europe and the North Atlantic tracks.

Satellite Data LinkAt the National Business Aviation Association convention last month in Las Vegas, satellite data link solutions providers, Latitude Technologies announced it has begun the process of achieving certification for its Future Air Navigation System (FANS) data link transceiver.

The system will transmit real-time satellite data link communications of safety services data over and via the Iridium satellite network.

“At Latitude, we pride ourselves at always being in the lead bringing to market new technologies developed specifically to help our customers to fly more efficiently, more safely, and more cost effectively,” said President of Latitude Technologies, Mark Insley, at the convention, “FANS-equipped commercial and executive jets are the way of the future and Latitude is very pleased to add FANS to our broad range of FDM, AFF, and SatCom products.”

FANS satellite data link communications can also help long-range business jets with the qualification of FANS compliant aircraft, enabling dynamic route planning and en route flight optimization.

Other satellite data link communications providers, such as ARINC Direct, also offer FANS data link transceivers as an integral part of their flight support services and flight deck communications packages for Business Aviation.

Aviation Weather for Essential Flight Support ServicesIn a project sponsored by the National Science Foundation Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences, the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Meteorology Dept is planning to conduct a two-week flight safety research program with the University of Wyoming King Air.

The King Air is a research aircraft that provides atmospheric measurements and flight safety data.  Students from different courses will have direct involvement with instrument system training, flights; flight forecast simulations and will produce the follow-up analysis.

Flight co ordination research will be discussed in open seminars attended by the King Air pilot and scientist and will cover many topics from FAA regulations to forecasting requirements for flight safety data.

The students will maintain awareness of electronic sensor systems and the importance of mission-critical messaging for transmission of flight safety weather data.

Entire infrastructure can be based upon ensuring crucial data is delivered efficiently and swiftly to facilitate safe conduct of flights on a global scale.

Flight safety weather data monitoring forms a huge part of flight support services in commercial, military and business aviation.

chi-speedy-passport-process-coming-to-midway-2-001Chicago Department of Aviation announced last week that Chicago Midway Airport will soon implement the same speedy passport process as O’Hare Airport did earlier this year.

The fully automated passport control is all about moving passengers quickly and safely through border clearance processes with the ability to enter information at a self-service kiosk.

This eliminates the filling in of paper customs declaration forms in the U.S., instead scanning passports and answering question on a touch screen.

Photographs are taken of each passenger at the kiosk and, once the verification questions and customs declaration are completed, then a receipt is printed to present to the customs officer.

The system is designed to speed up the entire process of passenger processing, not just in the US, but across the world too.

European countries, such as France are expanding the self-service idea, with many airlines utilising vMUSE and CUTE self-service systems, with many aviation companies placing a direct focus upon these emerging markets.  ARINC, for example have launched a French language site for their electronic and automated borders solutions.

 

Industry Leading Passenger Processing Solutions from ARINCARINC Inc will continue to provide Hong Kong International (HKIA) with a full suite of passenger processing and bag drop solutions for the next five years, it has recently been announced.  In addition, support and maintenance services will also be provided.

HKIA, voted the world’s best airport, have been using ARINC technology and solutions since 2008.  Their MUSE, common-use systems and bag drop solutions, including BagLink baggage messaging and fallback tag services have been successful in enhancing operational efficiency.  In addition to the contract renewal, a new agreement has been signed to provide maintenance services and round-the-clock technicians with ARINC Managed Services division (AMS).

“With HKIA being one of the largest engineering and architectural developments in the world, the passenger system deployed by ARINC has been one of the most complex, comprising more than 1,300 common-use workstations located in Terminals 1 and 2, and Skypier of the Airport. The deployment also includes two off-site Airport Express train stations in Hong Kong, and multiple Upstream Check-in facilities at ferry terminals and bus stations in China and Macau,” said Glen Oliveiro, Director of Aviation and Ground Systems Solutions, ARINC.

“Since our founding 84 years ago, ARINC has been a trusted partner to the world’s leading airports and airlines. The fact that HKIA, one of the world’s largest airports and a major gateway into Asia, trusts ARINC to undertake this project is a testament to our commitment to providing the best technology and solutions to satisfy our customers’ needs,” said Michael DiGeorge, Managing Director of ARINC in Asia Pacific. “Having had a presence in Asia Pacific through our regional HQ in Singapore since 2003, this partnership with HKIA is also strategic as it underlines ARINC’s dedication to this rapidly-growing region.”

“Established on the principles of Safety, Operational Efficiency, Customer Convenience and Environment, it is of utmost importance that HKIA, being one of the world’s busiest passenger airports, uses a stable and reliable common platform. ARINC has consistently delivered reliable performance and quality, leading to improved efficiency in passenger processing and operation productivity over the past five years,” said Andy Bien, Chief Information Officer, Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK).

Global Connectivity with ARINC eHub Solution for Airports

ARINC Inc announced today that its airport solution, AviNet Airport, through the enterprise hub (eHub) is in use by over 100 airports across the world.

The solution give a wide-area network connecting airline DCS to airport-based passenger processing systems, giving a single network connection to support common-use and self-service check-in with back-office settings.  The system allows airports to bring reliability to mission-critical services while drastically reducing operational costs.

“AviNet Airport deployment is continually expanding and includes strategic airports in the European, Middle East, Asian Pacific and American regions,” said Alexis Hickox, Senior Director, Aviation Solutions ARINC EMEA.  “We believe that the speedy and seamless implementation process for AviNet Airport has been the key to its extensive industry acceptance.”

ARINC Inc are industry renowned for the provision of innovative communications, integration and engineering solutions worldwide.  Industry leaders for eight decades, ARINC is a trusted name in aviation, synonymous with reliability.

Enterprise eHub is just one example of the drive to deliver significant cost efficiencies to the aviation industry with a focus upon web-based services and the flexibility that this brings.

Beale Air Force Base last week revealed the activation of a new 79-strong reserve intelligence squadron comprised of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance specialists.

Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Solutions ProvidersBeale, a base that processes intelligence data will put the specialists to work with global intelligence networks alongside active duty personnel at their Distributed Ground Station.

Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance specialists carefully analyse and process raw human and satellite intelligence data gathered from across the world from unmanned airborne reconnaissance platforms and sends the processed information to combat commanders.

“Active duty may get smaller, so it’s important to capture these skill sets in the reserves,” said Lt. Col. Douglas A. Drakeley.

Lt. Col. Robert Garcia, 38 IS Commander, said to his squadron “many people will never know the day you saved their lives because nothing happened.”

The importance of accurate and timely delivery of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance data cannot be stressed enough and ISR communications providers must be reliable.

ISR connectivity providers, such as ARINC, have worked within the military sector for decades, delivering solutions for mission critical transmissions.

Dassault Falcon 5X Business JetDassault Aviation have proudly unveiled their latest Falcon business jet at the National Business Aviation Association convention in Las Vegas.  The Falcon 5X is their largest and most technologically advanced business jet, with new flight control system and aerodynamics.

Eric Trappier, Chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation said, “The Falcon 5X is the new benchmark for the creative use of advanced technology in business aviation. Using design and manufacturing software and systems pioneered by Dassault, we have been able to build a larger, more comfortable and more capable aircraft that is also more environmentally friendly and much more economical to operate compared to other airplanes in its class.”

Announced as an industry breakthrough, the Falcon 5X is a significant addition to the Dassault product line, with a fuel efficiency of up to 50% better than those in its competing class.  Style and functionality are on show in the 16-passenger capacity cabin, following extensive industry research into cabin technology and passenger requirements for a greatly enhanced flight experience.

“The Falcon 5X represents our biggest investment since the beginning of the Falcon programs,” says Trappier. “It demonstrates our commitment to maintaining the technology leadership that we have displayed in this market since our first business jet flew 50 years ago.”

Innovation and consideration also reach into the flight deck, where the new digital flight control system shows major advancements in precision, ease-of-operation and safety aspects and includes innovative head-up displays with digital radar capable of detecting further reaches than ever before.  Improved fuel efficiency is a breakthrough in today’s world of budgetary requirements and is addressed by the new-generation real-time self diagnostic Silvercrest engines.

“The Silvercrest engine is 15% more fuel efficient than other engines in its power class; emissions are dramatically lower than current standards, and the engine is remarkably quiet,” says Trappier.

The Dassault Falcon 5X is expected to take its maiden flight during early 2015 and will be priced in the region of $45 million.

Advanced Passenger Information System in DubaiA federal project is expected to be implemented in Dubai to deal with Visa eligibility with the Advanced Passenger Information System initiative before passengers arrive in the UAE.

Col. Khalid Nasser Al Razouqi, Assistant Director-General for e-Services Sector at the Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai said, “It (the advance passenger information system) shall rather importantly help the residency and immigration authorities concerned decide accurately if a passenger is banned from entering the country or not.”

The advanced passenger information system (APIS) will enable the directorate to collect passenger data and check visa eligibility before the aircraft touches down in the country. “Of course, we shall not prohibit anyone from entering the country. Rather, we shall disallow already banned people as registered in the systems of the country,” he continued.

The system will also identify prohibited passengers and enable advance cancellation of travel from the source of the flight for those passengers.  The APIS initiative will help to streamline ground operations for the airports, who expect to see more than 98 million passengers by 2020 and is welcomed in the UAE, who announced earlier this year that over 351,000 banned expats were denied access into the UAE since 2003, many in possession of fake credentials and associated paperwork.

Advance_Information_ManagementInformation management for aircraft involves the installation of avionics units and it has recently been announced that Boeing have awarded a contract to Teledyne to provide, develop and supply data acquisition systems for the next-generation 737 and 737 MAX.  The company have also been contracted to supply a new information management system for the 777, Next-gen 737, 737 MAX and the 747-8 production aircraft.

Information management systems are designed to improve flight safety and efficiency with a focus upon maintenance issues.

Information management is equally important on the ground and in the airport facility.  Flexible and scalable solutions are integral to enhanced ground security, both for physical security and advanced information management.

ARINC AIM provides comprehensive information management solutions designed and implemented to create an integrated control platform to enhance key infrastructure and mission critical messaging.

With individually tailored solutions for single and multi-use facilities, all aspects of security and information management can be encompassed, from intrusion detection and biometric control to data security and credential management.