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Fiji Tightens Up Security with Integrated Border Management System

April 15, 2013
Business Aviation News
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Business Aviation News - Border Management Solutions

Business Aviation News – Border Management Solutions

This week saw the introduction of tighter security measures in Fiji as the Immigration Department implemented the new Integrated Border Management System (IBMS) at Nadi International Airport and every other entry point countrywide.

The Fijian Government awarded the contract for installation to Public Sector Solution of Informatics International Limit, a Sri Lankan company who implemented the IBMS, state-of-the-art technology with features designed to enhance passenger profiling and visual verifications that can assist in the identification of high-risk passengers.

IBMS will change the face of security and enhance border management system control, maximising efficiency and productivity with features including access to data, passport and citizenship information, visa and permit modules.

“It will allow for a quick flow of all of our immigration processes and ensure there is quick turnaround time for each passenger that enter or leave our country,” said Major Nemani Vuniwaqa, Director of Immigration for Fiji.  “It strengthens our security system at all of our borders and ensures that we find people that may, in the past, slipped through.”

Smartphone App Hacking Issue Involves ACARS

April 14, 2013
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The alarming issue of aircraft hacking with the Smartphone app designed by Hugo Teso continues this week as he claims he could create false ACARS messages that could distract pilots with false weather or air traffic information.

Since the current ACARS system uses no authentication, Teso, an engineer and pilot, who works for a German security company, declared it was possible to cause these disruptions from a Smartphone, while seated on the plane.  He uses technology called ‘software defined radio’ to mimic the ACARS VHF frequency.

Teso, speaking at the ‘Hack in the Box’ conference in Amsterdam last week, says he bought second-hand Honeywell and Rockwell Collins Flight Management System equipment from eBay and extensively tested his app.  His findings have led him to believe that he could produce malformed ACARS messages to trigger vulnerabilities in the flight management systems on certain aircraft, potentially giving a hacker a degree of control over the aircraft.

acars

ACARS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The U.S. FAA and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) have dismissed his claims, highlighting the fact that he has only tested his app on flight training simulation software and not on the protected technology that exists on a real flight deck.

A spokesman for EASA said that no, “Potential vulnerabilities on actual flying systems,” have been shown, and that, “The simulation does not have the same overwriting protection and redundancies included in certified flight software.”

Although both agencies strongly deny the possibilities of interference through ACARS messages, Teso states that he is “working with EASA to improve the situation.”

 

GX Aviation Broadband Equipment Launched by Inmarsat

April 12, 2013
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ARINC Cabin ConnectA new Ka-Band delivered high-speed broadband service was on display for the first time for visitors to the Hamburg Aircraft Interiors Expo last week.  GX Aviation, launched by Inmarsat, will be supported by new avionics developed by Honeywell and will be commercially available in early 2015.

Jack Jacobs, Vice President of Marketing Product and Management, Honeywell Aerospace said: “The consumer demand for fast, global in-flight connectivity continues to grow at a monumental rate. People want to be connected no matter where they are and have the same Internet experience that they have at home.”

The world-leading satellite communications company, Inmarsat, plans to change the face of in-flight connectivity with GX Aviation, designed to provide throughputs of up to 50Mbps with uninterrupted global broadband coverage, offering like-for-like, ground-based comparative connectivity.

“The world is changing and airlines are seeking to keep up with passengers’ expectations. Our new GX service, which can be combined with our existing L-band solution, enables airlines to capitalise on already installed hardware to provide high speed broadband service with complete geographical coverage for all aircraft requirements, both in the cockpit and the cabin,” says Inmarsat’s Miranda Mills, Vice President of Aerospace.

As Market for In-flight Wifi Grows, the Debate Continues

April 10, 2013
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The in-flight wifi debate continued last week as service providers all have a different approach to bandwidth.

Bill Sullivan, Director for Strategy and Business Development at ViaSat, commented, “People value speed, whether at home or in mobile environment. We have built a system around a very high speed experience. So we are taking that and bringing it into the airline sector.”

However, not everyone agrees that speed is the answer, especially when in-flight wifi provision is so expensive.  Row 44’s John Guidon argues,

“Just talking about speed is not satisfactory. It doesn’t explain the totality of the experience,” adding, “Really people are most interested in, in my opinion, page load time.”

There is no doubt that connectivity for in-flight wifi is in demand.  It is not a question of whether aircraft need it; it is now an account of which service to choose.  Ka-band wifi will provide speeds of at least 12Mbps per passenger, with even faster speeds being achieved with Ku-band or satellite in-flight wifi operations.

Most airlines recognise passengers’ growing demands for in-flight wifi and with the buzz created by the different broadband connectivity providers, the market is exploding.

WSI Follow ARINC with the Development of New iPad App

April 8, 2013
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Following the success of ARINC’s development and introduction of their ground-breaking flight planning app for the iPad, yet another contender enter into the marketplace.  WSI are the latest company to launch a weather and flight planning app.

Named WSI Pilotbrief, the General Aviation and Flight Planning app is iPad specific and is set for launch at the Sun N Fun annual event in Florida this year.

ARINC developed their industry-leading iPad application for ARINC Direct after figures showed that more than half of their business jet aviators were accessing their accounts using the tablet device.

A valuable tool, the app integrates into the flight planning process, assisting pilots and increasing efficiency for effective, real-time operations.  Using the flight planning app, pilots are able to access up-to-the-minute weather data and geographical information, in addition to fuel burn data, ETA and flight tracking with sharing capabilities via iCloud networks and Bluetooth connections.

WINGX Reports Fall in Business Aviation Figures

April 4, 2013
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It was recently reported in the latest release of the Wingx Business Aviation Monitor that business aircraft flight departures fell by 10% in Europe over the past year.  The figures reflect a major decrease over the year, mostly due to March 2012’s strong figures, as March 2013 showed 20% more activity than February 2013.

The Euro Zone financial crisis has been blamed for the major decrease, as there were increases in flights from the Middle East, BRIC countries and East and West Africa.

Christoph Kohler, Managing Director of WINGX Advance, said, “March analysis indicates a slump which was certainly precipitated by further Euro Zone tensions, especially affecting demand in Germany. The overall picture is gloomy, but there is growth, in selective aircraft types and on specific routes.”

Growth was recorded, however, in the Russian Federation, Norway, Turkey and the Ukraine with a couple of activity spikes in Malta and Cyprus.  The relatively small business aviation market associated with Ireland also saw an increase.

Piston activity was badly hit, being 27% down over the year, business aviation charter activity coming down by 6% compared to March 2012.

This comes as business aviation services become more affordable to the sector and surprisingly the largest drops were felt by smaller aircraft, such as Cessna, Beechcraft and Piper aircraft, while the industry experienced a rise in usage of Ultra-long range, Bizliner and Heavy Jets.

Korean Air to Boost Business Aviation

March 7, 2013
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Korean Air set up a dedicated charter team in 2007, now, having 3 VIP aircraft in its fleet, it is planning to boost demand for its business jet service by focusing on the Hong Kong and Chinese markets.

The VIP aircraft consists of a Boeing Business Jet, a Bombardier Global Express XRS that it flies internationally, and a Sikorsky S-76C+ helicopter that it operates within South Korea. It is planned that passengers on Korean Air‘s private jet charter service will earn First Class mileage points and will have access to the airline’s VIP lounges.

The airline also has a Flexjet Connect Service, which allows passengers to connect from a regular Korean Air flight to a private jet service for non-stop travel throughout the USA. A spokeswoman from the airline said “With many opportunities from Hong Kong and China, Korean Air is keen to capture a share of the business jet market with a focus in Hong Kong,” “We look forward to flying people to different cities from Hong Kong to China as well as various destinations around the world. With state-of-the-art aircraft, unparalleled services and competitive offerings, Korean Air is confident of capturing a share of the market in Hong Kong and in other countries in the region.”

Please see this link for a full range of business jet support and communications services.

In Flight Broadband – Good or Bad?

February 26, 2013
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ARINC Cabin ConnectIn the news again and again are the developments for inflight broadband. Some passenger groups hail it as an essential, other just see it as a rip off. One news report this week suggested that supply outweighed demand – but no commercial airline or private jet wants to be left behind the times.

This week we heard that the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued an order implementing Ku-band rules for the operation of satellite earth stations on aircraft enhancing competition and promote the widespread availability of Internet access to aircraft passengers – potentially starting the rise of low cost wifi on airplanes.

Providers to the aviation industry often differentiate their products by aircraft wifi for business aviation, and in flight wifi for commercial airlines.

Up until now, L-band licenses (1-2GHz) could be obtained from the FCC to offer connectivity to airborne aircraft over Mobile Satellite Services (MSS). The new rules will allow the FCC to process ESAA applications up to 50% faster and will speed the deployment of ubiquitous airborne broadband services, including Internet access.

Airlines Around the World Feeling The Squeeze

February 23, 2013
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This month we have heard another story of airline struggling to deal with costs. Chanchangi airline has said that high cost of aviation fuel in Nigeria is a huge setback for domestic airline operations.

Airlines now have to look at every aspect of their business in order to balance the books. There are lots of areas that you can make cut backs but using route optimisation as a part of flight planning is one, and getting a good deal on aviation messaging is another.

But even with these basics in place fuel remains crippling. Using a contract fuel supplier will help – but this year at the Avalon air show Australia showcased aviation biofuels as the roadmap for the future. More on that story later…

Australian aviation biofuels showcased at Avalon

Australian aviation biofuels showcased at Avalon – picture courtesy of ABC

Operators required to retrofit aircraft with VDLM2/ATN capable avionics

February 18, 2013
Business Aviation News
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Critical Aviation Communications (CPDLC)

Critical Aviation Communications (CPDLC)

The European Commission (EC) has published a framework for the adoption of VDLM2 for CPDLC communications in the form of a Data Link Services Implementing Rule (DLS IR). By this time next year airline operators will be required to retrofit their aircraft with VDLM2/ATN capable avionics, in order to comply with the DLS IR.

The DLS IR legislature is already coming into play – as of 1 January 2011, all new aircraft operating above Flight Level (FL) 285 to be delivered with a compliant system and as of 7 February 2013 the ten core European Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs) will need to have implemented a compliant CPDLC ground infrastructure.

Assistance with compliance is essential and ARINC is ne of the suppliers that have publicised details of how they can help your airline become compliant with the new legislation.

ARINC has taken an active role in supporting industry bodies, airframe and avionics manufacturers, ANSPs, and operators, in ensuring that the benefits of the new technology are maximised for the Air Transport Industry. In this context the role of ARINC will evolve from a traditional DataLink Service Provider to an industry partner with years of experience and a history of quality customer support. To see dedicated information regarding this service please see the ARINC CPDLC site.