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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

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:

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

Advance Passenger Information System (APIS) Pilot Service for Cyprus by ARINC

ARINC’s EMEA Government & Security Division have installed its Advance Passenger Information System (APIS) messaging service to support a pilot Advance Passenger Information (API) message transmission project for the Cyprus Police and Civil Registry and Migration Department within the Ministry of Interior.

ARINC Advance Passenger Information System

The APIS service was deployed to support evaluation of the use of API as part of enhanced border control in Cyprus. The project was conducted in full cooperation with the Cyprus Police and Civil Registry and Migration.

“ARINC greatly values the relationship we have established with the Cyprus Police and the research and development department” said Ray Batt, ARINC Director, Government & Security. “ARINC is eager to become an important technology partner with the Cyprus Police and Civil Registry and Migration Department at the Ministry of Interior and to further assist Cyprus in reaching its future border control objectives.”

“This APIS pilot system is based on our latest Advance Passenger Information eXchange (APIX) platform,” Batt continued. “We strongly believe that the future will demand a continuous increase in the integration of intelligence-led border control systems with advance border control information systems, using Advance Passenger Information (API). The use of API will help increase border security and make the process faster and simpler for the travelling public.”

For more information on APIS please visit avisec-messaging.com

ARINC’s AviNet®Mail Service Marks Ten Years; Message Volume Now Exceeds 30 Million per Day

March 22, 2012

ARINC Incorporated this month celebrates the tenth anniversary of its highly successful AviNet®Mail messaging service for the air transportation industry.

A high-performance business network, AviNet Mail enables easy cross-platform messaging for today’s users of Type B, e-mail, and SMS (short messaging service) communications. The ARINC service now delivers more than 30 million messages per day, a volume that includes 50% of the world’s operational Type B traffic.

“AviNet Mail has won numerous converts from other suppliers,” said Laura Petrozziello, ARINC EMEA Sales Director, Aviation Solutions. “Our 20,000-plus users appreciate not only our superior service but also our straightforward pricing structure and outstanding technical support.”

AviNet Mail offers low-cost Type B, email and SMS messaging over a secure private network, with the highest level of assured delivery available. ARINC’s core network has an availability of 99.999%. AviNet Mail is used by airlines, airport authorities and related organizations from flight dispatch operators to ground handlers and caterers.

More than 93% of AviNet Mail customers in a recent survey said they would be happy to recommend the service to others. More than 60% said their Type B messaging costs were significantly reduced after switching to the ARINC service.

Alexis Hickox, ARINC AviNet Services Director, said the company’s unrivalled experience in aviation communications has resulted in many ‘firsts’, including the use of Internet technology to provide low-cost access to IATA Type B messaging anywhere in the world, from any computer.

ARINC have developed a consultancy service to help you understand your Type B Messaging cots, allowing users to request a free messaging audit.

ARINC’s messaging calculator tool offers an immediate online idea of the size of your potential savings. For a free Type B Messaging audit please visit: www.typebcheck.com/arinc-type-b-message-calculator

ARINC Direct continues to grow

March 22, 2012

In London, ARINC Direct as part of the company’s overall briefing gave a rundown on 2011 operations. The business aviation part of the business has started to realise some benefits from their previous investments in 2011, especially in advances with flight planning solutions and even exceeding them in terms of integration and customer support.

ARINC Direct has seen the number of aircraft it supports grow by 30% in the EMEA region, with most growth coming from the Middle East, Russia and Europe. In Europe ARINC has made significant gains in Italy, where it has recently signed two larger business aircraft operators.

The company is expanding its customer support structure with support now in India, which covers the Middle East and they are looking at setting up support in China.

“By listening to our customers we are able to manage a community of experience to deliver progressive and innovative solutions as well as core communication services,” says James Hardie, senior business manager, ARINC Direct EMEA.

ARINC have continued to develop apps for the iPAD, which was launched just before last year’s NBAA. The main new feature was the integration of FlightRisk, which enables clients to report on safety matters at airports to the worldwide ARINC Direct community. More apps are being added over the next few months.

“We are seeing a plethora of flight-deck applications enter the market on the back of the iPad and other tablets and we are duly delivering more up to date information, automatically to our own App, whenever it is connected. This has enabled information that was previously only available via aircraft avionics to be available on board from a live feed over Swift Broadband. Things like live weather radar and other data, coupled with mapping functionality easily enable pilots to re-route their aircraft or make other operational decisions. The easy availability of bandwidth and point to point connectivity is already starting to have an impact in areas like engine health monitoring, and Flight Operations Quality Assurance (FOQA) data delivery,” adds Hardie.

Currently ARINC Direct has around 2,500 business jets and business turboprop aircraft as clients worldwide. ARINC Direct will be attending EBACE in Switzerland.

For more information on business jet flight support services please visit www.business-flight-support.com.

Canada’s First Common-Use Passenger Processing System Implemented

March 21, 2012