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ARINC to provide ACARS for Japan’s AVICOM

November 22, 2012
Business Aviation News
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This week we heard that ARINC will be providing IT maintenance and support for Japan’s AVICOM Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System (ACARS).

AVICOM is Japan’s service provider for aviation communications, performing the same role as the FAA in the USA. Since the 1990’s AVICOM has used ACARS, and has selected ARINC to provide a broader service and maintenance solution that meets increasingly demanding cost expectations. ARINC will provide dedicated on-site support at AVICOM’s Network Operating Center, in addition to remote support in locations across Japan. The complete ARINC managed solution comprises asset management, incident management, preventive maintenance and reporting.

“This is the first time we’ve been contracted to support an ACARS system and provide maintenance for back-end network infrastructure in this way,” said Jim L. Martin, Managing Director, ARINC Asia Pacific. “This engagement highlights the flexibility of our IT support capabilities to develop solutions for a variety of technical environments,” Martin continued.

For more information on ARINC’s services airport management please visit the AviNet Airport site. For specific information on ACARSs and the transmission of Type B Messages please visit the Type B Messaging site.

NBAA 2012 ARINC & FlightAware

October 24, 2012
Business Aviation News
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With immediate effect, ARINC Direct will exchange information with FlightAware to provide customers with a secure and customized FlightAware interface on ARINC Direct’s website. This will develop FlightAware live flight tracking information and ARINC Direct customers will now seamlessly be able to benefit from access to FlightAware’s live web-based flight tracking and fleet maps, including streaming live flight and map updates, worldwide enroute navigation data and a host of other maps and overlays. Messaging the aircraft, worldwide position and flight plan display, arrival and departure information, flight history and airport delay information are also included.

NBAA 2012 ARINC & FlightAware

The current “Track Flights” service on ARINC Direct’s website will be completely replaced with the FlightAware powered tracker. ARINC Direct customers will be provided with worldwide flight tracking on a customized FlightAware display.

Featuring the largest flight tracking website in the world with over three million users, FlightAware was the first in the market to offer web-based flight tracking of private and commercial aircraft, primarily providing services and data to aircraft and airport operators, as well as other aviation organizations to assist in their operations.

ARINC also provide an aircraft messaging consultancy service for airlines to measure their current Type B usage and costs. ARINC say that they are able to provide savings to the majority of customers and offer a free, no obligation tool. The Type B Messaging tool can be found here.

Gloucestershire airport boosts business with runway

October 23, 2012
Business Aviation News
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To attract more business aviation Gloucestershire airport has extended its runway, said the airport’s head of operations, Darren Lewington,”Although only 12m of additional tarmac has been laid, the removal of obstacles nearby and the creation of an overrun means the landing distances available for aircraft have increased by up to 150m,” he added “The extra runway distances make a huge difference to the operators of the larger aircraft that currently use the airport and will generate additional business for us,”

Mr Lewington also said, “Business aviation movements make up around 5% of the take-off and landings, but they generate 30% of our revenue.” A large volume of activity is from general aviation aircraft, with approximately 70,000 actions annually. “With the closure of Filton airport, near Bristol, at the end of the year, there is already additional demand from corporate aircraft flying to the southwest of England. We are ideally placed to serve high net worth individuals in this region, as well as the Birmingham and Oxford catchment,” he adds.

Business aviation remains significant for airports across the country but increasingly as costs rise for operators they are looking for new, cost effective ways of running their businesses. Flight operations can be a significant outlay, and whilst operators cannot compromise on safety there are now solutions to make improve efficiency of all aspects of operations. ARINC Direct for example offer complete solutions for business aviation including all aircraft communications, flight support and planning services and even ancillary services such as aircraft broadband. For further information please visit the ARINC Direct website.

Focus on: Type B Messaging Systems

October 20, 2012
Business Aviation News
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I wanted to take a look at a solution for aviation communications; AviNet Type B messaging from ARINC as it delivers an unbeatable combination of high value and low cost for both commercial and business aviation. GLOBALink ACARS®, passenger reservations, aviation weather data and flight planning are a few message types that can transmitted, and ARINC offers a free messaging audit.

For over 50 years ARINC has operated an IATA Type B and Type A message switching service and over 700 companies depend on their network. They comply with all IATA Type B and Type A standards as well as support IATA messaging between customers and trading partners in the aviation industry. By using AviNet Type B Messaging companies can effectively communicate and share vital information with business partners, operators, and applications globally.

Type B Customers are able to communicate with entities on other networks, including FAA NADIN I and II, AFTN, and SITA. ARINC supports ATA/IATA type B message, formats various message reassurance procedures such as the BATAP and IBM MQ Series. AviNet can also manage non-IATA messages in addition to standard ATA/IATA formats.

Type B Messaging can seem to be complex and confusing, but ARINC work closely with the client to provide a consultation on the current messaging environment and to find an appropriate Type B Messaging pricing scheme. They maintain that they typically save customers over 30% on their existing Type B Messaging costs.

To find out more: typebmessaging-avinet.com

In Focus: Air Communications from ARINC Direct

September 25, 2012
Business Aviation News
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ARINC Direct Passenger Communications & Flight Support

ARINC Direct Passenger Communications & Flight Support

Recently I came across a web site that assists all of us within the business aviation industry with a fantastic range of services at an affordable cost.  The services, from ARINC Direct, range from passenger communications to flight deck communications and flight support solutions.

ARINC Direct is a leading supplier of data link communications for the business aviation industry, with products and services specifically geared to meeting the unique set of challenges we face. Over half of the world’s business jets rely on ARINC Direct for communication needs.

There is a high demand from passengers for high speed broadband connections whilst in the air. ARINC Direct offer an integrated satellite service, allowing ARINC Direct to offer a complete collection of onboard internet products that are easy to use. This allows passengers to stay connected whether for private or corporate use throughout the flight. The services can also increase the cabin crew efficiency by collecting real time CRM data, resolve any customer issues in flight, book onboard transfers, and track lost baggage.

Flight planning can be made simpler and more efficient with the help from ARINC Direct. With a suite of flight planning services from ARINC Direct you can benefit from airway slot management, advanced route planning, runway analysis and heaps more. They provide flight plans tailored to your aircraft ensuring accurate trip times, fuel consumption and routes. These flight plans are made available by data link or disk, ensuring error free loading on the flight management system.

ARINC’s Flight Deck Weather Graphics are cost effective and reliable. Their support covers either the Honeywell Primus Epic® or Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21® avionics suites offering next generation services.  ARINC Direct are the only service provider that can boast of radar data outside of the continental United States, delivering the most up-to-the-minute weather in the flight deck.

ARINC Direct are the leader in aviation technology solutions — in the air and on the ground —and are committed to the business flight industry. To discover more find them on: business-flight-planning.com.

In Focus: Understanding Type B Messaging

September 5, 2012
Business Aviation News
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ARINC have developed a consultancy service to help understand Type B Messaging. By using their message calculator tool on their website it is possible to ascertain immediately an idea of the size of potential saving can be seen.  ARINC can decrease Messaging costs, simplify IT and communication setups and foresee future needs by working with their clients in a consultative manner.

Having 80 years of aviation communications experience, ARINC understands Type B. They work with airlines in consultation on current messaging environment and give a clear understanding of how Type B is being used, with a view of how an improvement can be made. They also look to the future, offering alternative methods of message delivery where appropriate. This is all reported to the client for a comprehensive business case.

Recommendations will cover use of alternative techniques such as the internet, XML, or SOAP. Airlines will be able to reuse and optimise existing internet infrastructure, which will cut down on high cost leased technology.

Due to security mandates, increased passenger data etc. the impact of Type B costs have greatly increased. ARINC are dedicated to reducing costs and are confident an analysis will provide immediate savings.

Find out more by viewing the website: typebcheck.com

CommutAir Picks ARINC For Passenger Security Reporting

August 30, 2012
Business Aviation News
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CommutAir has chosen the ARINC AviNet Global Data Network Solution to transmit crew Advance Passenger Information to ensure adherence with Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) passenger reporting requirements. The new proprietary reporting guidelines were created by CBSA in response to privacy and data quality concerns.

CommutAir said it selected ARINC to create a customized solution that would comply with CBSA’s new Data Acquisition Solution guidelines. On behalf of the carrier, ARINC will perform the required message format and communications protocol conversion to meet CBSA guidelines.

CommutAir is headquartered in South Burlington, Vermont with operations centered in Cleveland, Ohio and Newark, New Jersey. The company provides regular flights into Toronto and between more than 20 cities throughout the Midwestern and Northeastern U.S.

ARINC can examine the aviation messaging needs of any aviation user, and make a quick check of potential savings easily available through an online calculator. ARINC says “We understand Type B messaging better than anyone. That’s why we’ve developed a consultancy service to help you understand it too. Use our message calculator tool to gain an immediate idea of the size of your potential saving and then contact us to confirm the numbers”.

The online calculator can be found at: ARINC Type B Check

In Focus: Aviation Type B Messaging Uses

August 21, 2012
Business Aviation News
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After the many technological advances we have seen over the last months and years we wanted to do a focus piece on one of the fundamentals in aviation communications for business aviation and commercial airlines, and how one company has lead the way in providing Type B communications.

AviNet Type B messaging provides reliable and economical messaging for mission-critical business-to-business communications for the aviation industry. Processing over 15 million messages daily to over 700 industry users worldwide, AviNet Type B is used for a variety of message types including GLOBALink ACARS®, passenger reservations, weather data, and flight planning.

ACARS

ACARS (or Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System) is a type of aircraft communication system which was designed by ARINC to replace the VHF voice service (the voice service was used for all communications between aircraft and ground stations before the introduction of data link). The ACARS system was first introduced in 1978. ACARS is the only data link infrastructure with pole-to-pole global coverage, therefore used to deliver the critical reliability airlines depend on all their flights.

Passenger reservations

Passenger reservation is part of the process of an airline computer reservation system. The system contains airline schedules, fare tariffs, passenger reservations and ticket records. Passenger reservations are offered as part of ARINC’s AviNet Type B messaging.

Weather Data

Weather data or weather reporting is part of flight operations. ARINC offers the latest weather prediction and reporting services to the aviation industry and airports around the world. ARINC’s Graphic/Text Weather Service (or G/TWS) provides near-real-time graphic and text weather information to flight crew using GLOBALink data link services.

ARINC also provides terminal weather information to aircraft taking off or landing, including precipitation data, gust fronts and wind shear microbursts information within 15 nautical miles of the airport. The ARINC meteorological data collection and reporting system collects real-time weather reports such as wind and severe weather advisories.

Flight Planning

Flight planning is the process of describing a proposed aircraft flight and the flight plans produced typically involves two safety-critical components: fuel calculation and compliance with air traffic control requirements. These components ensure aircrafts can safely reach the proposed destination and to eradicate the mid-air collision risks. Appropriate flight planning also minimises the costs of flights by choosing the optimal route, height and speed; and also by minimum on board fuel load for the proposed journey. Flight planning requires accurate weather forecasts to calculate the impact on fuel consumption due to head or tail winds and air temperature.

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

NASA asks pilots to participate in flight deck communications study

July 31, 2012
Business Aviation News
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General aviation pilots have been invited to participate in a study with the FAA, from data collected through the Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS).

The Aviation Weather in the Cockpit and Aeronautical Information Services via Data Link study hopes to gain information about incidents while pilots were using weather or AIS information in the cockpit.

“The information may be textual and/or graphical, obtained via data link or other sources to include ACARS [aircraft communications addressing and reporting system] and cell phones, on the ground or in the air,” said the NASA press release.

The study examines the type of weather data received, its accuracy, the cockpit display used, software or applications used to receive meteorological information, and end user graphical interface ratings.

Pilots who wish to participate in either study can do so by filing an ASRS report or, in some cases, by filing a report with the FAA’s Aviation Safety Action Program.

For airlines and operators who are concerned about either the accuracy or efficiency of the aircraft messaging ARINC also provide a service to analyse the cost effectiveness of current Type B communications and provide a consultancy on infrastructure and IT surrounding it. For more information please visit www.typebcheck.com

ARINC to Implement Significant Flight Deck Technology Upgrade for Cathay Pacific

July 24, 2012
Business Aviation News
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July 24, 2012  – Today we heard that ARINC will be working with Cathay Pacific Airways to implement an advanced information management system into its full fleet of Airbus and Boeing aircraft. This deployment represents the airline industry’s most significant upgrade in flight deck communications technology in more than 30 years.

ARINC reported that the communications solution “creates a true “e-Enabled aircraft” by offering fully-customized, integrated communications management of flight operations, data communication services, cabin services, maintenance, diagnostics, and vital safety information. As such, it represents breakthrough communications technology for the airline industry.”

Cathay Pacific now has the capability to select the most cost-effective communications connectivity for the aircraft and maintain a consistent data delivery connection between aircraft and remote host systems.

“Automating the flight bag saves paper, but the benefits for airlines like Cathay Pacific go far beyond that. The volume and complexity of airline operations means that the right solution can provide significant benefits across the board,” said Randy Pizzi, Vice President of ARINC’s International Division.

For more information on the full range of flight support and flight deck communications services offered by ARINC Direct who specialise in business aviation customers please visit business-flight-support.com.