• Teldeyne Controls’ expert says airlines need to ‘connect the dots’ of technology already installed

El Segundo, CA | May 23, 2014– A Leading aircraft data communications business says that streaming black box data using existing avionics could shortly become a reality – removing the mysteries and miseries that often follow an aviation tragedy.

Speaking at the Expert Dialogue on Real-time Monitoring of Flight Data in Malaysia on Monday 26th May, William Cecil, Director of Business Development of Teledyne Controls will present a case for providing virtually unlimited real time flight data monitoring by using existing aircraft systems and better ‘connecting the dots’:

“It could be very quickly possible to enable black box data streaming in flight for many existing aircraft without installing any new technology,” he says.

“By simply connecting a broadband flight data IP router on board with the broadband satcom systems that airlines are increasingly installing for the primary purpose of Internet access for passengers, we believe this is possible, and are planning to work with partner airlines and OEMs to prove this concept.”

Broadband flight data IP router capability already exists on an increasing number of aircraft. Teledyne Controls’ own Wireless GroundLink® (WGL Comm+™) unit that has this routing capability is being rapidly adopted by airlines to improve post flight analysis for flight safety. By way of context, Wireless GroundLink® systems are currently being installed on over two thirds of new delivery Airbus A330 and A380, and Boeing 747-8 and 777 aircraft and this adoption rate is increasing.

“Connecting WGL Comm+ units to broadband satcom systems will enable airlines to realise real time flight data monitoring in a very short space of time,” adds Mr. Masood Hassan, President of Teledyne Controls, “and in doing so will resolve one of the last major headaches that airlines face – understanding the causes of an aviation emergency within moments of an event taking place.”

Teledyne Controls has been providing real time airborne Flight Data Monitoring (FDM) since the 1960s, and post-flight FDM since the early 1990s before the practice was mandated by ICAO. In 2001 it worked with NASA to demonstrate transmission of black box data over ACARS ATN (Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System/Aeronautical Telecommunications Network). In the same year Teledyne Controls and Airbus launched the joint development of the powerful FDM system AirFASE which is now used by more than 150 airlines to improve flight safety and reduce operational risk for operators of all aircraft types.