IMDC Forecasts “The Perfect Storm” and Releases Comprehensive Aircraft Operational Connectivity Report To Industry

Washington, DC, 20th January– IMDC, a leading aviation consultancy released its first comprehensive report addressing airline operational communications. The report, entitled “The Perfect Storm,” is the culmination of five months of extensive research and analysis and provides airlines and aviation companies with a complete summary of connectivity options available for aircraft. Additionally, the report documents new connectivity systems being released by Airbus and Boeing.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for IMDC to continue our traditional role in supporting airline strategy and planning,” said Walé Adepoju, CEO of IMDC. “We see aircraft connectivity as a pivotal component in the future of airline operations. As such, we will be supporting a large quantity of research activities in this area over the coming years,” continued Adepoju. IMDC has been helping airlines develop technology strategies for operations and The Perfect Storm is revolutionary in providing a single source of information on all aircraft communication options. The report includes case studies featuring unique applications utilized by Ryanair, Southwest, Virgin Atlantic and others.

The information within the report is key for airlines taking delivery of new aircraft or searching for opportunities to leverage connectivity for their operations. Andrew Kemmetmueller, Managing Consultant for IMDC’s Operations and Connectivity practice, has based the report on a noticeable gap in independent market information for airlines. “Options to connect the aircraft to ground systems have more than doubled in the last seven years,” said Kemmetmueller. “With the speed of development, it is difficult for some companies to research options on their own.”

The report has been requested by over 85 airlines, and has the support of industry partners Airbus, ARINC, Boeing, Panasonic, and Teledyne. A summary from the report will be presented at various industry workshops during the next few months. The main objective of the report is to facilitate discussion among a wider base of industry participants. “Within IMDC we have put in place the resources to support the greater need for cooperation and more transparent information among the various stakeholders,” said Adepoju.

“At IMDC, we can see the perfect storm starting to develop,” concluded Kemmetmueller. “The potent mix of
increased demand, number of available options, and limited internal airline resources has the potential to create havoc in the industry for years to come. However, by understanding what is available and intelligently exploiting the technology, airlines can reduce costs and improve operations considerably.”