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Aviation Weather Systems in the News

January 13, 2012
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We heard this month that IGI Airport will get a new system for better weather prediction. We take a look at this airport and consider the latest weather data systems.

Aviation Weather Systems

Aviation Weather Systems

The Indian Meteorological Department is now acquiring an Aviation Weather Decision Support System (AWDSS) to aid the detection and prediction of aviation weather hazards and communicate minute-wise information to operational users.

The Current system at IGI Airport studies surface atmospheric to predict on fog and wind conditions twice in a day. The new system, which would be in place by next winter, would have a radiometer, a vertical wind profiler, and a terminal weather radar for minute-by-minute vertical profile of the wind movement.

The IMD has set its requirements and an expert company would be finalised through a tendering process by March this year to develop the system for IGIA. The meteorological data under AWDSS would be collected from several sources and integrated to run a series of detection and nowcasting algorithms to be provided to the end-user interface. It will then be used for real-time air traffic control operations as well as the support of operational meteorologist’s work flow.

Weather data is transmitted using a variety of means. One is through ARINC Directs Type B Messaging. AviNet Type B messaging provides reliable and economical messaging for mission-critical communications, including weather data, for the aviation industry.

AviNet Type B provides the highest level of assured message delivery available, based on store-and-forward capabilities and a robust set of IATA standard message routing features built into ARINC’s high-availability message platform. It supports legacy, proprietary, and custom messaging applications, as well as industry-standard IP-based MQ and MATIP formats.

ARINC’s Type B service continues to evolve with the industry while also introducing next-generation messaging standards such as AviNet eXchange a Web Services interface for XML messaging.

And, unlike other providers, ARINC delivers this high performance with a flexible pricing model. AviNet Type B delivers an unbeatable combination of high value and low cost.

For more information please visit: http://www.typebmessaging-avinet.com/

Investigating Common-use Passenger Processing Systems

January 12, 2012
Business Aviation News
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The choice of common-use passenger processing systems available to airlines and airport operators was significantly broadened four months ago when ARINC’s established vMUSE product achieved CUPPS 1.1 certification.

Common Use Passenger Processing Systems

Common Use Passenger Processing Systems

Endorsed by global organisations such as the International Air Transport Association (IATA), CUPPS (Common Use Passenger Processing System) is the key industry standard designed to promote uniformity in passenger processing platforms. Compliance reduces the time, effort and cost associated with deploying individual airline applications for check-in and other functions at the airport.

vMUSE received the CUPPS 1.1 stamp of approval in September 2010 following a successful beta test programme at Las Vegas McCarran International Airport and extensive formal compliance testing by renowned independent software validation provider Lufthansa Systems. “Independently proven adherence to the specification will assure the success of CUPPS,” says Lufthansa Systems’ Dietrich Hasselhorn, who oversaw the work. “ARINC’s vMUSE successfully passed compliance testing to prove it can successfully run any airline application written to the CUPPS 1.1 standard.”

ARINC installed the world’s first live operational CUPPS platform at Las Vegas in January 2009. Since then it has handled over 250,000 passengers, successfully running multiple airline applications .

Rob Sutton, ARINC global product manager, worked closely with IATA during development of the CUPPS standard and subsequently on the Las Vegas pilot programme and final certification testing.

“CUPPS is the first joint industry recommended practice to have been backed by IATA, ACI (Airports Council International) and ATA the US Air Transport Association,” he says. “It was formally released in November 2009, though our pilot programme at Las Vegas had been running to the initial CUPPS 1.0 standard since January of that year. Lufthansa Systems completed its testing of vMUSE/CUPPS 1.1 in a single week last March, and we have been offering a completely compliant product to the market for the past four months.”

There is at least one other compliant offering on the market, but Sutton is confident that the prospects for many more vMUSE/CUPPS 1.1 implementations are bright. “vMUSE can support both CUPPS and legacy airline applications simultaneously. If an airport operator chooses vMUSE it is covered for all possible scenarios: whatever the application selected by each individual carrier, the airport can be confident that vMUSE will support it.”

The CUPPS standard continues to evolve. Version 1.2, was agreed in 2010, while Version1.3 , which will be released early this year, will focus on printing, with a particular emphasis on Windows spooling and printing. “We’re already working to apply the new versions to VMUSE,” says Sutton. “CUPPS is the future of passenger processing, and we are determined to keep our products aligned with this industry recommended practice.

For more information visit www.vmuse-enterprise.com.

Electronic Borders in the News with UK-Ireland Border Deal

January 10, 2012
Business Aviation News Introduction
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Border Management Under The Spotlight

Border Management Under The Spotlight

Border security & Border management systems have been in the news again this month with the new deal between the UK & Ireland to crack down on illegal immigration.

The two countries will share information on visa applications, including fingerprint biometrics. The UK Borders Agency says the deal could create “considerable savings” on removing foreign nationals with no right to stay.

Ultimately there could be joint entry standards and “enhanced electronic border systems”.

The new system will help identify those with no right to enter the so-called common travel area – comprising the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man – before they arrive at the border.

Electronic Border Systems, such as those offered by ARINC are essential for all countries. The ARINC Border Management System (ABMS) offers real time threat protection and is designed to adapt to the changes in operational process and support new technology, enabling Border Control agencies to flex with changing demands and capabilities.

Today it is not enough to simply secure borders from unauthorised entry by known undesirables. Now it is necessary to manage the stay of travellers, from entry through to exit, to know who has been in the country and when they left.

The ARINC Border Management System delivers a full stay management capability, screening all travellers before they travel, and managing visitors throughout their stay.

For more information visit http://www.electronicborders.com/.

ARINC in talks with Panasonic over Cabin Connect pairings

January 4, 2012
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InFlight Broadband by Cabin Connect
InFlight Broadband by Cabin Connect

Last month we heard that ARINC was teaming up with Panasonic Avionics on offering its new Inmarsat SwiftBroadband-supported in-flight wi-fi solution, Cabin Connect, with some of the IFEC giant’s products.

“We’ve been talking to Panasonic for a long while about different ways that we can work with them. We are really looking at [having] options where we integrate with them. Or there is another option that [sees a] configuration where we connect directly to the satcom so that we can sit alongside the in-flight entertainment,” David Harrold, an executive with Arinc, told ATI at the Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX) conference and exhibition in Seattle.

Unveiled at APEX, Cabin Connect is being billed as a simple connectivity system that allows airlines to easily and inexpensively bring in-flight wi-fi to passengers, since many aircraft already carry the lion’s share of necessary kit or will do so in the future.

At present, SwiftBroadband offers a data transfer rate of up to 432kbps per channel. However, Inmarsat has an upgrade path for the service, which will be implemented at the end of next year and bring the speed to 700kbps.

Arinc, meanwhile, is also “doing a number of things to improve the service”, including compressing the data going through the SwiftBroadband pipe, said Harrold

He added that, on the ground at Arinc’s data centre, the company is putting a “large amount of computing power” at the issue of speed “so in real time, we are making the images a bit smaller [and] blocking some of the adverts”, a service that is customisable to the airline’s needs and requirements.

DataComm Program Could Start in 2015

January 3, 2012
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This week we heard that digital data messaging between pilots and air traffic controllers is scheduled to begin replacing voice-based communications in U.S. airspace in the next three years.

A multifunction control display unit in aircraft cockpit shows a controller-pilot datalink communications (CPDLC) message. (Photo: FAA)
A multifunction control display unit in aircraft cockpit shows a controller-pilot datalink communications (CPDLC) message. (Photo: FAA)

The data communications program is considered one of six “transformational” programs leading to the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen).

Data messaging for air traffic services is expected to improve controller productivity and reduce workload by automating delivery of routine clearances, freeing controllers to handle increased traffic. Safety will be enhanced by reducing misunderstandings and radio congestion arising from voice communications. Data communications are integral to the networked, data-centric vision of NextGen.

The chosen contractor will provide ground-to-ground and air-to-ground segments of a data network between FAA air traffic service points and data comm-equipped aircraft. In the DCIS solicitation, the FAA said it expects the contractor to use one or both of the current commercial providers of air/ground communications–a reference to Arinc and SITA–to provide a VHF Digital Link Mode 2 (VDL-2) datalink for air traffic services that also accommodates aircraft communications addressing and reporting system (Acars) messages.

Acars is used mainly for data communications between an airliner and its operations centre.

ARINC has been providing flight deck communications to the commercial industry for over 20 years – tailoring it to individual needs and operational preferences.

Over half of the world’s business jets rely on ARINC for their air-to-ground communication needs. From the value and reliability of ARINC’s SATCOM and Iridium-based solutions, to the proven industry-standard ACARS and expanded capabilities of VDLM2, to ARINC’s expert Air Traffic Services (ATS) and world-class weather graphics technology – ARINC Direct goes above and beyond to ensure airlines have communications they can always trust.

More information about ARINC’s business aviation communications services can be found at www.flight-planning.aero.

New EU Deal on passenger data transfer to Australia

December 14, 2011
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Last week the European parliament approved a new deal offering the passenger name records (PNR) to be transferred to Australia within data protection laws, helping with airport security and anti-terrorism names. The agreement, set to last for 7 years, will allow the Australian government to keep passenger data for five and half years.

Advance Passenger Information (API), is obligatory in the USA and all EU member states. Increasingly it is being required by governments around the world. Combined with Passenger Name Records (PNR), this information must be sent to the destination country’s border security department for passenger screening, crucial for effective border management.

PNR data is collected by airlines and includes passengers’ personal information, passport numbers and credit card details. After 3 years personal identifying data will be marked out.

PNR data will be kept in the system for the purpose of preventing, detecting, investigating and prosecuting terrorist offences or serious transnational crime. 

Passenger Data transfer services are usually provided by a third party to the airline. Services such as AviSec Data Transfer by ARINC Direct ensure that data is transferred flawlessly and cost effectively for the airline. Failure on the part of the airline can result in fines of up to $5000, and so in these tough economic times quality services are essential.

ARINC processes 25 million messages each day – over 50% of the world’s operational Type B traffic, to a 3000 strong customer base.

ARINC said “airlines choosing AviSec can be confident that they are getting the highest possible performance at a wholly affordable price.”

Jeju Air Signs with ARINC for GLOBALinkSM and AviNet® Services

November 15, 2011
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ARINC Incorporated today announced it has received a contract from major South Korean low-cost carrier Jeju Air, for a suite of ARINC voice and data communications and network services.

ARINC will provide Jeju Air with its GLOBALink/VHFSM and GLOBALink/HFSM data link communications, and its AviNet® Type B network service, with value-added messaging applications for enhanced operational efficiency and performance.

Mr. Park Keuk Ro, Director, Operation Support Division, Jeju Air, stated “ARINC’s solutions have a good track record for quality and reliability. Consistent and long-standing performance as well as flexibility in adhering to our requirements were key factors that helped us in making our decision.”

The GLOBALink voice and data services will allow Jeju Air to benefit from seamless data transfer and communications between air and ground crews. ARINC’s AviNet Type B messaging supports pre-flight applications such as aircraft movement monitoring, passenger handling operations, and load control.

The AviNet Type B Messaging Service architecture is one of the most reliable in the world, delivering 100% availability. Based on store-and-forward capabilities and a robust set of IATA standard message routing features built into ARINC’s high-availability message platform, it supports legacy, proprietary, and custom messaging applications, as well as industry-standard IP-based MQ and MATIP formats.

For more information on the service visit typebmessaging-avinet.com/.

ARINC Incorporated, a portfolio company of The Carlyle Group, provides communications, engineering and integration solutions for commercial, defense and government customers worldwide. Headquartered in Annapolis, Maryland with regional headquarters in London and Singapore, ARINC is ISO 9001:2008 certified.

ARINC Flat-rate pricing helps airlines manage API costs

November 1, 2011
Business Aviation News
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ARINC is introducing AviSec as a new flat-rate pricing concept to help airlines manage their costs for transferring Advanced Passenger Information (API) to destination governments.

It was launched by ARINC EMEA at its annual customer event, Converge and ENGAGE on 19-20 October.

“AviSec, a simple charging method based on a monthly rate for an agreed number of flights, has been designed to enable airlines to budget more easily. Currently many airlines are charged for each message on a per character basis, resulting in unpredictable costs,”

AviSec can handle and convert multiple formats from different airline systems and safely transmit data over ARINC’s highly resilient AviNet network, which has served the air transport industry’s need for secure, reliable messaging for over 50 years. Secure delivery is paramount for airlines which must transmit API in the form of batch flight manifests to border control agencies in the destination country.

Any failure by an airline to comply incurs a significant fine.

More information can be found at avisec-messaging.com

Vueling Airlines renewed its communications contract with ARINC

October 28, 2011
Business Aviation News
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ARINC has been Vueling’s preferred supplier since the airline was established in 2004. The new agreement makes ARINC the carrier’s exclusive data link provider.

“ARINC welcomes the enhanced business relationship reflected in this agreement and we look forward to supporting Vueling’s future growth initiatives,” said Michael DiGeorge, ARINC EMEA Senior Program Director, Aviation Solutions.

The new agreement provides Vueling with ARINC’s ACARS data link service, Type B messaging and connectivity, and ARINC’s OpCenter solution, which allows the airline to integrate data link information across the enterprise. Interconnecting OpCenter with other Vueling systems enables real-time automatic processing of data sent and received by the carrier’s expanded fleet of 48 aircraft, as well as 24/7 flight operations support.

Vueling has recently added new operating bases in the Netherlands (Amsterdam) and France (Toulouse), and is now operating more routes in cooperation with Iberia out of Madrid.

Vueling is renowned in the industry for its focus on the bottom line and ARINC accepted a review of the communications contract to support the airline’s growing fleet and route network, while keeping costs as low as possible.

“Through our recent expansion, we have come to rely on ARINC to help us maximize productivity and efficiency at optimum cost,” said Vueling’s Albert Pérez Subirós, Manager of Engineering & Planning. “We are very pleased at their ability to assist in our growth while keeping a sharp focus on cost control and the bottom line.”

“ARINC will continue to deliver the same high level of service and commitment that Vueling has received complete web-based messaging solution for anyone who communicates with flight or ground crews via data link service. Its flexible, customizable message-management capabilities can be adapted to meet the needs of any operational environment. More information can be found at http://typebmessaging-avinet.com/.