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ARINC EMEA has marked a major milestone at Dubai International this week being the first global site to use vMUSE for a total of 34 international airlines, all newly certified to run over Windows 7.  This list includes Emirates airline, which use their Mercator Airport Control System (MACS) with ARINC’s passenger processing vMUSE platform.

vMUSE Solutions Milestone at Dubai InternationalA new five-year agreement was signed between ARINC and dnata in 2012 for the upgrade of the iMUSE to the latest vMUSE version of the platform.  ARINC provided the software, Emirates the hardware, offering an advanced Virtualised Dual Core solution that has delivered a balance for Emirates between technology and cost.

vMUSE is also being utilized to support multiple airports from a common infrastructure. Graham Parker, Manager Business Technology ‐ dnata Airport Operations and Cargo said, “With vMUSE live at Dubai International, we have begun the rollout at Al Maktoum International at Dubai World Central for the passenger terminal opening in October.”

“We are delighted with the success of vMUSE at Dubai International,” said Tony Lynch, ARINC’s Regional Director, Middle East & Africa. “It is the perfect migration path for airlines and airports embarking on CUPPS regardless of where they are today and where they plan to be in the future. Whether it’s an iMUSE terminal emulator, CUPPS application, or airline native application, vMUSE can support it, and can handle any combination of these simultaneously.”

ARINC are directly focussing on the growth from emerging markets in the Middle East and now have a site in Arabic for ease of use in the sector.

Russian Aviation EmergenceGazpromneft-Aero, leading provider of Russian aviation fuel solutions will showcase their best practices with regard to international aviation fuel supply standards at the Aviation Fuel Forum of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in the US.

The company, who has worked with IATA for the past five years, will also receive an IATA award in light of the cooperative relationship they share.

Gazpromneft-Aero have revolutionised the russian aviation fuel infrastructure with significant investment in that area and the construction of new refuelling complexes, seven of which have earned IATA’s highest quality fuel-supply status and safety standards.

The company, in partnership with IATA runs International training programs held in Novosibirsk, the only programs of its kind in Eastern Europe for airline, aviation fuel suppliers, oil companies and refuelling complexes.

There are many International companies showing support for the emerging Russian aviation market, ARINC Direct, industry-leading business aviation specialists have a Russian language site for the provision of business aviation services including passenger communications, flight support services and essential flight deck communications solutions.

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.

 

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.

aircraft communicationsDesignated airtime resellers, Honeywell have signed an agreement with ARINC Direct to provide the new Inmarsat GX Aviation connectivity to the Business Aviation Industry.

The agreement will provide ARINC Direct with the ability to incorporate the new GX Aviation into their Business Aviation Services and sell subscriptions packages to business jet operators and private owners.

The new Inmarsat GX Aviation is a Ka-band solution that will be available at the beginning of 2015 and will bring faster-than-ever broadband speeds for inflight messaging and entertainment that will rival those of ground-based operations.

Aircraft internet services for passenger communications will be faster and more cost-effective than existing services and will enhance flight deck communications with web-based services that can be accessed and operated in real time.

Inmarsat, a British Satellite Network has commissioned Boeing to build four satellites for the provision of the service and the first of which is expected to be ready to launch as early as December 2013.

ARINC Direct is delighted to be at the forefront of the new connectivity, following in the pioneering footsteps of ‘big brother’ ARINC Inc.

NBAA Welcome End of Government ShutdownEd Bolen, CEO and President of the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) has released a statement welcoming the end of the U.S. Government shutdown over the last few weeks, following President Obama’s signing of the agreement to address the debt ceiling.

Although it is acknowledged that it will take some time before the FAA services are fully ‘up and running’ again, the move heaves a collective sigh of relief throughout the industry. The affects of the shutdown have been far-reaching and devastating for business aviation and the NBAA has worked long and hard to find a way forward.

“For the past 17 days, the federal government has been shut down, and the consequences for business aviation have been devastating. Throughout this period, NBAA has tirelessly urged policymakers from every point on the political spectrum, both sides of Capitol Hill and both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue to find some way forward. We welcome this agreement for ending the shutdown, because it brings a resolution to an untenable situation,” said Mr Bolen.

Mr Bolen also remarked that the NBAA need to monitor developments as there is a distinct possibility that the same circumstances could arise again, that led to the shutdown.  The industry will be kept informed, he promised.

“As always, we will need to remain vigilant, and our industry will need to be ready to mobilize, just as the business aviation community did when the devastating impacts of this shutdown became clear.”

Many crucial services were suspended during the shutdown, including the purchase and sale, import and exports and maintenance of aircraft as the FAA’s US Aircraft Registry was directly affected.

Flight Planning iPad App

Leading flight support and communications provider for business aviation, ARINC Direct have announced the release of their latest flight planning iPad app, version 3.0.

The new version includes all the benefits of the older version plus a range of document management functions to simplify flight planning and an ARINC Direct website component that gives pilots and crew access to their files on iPad and on the web.  This will allow them to assign documents to a specific flight leg, aircraft or user, streamlining the filing and management process with simple drag and drop utility.

“ARINC is working to minimize paper and improve access to information on the flight deck for pilots,” said Bob Richard, ARINC Direct Vice President, “and version 3.0 is a major step forward in getting our customers there.”

Available in the Apple app store now, the ARINC Direct Flight Planning iPad App is, according to Mr Richard, “Another example of how we respond to our customer requirements for a cost-effective, simple and seamless user experience.”

business aviation

Fractional Ownership in Business Aviation

Fractional ownership initiatives allow buyers to acquire a fraction of a business jet, paying a monthly fee for management, then flight fees per hour of use.  Some companies offer pay-in-advance schemes where the customer can purchase bulk flying time.

For the past five years, there has been a lull in this industry; the economic downturn is partly to blame, with expenses cutbacks and falling rates of business.  This had led to many fractional ownership companies going out of business, with some being bought out, such as the proposed acquisition of Bombardier’s Flexjet by Directional Aviation Capital who already own Flight Options and Sentient Jet, fractional ownership enterprises.

It is hoped, now that there are fewer players in the industry, that prices can become more competitive, with greater flexibility for new growth in this sector.

Executive Airshare is keeping its focus upon the light jet market, which is less capital-intensive, offering businesses a more affordable way of flight compared to that of larger jets.

Already there seems to have been a resurgence of business with some companies noticing a rise of up to 50% on last year’s figures.  Many believe that this is a clear indication that people are returning to ‘normal’ business activity.

It may also be an indication that businesses are prepared to go a little further in search of new contracts and to seek out new business opportunities.

Recently it was suggested that it can be more cost-effective for companies to share the hire of a business jet than to purchase individual seats on commercial flights.

Whatever is happening, it is clearly good for business in the sector.

GlobalinkLos Angeles International Airport (LAX) have been using ARINC’s GLOBALink ground radio services since 2001 for the delivery of mission critical messaging information to airline passenger services, ground handlers and security teams, ground support staff and airline ramp personnel.

ARINC has partnered with PowerTrunk, a subsidiary company of Teltronic, who design, manufacture and implement digital and analog land mobile radio on a global scale.  Together, they will install Terrestrial Trunked Radio (TETRA) as a part of the ARINC GLOBALink upgrade for mission critical transmissions of airline and ground-based communications.  This will be the first North American deployment of the TETRA technology in the industry of aviation.

“TETRA is an ideal communications technology for airport and airline use,” said Carlos Fernandez, VP of Business Development for PowerTrunk. “It uniquely combines telephone-like voice and data services with dynamically configurable group call capability in a single, privately operated radio network platform”.

The TETRA platform will bring improved voice clarity and RF spectrum efficiency with multiple conversations capability.  ARINC leads the way with the recently approved TETRA platform, testing new products and operational behaviour in a fully functional demonstration environment.

“We are pleased to provide our valued customers at LAX with the latest technology which is currently deployed for airports and airlines globally,” said John Monto, Director, Radio Technology Solutions at ARINC. “We believe this upgrade, and the associated benefits it brings for ground communications, will enable ARINC’s customers at LAX to get their jobs done in a more timely and efficient manner.”

message handling systemPort Moresby, as the main site for Papua New Guinea Air Services, is to serve other airports in Papua New Guinea and in Brisbane, Australia as a message hub with its new, fully operational and ICAO compliant message handling system.

The message handling system, deployed by COMSOFT will bring Papua New Guinea Air Services, (PNGAS), provider of air navigation services, the ability to reinforce the aeronautical message handling system connections with other countries, such as New Zealand, Australia, Fiji & Indonesia who also operate the COMSOFT message handling system.

This is great news for PNGAS, who have been eager to introduce the message handling system technology in Papua New Guinea as, due to the nature of the terrain, air travel is key to the country’s economy.

With the message handling system, operators will be able to access critical flight information; NOTAMs, weather data and flight plans.

Aviation message handling system operations are crucial to safe and efficient flight management and offer solutions to airlines of all sizes.  Aviation messaging providers, such as COMSOFT & ARINC can bring these key solutions closer for compliance with ICAO regulations.

ARINC, industry-leading aviation message handling system providers have been bringing the answers to aircraft communications for 80 years.