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Rockwell Collins Plan for One-Stop-Airline-Shop with Cabin Connect

October 5, 2014
Business Aviation News
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Cabin Connect for Comprehensive SolutionsRockwell Collins, through its acquisition of ARINC Inc. last year plan to become a one-stop-shop for airlines for IFE and on-board connectivity solutions.

Cabin Connect, operating over Inmarsat SwiftBroadband, provides Wi-Fi and inflight connectivity on a global scale. Next year, via its recently-finalised agreement with Inmarsat to become a Value Added Reseller for Global Xpress – GX Aviation – Rockwell Collins will focus on Cabin Connect retrofitting, urging customers to begin now with Cabin Connect on the lower bandwidth of L-band SwiftBroadband and upgrade to Ka-band ‘when you and your customers are ready’.

Cabin Connect, with its cabin connectivity solution, plus avionics and ACARS datalink services for the flight deck, could deliver a complete package to airlines. Huy Tran, director of marketing and business development for Rockwell Collins said, “There’s many companies who have a single product line, not many companies actually have the full breadth. The companies that are going to be successful are the ones that have all the product lines, because airlines don’t want to shop around for various components.”

Rockwell Collin effectively dropped out of the IFE marketplace in 2006, but the introduction of their new PAVES system and subsequent MoU with Hubei Ali Jiatai, Chinese aircraft seat-makers to include PAVES in next-gen Boeing 737’s for Chinese carriers has placed them firmly back in action. The plans for the ARINC Cabin Connect suite will cement their stake in the current and future market of IFE.

In a market where there is close competition, Rockwell Collins is confident that Cabin Connect will fulfill IFE connectivity promises and deliver a comprehensive solution for global airlines.

Sabreliner Aviation Plans BizAv MRO Expansion

October 4, 2014
Business Aviation News
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BizAv Expansion Plans for SabrelinerSabreliner Services president, Greg Fedele, speaking from the company’s headquarters in Perryville, Mo., this week, has outlined plans for a reinvention of the company following its purchase by Innovative Capital Holdings in January.

Plans include the expansion of business aviation MRO services, bringing military experience into civilian, business jet work. Fedele said, “The extent and breadth of the capabilities appealed to the new owners. There isn’t anything we can’t do to an airplane; we have an interior, paint, avionics and engine shop, and we do metalwork, composites, structural, engineering, all right here.”

Starting with shopping MRO work on King Air, Learjet 35 and PC-12, with plan for expansion of their experience with 500-series Cessna Citations, the company will be seeking FAA approval to work on business jets for the civilian market.

There are also plans to ‘acquire, upgrade and ‘flip’ older Sabreliners, with particular interest in the Sabreliner 65 for sale to private clients.

While Fedele recognizes that it is not simply a case of competing in the civilian world, he feels confident that the team can achieve its goals. He said, “The new owners and I are bullish on the future of this business. We really want to grow and put Sabreliner back on the map.”

In 200,000sq ft. premises at Perryville Municipal Airport, Fedele realises there is room for expansion.

Bombardier Deliver High-Speed Connectivity Hardware

September 17, 2014
Business Aviation News
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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.

ARINC Cabin Connect Suite Enhanced by Rockwell Collins

September 16, 2014
Business Aviation News
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Enhanced Cabin Services with Rockwell CollinsFollowing a recent GX Aviation Added Value Reseller deal with Inmarsat, Rockwell Collins have announced enhancements to their ARINC Cabin Connect suite, the company’s leading in-flight connectivity for cabin services platform. The enhancements will benefit both passengers and airlines as the latest Ka-band services bring greater possibilities to the aviation industry.

Rockwell Collins will use the increased bandwidth and high-speed connectivity to offer real-time TV and TV on-demand in addition to the launch of a new capability that will give passengers the opportunity to use mobile phones onboard to send and receive, where approved, SMS messages and make voice calls over the internet.

Airlines will notice an immediate benefit with Cabin Connect, as the elimination of the need for separate on-board cell phone and Wi-Fi network equipment will significantly reduce weight and installation costs, while allowing extra potential for value-added services.

“Our knowledge of how communications platforms work, combined with our systems integration expertise, enables Rockwell Collins to create solutions that meet the specific needs of our global aviation customers,” said Michael DiGeorge, vice president of international and global airports for Rockwell Collins. “Expanding our ARINC Cabin Connect capabilities through Inmarsat’s high-speed service will provide airlines and their customers with new services designed to meet the ever-growing demand for accessing information and in-flight entertainment.”

Another benefit in addition to passenger connectivity using Cabin Connect will be the new tools designed to enhance airline efficiency. Rockwell Collins’ information management capabilities feature a dashboard that will allow airlines to access monitoring for system-critical elements including cabin applications utilisation and fleet information.

“Because we offer nose-to-tail solutions, we have a tremendous amount of valuable information we can provide to airlines about their aircraft,” said DiGeorge. “With this dashboard, we are putting that information into an easy-to-use format that helps airlines to improve their operational decision making.”

FANS 1/A+ Upgrade for Challenger 604 Aircraft

September 12, 2014
Business Aviation News
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Other Providers of Flight Deck Communications Solutions for Business JetsBombardier and Marshall Aerospace Group have signed a conditional letter of agreement to develop a Future Air Navigation System (FANS) 1/A+ avionics upgrade for the Bombardier Challenger 604 business jet. The upgrade will be aimed at the enhancement of pilot to air traffic communications to enable access to the North Atlantic Tracks, which offer shorter, faster routes.

The ICAO developed FANS 1/A+ as a part of the NextGen Air Traffic Management program, with a view to providing better management of high-volume airspace. FANS-equipped aircraft stand a greater chance of maximising operational productivity and profitability.

Vice-president of Bombardier Business Aircraft said. “We are pleased to be working with Marshall on this project.”

In-flight Connectivity Reseller Deal for Inmarsat and Rockwell Collins

September 11, 2014
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The Face of In-Flight Connectivity to Change with Rockwell Collins & InmarsatIt has been announced that Inmarsat, British global satellite communications providers and aviation giant Rockwell Collins have signed a deal that could change the face of in-flight connectivity, as Rockwell Collins will be a value added reseller for the commercial air transport market sector.

GX Aviation is the latest generation of Inmarsat services and will provide connection speeds of up to 50Mbps on a global scale. Scheduled for release to the commercial air transport sector in the first half of 2015, GX Aviation will offer airlines the opportunity to deliver value added services to passengers that promises connectivity such as that found on the ground.

“By combining GX with our current L-Band services, we’ll also be able to provide our airline customers with a complete portfolio of connectivity options for a full range of applications from the cockpit to the cabin,” Jeff Standerski, Rockwell Collins’ senior vice president of information management services said, adding that new possibilities could be brought for their ARINC Cabin Connect suite.

GX Aviation will enable faster speeds and expandable bandwidth for in-flight entertainment, including real-time TV and video, web browsing and to accommodate future devices and applications.

The deal is a key building block for Inmarsat in their mission to deliver high-speed connectivity for passengers and for the flight deck.

Inmarsat president of aviation, Leo Mondale said, “Rockwell Collins is a key partner for the full portfolio of existing Inmarsat Aviation services, and will be one of the first to bring the new, exciting GX Aviation service to its large airline customer base. We have built the very best team of aviation companies to ensure airlines have excellent access to GX Aviation. Our Ka-band solution enables us to meet the rapidly growing demand for passenger connectivity”

Textron Aviation CEO ‘Upbeat’ About Business

September 10, 2014
Business Aviation News
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Scott Ernest, CEO of Textron Aviation, who acquired Beechcraft earlier this year, told the WIBA gathering in Wichita last week that he was upbeat about the current state of the business.

“This is by far the best it’s felt in three years,” said Ernest, “I feel pretty good about how we’re progressing.” Continuing, he spoke about the merger of Beechcraft into the company and its Cessna business, “We’re pretty much done,” he said. “It’s amazing how quickly it’s been able to come together.”

He described how the merger of the businesses has not been difficult, citing one of the possibilities that many of the employees had worked at one or other of the companies at some point in their careers.

Mr Ernest is clearly proud of the company achievements and said, “It’s really a great opportunity to lead a company like this.” In particular, he noted that the Beechcraft acquisition gave Textron the special mission aircraft – King Air turboprops that can be utilised as air ambulance and surveillance aircraft both in the US and overseas.

Also discussed was the launch of the Scorpion tactical jet, which made an appearance at the Farnborough Airshow after a transatlantic flight earlier this year. The Scorpion is expected to be ordered by foreign countries first, with lower operating costs than those of its counterparts.

Baggage System at Anchorage International to be Improved

September 4, 2014
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Other Major Providers of Baggage Systems in AirportsIn a project that will see Alaskan baggage handling improved by 2016, Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC) has awarded a contract for upgrades and modifications to the baggage system in North Terminal, to Logan Teleflex, part of the Daifuku Webb Holding Company.

The project is expected to include recapitalisation of the current explosive detection system and upgrades to the physical baggage handling system currently serving Concourse C. In addition, significant expansion of the checked baggage resolution area will be carried out and alterations to the structural, architectural, mechanical and electrical building systems in a multi-million dollar deal.

Brian Stewart, general manager of Daifuku’s global airport baggage handling, said, “Our established partnership and collaborative efforts with ANC are aimed to provide a better experience for travellers. Our company continues to produce dependable baggage handling solutions that ultimately make travelling easier for passengers flying in and out of ANC.”

Aircell Business Aviation Services Rebranding

September 2, 2014
Business Aviation News
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Other Leading Providers of Business Aviation ServicesIt has been announced that Aircell, Gogo Inc’s business aviation communications provider, has been rebranded to firmly define the company’s two divisions – commercial and business aviation – and will now be known as Gogo Business Aviation.

Business aviation service providers bring aircraft communications services to the business aviation sector exclusively. Many providers have two divisions, as the requirements differ hugely in each sector.

Aircell has been trading since 1991 and are well-known for in-flight connectivity and Wi-Fi solutions using satellite network availability.

“Gogo’s mission is to advance aviation by connecting every aircraft with the most trusted communications services on and above our planet. Having our commercial and business aviation divisions share a brand will make more people aware of the full breadth of our business,” said Gogo’s president and CEO, Michael Small. “The rebranding will also help travellers recognize their favourite Gogo services, whether they’re aboard an airline, corporate, fractional or charter aircraft – anywhere in the world”.

“We’re thrilled to introduce Gogo Business Aviation as the next evolution of our brand,” said Gogo Business Aviation’s executive vice president and general manager, John Wade. “The past five years has seen a remarkable menu of in-flight capabilities emerge for business aircraft operators, including Internet, e-mail, voice, texting, personal smartphone usage, movies, TV episodes, news, weather, cockpit data and more. And at the same time, the onboard equipment has become orders-of-magnitude smaller, lighter and more affordable. These truly are exciting times.”

The rebranded division will also be relocating its headquarters to larger premises a short distance away to fully appreciate the focus of its market, while continuing to share expertise and technology, in addition to the brand name.

Aviation Messaging Consultancy Can Help Operators to Understand Type B

August 25, 2014
Business Aviation News
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Understand Type B Messaging with ARINCType B messaging can be perceived as complex, confusing and containing an unimaginable mass of data. These would all be correct assumptions to make and operators all over the globe are paying enormous amounts of money for the transmission of millions of these messages every single day.

Type B messages are transmitted for a wide range of reasons within the aviation industry including, but not limited to:

  • ACARS messaging
  • Filing flight plans
  • Exchanging mission critical messages with partner businesses
  • e-Ticketing transactions
  • Maintenance orders
  • IATA and non-IATA messaging

This complicated form of messaging must be seamlessly reliable to avoid ground-delays and to ensure continuation of operational productivity.

Type B aviation messaging consultancy providers can help to take some of the complexity out of the equation and can help operators to understand Type B in order to enable them to simplify their systems and ultimately save money by doing so. ARINC have a Type B messaging consultancy service and draw on more than 8 decades of industry experience. Take a look at their unique messaging calculator and see how much you could save.