NASA asks pilots to participate in flight deck communications study

July 31, 2012
Business Aviation News
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General aviation pilots have been invited to participate in a study with the FAA, from data collected through the Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS).

The Aviation Weather in the Cockpit and Aeronautical Information Services via Data Link study hopes to gain information about incidents while pilots were using weather or AIS information in the cockpit.

“The information may be textual and/or graphical, obtained via data link or other sources to include ACARS [aircraft communications addressing and reporting system] and cell phones, on the ground or in the air,” said the NASA press release.

The study examines the type of weather data received, its accuracy, the cockpit display used, software or applications used to receive meteorological information, and end user graphical interface ratings.

Pilots who wish to participate in either study can do so by filing an ASRS report or, in some cases, by filing a report with the FAA’s Aviation Safety Action Program.

For airlines and operators who are concerned about either the accuracy or efficiency of the aircraft messaging ARINC also provide a service to analyse the cost effectiveness of current Type B communications and provide a consultancy on infrastructure and IT surrounding it. For more information please visit www.typebcheck.com

ARINC to Implement Significant Flight Deck Technology Upgrade for Cathay Pacific

July 24, 2012
Business Aviation News
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July 24, 2012  – Today we heard that ARINC will be working with Cathay Pacific Airways to implement an advanced information management system into its full fleet of Airbus and Boeing aircraft. This deployment represents the airline industry’s most significant upgrade in flight deck communications technology in more than 30 years.

ARINC reported that the communications solution “creates a true “e-Enabled aircraft” by offering fully-customized, integrated communications management of flight operations, data communication services, cabin services, maintenance, diagnostics, and vital safety information. As such, it represents breakthrough communications technology for the airline industry.”

Cathay Pacific now has the capability to select the most cost-effective communications connectivity for the aircraft and maintain a consistent data delivery connection between aircraft and remote host systems.

“Automating the flight bag saves paper, but the benefits for airlines like Cathay Pacific go far beyond that. The volume and complexity of airline operations means that the right solution can provide significant benefits across the board,” said Randy Pizzi, Vice President of ARINC’s International Division.

For more information on the full range of flight support and flight deck communications services offered by ARINC Direct who specialise in business aviation customers please visit business-flight-support.com.

Dominican Republic Chooses ARINC for Border Security Solutions

July 14, 2012
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Director of Immigration for the Dominican Republic Jose Ricardo Taveras introduces ARINC representative Jorge Ramirez (far right).
(Government of the Dominican Republic)

The ARINC Electronic Borders solutions have been seen again in the news this week after ARINC announced that the government of the Dominican Republic had chosen them for all air and maritime border security solutions.

A press conference was held to introduce ARINC to the transport sector as the technology provider of choice for aviation and maritime advance passenger information (API) system solutions to help secure the nation’s borders.

ARINC’s ability to meet the government’s border security requirements with expertise, technology competence, and cost-efficiency defined them as the clear choice for Dominican Republic officials. Other providers did not have the qualifications to meet the necessary air and maritime technology requirements. The country has plans to work with ARINC to implement an advance passenger information system for ground transportation.

ARINC’s API and PNR solutions form part of the ARINC Electronic Borders portfolio, developed to meet today’s challenges in border security. For more detailed information on how ARINC can help airlines, agencies and operators manage the complete stay of passengers in a cost efficient way please visit electronicborders.com

Could Airport Delays be Reduced with Advance Passenger Information?

July 12, 2012
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ARINC AviSec - Passenger Data Transfer & Advanced Passenger Information - airline passenger data & aircraft communications - ARINC business aviation security

ARINC AviSec – Passenger Data Transfer & Advanced Passenger Information – airline passenger data & aircraft communications – ARINC business aviation security

Passenger numbers at UK airports is growing 5% per year – meaning that the airports are under increasing pressure to process more passengers, more quickly, with ever more stringent security checks.

Whilst automatic gates and iris/fingerprint recognition help to improve the passenger processing experience one suggestion to help alleviate the problem has been earlier delivery of advance passenger information.

The use of passenger data in advance would allow screening, prior to arrival. Passengers are already required to provide data about themselves and their journey at different points before departure. From the outset, they supply key information as part of passport and visa applications. This basic identity and biographic information is being strengthened through the linking of the passport or visa to biometric data, fingerprints, facial images or iris scans. In addition, individuals increasingly provide further information to the airline through advanced passenger information when they reserve their ticket and then, at check-in, creating an assured picture of individual and travel plans.

Consolidating this data and making it routinely available to immigration authorities as soon as it is collected will enable them to carry out effective profiling and pre-clearance of travellers. Authorities will be able to use this data to identify in advance any potential risks to public safety, national security or association with criminal activity. .

The challenge for airlines and operators is transmitting this data effectively. When choosing a provider of passenger data transfer airlines need to be assured that they not only receive a reliable and cost efficient solution at the present, but that they are using a provider that can cope with future innovations, such as those suggested here.

ARINC has been delivering high-performance messaging the aviation for over 50 years and is the innovative leader in aircraft communications. Their AviSec Messaging product deals directly with this and customers can rely on an accurate service that will evolve with border security developments. For more information please visit: avisec-messaging.com

Business Jets Not Luxury but Essential

July 4, 2012
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This week the BBC featured an article on business jets and the image associated with them. There were some interesting comments from those in the industry.

It is an industry that is perceived as exclusive and opulent, but actually the luxury is a by-product, not the goal.

The industry has been misjudged said Steve Varsano, of The Jet Business, a private jet and helicopter broker in London. “People have the wrong idea about business aviation,” he says. “It’s a business tool.”

Inside The Jet Business showroom a full-sized Airbus ACJ cabin has been reconstructed to showcase large, soft leather seats and fridges filled with champagne.

“It is luxurious,” he acknowledges. “But it’s not really about luxury.  When you spend $20m, or $30, or $50m on a private jet, the cost of the luxury aspect makes up perhaps 1-2% of the total price, so why not make it comfortable?”

The article suggests that difficulties obtaining finance for corporate jets one of the reasons why the market has struggled, with bankers being unwilling to finance private jets.

Eddie Pieniazek, global head of consultancy, Ascend commented  “There’s plenty of potential for the market going forward. Aircraft are still being delivered, Europe’s still busy, and we’re expecting to see roughly as many aircraft delivered this year as last year.”

Brian Humphries, president and chief executive of the European Business Aviation Association observes “We’ve had a huge increase in the European fleet in the last decade,” he says, pointing to how there were only about 2,000 turbine powered aircraft in Europe in the 1990s, compared with about 4,000 today.

Within the business, some operators of business aircraft are struggling in a market where margins are tight, Mr Humphries acknowledges.

This growth in demand for high-end private jets and helicopters confirms the continuing growth in the spending power of the famous and the powerful.

Evolving Self-Service Kiosks

July 4, 2012
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Evolving Self-Service Kiosks

Evolving Self-Service Kiosks

In June Airport Business Magazine featured the evolution of the kiosk. As passengers come to expect technologies to make their check in process simpler companies such as ARINC have reacted to the demand to offer ever increasingly advanced solutions.Common-use self-service (CUSS) kiosks are now extensively used across Europe, but now we are seeing the next generation – kiosks that allow passengers to check-in, select their seat, print boarding passes, and print out their own baggage tags.

ARINC provides cost effective solutions for private and commercial airlines to improve efficiency and security.

In recent years common-use technology that enables multiple airlines to share computer systems at airport check-in desks and boarding gates has become well established. The next decade will see many airports and airlines moving away from PC-based applications to those hosted in cloud computing environments. The advantages of hosted services include not only lower capital outlay and greater efficiency, but also a reduction in power consumption, space requirements and IT airport costs.

ARINC will continue to exploit the benefits of common-use technology by designing new systems to meet the ever-changing demands of the industry. At the same time, the company provides a comprehensive service to enhance customers’ legacy solutions, ensuring they are CUPPS (Common-use Passenger Processing System) compliant and certified.

It is all part of the service at ARINC, which has significant experience in delivering reliable, versatile and innovative solutions to improve all airport operations, from baggage management and passenger reconciliation to terminal optimisation and automated turnaround activity.

Why is efficient ACARS is so important?

June 3, 2012
Business Aviation News
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This week I wanted to focus on how some technologies can make or break an airline. An article that appeared on thehindu.com demonstrated how ACARS has been so important for one airline.

IndiGo has been showing a resounding success, with high seat take up rates and good profit margins whilst its competitors are grounding planes.

Now handling over 1 million passengers each month IndiGo was set up in early 2006 by Rakesh Gangwal and Rahul Bhatia of InterGlobe Enterprises. The success has been attricuted to many actors but Kapil Kaul, regional head, Centre for Asia-Pacific Aviation (CAPA), states that one of the chief reasons for IndiGo’s success is its focus — “on-time performance, clean, neat aircraft, and good service”.

In India air travel is relatively expensive and therefore the key has been to appeal to a customer base on time saving benefits – for this reason a significant delay on a 55 minute flight would be a disaster. IndiGo has carved out a reputation for flawless “On Time Performance”, and an average on-time record of an amazing 90 per cent.

By using ACARS (Aircraft Communications Addressing And Reporting System), a constant radio and satellite communication between aircraft and ground stations, the airline has maximised it efficiency. Before every departure, an automatic message is triggered from aircraft to control centre and the departure time recorded immediately. Similarly, the moment the flight lands an automatic message is triggered from aircraft to control centre. These timings are recorded “real time” and without human intervention.

There is no doubt that the efficiency of IndiGo set it apart from its competitors in India, and demonstrated the importance of reliable aircraft messaging.

ARINC offer aircraft messaging solutions, including AviNet for Type B Messaging, to business aviation users, make such reliability affordable with fixed pricing plans. ARINC also include a consultancy service for those who want re-examine their Type B Messaging costs and make infrastructure more efficient.

For more information please visit typebcheck.com

IndiGo Success Due to ACARS

IndiGo Success Due to ACARS

ARINC Flight Information System Selected for Hilton Philadelphia Airport

May 28, 2012
Business Aviation News
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This month we heard from ARINC, the world’s leading provider of managed IT services and support for airports and airport facilities, that the Hilton Philadelphia Airport has implemented the ARINC microFIDS(TM) flight information system to enhance customer service and revenue at its location adjacent to the Philadelphia International Airport.

ARINC microFIDS technology enables the hotel to deliver focused information to both types of guests: at-a-glance flight info for airport travelers and promotional and events-focused content for longer-term guests.

Providing on-site flight status information, the hotel makes it easy for guests to spend any delays in the comfort of the hotel rather than the airport. The addition of ARINC’s patented iSMART technology makes it easy for the hotel to add customized content and promotions that drive traffic to hotel services and increase revenue.

ARINC offers solutions to business aviation users, as well as large scale operations. In Europe ARINC Direct offers a whole host of flight planning and flight support services to business jet owners and operators. Including everything from in-flight broadband for passenger communications to mission critical messaging and other flight deck communications to fuel planning and graphical weather ARINC Direct aim to keep pricing affordable through unique pricing structures for this market. More details can be found at www.business-flight-planning.com.

ARINC Flight Information System Selected for Hilton Philadelphia Airport

ARINC Flight Information System Selected for Hilton Philadelphia Airport

 

Oxford Aviation Academy bought by CAE

May 28, 2012
Business Aviation News
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In general business aviation news we saw that the Oxford Aviation Academy based at Oxford Airport near Kidlington has been bought up by Canadian company CAE for £195m. Training hundreds of pilot each year the Oxford Aviation Academy has nine other sites around the world.

CAE president Marc Parent said: “We are very excited about this acquisition as it enables us to offer customers more locations as well as a new service for pilot and maintenance crew sourcing.”

Business Aviation News - Oxford Aviation Academy bought by CAE

Business Aviation News – Oxford Aviation Academy bought by CAE

Airbus Corporate Jets Moves to Push Sales

May 28, 2012
Business Aviation News
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Airbus has been making appearances at more aviation events than ever – 11 planned this year.

Currently at EBACE with an ACJ319 ACJ is showing off the impressive cabin to as many potential buyers as possible. The ACJ319 carries 19 passengers and has two private rooms that convert to bedrooms, one with an en-suite bathroom.

Airbus has secured 60 orders for VIP versions of its widebody airliners since the mid-1980s, and 110 narrowbodies since launching the Airbus Corporate Jet family in 1997.

The business jet market continues to perform well in most countries, despite the current economic conditions, but owners and operators are becoming increasingly conscious of economic constraints.

In order to create a more effective operation many owners and operators of business jets are turning to ARINC Direct solutions for flight planning, flight deck communications and flight support.

ARINC Direct offers unsurpassed reliability and 24/7 support to its customers who benefit from simple pricing structures. For more information please visit: www.business-flight-support.com

Airbus Corporate Jets Moves to Push Sales

Airbus Corporate Jets Moves to Push Sales