Archive

Tag Archives: ARINC Direct

New & More Capable ARINCDirect Introduced by Rockwell Collins

October 22, 2014
Business Aviation News
Leave a comment

Rockwell Collins' ARINCDirect Bundles to Further Enhance Connectivity

Rockwell Collins acquired ARINC Inc last year in its largest purchase in its history at $1.4 billion. In the last 10 months, Rockwell Collins have folded ARINC into an information management services organisation with the former Air Routing International – now Ascend Flight Information Solutions and Computing Technologies for Aviation (CTA) businesses. Combined and branded as ARINCDirect, the marketplace is presented with a robust suite of flight planning and international-trip software with communications technology for enhanced aircraft and ground communications solutions.

Combining Ascend and ARINCDirect online, with an integration of mobile applications and consolidated customer billing was the first job for the aligned sales teams and progress was measured in subscriptions to the newly-bundled offerings.

“When we started out here, our objective was to look at where are the Ascend customers that might have different connectivity than Arinc, where are the Arinc customers that might use different international trip planning—and synch those customers up so that we can provide a combined value proposition,” Jeff Standerski, senior vice president of information management services, said. “We’ve been able to do that on 60-plus tails already within a nine-month period.”

As one of the biggest names and forefront players in the business aviation sector, Rockwell Collins’ ARINCDirect promises further advancement in the industry with ‘bundled’ features and integration with leading avionics systems, such as Pro Line Fusion suites and the improved iPad planning application.

4G Internet for Business Jets

October 11, 2014
Business Aviation News
Leave a comment

Other Providers of Business Aircraft Passenger ConnectivitySmartSky are ready to announce the launch of their new 4G Internet service for business jets, after developing in secret for three years.

Ryan Stone, president of SmartSky Networks is pleased to finally share the news with the aviation world and will conduct an official ‘airing’ of his new product at this month’s NBAA exhibition.

High-speed internet access on business jets is not a brand new concept, with many other communications solutions on the market, such as the end-to-end solutions delivered by industry-leader, ARINC Direct, but SmartSky 4G is being launched as ‘the nation’s first airborne 4G LTE-based technology’ and promises speeds up to 10 times faster than current systems.

Utilising air-to-ground datalink, the network will access 60MHz of spectrum, which compares with 4MHz in most in-flight internet provision.

“This is going to be really, really important,” said Stone. “We’ve been developing this in stealth mode for three years. It feels good to finally be able to share.”

SmartSky is currently selecting test clients to begin its beta testing program next year, with a view to general release to the business aviation sector in 2016 on a subscription basis. Ultimately, Mr Stone wants to see his system in commercial airliners in the future.

NBAA Provides Debut Opportunity for Vertis Aviation

October 9, 2014
Business Aviation News
Leave a comment

Vertis Aviation, basedBusiness Jet Exhibition in Switzerland and part of the 28 East Group, an independently-owned aviation company, will make their exhibition debut appearance at the National Business Aviation Association show (NBAA) in Orlando later this month.

Vertis Aviation are now in their fifth year and market seven long-range, large cabin aircraft for luxury charter:

  • Airbus ACJ319
  • Bombardier Global XRS
  • Bombardier Global Express
  • Bombardier Global 6000
  • Gulfstream G650
  • Airbus Corporate Jet
  • Dassault Falcon 7X

Vertis COO, Neil Turnbull notes that the highest demand are for the Bombardier Global XRS and the Airbus ACJ319 with its award-winning interior by Tim Callies, both based in Moscow at the Vnukovo Airport and both making regular trans-Atlantic routes.

Also being heavily promoted at the NBAA will be the Gulfstream G650, which is a relatively new addition to their portfolio. Vertis were the first European company to market the desirable aircraft and have watched its popularity rise, particularly during the recent World Cup tournament.

Business Jet Fuel Tankering Calculator

October 6, 2014
Business Aviation News
Leave a comment

Other Contract Fuel Services ProvidersBusiness jet fuel prices can fluctuate significantly from region to region and this gives many longer-range aircraft the opportunity to take advantage of lower prices, refuelling or ‘topping up’ their tanks. There are big savings to be made when we consider that up to 70% of the average business aircraft operational costs consist of the fuel budget.

The term given to this practise is tankering.

FuelerLinx, a California-based fuel pricing software provider, have released an update to their subscription fuel-pricing service. The enhancements have been produced in conjunction with Danish-based Company, Aviation Cloud, who provide flight planning services. The improved calculator now delivers, via the addition of flight planning, real-time weather data, vertical profiles and regularly updated fuel prices.

“The concept of tankering has long been in the aviation handbook,” said Kevin Moller, CEO of California-based fuel pricing software provider FuelerLinx. “But the ability to achieve the greatest cost savings by tankering each time you plan a trip has never existed until now.”

“The tankering calculations have proved invaluable to our cost-saving efforts,” said Karen Brunsman, flight coordinator for FuelerLinx subscriber NextEra Energy, which operates a pair of Citations and Falcons. “It allows us to take the optimal amount of fuel at each stop for the least amount of money overall.”

In a time when operators must look to manage costs efficiently, the benefits of fast and reliable access to fuel pricing across the flight plan is certainly an advantage in the marketplace. Other providers of flight planning solutions offer integration with flight support services and provide fuel purchasing as a part of this service.

It is worth exploring the possibilities for the business aviation market.

Bombardier Deliver High-Speed Connectivity Hardware

September 17, 2014
Business Aviation News
Leave a comment

Providers of In-Flight Connectivity & Business Aviation ServicesBombardier’s business jet aircraft will be the first to deliver Honeywell’s JetWave Ka-Band satellite connectivity system, exclusively supporting Inmarsat’s JetConneX service which is set to go live in 2015. The system will bring business passengers global in-flight connectivity at high speeds and will allow for video-conferencing, large file exchange and content streaming capabilities.

Inmarsat and Honeywell signed an agreement two years ago which gave Honeywell the exclusive provision of hardware for the Ka-band GX Aviation service, branded as JetConneX for business aviation customers. The service promises connectivity in the air as seamlessly reliable and fast as that of ground-based offices and thus appealing to the business aviation market for executive aircraft.

“With JetWave securing the backing of a leading business jet manufacturer in Bombardier, we celebrate a major milestone in the evolution of business aircraft connectivity,” said Brian Sill, president, Business and General Aviation, Honeywell Aerospace. “The industry is showing a clear desire for high speed, global, consistent in-flight connectivity and is turning to Honeywell and Inmarsat to deliver it.”

“Our customers want to be online everywhere they go. They will now experience the same level of connectivity in the air that they have come to expect on the ground without a drop in connectivity performance once they leave their homes or offices,” said Eric Martel, president, Bombardier Business Aircraft. “The introduction of this technology allows us to further strengthen the industry-leading cabin experience that we are offering to our customers.”

Honeywell is also the prime distributor of airtime for the business aviation sector, working with ARINC Direct, Satcom Direct, Satcom1, Aircell and OnAir.

iPad App for Paperless Cockpit Improved for iOS 7

August 1, 2014
Business Aviation News
Leave a comment

Other Business Aviation iPad App ProvidersBusiness aviation is taking even bigger steps towards a paperless cockpit environment with the introduction of iPad technology, with applications such as flight planning and information sharing capabilities. The weight reduction helps with fuel consumption and the streamlined operational benefits are almost limitless.

Jeppesen have recently upgraded their Mobile FliteDeck application in a bit to increase situational awareness and further simplify procedures for pilots with enhancements optimised for iOS 7, giving pilots and flight crew greater sharing options.

“The user-focused design of Jeppesen Mobile FliteDeck allows us to integrate key features and functions to improve workflow capabilities and access to critical information, based on individual pilot preferences,” said Tim Huegel, director, Jeppesen Aviation Portfolio Management. “Shared data between devices and improved enroute and weather data interaction increases situational awareness to improve the overall flying experience.”

Giving pilots the ability to access, file and make amendments to flight plans is also a big plus, particularly as part of the CDM initiative. Automation of routine tasks on the flight deck gives pilots greater situational awareness and enhances flight safety aspects.

Cabin Electronics for Business Passengers

July 9, 2014
Business Aviation News
Leave a comment

Business Passengers Enjoy Full ConnectivityBusiness passengers demand high levels of cabin electronics these days to enable them to work as effectively in the air as they can on the ground. The most highly sought-after commodities being aircraft internet, high-speed connections to download presentations and business documents and the ability to research and access email accounts.

In addition, however, there is also an increasing requirement for ambient lighting, charging facilities for phones and tablets, HD flat screen TV, video and in-flight entertainment features.

In an ever-changing marketplace, it is almost impossible to keep up with the technology; the solutions to these requirements getting faster, more sophisticated and with higher-quality connections.

ARINC Direct stay ahead of the competition with seamless connectivity for business passengers via satellite communications from Inmarsat and Iridium networks. High-speed and high-quality connections offer a truly global coverage with flight tracking capabilities that are also increasing in demand in the wake of the tragic disappearance of flight MH370.

Business passengers travel in comfort and can continue to work effectively with scalable cabin electronics solutions from ARINC Direct.

Social Media Initiative Launched

July 1, 2014
Business Aviation News
Leave a comment

Social Media Marketing in AviationPrivate aviation company, Kestrel Aircraft, has realised that a corporate shift has become necessary for them to communicate with their customers via a new social media initiative and is embracing the platforms as a ‘primary conduit to the general aviation industry’.

The official Kestrel site has been converted to a content management system that will deliver content to various social media channels including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google+ in addition to creating short video posts that will document their progress towards certification. The company’s adoption of a collaborative communication strategy places them in a strong position in the aviation marketplace.

RJ Siegel, Chief Technologist at Kestrel said, commenting upon the slow uptake of the aviation industry to adopt the changes in social communication, “Social media promotes interaction between makers and users, which in turn provides rapid feedback and of course, promotes innovation. This is a vast communication channel which is only beginning to find its way into aviation”.

Electronic Flight Bag for Windows 8 Introduced by Jeppesen

June 19, 2014
Business Aviation News
Leave a comment

Other Providers of the Electronic Flight Bag for Business Aviation

Jeppesen, part of Boeing’s Commercial Aviation Services, has launched the latest version of its Electronic Flight Bag software for Windows 8. FliteDeck Pro has been specifically designed for use with Windows 8 operating systems for tablets and can help to streamline the use of data for navigational information and flight planning for airlines, business jet operators and military fleet programs.

iPad applications are becoming increasingly popular within the business aviation industry as a significant contributor to weight-saving initiatives and fuel consumption savings and is another step closer to a paperless cockpit environment.

Electronic flight bag (EFB) providers aim to streamline the entire process of flight planning and filing flight plans and many applications give pilots and flight crew direct access to all operational information via tablets. Cloud-based applications give comprehensive access to critical data and allow simplified data sharing amongst relevant parties under a secure connection.

Jeppesens’ EFB solution has been integrated by Delta Airlines to increase efficiency in a scalable data management initiative. Managed by the global Jeppesen Distribution Manager Pro, the secure network offers reliability throughout operational activity.

“Pilots will now be able to open two applications side-by-side on screen to access critical flight information such as text and enroute charts in a split view, with Windows 8,” said Tracy Issel, Microsoft general manager for retail, consumer goods, hospitality and travel. “The full HD 1080p Surface tablet provides seamless delivery of real-time flight data from Jeppesen in all lighting conditions, and pilots can configure their tablet to provide the right information at the right time.”

American Airlines and Gogo Partner for In-flight Internet

June 9, 2014
Business Aviation News
Leave a comment

In-flight Internet Solutions for Business Aviation

American Airlines plans for 30 new Bombardier CRJ-900 NextGen regional jet aircraft will begin this month with the arrival of the first of the fleet. In a bid to provide ATG connectivity, the company has announced an agreement with Gogo, aero communications service provider, to install their systems for in-flight internet connectivity.

“American Airlines was the first commercial airline to launch connectivity service with Gogo, and we are excited to continue to build on our longstanding relationship with American by extending Wi-Fi service to passengers flying on its new regional jets,” said Michael Small, Gogo’s president and CEO.

In-flight internet is fast becoming a pre-requisite for business passengers in todays’ modern skies. The expectation is for connectivity to be as reliable and seamless as it is on the ground in order for business to be conducted as efficiently as the office.

Many business jet communications providers are supportive of the initiative and costs for installation and operation is competitive. The race for reasonably-priced, and above all, reliable in flight internet is gathering momentum across the globe as demand accelerates.