EmPower Now Approved for Retrofit Installations in Multiple Boeing Aircraft Models

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 today that its wholly owned subsidiary, Astronics Connectivity Systems and Certification (CSC), recently received Supplemental Type Certificates (STCs) for retrofit installations of Astronics’ EmPower® in the flight deck on multiple Boeing aircraft types. Astronics CSC completed the STCs in conjunction with retrofit projects for multiple airlines, in which more than 600 aircraft will provide the EmPower outlets for pilot use.

The STCs are for installations of 110VAC and USB outlet
combinations, plus power supplies and associated wiring kits,
on Boeing 737, 757, 767, and 777 aircraft. Astronics expects to receive additional STCs for more Boeing and Airbus aircraft later this year in conjunction with additional airline retrofit programs. Airlines can leverage these STCs for quick and simplified installations of EmPower flight deck power.

Pilots are increasingly using electronic flight bags (EFBs) and the number of real-time applications they are using on those devices is rising. Increased usage can drain power, and airlines are requiring easily accessible outlets integrated into the flight deck. Astronics’ EmPower products are already a standard linefit option on Boeing and Airbus, and these new STCs represent an additional retrofit opportunity for airlines to provide consistency within their fleets.

“We were honored to be selected by several airlines to create this retrofit solution for flight deck power,” said Michael Kuehn, President of Astronics CSC. “Our global experience in certification services is helping these airlines quickly provide a unified flight deck power experience across their entire fleets, which offers seamless convenience for their crews.”

November 14, 2017–

International carrier Malindo Air, CAPA 2016 Asia Pacific Regional Airline of the Year, is the latest airline taking strides to digitally transform its cockpit with SITAONAIR.

The partnership will see Malindo Air benefit from SITAONAIR’s position as a leading pilot and flight operations digital transformation specialist and solution integrator, helping enable digitized cockpit operations.

Pilots across Malindo Air’s full fleet of 737s will be equipped with SITAONAIR’s complete Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) solution by the end of 2017, replacing their existing paper-based processes. The addition of the EFB solution will compliment the AIRCOM® FlightPlanner and Datalink Services already equipped across the Malindo Air fleet.

SITAONAIR’s bespoke EFB solution for the airline’s full fleet of 32 aircraft, involves activating the leading iPad-based Aviobook EFB within SITAONAIR’s secure ATI Cloud-hosted ground server, automatically distributing operational data to the pilots’ tablet. To date, all 32 aircraft cockpits are on track to activate the new EFB solution by year end, a timely delivery that will smoothly introduce new ways of working for pilots, particularly in their interactions with dispatchers.

Chandran Rama Muthy, CEO of Malindo Air, says: “Digitizing our work flows and processes to enhance our flight operations is a core part of our airline’s vision. We embraced technology to keep up with our fast growing business. This solution will help our pilots with better efficiency and accuracy. We, and our pilots, are very pleased with how the implementation of EFB by SITAONAIR is taking shape.”

Katrina Korzenowski, Vice President for Asia-Pacific at SITAONAIR, says: “SITAONAIR is proud to support Malindo Air in realizing its ambitions for the digital advancement of the cockpit. Embracing our complete, digitally-integrated EFB solution, supported by the ground-based SITAONAIR AIRCOM® ServerPlatform, means pilots no longer have to grapple with excessive loads of paper documents, binders and forms.”

“Being able to access all the vital information they need for a smooth flight, in digitized formats available at their fingertips, is a real advancement for pilots, enabling them to focus on the flight, confident they have the latest, connected information from a wealth of integrated modules including OFP, Weather and NOTAMs from SITAONAIR’s FlightPlanner System.”

To find out more about SITAONAIR’s connected aircraft solutions portfolio for the cockpit and airline operations, visit www.sitaonair.aero, speak to your local SITAONAIR contact or submit an enquiry form.

Lufthansa Systems will participate in activities of Cockpit Innovation’s investment fund

Raunheim/Tel Aviv | November 7, 2017– Cockpit Innovation, the high-tech investment arm of EL AL Israel Airlines, and Lufthansa Systems announced the formation of a unique strategic partnership in the realm of aviation and travel entrepreneurship. Under the new partnership, Lufthansa Systems will support with identifying and cultivating breakthrough startup technologies. Furthermore the company will play a major role in the process of locating and selecting startups to cooperate with Cockpit, by sending experts from the company to work with the startups on relevant developments.

Lufthansa Systems’ goal is to partner with promising startups in the aviation and travel industry through the Cockpit Fund activities and then connect the entrepreneurs and their innovative technologies with the industry’s leading airlines. Cockpit has invested so far in seven companies from a variety of fields such as AI, Big Data, communications and fintech (financial technology) that create new, high-quality value for customers and enhance the efficiency of airlines and other sectors in the industry. Among the portfolio are 30secondstofly, Routier and Bidflyer.

In addition, Cockpit recently became a key investor in the second fundraising round of AeroCRS, in which the startup raised more than NIS 1 million. AeroCRS developed a platform based on an advanced SaaS (Software as a Service) model that enables airlines to set up and manage their entire digital operations, distribution and sales system within a short time – sometimes within few days. AeroCRS currently serves more than 50 airlines around the world.

Henry Chen Weinstein, CEO at Cockpit, says: “The right partnerships have proved themselves as innovation catalysts. We are constantly working to expand Cockpit’s global ecosystem. The connection between Cockpit and a leader in the worldwide industry such as Lufthansa Systems is undoubtedly a major achievement on the path toward the ability to invest in and support startups that focus on additional sectors in the industry on a global scale.”

Stefan Auerbach, CEO at Lufthansa Systems, added: “We are delighted being part of this unique digital travel and aviation collaboration for entrepreneurs. The core of our company strategy is to put airlines in a perfect position for the digital future. Together, we will become true sources of potential and inspiration for innovative ideas”

October 31, 2017–The avionics team of Flying Colours Corp., the North American MRO business, has completed its first installation of a Rockwell Collins, Pro Line 21™ Advanced avionics suite for the flight deck of a Bombardier Challenger 300. The fitting of the state-of-the-art cockpit upgrade was carried out in conjunction with a scheduled heavy maintenance check at the Flying Colours Corp. KSUS, St Louis, MO. The aircraft was returned to the private customer on time and on budget.

The owner also took the opportunity to maximise the aircraft downtime by having ADS-B Out integrated to meet the mandatory requirements coming into effect in January 2020. The flexible architecture of the Pro Line 21™ Advanced system enables the addition of optional features including FANS 1/A, RNP 0.3 AR, Multi-Scan Radar, and Synthetic Vision System, at a future date, with minimal effort. With the new avionics suite in place aircraft value can be maintained, situational awareness is elevated, pilot workload is reduced and the aircraft benefits from improved operational efficiency.

“Our avionics team has completed many upgrades to existing systems, as well as, installations of completely new systems. In fact, we have upgraded avionics on more than 20 different aircraft in the last year, but this was the first time working with the Pro Line 21™ Advanced package. Working with new products like this further strengthens our experience and knowledge, as we continue to broaden our avionics capabilities,” says Director of Sales for Flying Colours, Kevin Kliethermes.

Flying Colours has already confirmed more of this type of upgrade and are in advanced discussions with several operators to complete the modification for them too. “Our avionics business has dramatically increased in the last 18 months. With the NextGen mandates and the ever-increasing variety of flight deck options, we anticipate that this sector of our business will continue to expand,” adds Kliethermes.

The Flying Colours KSUS facility is a Bombardier Authorised Service Facility and regularly handles heavy checks on a variety of Bombardier aircraft including Learjet, Challengers and Global types.

Cobham SATCOM AVIATOR 200S ‘cockpit-only’ light satcom system will be certified on the Airbus A350 XWB

Copenhagen, Denmark | June 21, 2017– The Cobham SATCOM AVIATOR 200S ‘cockpit-only’ light satcom system will be certified on the Airbus A350 XWB.

The new generation Cobham equipment, which supports Inmarsat’s SwiftBroadband-Safety (SB-S) service, will provide FANS 1/A Controller-Pilot Data Link Communications (CPDLC) and Automatic Dependent Surveillance Contract (ADS-C) capability as well as IP data to EFBs in the cockpit.

AVIATOR S system will ensure real-time, in-air information, with its powerful and flexible communications capability.

AVIATOR 200S will be available on the A350 XWB aircraft as part of its ongoing commitment to provide best-in-class equipment on its aircraft. The latest announcement by the leading aircraft manufacturer follows its decision in June 2016 to certify Cobham’s AVIATOR S Series systems to be offered as a line-fit option for its popular A320 and A330 fleets.

Willem Kasselman, Vice President Aero, Cobham SATCOM, and Jean-Marc Billaud, General Manager at Cobham Aerospace Antennas said: “Airbus’ wish to offer the new generation Cobham SBB satcom equipment to the Airbus A350 is a further endorsement of the performance and maturity of the Cobham product.”

Cobham SATCOM’s AVIATOR S product series are ARINC 781 compliant small satcom systems featuring the most advanced security architecture and domain segregation measures available in a single (for the “cockpit-only” configuration) or in a two-LRU solution (for the “cockpit and cabin” configuration). Suitable for all single-aisle and wide-body aircraft, AVIATOR S offers small, light, powerful satcom equipment to airlines and addresses the growing demand from airlines for continuous non-encrypted secure data exchange between their ground operations and their aircraft.

The system allows pilots to share real-time information with ground control to help on flight situation awareness and route optimisation. The system can also provide independent air-ground communications for other aircraft systems (depending on the selected configuration) such as EFBs with access to live weather data, in-flight entertainment, cabin distribution and other connected off-board networks.

SwiftBroadband-Safety (SB-S) is Inmarsat’s next generation communications platform offering global, high-speed, IP connectivity for the flight deck.

For further information, please visit www.cobham.com/satcom.

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.”

Lido/Flight User Group Conference 2017: Lufthansa Systems’ customer event focuses on interaction, information and cooperative development

Raunheim | May 31, 2017– Lufthansa Systems today announced that it will present the first Integrated Flight Support prototype, the future core module of its new Lido/Flight 4D product generation, at this year’s Lido/Flight User Group (LUG) Conference. The conference will offer an insight into technical innovations related to the flight planning system as well as an opportunity for intensive interaction among the 170 product experts and customers attending. The LUG Conference is taking place from May 31 to June 1 in Paris, the headquarters of this year’s partner airline, Air France.

“Integrating different systems is an essential aspect of modern flight planning. Flight data is very dynamic. To get an overview of the current situation in the air, everyone involved needs the same sources of information. Airports, air traffic control and customer systems should be able to exchange data in real time. This is the only way for employees on the ground and on the flight deck to make right decisions based on the same information,” said Philipp Barzen, Head of Product Strategy Lido/Flight at Lufthansa Systems.

The core features of the Lido/Flight 4D flight planning solution are the integrated and continually updated aeronautical database and the optimizer. The system calculates the most suitable route for each flight based on all flight-related data, taking into account weather conditions and the current airspace situation including any restrictions. By migrating to the new product generation, customers will benefit from a modern architecture offering even better integration of relevant data from adjacent systems, a modern graphical user interface and display, 4D optimization and extensively automated flight planning and control processes.

Lufthansa Systems is taking an agile approach to the further development of Lido/Flight 4D. This means that customers are continually involved in the process. In addition to the two big annual customer events – the LUG Conference in the spring and the LUG Forum in the fall – the Lido/Flight-Team is holding workshops and gathering feedback on new features. The second release of Lido/Flight 4D R6.2.0 is planned for the fall of 2017 and will include improvements to crew briefing and route optimization. This is followed by another important milestone in the spring of 2018, a technical release with a complete migration to Linux. The prototype, which provides a glimpse into the future of Lido/Flight 4D, goes even further: It shows the new interface as well as other new functions, such as integrated navigation maps from Lido/Navigation.

“Along with the integrated map display, we are expanding our strategic cooperation with the Lido/Flight and Lido/Navigation product teams to create even better applications for pilots,” Barzen said. One example is the new Lido/mBriefing app, a mobile briefing solution with a direct interface to the Lido/mPilot mobile navigation solution.

During the LUG Conference, product experts will explain the new features of Lido/Flight 4D to customers in various sessions. They will also talk about the technical prerequisites for migration and discuss training concepts. Lufthansa Systems is thus taking a holistic approach to flight planning optimization and supporting its customers in the areas of further development and migration.

The product known previously as Lido/Flight has performed successfully in the market for more than 20 years. Since 2015, Lufthansa Systems has been working intensively on developing the new Lido/Flight 4D generation. Around 120 airlines with a total of more than 6,000 aircraft are currently using the flight planning solution from Lufthansa Systems. More than one half of all flights in Europe are calculated using Lido/Flight 4D. 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. Thanks to this savings potential, Lido/Flight 4D will pay for itself after an average of about one year.

• Shenzhen Airlines to equip A320 aircraft as it prepares for China’s future rapid growth in passenger demand

April 27, 2017– Beginning May 2017, Shenzhen Airlines will launch its in-flight evaluation of SwiftBroadband-Safety (SB-S), Inmarsat’s next generation IP-based broadband service for the flight deck. The SB-S platform, which will be installed on Shenzhen’s Airbus 320 aircraft using Cobham avionics’ AVIATOR 300D hardware, will deliver powerful and flexible in-flight communications and secure, real-time, in-air information to enhance Shenzhen’s safety, security and operational capabilities – both in the air and on the ground.

The Shenzhen partnership is part of a joint venture between Inmarsat, Beijing Marine Communication & Navigation Company, Ltd. (MCN) and Aviation Data Communication Corporation (ADCC) to provide aviation safety services to the rapidly growing Chinese market. Under this partnership, MCN and ADCC will deliver satellite voice, ACARS (Aircraft Communications Addressing & Reporting System) and data services. MCN will serve as project manager for Shenzhen’s SB-S evaluation process.

In addition to compliance with the Civil Aviation Authority of China (CAAC) mandates CCAR 121 and AC-121, Shenzhen Airlines will focus its evaluation on three core SB-S satellite communication (satcom) capabilities, including:

• Satellite Voice (satvoice) Communications – Two-channel satellite-based services that enable faster and high-quality voice communication between the flight deck crew and its designated contacts on the ground, including air traffic controllers and airline operations personnel.
• Integral Global Flight Tracking – This enhanced, live tracking feature pinpoints an aircraft’s location through regular transmission of position reports. SB-S flight tracking enables the airline and Air Traffic Control (ATC) to know where the aircraft is and to understand its status in real time, which is essential for both safety and delivery of fuel-efficient flight.
• ACARS Over IP – Traditionally used to communicate with both the Airline Operations Centre and ATC, this short-text capability over IP is a prerequisite for FANS 1/A compliance in remote oceanic areas.

Shenzhen Airlines also will be able to take advantage of other SB-S platform features, including real-time electronic flight bag applications, such as networked graphical weather and, ultimately, flight data streaming (“Black Box in the Cloud”). And, in addition to providing critical flight safety solutions, its high-speed communications capabilities also allow SB-S to deliver operational savings to airlines in the form of reduced fuel costs, improved efficiency and enhanced security. A recent study by Helios showed that satellite communications has already delivered US$3 billion in benefits to airlines to date (see link below).

Through its SB-S evaluation, Shenzhen Airlines is preparing for China’s explosive growth in passenger demand, which, according the International Air Transport Association (IATA)*, is expected to more than double over the next 20 years. IATA also predicts that China will displace the United States as the world’s largest aviation market around 2024*. Much of this demand will be for international travel and Shenzhen is anticipating this demand by employing next generation satellite connectivity, which allows aircraft to travel in oceanic areas and across remote continental areas where terrestrial networks are not established. These satellite-based capabilities will allow Shenzhen to offer passengers a vastly wider range of service destinations that, until now, could not be realized due to the decades-old limitations of traditional, ground-based communications.

Captain Shao Bin, Vice President of Operations for Shenzhen Airlines said: “As China’s skies become more crowded and advanced flight-tracking capabilities become a necessity in the region’s airspace, Shenzhen wants to be at the forefront of this exciting next chapter of aviation history. We look forward to evaluating SwiftBroadband-Safety as a pioneering, satellite-based connectivity solution that will enable Shenzhen to offer enhanced safety, increased capacity and more efficient operations to our passengers – both in China and beyond.”

Song Zhen, Vice President of MCN, said: “As a leading maritime satellite operator in China, MCN is committed to providing safety communication services to China’s growing aviation industry. It is the first time that a Chinese aircraft will be equipped with the SB-S satcom technology platform, and we look forward to working with Inmarsat and other partners to provide the best service for Shenzhen Airlines in accordance with laws set forth by CAAC.”

Zhu Yanbo, Vice President of ADCC, said: “As the organization jointly established by Air Traffic Management Bureau of CAAC and the major airlines in China, we especially appreciate Shenzhen’s evaluation of SB-S, as they are our country’s first airline to do so. As the air-ground datalink service provider for China’s airspace, ADCC will work closely with MCN and Inmarsat to not only deliver SwiftBroadband-Safety’s trusted cockpit communication and flight tracking services, but also Globalink VHF ACARS and VDL M2 services to our aviation customers.”

Captain Mary McMillan, Vice President of Safety and Operational Services at Inmarsat’s Aviation business unit, said: “As China continues its path toward becoming the world’s largest passenger aviation nation, Shenzhen is making an important move to ensure it is ready to not only expand its domestic service offerings but also meet Chinese passengers’ growing demand for international travel. As the trusted provider of aviation safety and operational services, Inmarsat is excited to work with Shenzhen and our partners to understand how SB-S can optimise their flight deck and aircraft operations as they enter this exciting new era in Chinese aviation.”

Cheng-Yu Tang, General Manager, China Cobham SATCOM, said: “Shenzhen’s decision to evaluate SB-S demonstrates that one of the China’s largest airlines has full confidence in the performance of our AVIATOR 300D system and the Inmarsat SB-S platform. We are excited about this latest opportunity to contribute to the ongoing evaluation of SwiftBroadband-Safety as it also supports our development of communication technologies to meet the future needs of the aviation community.”

• 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.”

• 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.

• Arconics now offers its market-leading aviation document software as a quick-to-deploy, tiered solution for airlines of every fleet size, any aircraft mix

Dublin, Ireland | July 19, 2016– Arconics is on a mission: to make nextgen safety and compliance software available to air carriers of every size, while helping airline pilots perform more effectively. Our business strategy is to make our software even more affordable, so we have developed a tiered offering around AeroDocs. AeroDocs is the market leading, aviation grade, safety and compliance software for the controlled distribution and viewing of airline documents and manuals.

AeroDocs is available in three solutions, each designed to meet different needs. The upgrade path is easy and the software is scalable to any fleet size.

AeroDocs CONTROL – The fast track to the paperless cockpit

Incorporates the document distribution and viewing modules and is designed to appeal to airlines that want to adopt the paperless cockpit and also airlines that are currently using weak solutions, often from more than one supplier. AeroDocs ensures complete control over an airline’s processes and documentation. Boasts the world’s best pilot EFB viewer. SaaS.

AeroDocs COMPLIANCE – Adds nextgen XML functionality for pilots and compliance

Adds XML editing module to distribution and viewing functionality. Enables easy XML editing of Airbus and Boeing manuals, as well as general ops manuals in one seamless system. Advanced regulation tagging helps ensure regulatory compliance. SaaS.

AeroDocs ENTERPRISE – Delivers efficiencies from the cockpit to the boardroom

Full product functionality suite, fully customised to handle an airline’s ops and corporate document needs. The ultimate document safety and compliance solution for aviation. Installed on airline’s own servers, enterprise license.

In announcing the AeroDocs tiered offering, Arconics CEO, Niall O’Sullivan, said:

“With this exciting development, Arconics is committed to offering the best possible solutions at the best possible value to airlines, during deployment, in operation effectively from day one, and for many years into the future. AeroDocs is currently deployed at some of the world’s leading airlines, including Cathay Pacific, Qatar Airways, Philippine Airlines and Aer Lingus, and we look forward to delivering document safety and compliance solutions to many more airlines, any fleet size, every aircraft mix.”

Airlines that plan to deploy the paperless cockpit, are gearing up for an IOSA audit, or need to ensure risk mitigation in their document and information availability, can request an online demo of AeroDocs at www.arconics.com

• Next generation safety solution will be offered to airlines on popular A320 and A330 families
• Landmark agreement positions SwiftBroadband-Safety as a Light Cockpit Satcom solution on single-aisle aircraft and reinforces Inmarsat’s leadership in cockpit safety communications
• Opens up provisioning of Inmarsat’s digital aviation safety applications, including continual positional awareness for flight tracking and the ‘Black Box in the Cloud’

United Kingdom | June 30, 2016– Inmarsat, the world’s leading provider of global mobile satellite communications, announced today that its SwiftBroadband-Safety (SB-S) service has been selected by Airbus as a cockpit communications solution for the A320 and A330 aircraft families.

In a landmark agreement, SB-S will feature in the popular Airbus A320 single-aisle and A330 wide-body families. The advanced IP-based broadband communications platform will be available with equipment from Cobham’s AVIATOR S series, as selected by Airbus, to deliver next generation services for the global aviation industry.

SB-S will mark a paradigm shift in aviation safety and efficiency. Using Inmarsat’s global L-band satellite network, it delivers much faster data and voice communications due to its unprecedented speed and capacity, which are several orders of magnitude greater than cockpit communications systems in the market today.

These advanced capabilities will transform the quality and security of cockpit communication and information shared between pilots, air traffic controllers and airlines, with Inmarsat’s satellite technology also ensuring consistent, high-speed global coverage for SB-S.

Airlines around the world will also benefit from a myriad of new digital applications never before available, including continual positional awareness for flight tracking, flight data streaming (also known as ‘Black Box in the Cloud’), and electronic flight bag applications for pilots, such as graphical weather for improved situational awareness.

The selection of SB-S by Airbus reinforces Inmarsat’s status as the world’s leading provider of satellite safety services, serving around 95% of the world’s long-haul aircraft.

The inclusion of the A320 family will also position SB-S as an advanced Light Cockpit Satcom solution on single-aisle Airbus aircraft, marking an exciting new era for the aviation industry. The selection was possible as SB-S is delivered via advanced airborne equipment that addresses factors which have traditionally impacted demand in the single-aisle market, such as size, weight and cost. Around eight out of ten commercial aircraft in the world are single-aisle.

Captain Mary McMillan, Inmarsat Aviation’s Vice President, Safety and Operational Services, said: “We are delighted that Airbus has selected SwiftBroadband-Safety for its A320 and A330 aircraft families. This is testament to SwiftBroadband-Safety’s ability to deliver an always on, always secure cockpit solution for the digital age, with expanded connectivity and reliability.

“Inmarsat has been delivering critical safety information to the world’s airlines, private jet operators and government agencies for over two-and-a-half decades. In the past, these services were almost exclusively utilised by airlines travelling in areas not served by traditional radar, such as routes over the ocean or remote locations. However, with growing aircraft congestion and the need for increased data security, Inmarsat is engineering a new generation of satellite communication services to provide a wider range of benefits.

“SwiftBroadband-Safety will introduce unprecedented new capabilities, allowing airlines to significantly improve flight safety operations and provide a more efficient service to passengers. Airlines also benefit from continuous monitoring of aircraft performance and fuel usage.”

Inmarsat’s partner Cobham SATCOM has been selected by Airbus to provide the equipment that delivers SB-S service onboard the A320 and A330 aircraft families. The equipment, known as the AVIATOR 200S and 700S, will provide a seamless connection between the aircraft cockpit and Inmarsat’s extensive global satellite network. Under Cobham’s contract with Airbus, the equipment will be fitted onto the aircraft from 2018.

Kim Gram, Vice President of Aero Satcom at Cobham Satcom, said: “Inmarsat has made an immense contribution in the forward progression of our industry, from the development of the original idea of smaller and lighter satcom hardware, continuing its influential work in industry standardization groups, to the ultimate deployment of services on its global satellite network.”

If you are wondering why and IFEC newsletter features an airplane cockpit display its because we know you monitor two or three LCD displays (OK, e-Ink too) when you fly but so does the flight crew, and thus, we thought you might like to see them. Being bigger is truly better for flying, but also being LCD, the data source can be flexible for safety reasons, all switchable by the crew. Hey, it beats the fixed source electromechanical displays! We thought our readers might like to see where the cockpit display size is heading and the new Boeing 737 MAX is the perfect example. If you have not seen the wonderful Rockwell Collins large-format displays, check out this week’s rectangle image or download it for your desktop or screensaver image!

According to the company: “The Boeing 737 MAX took its first flight in Renton, Washington, making it the latest next-generation Boeing aircraft to fly with Rockwell Collins’ advanced large-format flight displays. More than 3,000 737 MAX aircraft are on order with the first delivery expected in 2017. The new 737 MAX flight deck includes four configurable 15.1-inch landscape LCD displays from Rockwell Collins that will increase situational awareness and efficiency. The displays will serve as a foundation for NextGen airspace technologies entering the marketplace.” Now, if you have not seen the 737 MAX first flight, you can watch it here: Boeing Completes Successful 737 MAX First Flight – Jan 29, 2016 . Rockwell went on to say; “We share Boeing’s pride in watching the 737 MAX soar, right on program schedule. This first flight was especially exciting for us since it marks the first time that Rockwell Collins displays have been featured on a 737 flight deck,” said Steve Timm, vice president and general manager, Air Transport Systems for Rockwell Collins. They went on: “Today’s event also marks the continuation of a strong collaborative relationship with Boeing to bring these advanced displays and flight deck commonality to its entire fleet of next-generation aircraft. In addition to the Boeing 737 MAX, Rockwell Collins is providing its large-format flight deck displays on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, Boeing 777X, and the KC-46 Tanker. The displays are also an upgrade to legacy Boeing 767 and 757 aircraft.” The Boeing 737 MAX will feature four Rockwell Collins large-format, 15.1-inch LCD displays.

Editor’s Note: In the previously linked image you might note the HUD above the Captains seat – The head-up display is a Rockwell Collins product called Head-up Guidance System (HGS). It’s an option on the MAX (and the NG now, too), and is standard on the Boeing 787 (two of them, in fact, one for pilot and co-pilot). Rockwell told us the older HSI and ADI terms are now replaced by “PFD (primary flight display) and MFD (multi-function flight display)? The PFDs are on the outside and the MFDs are the two inner displays.”

Switching channels to the competition; on the Airbus front we found this: “The 737 MAX, like Airbus’ competing A320neo, is a relatively mild evolution of a mass-market airliner that has dominated the skies for decades. The original 737 dates back to the 1960s, improving over the years with different sizes and seating configurations, better engines, and longer range. The big thing with the MAX is the so-called LEAP-1B engine, promising 20 percent better fuel efficiency than the family of models it’s replacing. (The A320neo’s focal point is its new engine too and if you missed the A320neo first flight in Sept 25, 2014 here it is.”

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IFEC NEWS:

1. Gogo announced that its Gogo Vision product has been installed on more than 2,000 aircraft. The technology is disrupting the traditional “seat-back solution” model and has Gogo operating with scale as large as some of the biggest in-flight entertainment companies. Gogo is now the leading provider of wireless in-flight entertainment by a large margin and is making gains on becoming the largest in-flight entertainment provider in the world. “We know that passengers want entertainment on their own devices. We also know that almost everyone boards a plane with at least one Wi-Fi enabled device. Gogo Vision was built to take advantage of this trend,” said Ash ElDifrawi, Gogo’s chief commercial officer. “It has become successful because weight matters in aviation. When compared to traditional in-flight entertainment solutions, Gogo is much lighter weight, requires less maintenance and is lower cost.” More than 2,200 commercial aircraft are outfitted with the technology and more than 1 million videos are being watched through Gogo Vision each month. The video content is stored on a server on the plane and delivered to a passenger’s own device through Gogo’s in-cabin network. In the past year alone, Gogo added its Gogo Vision product to more than 1,000 aircraft including aircraft operated by most major U.S. airlines. “We continue to develop digital products and services that leverage our connectivity technology in support of our mission: to advance aviation by connecting every aircraft,” added ElDifrawi. “Whether that’s giving passengers access to the Internet and a host of in-flight entertainment options or building products and services that support airline operations, we continue to build products and services that are advancing aviation.” Editor’s Note: To use Gogo Vision the next time you are on a Gogo Vision flight, download the Gogo Vision app.
   On another Gogo front Michael Small, Gogo’s president and CEO noted; “In addition to a record number of installs in 2015, Gogo has also grown its awarded backlog of 2Ku aircraft to more than 800 aircraft. The company is ramping-up installations and expects to have most of those aircraft installed by the end of 2018. I couldn’t be more pleased with the performance of 2Ku.” He went on; “2Ku’s position as the premiere technology for global aviation is playing out in the market. We’ve been getting a great reaction from global airlines as they fly and experience this proprietary solution.” Across commercial and business aviation, Gogo operates more than 11,000 connected aircraft systems all over the world. (Editor’s Note: You probably should also read the MRO Network article on “The Death Knell for Traditional IFE Systems!”)
2. IFExpress ran into McTavish Botts, who attended the 2016 MRO Middle East (MROME) and Aircraft Interiors Middle East (AIME) meetings in Dubai this week. AIME is a two-day exhibition and conference that provides a for interiors suppliers, providers and buyers. It is co-located with MRO Middle East, an event delivering the latest innovations in aircraft interiors. AIME 2016 was held at Dubai World Trade Centre on 3 – 4 February. As the Middle East’s only aircraft interiors event, AIME 2016 featured over 278 exhibitors, over 4,500 attendees from over 100 countries, as well as some 100 airlines represented from around the world (over 700 attending) at the Dubai World Trade Centre. Representatives from local biggies like Emirates Airline, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways were in attendance alongside many others who traveled from Africa, India and Europe to network and create relationships with the 278 exhibitors at the event. More importantly, Business Wire reported: “The Middle East is the second fastest-growing MRO market. By 2023, the MRO market in the Middle East will reach $7 billion, the result of 7.3% compound annual growth rate (CAGR).” We note that Mr. Botts provided the linked photos of the show and he asked us to show then to our IFExpress readers. Said Botts; “Of note, flydubai won the Inflight Magazine Best Airline Middle East Award (they have Lumexis FTTS IFE). Global Eagle Entertainment won best Middle East connectivity provider as well.” Botts didn’t give us the names of the other winners and for more about the show you might have to check Inflight Magazine FMI 

Images from MROME & AIME: Panasonic; Lumexis; Thales; Gogo; digEcor

Wedemark, Germany | November 23, 2015– Audio specialist Sennheiser is to withdraw from the pilots’ headset business from March 2016. The company will fulfill all its obligations for servicing and spare parts throughout the full guarantee period for its headsets. Headsets for the air traffic control (ATC) sector are not affected by this decision, but will continue to be marketed with the current ATC team under the responsibility of the joint venture Sennheiser Communications.

“Our decision to leave the pilots’ headset sector was not taken lightly, especially as we have played a key role in the development of audio transmission in the cockpit, for example by introducing the world’s first headset with active noise compensation to receive FAA-TSO certification,” explained COO Peter Claussen. “We will redirect our aviation-specific resources to focus on our key business of headphone and microphone technology.”

The company will, of course, fulfil all its servicing and guarantee obligations; generous transition periods have been agreed with airline and equipment partners. “Even after all legal obligations have expired, support can certainly still be offered in individual cases,” Peter Claussen confirmed.

Air traffic control headsets are to remain part of the Sennheiser product portfolio, and the current ATC team will join the headset specialists at Sennheiser Communications from January 2016. Andreas Bach, President of Sennheiser Communications, commented: “We are thrilled that we will be marketing the highly successful Sennheiser ATC headsets, and see great opportunities by exploiting the synergies that exist between the ATC business and our CC&O segment. ATC customers around the world can rely on our premium offerings and services.”