June 24, 2019–Etihad Airways has bolstered flight safety by choosing to deploy SITAONAIR’s rich and intuitive EFB Weather Awareness Solution, eWAS, across more than 100 aircraft.
Ahead of its official launch on 6 April 2019, the eWAS solution was trialed by a select group of Etihad pilots throughout 2018 with extremely positive results, cementing its undeniable business and safety benefits for airlines, pilots and flight operations alike. More than 18,000 pilots across multiple carriers have now trialed the solution globally.
SITAONAIR’s eWAS – developed in partnership with GTD – is a user-friendly, cloud-hosted application that significantly improves situational awareness and reduces many of the costs associated with weather avoidance. It allows pilots to study areas of turbulence along their flightpaths, preparing them for alternative routing well in advance.
“The safety of our passengers and crew is our highest priority,” said Captain Guy Farnfield, Etihad’s Head of Flight Operations Support. “The advanced communications connectivity on modern aircraft significantly improves the quality of data available to pilots, and the real-time information provided by SITAONAIR enhances their ability to anticipate, safely navigate or avoid major weather fronts. This system is delivering safety and efficiency benefits to Etihad, and improving the experience of our guests and our crews.”
Not only does eWAS support safer flight plan routes, but it also enables more economical, intelligent and flexible operations by providing greater situational awareness of significant weather threats. The solution integrates with all leading flight planning vendors, is fully scalable and requires almost no new airline IT infrastructure. Available on either iOS or Windows, eWAS is fully compatible with most major mobile and tablet devices. With its highly efficient compressed data, eWAS can be easily updated over Wi-Fi, 3G or 4G on the ground, and over a cabin or cockpit broadband link in-flight.
Stephan Egli, Commercial VP Europe, Middle East & Africa, SITAONAIR, adds: “Globally we have seen a huge shift towards bringing greater value and efficiency to airline operations in recent years. Airlines such as Etihad want to unlock their connected aircraft value and, most importantly, improve safety. As an aviation industry game-changer in the field of intelligent weather avoidance technology, eWAS is the perfect tool to enable Etihad’s ambitions. eWAS is used in production by over 10,000 pilots at multiple airlines. We believe that by embracing the age of digital transformation, we will support Etihad’s focus on bolstering safety in the skies, as well as operational efficiency.”
Successful cooperation between Lufthansa Systems and GE Aviation | First demo presentation at the Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) Users Forum in Chicago
Raunheim/Chicago | June 24, 2019– Lufthansa Systems and GE Aviation are the first providers in the aviation market to offer a solution that allows for the inflight synchronization of the flight plan between the GE Aviation flight management system (FMS) and Lufthansa Systemsʼ Lido pilot applications directly on-aircraft. The first demonstration of the connected FMS using operational use cases will be presented this week at the EFB Users Forum in Chicago (June 25 – 27). The new FMS feature will be available following a software update from GE Aviation.
“Integrating solutions and taking advantage of the opportunities provided by digitalization and connectivity to help airlines achieve total mission optimization (TMO) is at the core of the Lido vision. Utilizing the capabilities of a connected FMS is one of the first major building blocks in achieving this vision,” said Dr. Bernd Jurisch, Head of Flight & Navigation Products & Solutions at Lufthansa Systems.
Flight crews rely on flight-operational information available in their EFB devices in various applications, which today is typically entered manually into the FMS. Inflight, the FMS manages the flight plan by computing an optimal trajectory and provides pilots with guidance along the computed trajectory. The manual entering of data into the FMS during pre-flight preparations or inflight can lead to partially hazardous consequences if entered incorrectly.
Lufthansa Systems, in cooperation with GE Aviation, are the first providers in the aviation market to make use of the capabilities of a connected FMS. The new solution has an interface that enables the Lido Pilot Solutions to read flight-plan data processed by the FMS and send flight-plan information from the EFB to the FMS. “Utilizing capabilities of a connected FMS is a true milestone for digital navigation in aviation, because it automates the daily manual data entry processes of pilots, which are quite prone to error, and enables the data flow between different applications,” said Jurisch. “This synchronization of valuable flight-relevant data between the FMS and pilot applications reduces pilots’ workload and greatly improves their situational awareness, while also significantly mitigating errors through incorporated cross checks that are even graphically visible for the crew.”
The first demo of the connected FMS focuses on the bi-directional data integration. First, before takeoff, flight plans can be sent from the Lido Pilot Solutions to the FMS where they are automatically loaded. Second, manual changes during a flight, for example due to air-traffic control instructions or to circumnavigate bad weather, are automatically transferred to the mapping applications where the route is graphically displayed in real time. The use cases from this demo are just the start; there are many other potential applications that will significantly reduce the pilots’ workload.
“GE Aviation and Lufthansa Systems collaboration creates innovative capabilities and value for our joint airline customers, while positioning our products to support future reduced crew operations and SESAR/NexGEN initiatives,” said Gary Thelen, Director, FMS Product Management at GE Aviation. “With this joint development, we are opening up entirely new possibilities on the flight deck.”
The EFB Users Forum takes place twice a year and is one of the most important events in the EFB industry. At the event, hardware and software providers demonstrate their latest developments and discuss the technical and operational trends surrounding the Electronic Flight Bag with airlines and other relevant industry representatives.
Andreas Medlhammer, Product Owner for Lido/eRouteManual at Lufthansa Systems, and Gary Thelen, Director – FMS Product Management at GE Aviation, will demonstrate the collaborative development during their presentation of “A Connected FMS in an evolving EFB landscape” at the upcoming EFB Users Forum. The presentation will take place on Wednesday, June 26, in Session 2: Security and Connectivity, starting at 1:30pm.
Africa´s fastest growing airline relies on proven flight planning solution
Raunheim | September 10, 2018– Lufthansa Systems and Ethiopian Airlines Group today announced the introduction of Lufthansa Systems’ Lido/Flight 4D solution in Ethiopian’s flight planning system. This new generation of the proven flight planning solution from Lufthansa Systems offers extensive automation and optimization functions for flight planning and control processes. Ethiopian Airlines will be using Lido/Flight 4D for the next five years.
“We are pleased to further cement our collaboration with Lufthansa Systems by upgrading our flight planning system to Lido/Flight 4D, having used the Lido Flight Planning Service Lido/FPLS for the last five years. Lido/Flight 4D is one of the most effective flight planning solutions worldwide and has been rewarding in augmenting our efforts to optimize flight planning and control endeavors in our expanding service and latest technology acquisition. With the introduction of Lido/Flight 4D, we are aiming to further optimize our routings and flight planning processes, thereby reaping benefits in terms of reduced flying time and fuel consumption,” said Tewolde GebreMariam, Group Chief Executive Officer at Ethiopian Airlines.
The core features of Lido/Flight 4D are its integrated and continually updated aeronautical database and the so-called optimizer. Lido/Flight 4D calculates the most suitable route for each flight based on all flight-related data, weather conditions and the current airspace situation including any restrictions.
Around 120 airlines with a total of more than 6,000 aircraft are currently using Lufthansa Systems’ flight planning solution, which has been successful in the market for more than 17 years. The most recent releases covered certain basic components for migrating to current technologies as well as functional innovations and improvements for takeoff and landing weight optimization, crew briefing and route optimization. In various comparative analyses based on thousands of flight plans, Lido/Flight was able to reduce fuel costs by an average of 2 percent, cut flying times by 1.9 percent and save 1.6 percent of air traffic control fees compared to its competitors.
“The contract with Ethiopian Airlines is strategically important to us,” said Marco Cesa, Senior Vice President Regional Management EMEA at Lufthansa Systems. “The deal will be noticed throughout Africa and strengthens our position in the local market. The reliability and flexibility of our product won over Ethiopian Airlines and will provide considerable support to the carrier going forward.”
A year-long trial of the webFB smart AID/server enabled airline to streamline data collection and improve operational efficiency
East Aurora, NY | May 15, 2018– Astronics Corporation (NASDAQ: ATRO), a leading provider of advanced technologies for the global aerospace, defense and semiconductor industries, announced that Norwegian Air Shuttle (NAS) has selected the webFB® Wireless Electronic Flight Bag device, offered through its wholly owned subsidiary Astronics Ballard Technology. NAS will install the webFB on all of its Boeing 737 Next Generation (NG) aircraft to improve and automate aircraft data collection.
“We are very excited to be working with Norwegian Air Shuttle on this project. Their application is an ideal match for the high- reliability ARINC 717 data capture capabilities of the webFB,” said Jon Neal, President of Astronics Ballard Technology. “They also recognize the tremendous advantage of a simple, easy-to- install solution that minimizes aircraft downtime and allows them to quickly retrofit their fleet and gain immediate benefits.”
Aleksander Geist, Senior Avionics Engineer with Norwegian Air Shuttle, says, “For quite some time, we have been searching for a solution to improve and automate the collection of aircraft data, which currently is a manual process using physical media. The webFB, in conjunction with our EFBs, offer a very flexible and cost-effective solution. Astronics Ballard Technology has been very responsive in our aircraft trials and we are pleased with the data acquisition performance and the long-term benefit it will have for our organization. We are already looking ahead to future use cases that will allow us to further leverage our webFB technology investment.”
Astronics participated with NAS in a year-long operational trial of the webFB to validate the suitability of the device in operation and the economic benefits of the solution. In the application, the webFB gathers data from the aircraft’s ARINC 717 databus and wirelessly routes it to the electronic flight bags (EFBs), where it is automatically transferred by NAS to a data center and used for post-flight analysis. With the webFB already operating on 10 aircraft, NAS will install the product on all of their additional Boeing 737NG aircraft.
February 7, 2018– Cebu Pacific Air, a leading airline in the Philippines currently operates a fleet of 56 aircraft comprised of A319, A320, A330 and ATR 72-500. The airline also has a further 50 aircraft on order which will be delivered between 2016 and 2021. With this anticipated expansion, the airline has decided to invest in pilot operations, to ensure that flight crew day to day operations, and their mission management are at the cutting edge. As a result they have selected the Aviobook Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) solution to digitise all their current flight dispatch documentation.
- Cebu Pacific Air will equip their flight crew with Thales Aviobook
- Full implementation of EFB solutions enables increased situational awareness and optimised flight collaboration with airline operation centres
- This contract has further broadened Thales’s expertise in avionics and airborne connectivity.
Communications expert with a long-standing track record in aviation IT
Raunheim | January 8, 2018– Lufthansa Systems today announced that Ansgar Lübbehusen took over as the company’s Head of Marketing & Communications effective January 1, 2018. In this role he will be responsible not only for communications but also for the entire marketing activities of Lufthansa Systems.
Ansgar Lübbehusen started his career at Lufthansa Systems in 2004 after earning a degree in business administration. In the more than 13 years that he has worked for the aviation IT specialist, he has held various positions in Marketing, Communications and Business Development. After five years in Strategic Marketing, Lübbehusen worked for Lufthansa Systems Americas in the USA from 2009 to 2013. During this time, he was responsible for marketing and market development as well as press and public relations.
Back in Germany, he worked in Business Development at Airline Solutions, taking over a leading position in project management in which he managed communications via online platforms, among other things. In June 2015, Ansgar Lübbehusen took over as Head of Corporate Communications and press spokesman.
More information on Ansgar Lübbehusen on the social Web: Xing;LinkedIN
Several Lido/Navigation solutions being used successfully
Rauheim | December 12, 2017–Lufthansa Systems today announced that Congo Airways is using several of its products, specifically the paper-based Lido/eRouteManual maps, the paperless Lido/mPilot navigation solution, Lido/FMS data for flight management systems and the Lido/FPLS flight planning service.
Congo Airways was established in 2014, with flight operations commencing in 2015. “We were looking for products that would deliver added value from day one. We were quickly impressed by the solutions from Lufthansa Systems. Thanks to their high quality and short delivery times, we were able to meet our internal schedule and successfully and swiftly establish us in the market,” said Désiré Balazire Bantu, Chief Executive Officer & Accountable Manager at Congo Airways.
Congo Airways is benefiting from several solutions: The paper-based Lido/RouteManual maps and the mobile Lido/mPilot solution help pilots with the processes involved in flight preparation and operation. The maps feature true-to-scale topographical information and meet the highest standards of precision and quality. Layout, colors and symbols are identical in the maps’ paper and electronic versions. These maps are generated directly from the Lido/FMS navigation database. The FMS database contains all important route information such as altitude data, airways and airport data for optimizing navigation and supporting autopilots on board modern aircraft.
The navigation data, which is based on global aeronautical information, are updated every 28 days according to the AIRAC cycle. The Lido/FPLS flight planning service automatically calculates reliable routes for flight operations, taking into account factors such as cost, flight time and fuel consumption.
“We are pleased to be able to support Congo Airways in growing its business. This example shows that not only large but also smaller airlines benefit from Lufthansa Systems’ solutions. This is true even if they are forced to map or build flight operations under difficult circumstances while emphasizing high levels of quality and safety,” said Marco Cesa, Senior Vice President Regional Management EMEA at Lufthansa Systems.
Congo Airways commenced flight operations in 2015. The company is based at N’djili Airport, Kinshasa, and has a fleet of five aircraft; two more have been ordered. While the carrier has mainly served cities within the Democratic Republic of the Congo up to now, this year’s schedule also includes international destinations in Africa.
Russian airline chooses several products from Lufthansa Systems to optimize its flight operations and navigation
Raunheim | November 29, 2017– Lufthansa Systems today announced that Russian airline Ural Airlines will optimize its flight operations and navigation processes using several IT solutions from Lufthansa Systems. The two companies recently signed a long-term contract to this effect. Ural Airlines has opted for NetLine products for schedule management (NetLine/Sched), crew management (NetLine/Crew) and flight operations control (NetLine/Ops ++). Additionally, the carrier will plan its flight operations with the Lido/Flight 4D flight planning solution.
“Although this is our first cooperation with Lufthansa Systems, we already have a long and good relationship with Lufthansa Technik and Lufthansa Consulting. We therefore have great confidence in the Lufthansa Group and we look forward to our new IT project,” said Sergei Skuratov, General Director at Ural Airlines. “We believe that we can further optimize our flight operations with these NetLine and Lido products.”
NetLine/Sched covers all processes for medium- to short-term flight scheduling.NetLine/Ops ++ monitors Ural Airlines’ flight operations. With this solution, the airline can avoid and manage disruptions and significantly reduce delay costs. NetLine/Crew supports Ural Airlines in the full crew management process from planning to crew assignment and tracking. The NetLine products are fully integrated, which allows close synchronization between scheduling and crew planning, as well as flight operations and crew tracking. Using the NetLine products will enable Ural Airlines to schedule flights more precisely, deploy crews more efficiently, respond more quickly to irregularities and thus improve on-time performance and lower costs.
Lido/Flight 4D calculates the most suitable route for each flight based on all flight-related data, weather conditions and the current airspace situation including any restrictions. It enables Ural Airlines to optimize its route planning in terms of flying time, costs and fuel consumption.
“We are very happy to welcome Ural Airlines as our new customer. After implementing the new IT solutions, Ural Airlines will benefit from greater efficiency and lower costs,” said Genaro Zarazua, VP Sales EMEA. “With the different solutions in use, they will also benefit from the integration between Lido/Flight 4D and the NetLine suite so that everyone involved in flight operations has the same information at hand.”
Ural Airlines is one of the largest dynamically developing airlines and takes the 4th place in the rating of Russian air carriers. The geography of flights contains more than 250 destinations. Today the carrier operates 43 aircraft of Airbus families (23 A320, 13 A321 and 7 A319).
Seamless integration – New generation of iOS navigation app from Lufthansa Systems includes dynamic Airport Moving Map showing aircraft position
Raunheim | November 28, 2017–Lufthansa Systems today announced the launch of a new release of its successful Lido/mPilot iOS navigation app. The highlight of the new generation is the integration of dynamic airport maps from Lido/AMM. The Airport Moving Map is now available both in the Windows-based Lido/eRouteManual app and on iOS. Lido/mPilot 3.0 can be found in the App Store.
“Dynamic maps are the future of navigation. They enable seamless navigation from gate to gate, with no limits whatsoever,“ said Igor Dimnik, Director Strategy and Market Development at Lufthansa Systems. “Lido/mPilot 3.0 enables pilots to switch seamlessly between Lido/AMM and the navigation maps during takeoff or after landing. This release is the first milestone on our path to fully dynamic navigation maps.”
Lido/mPilot 3.0 can be wirelessly connected to the avionics system installed on the flight deck. The system can then access relevant avionics data such as GPS information, speed and the aircraft’s target direction. This enables it to display the situation, position and orientation of the aircraft on both the Airport Moving Map and the Enroute Map. Hardware and software together facilitate navigation and improve the pilots’ situational awareness. Lido/mPilot currently supports the Aircraft Interface Device (AID) from Boeing ONS and will soon be integrated with the UTC Aerospace Systems Tablet Interface Module® (UTAS TIM).
To avoid a flood of information with such a wealth of data, Lido/mPilot 3.0 shows pilots only the information relevant to their current procedure. Lido/AMM highlights the gate position or access point for taxiways and runways on the map as necessary. The program always displays all information in the context of the airport environment. Lido/AMM prevents runway incursions and increases the safety and efficiency of taxiing procedures.
Around 70 airlines have already opted for the mobile Lido/mPilot navigation solution since the app was launched in early 2015. The modular app offers features such as airport maps, a dynamically generated enroute map, and a document management and distribution system that enables pilots to access documents and messages both at home and on the move. A status overview with intuitive icons guarantees a clear flow of information.
Argentinian airline to continue using Lido/Flight 4D and NetLine/Load
Raunheim | November 23, 2017–Lufthansa Systems today announced that Argentinian carrier Aerolíneas Argentinas will continue to use Lufthansa Systems’ Lido/Flight 4D flight planning system and the NetLine/Load weight and balance application for the next five years. Both companies signed the contract renewal in August. Aerolíneas Argentinas has been using both products successfully since 2013.
“Our collaboration with Lufthansa Systems enables us to continue improving our service,” said Mario Dell’Acqua, President of Grupo Aerolíneas. “Our company is focused on growth, optimization and progress. The Lido/Flight 4D and NetLine/Load solutions enable us to equip our team with the right tools to ensure excellence in our flight operations. And our passengers will also continue to benefit from high-quality service.”
The core features of the Lido/Flight 4D flight planning solution are the integrated and continually updated aeronautical database and the so-called optimizer. Lido/Flight 4D calculates the most suitable route for each flight based on all flight-related data, weather conditions and the current airspace situation including any restrictions. Lido/Flight 4D is an enhanced and updated version of Lido/Flight, which has performed successfully in the market for over 20 years.
NetLine/Load weight supports airlines in the perfect distribution of baggage and cargo on board an aircraft. It covers all relevant load control parameters and calculates the optimal trim, load distribution and maximal weights for each flight – in an entirely automatic and individually configurable way. This significantly increases the productivity of load controllers and helps save fuel.
“Lido/Flight 4D and NetLine/Load are a perfect combination,” said Alexandre Santos, Senior Director Latin America South at Lufthansa Systems. “The automatic and continual exchange of what are known as estimate zero fuel weights (the estimated weight of the loaded aircraft without fuel) and fuel amounts enhances the efficiency of flight preparations. This also prevents the inaccuracies that arise from manual entry and, most importantly, helps airlines make fuel savings.”
Further convergence of successful Lido product lines from airline IT specialist
Raunheim | October 26, 2017–Lufthansa Systems today announced that it is developing a new generation of flight planning and navigation solutions following the slogan #takeoffwithlido. The proven Lido/Flight 4D (flight planning), Lido/Navigation (navigation solutions) and Lido/Performance (flight performance calculation) product lines will become even more integrated, providing airlines a seamless digital process across all flight operations – from flight planning to an aircraft’s parking position at its destination. Lufthansa Systems emphasizes its role as a market player that is independent from aircraft manufacturers, which enables it to offer a standardized solution for all of an airline’s different aircraft types.
“Digitalization is affecting the entire aviation industry. We see this in the flight planning and navigation process in particular. Everything is becoming increasingly dynamic and data-driven. Paper maps are being replaced by state-of-the-art apps. New technologies such as in-flight connectivity offer the opportunity to display tactical real-time data such as weather, airspace and traffic information. This is precisely where our integrated Lido solutions come in,” explained Dr. Bernd Jurisch, who took over as Head of the Lido product lines at Lufthansa Systems in October.
The mutual exchange of data is a key benefit to using Lido products for flight planning and navigation. This is because Lido provides the same information to everyone involved in flight operations – both in the air and on the ground – in situations such as an approach with poor visibility, for example. The information seen by pilots on their Lido/Navigation maps is based on the same data as the information available to the flight planner. This means the pilot and flight planner can coordinate the minimal decision height more safely and efficiently when choosing an alternate airport and make well-founded decisions in critical situations – such as whether a landing should be aborted or not.
The shared database is also used when acute meteorological phenomena demand a change to the planned route. New information can also be conveyed to pilots immediately during a flight. All of this not only saves time, it also improves safety.
During normal flight operations, too, the solutions work together seamlessly. Dispatchers can use Lido/Flight 4D to calculate the best route for a specific flight based on all flight-related data. Pilots can access this briefing information online. Thanks to the seamless integration of the products, Chart Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) can also be added to the flight plans of Lido/Flight 4D. At the same time, information from the ATS flight plan can be uploaded and displayed in the mobile map solution that the pilots use for navigation. This covers departure, destination and alternate airports, takeoff and landing procedures, and waypoints along the route.
Lufthansa Systems additionally offers solutions for calculating and monitoring flight performance. These help airlines keep track of the continually changing obstacle situation at airports so they can adapt their departure procedures accordingly and optimize their fuel consumption for flight planning. The Lido product suite thus offers the perfect portfolio for an airline’s entire flight operations.
Overview of the Lido product suite:
Lido/Flight 4D
Lido/Flight 4D – Flight planning solution
Lido/Performance
Lido/AirportObstacleData – Airport-specific obstacle database with departure procedures
Lido/TakeOff & Lido/Landing – Calculation of optimal flight performance for takeoff and landing
Lido/APM – Service for comparing target/actual performance data (aircraft performance monitoring)
Lido/Navigation
Lido/FMS – Navigation data for flight management systems
Lido/SkyData – ARINC 424 data
Lido/SurfaceData – Full-coverage obstacle database
Lido/RouteManual – Paper-based navigation maps
Lido/eRouteManual – Windows-based app for navigation maps
Lido/mPilot – iOS-based app for navigation maps
Lido/AMM – Airport Moving Map
Lido/AMDB – Geo-referenced database for airports
The “Take-off with Lido” video describes the phases of flight operations that can be controlled smartly and efficiently using Lido products. https://youtu.be/RLFvM3iJsuQ
Caption (Copyright: Lufthansa Systems): The Lido product suite from Lufthansa Systems offers the perfect solution for every phase of flight operations – from gate to gate.
More information on the Lido product suite can be found online at
https://www.lhsystems.com/solutions/flight-navigation-solutions
EASA-certified navigation data can also be used for drones and training
Raunheim, Germany | October 5, 2017– Lufthansa Systems today announced that it is expanding its portfolio of navigation solutions with Lido/SkyData. This solution consists of ARINC 424 data and includes navigation information such as airports, heliports, taxiways and runways, waypoints, navaids, airspaces and airways, and flight procedures. The data is updated every 28 days and is available both as a one-time purchase or by subscription. The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has certified the data production standards for Lido/SkyData with a Type 1 Letter of Acceptance (LoA).
“Lido/SkyData is a new data service for diverse aviation applications which goes beyond the conventional navigation solutions for airlines,” said Igor Dimnik, Director Strategy and Market Development Lido/Navigation at Lufthansa Systems. “After launching Lido/SurfaceData for avionics manufacturers – the winner of the German Mobility Award – we continue to pursue a strategy of expanding our navigation portfolio with an eye to the future and taking unmanned aircraft into account as well. This enables us to address new customer groups.”
Lido/SkyData contains all ARINC 424 data in an open format so that it can be used for a wide variety of applications, including software solutions for creating simulation environments in-flight simulators or navigation solutions for drones. The data can also be used with flight planning systems from any manufacturer. The open format ensures data compatibility, enabling the data to be tailored individually to the customer’s IT system and applications.
Lido/Navigation solutions are being used by more than 200 airlines and customers of all sizes and business models, including low-cost, network, cargo and charter airlines. Based on regular exchange with customers, Lufthansa Systems continuously optimizes its solutions and works on innovative products that expand its portfolio.
- German Aerospace Center uses NetLine/Plan and NetLine/Sched
Raunheim, September 21, 2017 – Lufthansa Systems is supporting the work of the German Aerospace Center (DLR). The IT provider is making its NetLine/Plan and NetLine/Sched flight planning solutions available to the researchers at the DLR. The scientists are using the software from Lufthansa Systems to develop new air transport concepts and explore ways of improving the efficiency of network and flight planning. Airlines will thus benefit from lower costs, and passengers will enjoy greater punctuality.
“We are very interested in practical research and are pleased to be able to use NetLine/Plan and NetLine/Sched, since the two solutions are already employed by more than 70 airlines,” said Klaus Luetjens, head of Air Transport Operations and Infrastructures in the department Air Transportation Systems at the DLR. Airlines use NetLine/Plan to create optimized flight plans as part of their network planning strategy. The software simulates new connections, generates forecasts for passenger streams based on market data, and calculates the effects on costs and revenues. NetLine/Sched helps airlines with flight schedule management. It supports the evaluation of what-if scenarios prior to flight operations and automatically calculates their cost-effectiveness.
At the beginning of the project, the experts from Lufthansa Systems prepared the data basis, installed the software on DLR computers this summer and then trained the scientists. Following the successful completion of the project, the DLR researchers can now use the two NetLine products to quickly simulate various air transport concepts. For example, they can analyze how the development of a faster aircraft would affect flight plans and the airline market in general. The project will run until 2020, and the results will be published and made available to the industry.
Lufthansa Systems and the DLR have cooperated since 2016. “We benefit from their scientific findings, as data science is becoming increasingly important in aviation. Thanks to our cooperation with the DLR, we can further develop our products in a targeted way and continue to be an innovation leader,” said Pascal Mougnon, Head of Network Planning Solutions at Lufthansa Systems.
The research portfolio of the DLR ranges from basic research to the development of products for tomorrow. Since 2016, Lufthansa Systems and the DLR have been collaborating on a project for developing more robust flight plans. The German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) is supporting the project as part of its federal aviation research program. The scientific and technical knowledge they have acquired together will strengthen German industry and technology in general and the aviation sector in particular.
Taiwan-based Star Alliance member signs contract extension for the flight planning solution and migrates to the new Lido/Flight 4D product generation
Raunheim, Germany | August 31, 2017– Lufthansa Systems today announced that the Taiwanese airline EVA Air has renewed its contract for the Lido/Flight flight planning solution for another five years. EVA Air will also migrate to the new Lido/Flight 4D product generation, enabling the carrier to benefit from even better integration, a more modern graphical user interface, 4D optimization and extensively automated flight planning and control processes.
EVA Air has been managing its flight operations with Lufthansa Systems solutions for many years. In addition to Lido/Flight, the airline has also deployed NetLine/Sched and SchedConnect. “We are impressed by the outstanding quality of Lufthansa Systems’ products and its reliable customer service,” said the Flight Control Department at EVA Air. “Lido/Flight 4D will certainly help us to improve further and make progress in the market.”
The new Lido/Flight 4D product generation includes certain basic components for migrating to current technologies as well as initial functional innovations and improvements for takeoff and landing weight optimization, crew briefing and route optimization. The core features of the IT solution are its integrated and continually updated aeronautical database and the so-called optimizer. Lido/Flight 4D calculates the most suitable route for each flight based on all flight-related data, weather conditions and the current airspace situation including any restrictions.
“Our innovative solution offers reliability and flexibility, simplifies routine tasks and enables dispatchers to quickly make the right decisions in critical situations,” said Tom Vandendael, Senior Vice President Regional Management Asia/Pacific at Lufthansa Systems. “We are in regular dialogue with our customers and are continually enhancing our solutions bearing in mind airlines’ needs.”
Around 120 airlines with a total of more than 6,000 aircraft are currently using Lufthansa Systems’ flight planning solution, which has been successful in the market for more than 15 years. In various comparative analyses based on thousands of flight plans, Lido/Flight was able to reduce fuel costs by an average of 2 percent, cut flying times by 1.9 percent and save 1.6 percent of air traffic control fees compared to its competitors.
EVA Air has been a member of the Star Alliance since 2013. From its main hub, Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, the Taiwanese carrier serves destinations in Asia as well as Oceania, North America and Europe with a fleet of 74 aircraft. In addition to passenger flights, EVA Air also operates a cargo service.
Mobile navigation: Lufthansa Systems acquires multiple new customers
Raunheim, Germany | August 24, 2017– Lufthansa Systems today announced that it acquired multiple new customers for its Lido/Navigation mobile map solutions in the first half of 2017, including the airlines Sundair from Germany and Corendon Dutch from the Netherlands. The Turkish airline Freebird renewed its existing agreement and continues to use Lido/mPilot in its fleet.
“With our mobile navigation solutions, we help our customers in their transformation to a digital airline. This digitalization supports the work of pilots and makes processes less prone to error. Since the solutions were launched, more than 120 airlines have opted to use Lido/eRouteManual and Lido/mPilot, and that number continues to grow,” said Igor Dimnik, Director Strategy and Market Development Lido/Navigation at Lufthansa Systems. “Furthermore, with Lido/RouteManual Backup we are offering a new, browser-based backup solution which works entirely independently of our systems in the cloud. Now nothing stands in the way of a completely paperless flight deck.”
While Lido/mPilot brings navigation maps, documents and messages to iPads, Lido/eRouteManual brings this information to tablets running Windows. Both mobile solutions support pilots with the processes involved in flight preparation and operation. They comprise navigation maps for take-off and landing procedures as well as flight maps that include all important route information like altitude data, course of rivers and airport features. These maps are generated directly from the Lido/FMS navigation database, which includes worldwide aeronautical information.
Each year, around 570 million passengers fly on planes based on navigation charts from Lufthansa Systems. More than 200 airlines around the world have deployed Lido/Navigation solutions. The Windows-based Lido/eRouteManual app is already being used by more than 50 airlines worldwide, while around 70 airlines have opted for the Lido/mPilot iPad app since it was launched in early 2015. Based on regular exchange with customers, Lufthansa Systems continuously optimizes its solutions and works on innovative products that expand its portfolio.
Caption (Copyright: Lufthansa Systems): The mobile map solutions from Lufthansa Systems support pilots before, during and after a flight.
Online service using Microsoft Azure cloud as a secure backup system for electronic navigation maps
Raunheim, Germany | August 3, 2017– Smooth flight operations are a top priority for airlines. Long delays or cancellations can result in high costs and damage to an airline’s image. Since pilots can not take off without navigation maps, backup solutions are essential to flight operations in case of a system failure. With its new cloud-based Lido/RouteManual Backup solution, Lufthansa Systems is offering a reliable and flexible online service as a digital backup for its electronic navigation maps.
Despite the popular trend towards a paperless flight deck, many airlines are still using paper maps as backup copies. But this negates some of the advantages of digital solutions because the paper maps still have to be printed out, picked up and carried onto the aircraft. “With Lido/RouteManual Backup, this administrative effort is a thing of the past. The new web-based solution enables fast, secure access to customized information – from anywhere, on any device,” said Igor Dimnik, Director Strategy and Market Development Lido/Navigation at Lufthansa Systems. “Pilots just need a functioning Internet connection to access the backup copy before a flight. They can view the maps in a browser or download them as PDF files. This forward-looking digital backup solution is Lufthansa Systems’ response to strong demand in the market.”
With digital solutions, there is always a certain risk of system failure. This is not due solely to the growing danger of cyberattacks. A minor software error, an operating system update that doesn’t support certain functions, a server outage or simply a malfunctioning device – there are many potential reasons for a temporary inability to access digital maps. For all of these cases, Lido/RouteManual Backup provides a reliable backup copy so that the aircraft can take off anyway.
Lido/eRouteManual complies with the rules of international aviation authorities. The online platform includes the same worldwide data as the map solution, and customer-specific information can be integrated as well. The backup system runs on Microsoft’s Azure cloud and is therefore independent of the infrastructure that Lufthansa Systems provides for its navigation apps. If there is a fault in the digital map solution or a server, the necessary data can still be accessed in a browser.
Airlines can choose between two different models of the Lido/RouteManual Backup solution. In single-user mode, there is one responsible administrator at the airline who has access to the online platform and can retrieve the required information if necessary and send it to the pilot. Alternatively, temporary access can be granted using a link and password. If an airline opts for multi-user mode, each pilot will have individual access to the solution. This gives the pilots control over their own updates and data, and they can access the platform quickly and directly if need be. In both cases, users can easily select the relevant destinations, view the maps in a browser or download them as interactive PDFs, store the data and even print it out if necessary.
United Airlines’ Boeing 767 aircraft to be equipped with Cobham’s AVIATOR 300D and Inmarsat’s SwiftBroadband-Safety
United Kingdom | June 14, 2017– Inmarsat, the world’s leading provider of global mobile satellite communications, and Cobham SATCOM, the leading manufacturer of satellite communications solutions, today announced that United Airlines will participate in a technology evaluation of SwiftBroadband-Safety (SB-S), Inmarsat’s next generation flight deck communications platform.
SB-S will be evaluated on four United Airlines’ Boeing 767 aircraft, which will be installed with Cobham’s AVIATOR 300D satcom system. It offers global, high-speed, secure connectivity for the flight deck. Enabling powerful and flexible communications with real-time inflight information, the service enhances airline safety, asset utilisation, security, and operations.
United Airlines’ evaluation of the IP-based broadband service is part of the aviation giant’s ongoing commitment to best-in-class operations, safety and service. During this evaluation, United Airlines will deploy its equipped planes in the highly congested North Atlantic airspace. It will use the new platform for communications and surveillance with Controller-Pilot Data Link Communications (CPDLC) and Automatic Dependent Surveillance Contract (ADS-C) messaging.
SB-S also provides a range of ‘always on, always secure’ applications, which United Airlines will be able to use. These include continual positional awareness for flight tracking, flight data streaming (known as “Black Box in the Cloud”) and real-time electronic flight bag applications, such as networked graphical weather. Operational benefits include more fuel-efficient routes and the ability to transmit vital aircraft performance and positioning data in real time.
Installations of the AVIATOR 300D systems on United Airlines’ planes are scheduled to commence later this year. The systems include Cobham’s IGA-5001 Intermediate Gain Antenna and will use the AVIATOR 300D Supplemental Type Certificate developed by L2 Aviation.
Chuck Stewart, United Airlines Chief Technical Pilot for Communications, said: “United is excited about installing and using this powerful new communications capability as we expect to see it enhancing our operational efficiency, especially in places like the North Atlantic.”
Andy Beers, Director, Global Aero Sales, Cobham SATCOM, said: “We are excited about this latest opportunity to contribute to the ongoing evaluation of SwiftBroadband-Safety as it supports our development of communication technologies Cobham SATCOM is rolling out to meet the future needs of the aviation community, particularly our AVIATOR S Series next generation product line, designed specifically to leverage Inmarsat’s new SB-S services.”
Captain Mary McMillan, Inmarsat Aviation Vice President of Safety and Operational Services, said: “As a progressive and innovative airline, United is making an important move anticipating the future of aviation. With SB-Safety’s secure broadband platform, it will be able to benefit from the fully connected flight deck that delivers improved safety and security, better efficiency and optimised fleet performance.”
Honeywell upgrades GoDirect Flight Bag Pro service for business aviation customers
EBACE, Geneva, Switzerland | May 23, 2017– Honeywell (NYSE: HON) has boosted its GoDirect Electronic Flight Bag Pro service with Jeppesen’s coveted global navigation charts and aeronautical data to improve pilots’ flight experience. With Jeppesen’s charts and data, business and general aviation pilots can save time and enjoy the convenience of creating flight plans, checking the latest weather, or briefing for an approach.
Building on Honeywell’s longstanding relationship with Jeppesen, the premium offering of Jeppesen’s electronic aviation charts will be accessible from within Honeywell’s intuitive GoDirect interface. Honeywell’s “one-stop-shop” GoDirect suite offers pilots more than 50 flight support, connectivity and maintenance services.
Englewood, CO | May 2, 2017– Jeppesen, a Boeing Company, has teamed with Teledyne Controls to integrate Jeppesen FliteDeck Pro with Teledyne’s GroundLink® Comm+ system with Aircraft Interface Device (AID) functionality, known as GroundLink® AID+. This will deliver greater data connectivity for carriers using FliteDeck Pro, the leading electronic flight bag (EFB) solution for airlines and large-scale operators.
“Advances gained through use of Teledyne’s GroundLink® AID+ technology will continue the wave of new capabilities delivered through FliteDeck Pro to help operators access and process critical flight data,” said Scott Reagan, director, Jeppesen OEM Client Management. “Based on strong customer demand for this capability, we are pleased to team with Teledyne Controls to connect FliteDeck Pro with additional data sources, creating more intelligent capabilities on the ground and in the air.”
GroundLink® AID+ technology from Teledyne will allow airlines to view real-time GPS-based, ownship positioning on navigational charts to increase situational awareness in flight. Specifically, this alliance between Jeppesen and Teledyne allows airport charts, departure charts, enroute and weather maps and arrival charts in FliteDeck Pro to be quickly and easily integrated with data from the aircraft’s existing onboard data systems to help enable the pilot to make better informed decisions to increase operational efficiency and improve safety margins.
Murray Skelton, director of Business Development at Teledyne Controls, notes that the technical integration has been easy and cost-effective: “With approximately 10,000 GroundLink® units already flying, it is an easy transition for those with the technology already installed. It not only protects their legacy investment but it also enables them to make even more of it. It means that every future customer with the GroundLink® Comm+ system installed can gain instant benefit.”
The integrated solution will be demonstrated at the AEEC/AMC Conference in Milwaukee, WI (May 1–4).
Connectivity provides the pilot with access to the EFB at all times. Pre-flight, pilots can update their EFB database, review maintenance logs, Minimum Equipment Lists (MELs), flight release and notices to airmen (NOTAMs). During the ramp/taxi, they can calculate take-off performance and complete their checklist. During the flight, they can log flight progress and review enroute, arrivals and approach charts. After the flight, they can file the pilot log and send performance calculations off-board.
- New customer presents successful project at EFB Users Forum in Hawaii
Raunheim, Germany | November 1, 2016– Lufthansa Systems today announced that Hawaiian Airlines has become the latest customer for its Windows-based Lido/eRouteManual navigation solution. Lido/eRouteManual provides electronic navigation charts for all flight phases. From 2017, the entire Hawaiian Airlines fleet will navigate using Lido/eRouteManual.
Each year, around 570 million passengers fly on planes based on navigation charts from Lufthansa Systems. Airlines around the world use Lido/Navigation solutions. Lido/eRouteManual has already been deployed by more than 50 airlines worldwide. The application for Windows-based systems comprises navigation charts for take-off and landing procedures as well as route charts including all important route information like altitude and airport data. These charts are generated directly from the Lido navigation database, which includes worldwide aeronautical information and topographical data. The app’s Lido/AMM (Airport Moving Map) module, which Hawaiian Airlines will roll out in a second step in 2017, provides precise airport charts.
Thanks to wireless data updating via the Mobile Updater pilots are no longer tied to fixed updating processes. Instead, they can update the digital navigation charts anytime and anywhere. This saves time and allows pilots maximum flexibility, because an Internet connection is all they need to update.
“We are proud to have gained this important new customer in North America and look forward to many years of cooperation with Hawaiian Airlines,” said Michael Schmidtborn, Vice President Sales & Services North America bei Lufthansa Systems.
Hawaiian Airlines will present the successful project this week at the EFB Users Forum in Hawaii. Experts from Lufthansa Systems will also be at the conference. “We are giving the attendees an exclusive preview of the new release of Lido/eRouteManual, which will be officially launched at the end of the year,” revealed Igor Dimnik, Director Products at Lufthansa Systems.
The EFB Users Forum takes place twice a year and is one of the most important events in the EFB industry. At the Forum, providers and avionics manufacturers demonstrate their latest developments and discuss the technical and operational trends surrounding the Electronic Flight Bag with airline representatives.
Captions (copyright: Lufthansa Systems): Lido/eRouteManual enables Hawaiian Airlines pilots to benefit from paperless navigation.
- MOU recognises SwiftBroadband-Safety’s market leading position and potential to increase airline profitability, capacity and safety through digital cockpit solutions
United Kingdom | October 19, 2016– Inmarsat (ISAT.L), the world’s leading provider of global mobile satellite communications, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to appoint SITAONAIR as a distribution partner for its next generation SwiftBroadband-Safety aviation service.
A pre-agreement between the two companies has outlined the intention for SITAONAIR to supply commercial airlines and business aviation operators with SwiftBroadband-Safety, an advanced new service from Inmarsat that will transform cockpit and aircraft operations.
SwiftBroadband-Safety represents a paradigm shift in the advancement of aviation safety services by utilising secure IP-based broadband connectivity that far exceeds the capabilities of other alternatives in the market. The ‘always on and always secure’ solution enables a range of breakthrough aviation applications, including flight data streaming (‘Black Box in the Cloud’) and real-time Electronic Flight Bag applications, such as networked graphical weather.
It also enables air traffic management modernisation programmes throughout the world and fulfils the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)’s Global Aeronautical Distress Safety System (GADSS), including flight tracking, by offering reliable and secure satellite surveillance and communications (FANS/ACARS).
SwiftBroadband-Safety hardware is available for initial retrofit installation on existing aircraft today and is scheduled to become a standard option on new aircraft deliveries from 2018. The service builds on Inmarsat’s reputation as a provider of high-quality voice and data service to 95% of the world’s trans-oceanic aircraft fleet.
Inmarsat’s MoU with SITAONAIR marks the latest expansion of a successful partnership between both companies. SITAONAIR is currently a major distributor of Inmarsat’s Classic Aero satellite communications service and will now be able to provide migration options for existing customers to SwiftBroadband-Safety. It also provides the global aviation industry with access to Inmarsat’s current in-flight broadband service, SwiftBroadband, and its next generation offering for commercial airlines (GX Aviation) and business aviation (JetConneX).
SwiftBroadband-Safety has received a lot of industry support that has reinforced its status as the flightdeck communications platform for the future, including its recent selection by Airbus for its A320 and A330 aircraft families, and successful ongoing trials by Hawaiian Airlines.
Frederik van Essen, Inmarsat Aviation’s Senior Vice President of Strategy and Business Development, said: “SITAONAIR has been a trusted partner of Inmarsat for over 25 years. Together we have been providing benefits for the wider airline industry, such as enhancing trans-oceanic flights, optimising routes and reducing fuel consumption. We plan to continue this progress in the future as the benefits of secure broadband are brought into the cockpit.
“The aircraft is now a fully connected node of the airline’s IT network. Inmarsat is the only global provider to offer both reliable, secure cockpit communications as well as the most advanced passenger connectivity, allowing our airline customers to customise data solutions.”
David Lavorel, CEO of SITAONAIR, said: “SwiftBroadband-Safety is a transformational step for the industry and we are proud to include it in our service portfolio as a powerful enabler of SITAONAIR’s nose-to-tail connectivity solutions. Through our engagement with the airlines, SITAONAIR believes the industry is ready to embrace SwiftBroadband-Safety’s secure IP-based services to the cockpit. We are developing services and applications that will leverage this secure IP-based communications services platform to enhance both safety and operational efficiency.
“We aim to offer simple service packages that include generous data allowances to ensure that managing crew communication costs becomes much simpler and enable airlines to fully unleash the potential of next generation cockpit and air traffic control technology. These packages will also power global worldwide flight tracking at no additional connectivity cost. We are pleased to extend and expand our work with Inmarsat in delivering this new capability.”
Posted by Patricia on Wednesday, October 19, 2016 at 3:08 pm
Filed under News Releases · Tagged with cockpit, Connectivity, EFB, flight deck, GADSS, ICAO, Inmarsat, MOU, SITAOnAir, SwiftBroadband
- Lufthansa Systems releases a new generation of its navigation app for iOS
Raunheim, Germany | September 6, 2016– Lufthansa Systems today announced the release of Lido/mPilot 2.0, a comprehensive update to its successful navigation app for the iPad. The new-generation app features a more modern design, faster loading times, better performance and a Bluetooth connection to flight deck avionics systems. Existing customers can download Lido/mPilot 2.0 from the App Store and update their systems from September 2016.
“The trend toward mobile solutions for a paperless flight deck and greater flexibility for pilots and airlines shows no sign of slowing down,” said Igor Dimnik, Director Products at Lufthansa Systems. “With our new Lido/mPilot 2.0 app, we are taking another step in the direction of connectivity on the flight deck. Our outstanding cooperation with industry partners enables us to offer airlines comprehensive, integrated solutions.”
Lufthansa Systems worked with UTC Aerospace Systems and their products to turn an iPad installed with Lido/mPilot 2.0 into a full-fledged Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) system. Using a UTC Aerospace Systems Tablet Interface Module®, which has a Bluetooth connection, the iPad is linked to the company’s Aircraft Interface Device (AID) which enables data management. This will provide access to relevant avionics data such as GPS information, and the aircraft’s speed and heading. Together the hardware and software will facilitate navigation and contribute to improved situational awareness for pilots.
Lido/mPilot 2.0 also reduces the workload for pilots. Before a flight, one of the pilots selects the airport maps and route and stores them on his or her device. Thanks to a new import function, the other pilot can then import this data directly to his own iPad without having to repeat the procedure. This simplifies the administrative processes and frees up pilots for more important tasks.
The user interface was completely overhauled for the update in accordance with Google’s Material Design principles. This gives users the benefit of a more modern and intuitive app design with a familiar, uniform look which can be used across all platforms. This design concept will also be applied to the Windows-based Lido/eRouteManual app very soon. The new Lido/mPilot 2.0 additionally offers faster, better performance and much shorter start-up loading times.
Around 70 airlines have already opted for the mobile Lido/mPilot navigation solution since the app was launched in early 2015. The modular app offers features such as airport charts, a dynamically generated enroute map and a document management and distribution system that enables pilots to access documents and messages both at home and on the move. A status overview with intuitive icons guarantees a clear flow of information.
Posted by Patricia on Tuesday, September 6, 2016 at 4:35 pm
Filed under News Releases · Tagged with Airlines, App, Avionics, Bluetooth, EFB, Electronic Flight Bag, flight deck, Lio, Lufthansa Systems, mPilot
- Lido/Flight 4D principles Automation First and Management by Exception are highlighted at the 2016 Lido/Flight User Group Conference.
Raunheim, Germany | May 31, 2016– Lufthansa Systems today announced that it will present its new Lido/Flight 4D product generation at the 2016 Lido/Flight User Group (LUG) Conference. This annual conference focuses on technical innovations relating to the flight planning system as well as dialog with representatives of Lufthansa Systems’ customer base. The meeting between LUG members and Lufthansa Systems’ product experts is taking place this Wednesday and Thursday in Lisbon, the headquarters of this year’s partner airline TAP Portugal.
The core features of the flight planning solution are the integrated and continually updated aeronautical database and the so-called optimizer. Based on all flight-related data, weather conditions and the current airspace situation including any restrictions, Lido/Flight 4D calculates the most suitable route for each flight. By migrating to the new product generation, customers will benefit from a modern architecture offering improved integration, a modern graphical user interface and display, 4D optimization and extensively automated flight planning and control processes.
“Our airline customers want a reliable, flexible and innovative solution, because in an increasingly complex and dynamic environment, users have to be able to focus on critical flights,” said Rene Vierke, Director Lido Product Management & Consulting at Lufthansa Systems. “Lido/Flight 4D follows the principles of Automation First and Management by Exception, meaning that our solution simplifies routine tasks and makes it possible to quickly make the right decisions in critical situations.”
The first two releases of Lido/Flight 4D this year cover certain basic components for migrating to current technologies as well as the first functional innovations and improvements for takeoff and landing weight optimization, crew briefing and route optimization.
The new features of Lido/Flight 4D will be presented to existing customers in small groups during the LUG Conference so that individual questions and suggestions can be addressed more directly. The conference will also include presentations on the current status of the overall project, the outlook for planned future developments and opportunities to meet with the representatives of other airlines and the experts from Lufthansa Systems.
Under the name Lido/Flight the product has performed successfully in the market for more than 15 years. Around 120 airlines with a total of more than 6,000 aircraft are currently using the flight planning solution from Lufthansa Systems. In various comparative analyses based on thousands of flight plans, Lido/Flight was able to reduce fuel costs by an average of 2 percent, cut flying times by 1.9 percent and save 1.6 percent of air traffic control fees compared to its competitors.
- First FAA approved wireless AID certified for use in flight deck
East Aurora, NY | May 23, 2016– Astronics Corporation (NASDAQ: ATRO), a leading provider of advanced technologies for the global aerospace, defense and semiconductor industries, announced today it has received a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) and Parts Manufacturing Approval (PMA) for its webFB® Wireless Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) device for use on Boeing 737 aircraft. This approval represents the first time a wireless Aircraft Interface Device (AID) has been certified for use in the flight deck by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The ultra-compact webFB easily fits in the palm of the hand, yet incorporates the capabilities of both an AID and a wireless server. The built-in AID safely gathers essential data from the aircraft’s ARINC 429 and 717 databuses and conveys it to custom software or EFB apps hosted on the internal server. Using a wireless connection to portable EFB tablets, the webFB securely delivers this valuable information right to the fingertips of the flight crew.
- Airline IT specialist sponsors industry event and unveils new additions to its portfolio
Raunheim, Germany | May 23, 2016– Lufthansa Systems today announced that it will be presenting selected solutions from its Operations Solutions division at the EFB Users Forum in Munich this week. One highlight is the new Tracks module for the Lido/eRouteManual electronic navigation charts. Lufthansa Systems is not only an exhibitor this time, it is also the main sponsor of this important industry event, which will be attended by around 300 sector representatives from May 24 to 26.
Lido/eRouteManual provides electronic navigation charts for all phases of a flight. The new Tracks module visualizes historical trajectories for the next planned route in Lido/eRouteManual. This means that along with the currently planned route, the solution displays which routes were actually flown in the past for the chosen leg. Lufthansa Systems has worked with Honeywell Aviaso to integrate data exchange between the Lido/eRouteManual and Honeywell Aviaso Fuel Efficiency software products. The Honeywell Aviaso Fuel Efficiency software collects the historical trajectory data, analyzes it and compiles a data packet for the routes to be flown which can then be displayed as a separate layer in Lido/eRouteManual. This gives pilots advance notice if there were directs – i.e. shortcuts – for the planned route in the past so they can actively request these from air traffic control (ATC) if desired. This can shorten the flight route, which saves time, fuel and, ultimately, money.
“The trend is towards dynamic data, and pilots expect their EFB systems to provide a lot of information in real time. By integrating trajectory data in Lido/eRouteManual, we can help pilots make tactical decisions which will save money for airlines,” said Igor Dimnik, Director Products at Lufthansa Systems. “Another important trend is flight deck connectivity, or connections between the EFB and avionics systems or the EFB and ground systems. This will also be a popular subject of discussion at the EFB Users Forum.”
Each year, around 570 million passengers fly on planes using navigation charts from Lufthansa Systems. Airlines around the world use Lido/Navigation solutions. In addition to the Lido/eRouteManual, Lido/mPilot and Lido/AMM navigation solutions, Lufthansa Systems will present its NetLine/Crew crew management solution, the NetLine/Load weight and balance tool, the leading Lido/Flight flight planning solution and the mCabin crew app in Munich. Lufthansa Systems is thus presenting itself as the only independent airline IT provider with a portfolio covering the entire spectrum of operations solutions for fleets of all types and sizes. “We have numerous partnerships with leading providers of avionics systems, so we can always meet our customers’ individual needs independently and optimally,” Dimnik said.
The EFB Users Forum takes place twice a year and is one of the most important events in the EFB industry. At the Forum, providers and aircraft manufacturers demonstrate their latest developments and discuss the technical and operational trends surrounding the Electronic Flight Bag with airline representatives.
'Future–proofing' the IFE installation means providing an onboard network with sufficient bandwidth that the airline will never have to tear apart their airplane to re-wire to install upgrades. Fiber-to-the-Seat™ provides a fiber optics network running at a gigabit per second – High-definition video is only the beginning – who knows what the hot, killer apps will be 10-20 years from now?!”