France | June 26, 2017–SITAONAIR has hailed the successful launch of Iridium’s second set of Iridium NEXT constellation satellites as another step closer to achieving minute-by-minute, 100% global aircraft flight-tracking.

In partnership with Aireon and FlightAware, SITAONAIR’s AIRCOM® FlightTracker will deliver enhanced capabilities to airline customers from 2018. Aireon’s space-based automatic dependent surveillance broadcast data (ADS-B) will then fill any gaps in current flight-tracking coverage globally – and is expected to be transmitted through the complete Iridium NEXT satellite constellation, via FlightAware.

Paul Gibson, Portfolio Director, AIRCOM®, at SITAONAIR, says: “This is an exciting moment for SITAONAIR as the second set of satellites start their journey to enabling us to deliver 100% global, real-time flight-tracking to the air transport industry. We are looking forward to seeing the project progress and being able to demonstrate its value to airlines.

“The beauty of adding space-based ADS-B data to our current AIRCOM® FlightTracker is that it will integrate seamlessly into the existing interface, while increasing tracking coverage up to 100%. In short, the airlines who adopt our space-based flight-tracking will have the tools to see the precise position, speed and altitude of all airborne fleet – any time, anywhere – and be immediately alerted if any aircraft veers from its flight plan, even if that route is over ocean or the Poles.

“With real-time alerts generated at least once a minute, airlines with enhanced FlightTracker will be way ahead of the ICAO’s best practice one-minute mandate – truly consolidating their commitment to safe travel.”

What is AIRCOM® FlightTracker?

FlightTracker’s capabilities include:

• Providing airline operations teams with an application that aggregates the best available inflight position data from multiple sources on a single aircraft position display
• Issuing alerts to flight operations of any route deviation. Staff can also clearly see if it has been agreed between an aircraft and ATC
• Automated alerting for large fleets, so if an aircraft doesn’t report its position, deviates from the flight plan or enters a defined geographic area, FlightTracker will create an alert and automatically start a sequence of actions where needed
• Being aircraft agnostic, whether a fleet has either ACARS or ADS-B OUT capabilities
• Allowing operations teams to view the flight track of each flight with frequent and accurate positions from our fused data feed
• Having the capability to be set up to deliver forecast weather data with flight plans, to improve decision-making.

Paul continues: “The SITAONAIR Montreal Development Team has already determined how the new space-based ADS-B data should be integrated and presented within FlightTracker. The display uses specific color-coding to identify different data sources, and, for us, it is a case of drawing in this data and giving space-based ADS-B its own distinct place in this set.”

The second payload of 10 Iridium NEXT satellites, hosting Aireon’s space-based ADS-B system, launched from SpaceX’s California-based launch facility at Vandenberg Air Force Base on a Falcon 9 rocket. The first batch of 10 satellites, hosting the space-based automatic dependent surveillance broadcast (ADS-B) system, was launched by SpaceX on 14 January 2017.

For more information and to discover the full SITAONAIR connected aircraft portfolio, visit www.sitaonair.aero

Extensive trials over the past year culminates in landmark contract to track all of the airline’s flights around the world using advanced new space-based solution
Qatar | April 25, 2017– Leading international airline Qatar Airways has activated an advanced new space-based system, supplied by Inmarsat, to track all of its flights across the world.

Inmarsat worked exclusively with Qatar Airways to develop this cutting-edge solution, which covers its current route network of over 150 destinations worldwide, in addition to any future routes that will be introduced. It utilises Inmarsat’s market-leading satellite technology to provide the exact real-time location of the airline’s aircraft in latitude and longitude.

Qatar Airways signed a contract with Inmarsat following the successful conclusion of active performance trials across its fleet over the past year, which proved that the tracking system exceeds the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)’s new flight reporting standards.

His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, said: “Qatar Airways has a reputation for pioneering ground-breaking new innovations in global aviation. Our partnership with Inmarsat for this global flight tracking system has once again reinforced our commitment to the highest levels of aviation safety for our passengers and employees.”

Leo Mondale, President of Inmarsat Aviation, said: “Inmarsat is the backbone of global aviation safety, delivering over 35 million aircraft position reports last year alone. Unlike other systems that promise space-based global flight tracking somewhere in the future, we have been providing real time flight tracking for Qatar Airways for some time. We are pleased to be working with an airline that is so highly committed to safety and innovation.”

• Live connectivity from Gogo will enrich the in-flight experience for popular business aviation apps from FlightAware, ForeFlight, Honeywell and WSI

NBAA, Las Vegas | November 16, 2015– Gogo Inc. (NASDAQ: GOGO), the leading provider of in-flight connectivity and wireless entertainment solutions to the global aero market, announces several cockpit and operational applications that will be available for use with its ATG 1000 in-flight connectivity system in the business aviation market, beginning in December 2015.

Via the Gogo Biz network service, the ATG 1000 system already enables voice, high-performance e-mail with attachments, and calling and texting with passengers’ own smartphones and mobile numbers. Today’s announcement means that it will also support select cockpit and operational applications through Gogo’s partnerships with the industry’s leading app providers.

John Wade, Gogo Business Aviation’s executive vice president and general manager, said, “To many pilots, the only thing better than using the latest generation of apps in the cockpit is using them with a live Internet connection, and that’s what today’s announcement will bring. The ATG 1000 is business aviation’s most affordable broadband system – it’s a great solution for light jets, turboprops and owner-flown aircraft, and adding cockpit app capabilities makes it even better.”

Beginning in December 2015, Gogo’s ATG 1000 connectivity system will support the following apps:

Provider	Apps	Description
FlightAware	Flight Tracker FlightAware Global	Enables worldwide flight tracking, nearby aircraft monitoring, push notifications and flight alerts, worldwide airport delay and status notification, and more. For iPhone, iPad and Android devices. Also available on www.flightaware.com
ForeFlight	ForeFlight Mobile	Provides flight planning, route briefing and filing, inflight moving map with real-time weather, US and Canada VFR and IFR charts, geo-referenced taxi charts, destination information, flight notifications, cloud documents, and more. For Apple iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch devices. www.foreflight.com
Honeywell	myGDC	Utilize Honeywell’s MyGDC mobile app to simplify your flight operations and gain access to Global Data Center (GDC) services on your iPad. Pilots can create and file flight plans, customize, email & download trip kits and access up-to-the minute weather updates and airspace information. www.mygdc.com
WSI Corporation	Pilotbrief Optima	Delivers preflight briefings and continuous updates directly to the iPad, including high definition weather layers (radar, satellite IR, VIL and EchoTop mosaics), route-specific weather and NOTAM briefings, tropical storm tracks, graphic METARS, ten day planning forecasts, and more. www.wsi.com

Logistically, ATG 1000 customers will obtain apps directly from the respective providers and maintain any required subscriptions. Ongoing data usage for the apps will be covered by the customer’s choice of Gogo Biz data plan, and no additional setup fees or subscriptions are required.

For a limited time, Gogo is offering ATG 1000 customers three months of data service for a flat monthly rate of $395/month, with no overage fees. After that, customers can select from a variety of Gogo Biz data plans to meet their ongoing needs.

Gogo expects to continue expanding the list of approved apps for the ATG 1000 system in the future.

• Connectivity upgrade for improved passenger experience

Preview APEX Asia Conference/FTE Asia EXPO | November 9, 2015– Singapore Airlines will deploy SITAONAIR‘s next-generation passenger high-speed broadband connectivity services (Wi-Fi and mobile phone text and data services) on its long range fleet, using Inmarsat’s GX Aviation satellite network.

Singapore Airlines and SITAONAIR have been at the forefront of inflight connectivity innovation. The airline was an early adopter of connectivity, on its A340s, as well as one of the first to provide connectivity on the A380. Recently, it has been providing free Wi-Fi sessions to the passengers in First and Business Class cabins through promotional sponsorship.

The airline’s priority has always been to provide the very best inflight experience and knows passenger connectivity solutions have a central role in that.

The third GX Aviation satellite was successfully launched at the end of August, completing the constellation that provides consistent global coverage. GX Aviation provides data speeds of up to 50MBps to the aircraft: for the very first time, there really will be no difference between being in the air and being on the ground. The onboard Wi-Fi will reflect what most people are used to at home. It will also provide Singapore Airlines with greater capabilities to personalize its services.

“Singapore Airlines is one of the most respected carriers in the world. By choosing SITAONAIR services, it clearly demonstrates the superiority of GX Aviation in terms of passenger experience, reliable and global coverage,” said Ian Dawkins, CEO of SITAONAIR. “What is particularly exciting is that this is only the beginning of what we can do with connectivity. We already provide connectivity solutions for airline operations, from flight tracking to crew tablets, and from electronic flights bags to air traffic control AIRCOM services. The introduction of GX Aviation opens up a whole new world of opportunities for the connected aircraft.”

The installation of the first GX Aviation system powered by Honeywell’s JetWave satellite communications hardware is scheduled for the second half of 2016.
The first aircraft type to be equipped will be Singapore Airlines’ B777-300ER aircraft, followed by A380-800s and A350-900s.

As well as being the Wi-Fi Internet and mobile phone service provider, SITAONAIR will also manage the certification process of the GX Aviation system for the B777-300ER fleet, and provide the airborne GX Aviation systems for both the Boeing and the A380-800 fleets. Thales will provide the airborne connectivity system for the A350-900s with SITAONAIR providing the Wi-Fi Internet and Mobile phone service. Zodiac Inflight Innovations will provide the JetWave GX Aviation Satcom for the A380-800 and B777-300ER retrofit programs.

Three more airlines deploy the solution

Air Transport IT Summit, Brussels | June 17, 2015– Singapore Airlines, Royal Brunei and Norwegian Air Shuttle are the latest carriers to sign-up for SITA OnAir’s AIRCOM® FlightTracker. The product uses existing equipment and re-purposes air traffic control data to provide consistent monitoring throughout the flight. The three airlines will deploy it on their entire fleet starting this month.

Several airline customers and SITA OnAir have worked very closely together to define the functions and features of AIRCOM® FlightTracker, as well as validate and test the solution. Singapore Airlines for instance has provided SITA OnAir with requirements for the next generation of AIRCOM® FlightTracker.

Safety is clearly paramount for airlines and there is an agreement across the industry that they need the ability to track their aircraft at all times. SITA OnAir’s solution suits them perfectly, both because it provides the tracking they need and is simple to activate

“Norwegian Air Shuttle has a strict selection process for every new solution we introduce. This is particularly true for something as important as aircraft tracking. It quickly became clear that SITA OnAir is the only provider that could give us exactly what we need. SITA OnAir’s FlightTracker is the most complete solution available. Using multiple sources of data, we can track all our aircraft at 15 minute intervals or less. It also provides the most accurate data, using “smoothing” to combine position sources.”

“And of course, safety is paramount for a solution like this. FlightTracker’s automated alerting system allows us to manage our fleet of 100 aircraft and the additional 200 that will enter the fleet in the coming years safely and efficiently. A bonus feature is the unique way it integrates ATC data into our systems- it will give us valuable insight into our operations and how we can improve them,” said Chief Operating Officer Geir Steiro at Norwegian Air Shuttle.

“With the airlines’ invaluable support, we have designed the solution to make it simple for airlines to implement flight tracking,” said Ian Dawkins, CEO of SITA OnAir. “For the 90-plus airlines already using our AIRCOM® FlightMessenger, we can deploy the solution in a few days. Following the recent ICAO discussions, we are also working on the definition and development of a new system to detect and report unusual situations.”

Dawkins continued, “As part of our commitment to the air transport community we will, during an emergency, provide AIRCOM® FlightTracker position reporting free of charge to SITA member customers.”

AIRCOM® FlightTracker is a ground-based, cost-effective software upgrade that uses existing equipment to allow airlines to follow aircraft positions and identify any unexpected deviations or gaps in position reports. It uses multiple sources of data so airlines can guarantee tracking intervals at 15 minutes or less for every flight. It was developed after ICAO and IATA called for global tracking technology that uses existing equipment and procedures as much as possible; SITA OnAir’s flight tracking solution meets these criteria. More airlines in Europe and the Middle East are currently assessing AIRCOM® FlightTracker with a view to making the necessary upgrade. SITA OnAir is expecting to make further customer announcements very soon.

Infographic EFB WEATHER

Annapolis, MD | May 11, 2015– Rockwell Collins and nine undisclosed airlines from around the world have launched a trial program for the company’s new ARINC MultiLinkSM flight tracking service. The service, which was announced in March, offers a comprehensive and cost-effective global flight tracking solution for the world’s airlines.

“The geographic diversity of the airlines participating in this program is very compelling,” said Yun Chong, vice president, commercial aviation services for Rockwell Collins’ Information Management Services business. “They fly a considerable number of oceanic and polar routes, which will allow them to use ARINC MultiLink to track aircraft in some of the most remote regions in the world.”

The airlines testing the program are based in Europe, Asia, Middle East, North America and Latin America and operate both regionally and globally.

ARINC MultiLink brings together multiple data sources to reliably report the location of an aircraft anywhere in the world. In addition to utilizing Rockwell Collins’ proprietary high-frequency data link (HFDL) performance data, the service merges multiple other data sources including ADS-C, ADS-B, ASDI radar data, EUROCONTROL position information and ACARS position reports, many of which the airlines already generate, to provide a highly economical solution for airlines.

“At the core of the ARINC MultiLink concept is the desire to take advantage of as many data feeds as possible,” continued Chong. “Having multiple data sources helps us provide a more accurate position and increases the likelihood that at least one data source will always be available. We are currently evaluating other data feeds that contain positional data that could be incorporated into the service.”

In addition, the service is designed to support flexible position reporting frequency, enabling it to meet industry recommendations of providing position reports at least every 15 minutes. Airlines can also receive notifications when an aircraft has unexpectedly stopped reporting positional data or when the aircraft has deviated from its expected path.

Upon completion of the trials, the ARINC MultiLink service is expected to enter into service in the fall.

• Safety solution could be up and running in a matter of weeks

London | February 6, 2015– Following the conclusion of the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) Second High Level Safety Conference in Montreal this week, Inmarsat (LSE:ISAT.L), the leading provider of global mobile satellite communications services, has announced its support of the regulatory body’s recommendations to enhance aviation safety, saying it is ready to participate in the adoption of a performance-based standard for global tracking of commercial aircraft.

Inmarsat welcomes ICAO’s conclusion that countries and industry should begin the voluntary implementation of global tracking which provide industry with viable options, as a matter of urgency.

Mary McMillan, Vice President of Safety and Operational Services at Inmarsat, said: “Inmarsat has been powering aviation safety since the introduction of oceanic surveillance and communications services in the early 1990s. Safety is our heritage and our future. Our focus is to work with all aviation partners to develop reliable safety services and effective operational practices.”

ICAO wants to see flight tracking implemented as quickly as possible as part of the proposed Global Aeronautical Distress and Safety System (GADSS). Inmarsat has actively pursued the potential use of available Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Contract (ADS-C) capabilities on board aircraft that support flight tracking activities. “Inmarsat is looking forward to working with ICAO, member states, airlines and all air navigation stakeholders leading to an expedited implementation of the GADSS concept”, says McMillan

ADS-C surveillance has already enabled increased aviation capacity and more efficient use in the oceanic regions. Contracts can be set to respond automatically at predetermined time intervals and to provide additional conformance monitoring capabilities.

Over 90% of today’s wide-bodied trans-oceanic aircraft are currently equipped with avionics compatible for ADS-C use, meaning it can be rapidly deployed to ensure global harmonization and operational seamlessness. ADS-C provides active aircraft position tracking by transmitting the aircraft’s current position and the next two planned positions, allowing flight dispatchers and air traffic controllers to track the aircraft’s progress and predict its next position.