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Tag Archives: flight operations

Common-Use Identity Management Developed for Airports

March 18, 2015
Business Aviation News
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Using Technology to Provide Increased Airport SecurityAtkins Identity Management toolkit will be integrated with the ARINC vMUSE and VeriPax technologies from Rockwell Collins to produce a new suite of fully integrated and configurable airport identity management solutions, which will help to take automated passenger processing to another level, while maintaining critical airport security.

The combined technologies will capture passenger identities using biometrics, comparing the information with boarding passes and passport details, including finger print and facial recognition capabilities.

Nick Whitehead, head of strategic services in identity assurance at Atkins said, “Combining Rockwell Collins’ experience deploying CUPPS technology at airports worldwide with our proven capabilities in developing and implementing biometric applications has allowed us to create a fully integrated identity management solution for airports. Airports can use this service to validate a passenger’s identity, ensuring that the individual given the authority to fly is actually the one who boards the plane.”

The initial implementation of the technology will include highly configurable elements and standardised plug-ins to allow seamless identity management without making changes to an airline’s DCS.

Atkins is a leading global design, engineering and project management company with employees in the UK, Middle East, Europe, Asia Pacific and North America.

World’s First Mobile Common-Use Passenger Processing Solution

March 10, 2015
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Providers of Bag Drop & Passenger Processing Solutions to Revolutionise the IndustryRockwell Collins are having a busy month this month with the unveiling of yet another new product. Developed to further streamline and enhance the passenger processing system in airports, ARINC vMUSE mobile enables ground handling and airline agents to use a tablet-based application to check-in passengers from anywhere in the airport.

The possibilities for the new passenger processing system are far-reaching, particularly for off-airport check-in, which is a sector of the industry that is fast growing in popularity for both passengers and airports. The flexibility offered to passengers, with off-airport bag drop points and now the ARINC vMUSE mobile system from Rockwell Collins is revolutionising the entire air travel experience; completely changing the traditional airport queue and waiting system that many passengers dread.

The industry is getting a good look at the new product this week at the Passenger Terminal Expo 2015, where demonstrations of the system’s capabilities are being carried out.

ARINC vMUSE mobile will allow each airline to access its own check-in application with the same security and reliability of traditional CUPPS, but without the additional technical resources, software configurations or installation time, thus reducing the costs, but giving the full CUPPS advantages.

Rockwell Collins Introduce Global Flight Tracking Solution

March 9, 2015
Business Aviation News
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HFDL Data to Help Global Flight TrackingSince the tragic disappearance of flight MH370 last year, the call for a reliable aircraft tracking solution has been heard across the aviation industry from regulators and airlines alike.

Today Rockwell Collins announced the launch of their latest offering, promising to deliver a cost-effective, comprehensive solution utilising multiple data sources to ‘reliably report the location of aircraft anywhere in the world’.

Rockwell Collins’ ARINC messaging solutions have always been some of the most reliable in the world and used by airlines and operators globally for many years.

ARINC MultiLink will use a proprietary algorithm to merge six data sources, including:

  • ADS-B and ADS-C
  • High-Frequency Data Link (HFDL)
  • ACARS position reports
  • ASDI radar data
  • EUROCONTROL position information

In addition, Rockwell Collins’ ARINC MultiLink has been developed with the capacity to incorporate future data sources as they may become available.

Jeff Standerski, senior vice-president of Information Management Services for Rockwell Collins said, “In today’s global aviation environment, no single source of data is sufficient to track aircraft globally. By merging multiple data sources, many of which airlines already receive, we can automatically select the right combination of data feeds to allow airlines to pinpoint an aircraft’s location anywhere in the world, in the most economical way.”

Set to be available to airlines and operators in just a few short weeks, ARINC MultiLink will be offered as an add-on to Rockwell Collins’ current products or as a data feed that can be live-streamed to situational displays.

Tulsa Aviation Club Offers All-You-Can-Fly Service

March 4, 2015
Business Aviation News
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All-You-Can-Fly Business Jet ServicesA growing sector of the business aviation market is promising to change the way corporate passengers travel, certainly in terms of the cost, this year with the introduction of the All-You-Can-Fly service.

Air travel clubs have been popping up across the U.S. in the past year, offering unlimited flights for a fixed monthly fee to club members. While these are generally not offered at the luxury end of the business market, club members can turn up to check in literally minutes before departure for internal, short-haul flights.

Texas Air Shuttle are amongst the latest companies to announce the service, which they hope to launch in Tulsa before the end of this year. The company will offer the use of a seven-seater King Air 200 aircraft and membership fees ranging between $2,850 and $4,900 per month, per person.

The service is expected to grow rapidly, after a positive explosion into the market in popularity and Texas Air Shuttle are determined to ‘turn the whole commercial air travel industry on its head’, with plans to introduce more than 40 destinations throughout Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Arkansas by the end of 2018.

Aircraft Satellite Communications System Testing in UAE

March 3, 2015
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Other SATCOM Communications Providers for Business AviationA new system, launched by UAE satellite communications providers, Yahsat, has completed successful testing this week for their latest state-of-the-art aircraft satellite communications system for their client, Advanced Integrated Systems.

Including Ka-band airborne SATCOM, the new system promises an end-to-end solution. In a statement, Ali Al Hashemi, GM of YahService said, “At Yahsat, we strive to equip our customers with end-to-end satellite solutions that deliver the very latest in connectivity. The completion of the test with AIS exemplifies our commitment to bringing cutting-edge tools to our clients and constantly improving the speed and performance of our services.”

Aircraft satellite communications providers across the world are using the very latest technological breakthroughs to meet the ever-growing demands placed upon the industry for compliance and for seamless connectivity.

Business passengers need global coverage to ensure that business operations are maximised, taking place as effectively in the skies as they do in their ground-based office environments. The industry as a whole is responding to those needs.

European API Data Sharing Debate Continues

March 2, 2015
Business Aviation News
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Using API Providers for Secure Flight Passenger Data SharingA new proposal put to Brussels this week has sparked controversy once again with advocates of privacy in the EU. Following the Charlie Hebdo attacks in Paris and the Brussels Jewish Museum shootings last year, the European security services have stepped up measures to detect travellers joining or returning from war in Syria and Iraq and feel that sharing airline passenger data, via Passenger Name Records (PNR) or a system similar to that in place between Europe and the U.S. in the form of Advance Passenger Information (API) would be a step closer to helping to achieve their goal.

Access to personal information across the EU by the intelligence services remains in fierce debate, particularly in countries such as Germany, who were outraged over the accusations of mass surveillance by U.S. intelligence agencies after the attacks of 9/11.

Jan Albreicht, German member of the European Parliament said, “We need to deliver whatever is necessary and proportionate to get a higher level of security. But what you are proposing now, the proposal of blanket mass surveillance of citizens, is exactly the opposite of that. It’s not delivering that.”

Anti-terror measures have become a security priority for the EU and passenger data sharing is at the top of the list in terms of monitoring the movements of suspected high-risk travellers.

Timothy Kirkhope, British member of the European Parliament said, “We need now to make sure we have enough information to look at patterns of behaviour. That is the basis on which we can find criminals and find terrorists in order to protect our citizens. Stop things happening such as the atrocities in Paris recently.”

EC Moves CPDLC Deadline to 2020

March 1, 2015
Business Aviation News
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Find Out More About CPDLCThe much-anticipated decision to move the CPDLC mandate deadline has been announced this week by the European Commission (EC). The new deadline will now be February 2020 for operators to equip their aircraft with Controller-Pilot Datalink Communications (CPDLC).

In a statement to Avionics magazine, Gzim Ocakolu, EC Directorate for Mobility & Transport policy officer said, “I can indeed confirm to you some recent important developments related to the implementation of Regulation (EC) No 29/2009.”

The news is welcomed across the industry following concerns regarding the technical issues related to the radio frequency environment and the infrastructure of the ground-based operations currently in place. It is these issues, discovered during an EC investigation into the implementation of DLS ground infrastructure, that have led to the delay for mandatory CPDLC installation, which would have been activated last month.

“Certain air navigation service providers have already taken mitigation measures, consisting of the restriction of DLS operations to aircraft equipped with specific avionics through so-called ‘white lists,’ so as to address potential safety impacts of those PAs in the operations of data link service,” the EC said.

Just 40% of operators would have been ready for the mandate, the investigation found, and only 70% of the necessary ground infrastructure would’ve been ready and fit for use. The implementation of CPDLC is critical to European airspace, with voice channels that have become heavily congested. Compliance will involve retrofitting aircraft with FANS, 1/A router, antenna, CPDLC interface and VHF Data Link Mode 2 radio (VDLM2).

SATCOM Terminals for Iridium Certus by Rockwell Collins

February 28, 2015
Business Aviation News
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Rockwell Collins Agreement with Iridium Satellite CommunicationsIt has been announced that global communications giant, Rockwell Collins, has entered into an agreement with Iridium Communications Inc which will see them as a value-added manufacturer for Iridium CertusSM broadband terminals.

“Rockwell Collins is a true pioneer and leader in aviation communication solutions, continually pushing the envelope to provide innovative solutions for both aircraft operators and OEMs alike,” said Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Iridium, Bryan Hartin. “Additionally, their excellent global distribution channels support Iridium’s long-term strategy to offer best-in-class products and services while staying true to our wholesale distribution model.”

Rockwell Collins’ Vice President and GM of Air Transport Systems, Steve Timm said, “Through this agreement with Iridium, we’ll be able to deliver high-speed flight deck connectivity to meet the growing connectivity needs of our customers. We also see the potential to offer services through our ARINC information management services, giving customers a single source for their Iridium NEXT connectivity needs.”

Rockwell Collins will design and manufacture the broadband terminals for the new Iridium Certus – a voice and data service that will be enabled by the Iridium NEXT satellite constellation which will begin launch later this year.

Rockwell Collins & SITA Introduce New Tracking Aircraft Solutions

February 27, 2015
Business Aviation News
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Find Out More About Rockwell Collins' HFDL ServicesNew packages have been introduced by both Rockwell Collins and SITA, following high demand for cost-effective and reliable aircraft tracking and in readiness for the new global industry standards and rules – as much as the subject is still in debate to the extent of flight tracking capability.

Initial moves call for aircraft positioning data every 15 minutes, with a view to reviewing this figure and other requirements during potentially problematic situations or when flying over remote areas or vast oceanic expanses.

Tim Ryan, Director of Programs and Service Management for IMS at Rockwell Collins said, “What we have seen since the disappearance of Air France Flight 447 in 2009 is that there is always a desire to find a single ‘silver bullet’ solution. If we’ve learned anything over those years, we’ve learned that a single solution, while it can be fashioned, doesn’t meet the equally important facet of cost-effectiveness.”

Both companies can provide high-frequency surveillance data from equipped aircraft using Automatic Dependent Surveillance Contract (ADS-C), a part of FANS or ACARS using the Rockwell Collins’ ground-based high-frequency data link (HFDL) network, Inmarsat and Iridium satellite communications networks.

Rockwell Collins are currently working with five non-U.S. airlines on a new tracking services to be a part of their GLOBALink suite – to be officially launched next month.

SATCOM Direct Open New Offices

February 18, 2015
Business Aviation News
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SATCOM Services ProvidersSATCOM Direct have opened new offices in Melbourne, Ottawa and Denver, bringing their totals now to nine international and five U.S. offices.

The company, who provide training, support and SATCOM consultations for pilots, maintenance departments and flight crews, will be celebrating the opening of the Melbourne, Australia office at AVALON – the Australia International Airshow and Aerospace & Defence Expo.

“This expansion supports our mission to provide total solutions to our customers. We are where they are,” said David Greenhill, SATCOM Direct president. “Each new location was strategically selected to serve our expanding customer base.”

Global satellite communications providers are in high demand in the aviation industry as passenger demand grows ever higher for inflight communications.