September 27, 2019–SITAONAIR and the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to explore the potential for a world-first space-based Very High Frequency (VHF) solution.

The space-based VHF voice service, which would be the first of its kind, would use VHF radio relay installed onboard satellites. Its key benefit would be to enable Direct Controller-Pilot Communication (DCPC) in areas of airspace which are geographically remote, such as oceanic regions, or where it is not cost-efficient to provide and maintain terrestrial VHF and HF services. When used in combination with air traffic surveillance systems, the service has the potential to drastically improve airspace capacity and efficiency, complementing existing automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B), satellite communications (SATCOM) Voice and automatic dependent surveillance-contract/controller-pilot data link communications (ADS-C/CPDLC) technologies.

CAAS is already embarking on technical studies into space-based VHF in the Singapore Flight Information Region (FIR), focusing on medium earth orbit (MEO) and low earth orbit (LEO) satellites used as relay stations for voice and, if feasible, data communications.

SITAONAIR will support the initiative by contributing to various studies around the enablement of dual mission voice and data capability in areas that may benefit from ACARS Datalink services.

Initially, SITAONAIR will engage with the industry to focus on the implementation of High Altitude Pseudo Satellite- (HAPS)-based platforms which would hover around 60,000ft above the earth’s surface, in the stratosphere. This interim solution would deliver value in high-traffic routes and regions, paving the way for space-based VHF once available satellites are launched.

“The work already done in the region and this new collaboration with SITAONAIR are key steps in our efforts to invest in the future of improved air traffic management, through cutting-edge technologies. We’re excited to launch this within the Singapore FIR and provide enhanced operational efficiency for other air navigation service providers in the years to come. The addition of SITAONAIR’s industry and air traffic communications expertise enables CAAS to strengthen its research within the industry and continue to innovate,” comments Mr. Kevin Shum, CAAS Director General.

David Lavorel, Chief Executive Officer, SITAONAIR, adds: “Our focus, first and foremost, is the safety and efficiency of air traffic in increasingly busy skies. The research conducted in Singapore propels the industry into the next stage of air traffic management innovation and communications, providing the potential for key solutions which will keep the skies smarter, even in areas where ground-based VHF is not possible.”

To find out more about SITAONAIR’s ATC services, visit www.sitaonair.aero, speak to your local SITAONAIR contact, or submit an enquiry form.

Singapore | September 20, 2019–Singapore Airlines (SIA) has become the world’s first airline to host a live TV news broadcast from on board a commercial A380 flight powered by SITAONAIR’s high-speed Internet ONAIR over GX Aviation.

The broadcast by Sky Sports featured live interviews with the Alfa Romeo team travelling from Zurich to Singapore on board flight SQ346 for this year’s FORMULA 1 SINGAPORE AIRLINES SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX 2019. Fans on the ground were able to watch live as the team discussed what life is like in the sky, travelling to world-class racing destinations, while staying connected to their lives on the ground.

Singapore Airlines is able to keep its customers connected through SITAONAIR’s high-speed, reliable and advanced inflight connectivity portal, Internet ONAIR, powered by Link ONAIR over Inmarsat’s GX Aviation satellite network. A first of its kind, the live broadcast truly demonstrated how SITAONAIR supports the airline in providing ‘always-on’, reliable connectivity for passengers who need to keep in contact with work and loved ones.

As a long-standing SITAONAIR customer, Singapore Airlines is committed to providing best-in-class inflight connectivity. The airline adopted SITAONAIR’s Internet ONAIR and Mobile ONAIR services in 2017, which are designed to provide super-fast and uninterrupted connection over land or sea.

SITAONAIR’s Commercial Regional VP Asia-Pacific, Katrina Korzenowski, comments: “We’re excited to support Singapore Airlines in this pioneering venture, bringing live broadcast interviews to fans on the ground from 35,000 feet! The event is a testament to SIA’s dedication to outstanding passenger experience, as well as SITAONAIR’s ever-evolving work with Inmarsat to provide highly reliable, advanced inflight connectivity to airlines throughout the globe.”

To find out more about SITAONAIR’s cabin connectivity services, visit www.sitaonair.aero, speak to your local SITAONAIR contact, or submit an enquiry form.  

APEX & Los Angeles, California | September 11, 2019– All Nippon Airways (ANA) has begun equipping selected Boeing B777-300ER aircraft with SITAONAIR’s state-of-the-art Internet ONAIR Wi-Fi portal, powered by GX Aviation.

In partnership with JSAT MOBILE Communications Inc. (JSAT MOBILE), SITAONAIR has boosted ANA’s major upgrade for passengers, through the deployment of its Internet ONAIR Wi-Fi portal over Inmarsat’s ground-breaking Ka-band satellite network. The solution will provide ANA passengers with seamless, reliable and secure internet connectivity, anywhere in the world.

Passengers flying on corporate-heavy business routes will now be able to keep in touch with the office, even at 35,000 feet, as well as continuing to connect with their lives on the ground, from browsing and shopping to emailing and chatting with loved ones.

Working together with JSAT MOBILE – which is dedicated to providing the Japanese market with the latest mobile satellite services – has enabled SITAONAIR to establish and expand its relationship with ANA. This significantly enhances the airline’s offering to tech-savvy passengers.

JSAT MOBILE’s President & CEO Eiichi Yoda comments: “We’re pleased to have the opportunity to work with our partner SITAONAIR to support ANA in providing Wi-Fi services to its demanding base of connected passengers. JSAT MOBILE’s regulatory expertise and close customer coordination, together with SITAONAIR’s industry-connectivity solutions powered by Inmarsat’s reliable and expanding GX Aviation network, enables ANA to benefit from a seamless and future-proof solution.”

“SITAONAIR has taken huge strides to deliver a next-gen experience for passengers,” says SITAONAIR’s CEO David Lavorel. “Internet ONAIR draws upon our expertise as a provider of inflight technology, to provide an ‘always-on’, convenient Wi-Fi solution that is ahead of the game.”

“We are proud to partner with All Nippon Airways to deliver our award-winning inflight connectivity to its fleet.” SITAONAIR’s VP Customer Programs, Yann Cabaret adds: “With the installation of Internet ONAIR, ANA passengers will be guaranteed smooth and seamless connectivity, now and into the future.”

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.”

AIX – Hamburg, Germany | April 2, 2019– Philippine Airlines (PAL) is soaring towards a 5-Star flying experience, as the award-winning Filipino flag carrier equips its long-haul fleet with SITAONAIR’s high-speed inflight connectivity (IFC) services over GX Aviation.

PAL understands that enhanced passenger experience is the key to its product offering, now and into the future, hence the decision to let PAL passengers enjoy speedier and more user-friendly Wi-Fi service through myPAL Wi-Fi Hi-Speed available on US, Canada, and London flights. This new milestone, following a series of innovative product and service upgrades rolled out in recent months, demonstrates why PAL was voted the No. 1 Most Improved Airline in the World by airlineratings.com for 2019.

PAL now offers complimentary Wi-Fi to all passengers. This improved Wi-Fi product also allows passengers to stay connected longer with an affordable renewal plan.

This latest move by PAL comes at a time when demand for IFC continues to accelerate. Inmarsat’s 2018 Inflight Connectivity Survey – Global White Paper found an overwhelming 86% of Asia-Pacific fliers would use inflight Wi-Fi if available on their next flight, with 78% declaring themselves more likely to rebook with an airline if high-quality Wi-Fi was available.

SITAONAIR has now activated GX Aviation’s high-speed broadband network, and its best-in-class IFC portal Internet ONAIR, aboard PAL’s new-generation aircraft. SITAONAIR’s solution is empowering PAL to deliver the promises of the connected aircraft, with ‘at home’ connectivity services to satisfy passengers’ growing digital demands.

SITAONAIR’s associated rapid-fire installation of GX Aviation for Philippine Airlines also represents a fantastic feat, with new techniques reducing the associated aircraft ground time by up to 70%. Previously, installing inflight connectivity services typically took about 15 days per aircraft to complete, but SITAONAIR achieved this in just 4 days – a dramatic reduction.

Philippine Airlines President and Chief Operating Officer, Jaime Bautista, said: “We are delighted to have long-term partner SITAONAIR join us on our journey towards achieving the coveted 5-Star Skytrax rating. We are taking our inflight passenger experience to the next level with SITAONAIR’s nose-to-tail inflight connectivity services over the high-speed capabilities of GX Aviation. We have high hopes that our partnership will help us achieve our mission of enhancing the total passenger experience while achieving operational efficiency. Our message to our passengers: ‘Fly on PAL’s long-haul routes and enjoy inflight connectivity at its finest’.”

Katrina Korzenowski, SITAONAIR Vice President, Asia Pacific, added: “With our customizable Internet ONAIR portal, Philippine Airlines will be equipped to provide its most enhanced, brand-defining, personalized passenger experience yet, from the forefront of the connected aircraft age. PAL is a highly-valued customer, and we are of course incredibly proud to be supporting the Philippines’ flag carrier as it drives forward its ambition to achieve a 5-Star Skytrax rating.

“SITAONAIR’s work with PAL is just one example of its mission to deliver end-to-end, future-proof connected aircraft innovations that incorporate the latest, best connectivity technologies to our airline customers’ unique specifications. We are truly a one-stop-shop with the expertise to empower airlines to achieve their bespoke connectivity ambitions, whatever their fleet or avionics preferences.”

AIX – Hamburg, Germany | April 2019– Taiwanese start-up carrier, Starlux Airlines, is gearing up for its commercial launch by announcing its partnership with SITAONAIR to bring next-generation inflight connectivity (IFC) to its passengers.

SITAONAIR will deploy its award-winning Internet ONAIR Wi-Fi portal – powered by Link ONAIR over Inmarsat’s high-speed GX Aviation satellite network – aboard the airline’s A321neos and A350s. The deal means cutting edge IFC services will be available to Starlux’s first passengers when it launches in 2020.

Founded in May 2018, Starlux Airlines will serve both Asian and North American long-haul routes from its headquarters in Taipei. Serving business and leisure markets, the airline is focused on meeting passenger demand with tailored, premium IFC offers.

The selection of SITAONAIR’s end-to-end connectivity for the inaugural fleet is a testament to both SITAONAIR’s position as an expert and unique provider of bespoke passenger experience solutions, at the forefront of connected aircraft innovation and Starlux’s commitment to developing a top-flight passenger experience ready for commercial launch.

“As we prepare to welcome our first passengers aboard in 2020, we are thrilled to be partnering with SITAONAIR to bring a world-class connectivity experience to passengers,” says Starlux’s President, Glen Chai. “We are excited by what is taking shape and are certain that Internet ONAIR over GX Aviation will deliver the consistent and high-speed connection necessary for a top-flight travel experience.”

Internet ONAIR, SITAONAIR’s award-winning inflight connectivity portal, enables passengers to stay connected with their digital lives on the ground – even at 30,000+ feet. What’s more, the portal is expertly integrated within airlines’ existing passenger manifest. This allows seamless synchronization of the latest passenger information and requirements which are recorded in the airline’s customer relationship management (CRM) system. Connecting Internet ONAIR with this rich source of customer data enables Starlux to extend its personalized passenger offerings from ground to air, to promote custom price plans and tailored content depending on passenger budget, seat class, frequent flyer status, search histories, or shopping preferences.

Katrina Korzenowski, SITAONAIR Commercial Regional VP, Asia-Pacific, says: “Starlux is an exciting new entrant to the premium air travel market, and we are delighted to be partnering with the airline to bring premium inflight passenger connectivity onboard. With our years of dedicated expertise delivering tailored solutions, we are the right partner for Starlux to bring this young carrier to the fore of passenger connectivity.”

March 26, 2019– Azul Linhas Aéreas has become the first airline in the Americas to exceed modern flight tracking safety standards by embracing truly global, real-time flight tracking capabilities onboard aircraft, with SITAONAIR’s best-in-class AIRCOM® FlightTracker.

The Brazilian low-cost carrier has upgraded to SITAONAIR’s advanced cutting-edge FlightTracker option, which integrates AireonSM space-based Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) data from FlightAware. This gives the airline enhanced awareness of the precise position, speed and altitude of its full airborne fleet, anywhere in the world.

SITAONAIR has now activated its enhanced FlightTracker capabilities aboard Azul’s fleet of A320s and A330s, Embraer 190 and 195s and ATR 72-600s. This was completed in November 2018, ahead of the official launch of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)’s Global Aeronautical Distress & Safety System (GADSS) 15-minute aircraft tracking standard. With the Aireon system, Azul will even exceed the ICAO’s 15-minute standard by receiving aircraft position reports at a standard frequency of at least once per minute.

There was a lot of interesting news this week, but lets start out with our rectangle story on SITAONAIR and their FlightTracker.

SITAONAIR

ICAO recommendations calling for airlines to report flight positions every 15 minutes became official on Thursday 8 November 2018  – and SITAONAIR is helping multiple airlines around the world meet them, thanks to its cutting-edge AIRCOM FlightTracker.

Major airlines including Avianca Brasil, Azul, Norwegian Air Shuttle, Singapore Airlines and Vistara, already use AIRCOM FlightTracker, across more than 250,000 flights a month. In delivering flight precision, enhanced awareness and reinforced safety, FlightTracker enables airlines to unlock greater operational effectiveness in an increasingly congested airspace, to minimize costs and support passenger satisfaction. The International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) Global Aeronautical Distress Safety System (GADSS) recommendations compel airlines to commit to minimum standards of aircraft tracking, with the aim of improving safety, detection of aircraft in distress, and efficient and effective search and rescue. The ICAO urges operators to report aircraft positions at least once every 15 minutes as of Thursday 8 November 2018, and additional aircraft distress processes will be added from 2021.

SITAONAIR has led the way in preparing airlines for this major milestone in aviation safety. Its ground-based, easy-to-implement AIRCOM FlightTracker software system guarantees regular flight position updates, without requiring any new avionics or modifications to aircraft.

Gathering data from multiple global sources – including FlightAware’s Firehose data feed – it bridges gaps between air navigation services provider tracking, to offer 100% global flight tracking with position updates at least once-per-minute. The FlightAware feed delivers live aircraft position data from its terrestrial network of ADS-B receivers, as well as from Aireon’s space-based ADS-B network, which, hosted on the Iridium NEXT constellation, is now providing live flight tracking.

In incorporating this space-based ADS-B data, SITAONAIR’s enhanced FlightTracker gives airlines the tools to receive the precise position, speed and altitude of their airborne fleet anywhere in the world – even over oceans and polar regions. They are also able to exceed the ICAO 15-minute recommendation, in readiness for 2021’s anticipated one-minute recommendation.

Discover SITAONAIR’s AIRCOM FlightTracker by exploring our whitepaper, webinar and videos online.

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ZODIAC

Zodiac Inflight Innovations (Zii) appointed Benjamin Asmar as VP IFE Products and Strategy.  In this role, Asmar will lead Zii’s product group to further develop and deploy innovative products and services for its RAVE inflight entertainment system. Ben joins Zii from Virgin Australia Airlines where he held positions leading the product development and customer experience for the airline. Most recently he led a team of 20 product and project  professionals whose job it was to imagine and implement the ‘next big thing’ to blow customers’ minds, challenge the status quo and push the limits to develop truly unique Virgin experiences through the best products in the industry.We are looking forward to Ben bringing his airline perspective to our team, helping Zii to continue the RAVE tradition of bringing unprecedented product innovations to our market, says Larry Girard, Executive VP & Chief Commercial Officer. Ben exclaimed I am absolutely thrilled to be joining the Zii team.  RAVE is a fantastic product and the team at Zii have really thought about what makes airline operations difficult and frustrates passengers when it comes to Infight entertainment and have gone about removing these pain points to give passengers a world class IFE experience whilst reducing operational overheads. I’m looking forward to working with the team to continue to drive innovation in Passenger Experience.

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SITA

SITA, a specialist in air transport communications and IT solutions, announced the acquisition of private company MEXIA Interactive (“MEXIA”), a global provider of curb-to-gate passenger analytics for the air transport industry. The company, founded in 2011, is based in Winnipeg, Canada. The acquisition will enhance SITA’s existing airport operations and passenger flow management solutions. Customers will benefit from a comprehensive and predictive view of passenger flow information that will result in greater operational efficiencies and improved services. MEXIA’s technology identifies and predicts bottlenecks in various queues such as check-in, security and taxi lines while monitoring the amount of time passengers spend in airports. The company also helps airports find non-aeronautical revenue potential by providing shopper numbers, conversion rates, and trends through insights on passengers dwelling in the airport. MEXIA currently works with some of the largest and most influential airports around the world.

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digEcor

The digEcor and Jamco Aero Design and Engineering (JADE) partnership was announced at the FTE Asia Expo in Singapore. JADE’s structural, electrical and systems engineering design expertise will play a major role in retrofitting aircraft with digEcor’s Cabin Technology products in the Asia Pacific region. digEcor Chief Executive, David Withers, said that he was pleased to have modification expert JADE on board as a key partner. “JADE is a strong player in the Asia Pacific region and has years of Airbus and Boeing aircraft cabin modification and engineering services experience.”

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SPAFAX

Spafax, a leading provider of media, entertainment and content marketing services to the airline industry, announced that it has been selected by Air China to exclusively license and curate its Hollywood movie selection, as well as working together on all other video content. The parties formalized this partnership by signing the letter of intent at the inaugural China International Import Expo held in Shanghai. Spafax also announced the opening of a new office and team in Beijing that will serve in support of Air China. The WPP Group through its Tenthavenue and Kinetic subsidiaries have built up a strong multi-year working relationship with Air China, and have been invaluable in assisting Spafax to quickly establish a local presence.

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SATCOM DIRECT

Following on from the SD Xperience launch at NBAA, Satcom Direct is taking its Gulfstream GIV on a circumnavigation of the globe to showcase the power of the new connectivity offering to the international business aviation community. A team of SD executives, including Chief Operating Officer Chris Moore, will spend just under ten days flying the aircraft into leading business aviation destinations to demonstrate the full SD Xperience in-situ, in-cabin.Long term SD customers will be invited to witness the power of SD Xperience first hand. The fully-synchronized, end-to-end connectivity solution combines the full suite of SD cabin and cockpit communications services, aircraft connectivity hardware, and flight operations software to deliver consistent connectivity around the world. Adding extra power to the portfolio is the newly introduced FlexExec broadband service, for which SD is the Master Distributor, delivered in partnership with Intelsat (NYSE: I) and Astronics AeroSat. Business aviation’s first dedicated connectivity service will join existing service providers in the SD portfolio to ensure SD customers benefit from customized, seamless, synchronized,  consistent on-demand global connectivity. SD Xperience customers also benefit from SD ground infrastructure as the SD Data Center enables the application of existing compliance and security protocols for aircraft networks to mitigate cyber-attack and maintain data integrity.

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GOGO

Gogo Business Aviation’s latest connectivity solution for light jets – Gogo AVANCE L3 – has been selected by Airshare for installation across its entire fleet of Embraer Phenom 100 aircraft. Airshare operates 11 Phenom 100 aircraft in its fleet, and is recognized as one of the most cost-effective fractional aircraft providers in private aviation for business and leisure travelers. The company also features Embraer Phenom 300s within its fleet, many of which are equipped with Gogo’s connectivity systems onboard. Airshare has also committed to installing AVANCE L5 on all new Phenom 300 aircraft it adds to the fleet in the future.

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OTHER NEWS

• An AI Lie Detector Is Going to Start Questioning Travelers in the EU Better learn to answer a machine!
• Got airport stress (and who doesn’t)? Therapy dogs (and a pig) are waiting at airports to help de-stress harried travelers – Los Angeles Times
• Why the future air travel just might go downhill. Why future air travel is going to be even less romantic – Independent.ie
• Heard of HAPS? Here is a note in FierceWireless – you figure it out! “Facebook is neither a HAPS manufacturer nor an operator, but acknowledged it has invested in the technology, which can be used by both mobile and satellite operators to provide more affordable broadband. The company is collaborating with Airbus and other HAPS companies to advance spectrum and aviation policy to demonstrate the viability of HAPS systems for providing broadband connectivity in the bands considered by the ITU, which will host WRC-19.”

APEX Expo & Boston, MA | September 24, 2018–Aircalin is to offer its passengers unprecedented levels of inflight connectivity, after partnering with SITAONAIR to add the ground-breaking Internet ONAIR solution to its fleet.

The airline, based in the French territory of New Caledonia in the south-west Pacific, is engaged in a strategic development program – Aircalin 2021 – that will see its fleet renewed with A330-900s and A320neos within the next three years.

Initiated on behalf of the airline’s major shareholder, the New Caledonian government, the program will enable Aircalin to offer an increasing number of flights, including new destinations, as well as boosting tourism within the island group (Aircalin currently serves Japan, Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands).

As part of a strong commitment to provide passengers with the best-possible inflight experience, Aircalin approached aviation technology pioneer SITAONAIR to secure the use of its award-winning Internet ONAIR.

Powered by Inmarsat’s Ka-band satellite network GX Aviation, Internet ONAIR enables seamless, high-speed connectivity at all times, helping passengers to stay connected with loved ones on the ground, or keep up with the latest news.

“Our passengers are increasingly demanding ‘at home’ internet capability during flights, so that they can carry on with their digital lives without interruption,” commented Aircalin’s CEO, Didier Tappero. “And SITAONAIR’s GX Aviation-enabled Internet ONAIR will provide Aircalin passengers with remarkable connectivity.”

Internet ONAIR over GX Aviation supplies much more than just a fast and reliable connection. Aircalin can now bring its passengers an exceptional level of personalization and interactivity – delivering a truly innovative and forward-thinking inflight connectivity experience.

SITAONAIR CEO, David Lavorel, has no doubt that SITAONAIR’s technology will help Aircalin deliver its ambitions: “With the deployment of Internet ONAIR on its new aircraft, Aircalin is really setting out its stall as a new-generation flight provider,” he said.

“We know the importance of the connected aircraft, and are confident that, going forward, Aircalin’s passengers will draw immense satisfaction from their inflight experience.”

To discover SITAONAIR’s best-in-class IFC portal, Internet ONAIR, and explore its complete connected aircraft services portfolio, visit www.sitaonair.aero

Aircraft Interiors EXPO Hamburg, Germany | April 11, 2018– The world’s largest international carrier, Emirates, has surpassed a staggering one million Wi-Fi sessions in March, powered by SITAONAIR’s connected aircraft expertize. It represents a major moment for inflight connectivity (IFC), highlighting passengers’ demand for services that enable them to seamlessly maintain their digital lives, by streaming, chatting, enjoying social media, shopping and surfing, as they fly.

Passengers travelling with Emirates consumed 1,037,016 SITAONAIR Internet ONAIR sessions between 1 and 31 March 2018, across its B777-300ER and A380 aircraft fleet.

Aircraft Interiors Expo, Hamburg | April 12, 2018– SITAONAIR has been appointed as connected aircraft service consultant and technology supplier to Taqnia Space, leveraging its significant inflight connectivity (IFC) expertize, to enable the Saudi company to bring its UON offer to airlines.

In this new role and way of working, SITAONAIR is supporting the development of Taqnia Space’s-own unique UON solutions line, by drawing on SITAONAIR’s leading inflight internet and mobile connectivity technologies. Going forward, SITAONAIR will be responsible for supporting the ongoing management of services and infrastructure involved in the delivery of Taqnia Space’s UON solutions. Taqnia Space will deploy its UON services across both Ku- and Ka-band High-throughput Satellite connectivity.

As consultant – and the world’s primary provider of inflight mobile connectivity – a key aspect of SITAONAIR’s appointment is guiding the development of Taqnia Space’s 3.5G inflight mobile service for passengers. SITAONAIR recently celebrated the tenth anniversary of its Mobile ONAIR service, and Taqnia Space is harnessing SITAONAIR’s proven, pioneering approach in this field. For Taqnia Space’s internet solution, meanwhile, SITAONAIR will expertly integrate live TV as a specific UON portal feature.

David Lavorel, Chief Executive Officer, SITAONAIR, says: “We are thrilled to have been selected by Taqnia Space for our considerable connected aircraft expertize, advising this new company to develop its defined UON inflight connectivity solutions for airlines. With us, Taqnia Space has been able to advance its innovations in the most efficient and effective way possible.

“This project reinforces SITAONAIR’s openness to new technologies and consortiums that advance airline industry choice, and our sheer versatility, skill and expertize in being able to deliver new, bespoke services across different platforms and hardware, and operate them on behalf of a partner. I am proud that our company is adding yet another string to its bow as a recognized connected aircraft expert. It complements SITAONAIR’s own and branded, best-in-class, Internet ONAIR, Mobile ONAIR, Link ONAIR and CrewTab inflight connectivity services for passengers and crew, with which our prestigious airline customers are already leading the charge for a modern, world-class passenger experience.”

To discover SITAONAIR’s end-to-end connected aircraft proposition, speak to your local SITAONAIR contact,submit an enquiry form or explore www.sitaonair.aero.

France | March 13, 2018–An industry-leading weather-alerting feature, empowering flight dispatchers to avoid or anticipate weather disruption throughout flights, has been launched as a new feature of SITAONAIR’s AIRCOM® FlightTracker, in partnership with DTN.

Airline dispatchers using AIRCOM® FlightTracker will now be equipped to help aircraft avoid inclement weather –including aircraft-specific turbulence, icing, and thunderstorm forecasts – supporting the smoothest and safest possible flight experience for those onboard, and maximizing fuel efficiency.

Already adopted by airlines operating more than 250,000 flights every month, SITAONAIR’s AIRCOM® FlightTracker is a ground-based software system delivering vital global real-time aircraft position alerting to airline operations teams. The application aggregates the best available inflight position data from a wealth of sources –including cutting-edge spaced-based ADS-B provided by FlightAware and Aireon using the Iridium NEXT satellite constellation – on a single aircraft position display. What’s more, no modifications to the aircraft are required to activate it.

Interest in FlightTracker, and its enhanced, 100% global minute-by-minute update capabilities, is accelerating as the industry counts down to the ICAO GADSS 15-minute flight-tracking recommendation, coming into force in November 2018.

The incorporation of DTN’s Flight Route Alerting data represents an important addition to the solution, making it indispensable to flight operators in their flight planning and flight following.

Paul Rainford, Senior Product Manager, FlightTracker, at SITAONAIR, says: “The responsibility of tracking aircraft is reliant on intensive manpower from an airline’s operations and dispatch teams. But armed with FlightTracker’s aircraft tracking alerting, and new, weather-based Flight Route Alerting capabilities, operations and dispatchers can focus their attentions on those flights that call for more detailed consideration. This in turn provides improved support to the pilots in the air, contributing to a better passenger experience.”

Jon Reifschneider, senior vice president of weather at DTN, adds: “We are excited to partner with SITAONAIR to provide additional layers of safety to all flights. The system allows you to take charge of your flight plan, planning routes up to 36 hours in advance, giving operators the confidence to schedule flights that keep passengers and crew safe, avoid turbulence, and use less fuel. DTN’s insights also shed light on weather events that exceed the parameters for any planned routes, enabling flight planners to select the route that offers the best cost and the least chance of weather-related disruptions.”

Discover SITAONAIR’s AIRCOM® FlightTracker online at www.sitaonair.aero, speak to your local SITAONAIR contact, or submit an enquiry form.

France | March 12, 2018–SITAONAIR is delivering a next-generation connected aircraft ‘smart core’ that will significantly enhance airline data communications and operations. The company has partnered withAstronics Ballard Technology to provide an integrated product solution using their new webCS® Wireless Aircraft Communications Server along with SITAONAIR’s e-enabled application software.

This closely-integrated software and hardware solution greatly reduces deployment complexity and will bring even greater value to SITAONAIR’s airline customers – delivering enhanced capabilities and operational efficiencies – empowering airlines to realize the promises of the connected aircraft.

The ‘smart core’ brings together the vast connected aircraft data collected by SITAONAIR’s e-Aircraft® DataCapture solutions for cockpit, cabin, and aircraft operations. It then distributes this SITAONAIR-processed data onboard using Astronics Ballard Technology’s flexible webCS, a smart AID/server/router that securely bridges avionics data with wired and wireless networks in a single compact box.

SITAONAIR already plays a central airline e-enablement and data management role, in an age where the volume of data generated by aircraft has sky-rocketed from five parameters in 1958, to more than 200,000 today. As testament to its expertize, SITAONAIR last year launched its pioneering e-Aircraft® DataCapture solution – a result of the company’s collaboration with Air France to deliver ‘virtual black box’ flight recording solutions for automatic data collection.

Today’s offering of an integrated product will further enhance airline customers’ data management approach. The combination of SITAONAIR’s established portfolio of passenger, crew and flight operations solutions with Astronics Ballard Technology’s innovative hardware and strong technical expertise in the area of aircraft avionics interfacing, will form a central pillar of airlines’ connectivity and e-enablement strategies, delivered to airlines as a managed service.

Dominique El Bez, SITAONAIR Vice President, Product and Strategy, says: “Our new partnership marks an evolution in SITAONAIR’s e-enablement strategy and is a true hallmark of the connected aircraft age. The arrival of our smart core for an intuitive, integrated connected aircraft reinforces SITAONAIR’s pioneering open platforms vision, by encompassing complete, flexible and scalable aircraft data management solutions both onboard and on the ground.”

Jon Neal of Astronics Ballard Technology says: “We are extremely pleased to be selected by SITAONAIR to provide the secure platform on which to build this total e-enablement solution. We share their desire to allow airline customers to access their data to enable and empower better decision-making that will streamline and transform their operations.”

To explore the SITAONAIR connected aircraft portfolio, including its e-Aircraft DataCapture®, AppsConnect® and ACARS over IP services, visit www.sitaonair.aero, speak to your local SITAONAIR contact or submit an enquiry form.

United Kingdom | March 6, 2018–A significant, multi-frequency European datalink infrastructure upgrade has been completed by SITAONAIR, marking an important milestone in realizing the Single European Sky (SES) vision, and in tackling congestion in Europe’s airspace.

SITAONAIR’s upgrade fosters and enhances the provision of air/ground (A/G) datalink in Europe across multiple frequencies, supporting the region’s increasingly pressured Air Traffic Control (ATC) network. European Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs) currently handle around 26,000 flights daily, with air traffic levels forecast to double by 2020.

Over the last 18 months, SITAONAIR – the air transport industry’s global leader in operational and Air Traffic Control communications – has notably extended the footprint of its crucial A/G communication service, by establishing a multi-frequency VHF Data Link Mode 2 network infrastructure (VDLm2 MF), across Europe.

The multi-frequency version of the service has been recommended by the European Aviation Safety Agency as essential for facilitating Controller-Pilot Data Link Communication (CPDLC) – an Air Traffic Control (ATC) application mandated by the European Commission for use under the SES. The European mandate applies to airlines and ANSPs alike, with SITAONAIR providing the core A/G service enabling them to exchange vital ATC data.

VDLm2 MF is deployed on both SITAONAIR’s-own infrastructure, and on that of its ANSP partners, including BULATSA in Bulgaria, DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung in Germany, ENAIRE in Spain, Nav Portugal, Romania’s ROMATSA and Switzerland’s Skyguide. Fifteen European ANSPs, from the Czech Republic and Croatia to Sweden and Slovenia, have now contracted SITAONAIR to provide VDLm2 A/G communications capabilities.

The heart of critical aviation communications

François Bardin, SITAONAIR’s Head of ATC Systems and Solutions, says: “The realization of our multi-frequency VDLm2 MF infrastructure once again sets SITAONAIR at the heart of aviation’s critical communications landscape, empowering ANSPs and airlines in Europe to provide mandated air/ground communications. We knew this vital CPDLC transition would present a challenging shift for the industry from voice to digital link communications. Thanks to our close partnership working, and tireless, proactive approach, we have made this ambition a reality.”

Eric Ménard, SITAONAIR’s Head of VHF Infrastructure, adds: “Our enhanced VDLm2 infrastructure, with its one-of-a-kind, three-layer VDL frequencies, is now operational, with a unique footprint over Europe. Our service performance has been commended by the Eurocontrol Maastricht Upper Airspace Centre, achieving, early-on, a global VDL Uplink Success Rate (USR) capable of satisfying demand, and alleviating the well-documented air transport pressures which have been encountered in Europe’s skies.

“This achievement is the result of a long-term collaboration between SITAONAIR’s teams and the industry. We would like to extend our thanks to the ICAO’s Frequency Management Group, and our European partners, BULATSA, DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung, ENAIRE, Nav Portugal, ROMATSA and Skyguide, for their support in delivering this initiative.”

Pleased with the results

Klauspeter Hauf, Head of Voice Communication Services at DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung, says: “We are very pleased with the results of our partnership with SITAONAIR to upgrade our VHF infrastructure to multi-frequency, and within the ambitious timeframe set by the European program. We are already seeing the benefits of this significant work, which is having a widespread positive impact on Air Traffic Control across the continent.”

Speak to your local SITAONAIR contact, or submit an enquiry form, to discover SITAONAIR’s full connected aircraft and air traffic management portfolio at www.sitaonair.aero

Wireless connectivity at the gate will allow the aircraft to connect to vital aircraft, airline systems

February 8, 2018– SITA is providing wireless connectivity on the ground to Air Mauritius’ new fleet of Airbus A350 aircraft, keeping the new-generation aircraft connected to the vital back-end systems no matter where they fly.

In October 2017, Air Mauritius introduced the first two new-generation Airbus A350 aircraft with a further four expected to join the fleet over the next few years. The Airbus A350 is one of the most advanced aircraft flying today. It brings with it a unique complexity with large data exchange in its own unique protocol – Media Independent Aircraft Messaging (MIAM). This is designed to exchange large amounts of data between the aircraft and ground systems using multiple communication channels.

SITAONAIR – SITA’s sister company focused on connected aircraft – has developed a solution to understand this complex MIAM communication and simplify integration into airline systems and processes. Additionally, Air Mauritius wanted this exchange over Inmarsat SwiftBroadband (SBB). This required SITAONAIR to work closely with all stakeholders, including Airbus and IBM, to ensure the successful launch of A350 operations and in the process, hosting the entire service in the SITA ATI Cloud.

At the gate, SITA’s wireless connectivity allows the airline to quickly and securely exchange vital aircraft information generated during flight with both the airline’s own systems as well as with Airbus and IBM. At the same time key information ahead of the next flight can be uploaded, including passenger and flight information.

This connectivity allows for rapid exchange of aircraft information which will help Air Mauritius speed up aircraft turnaround times while ensuring seamless management of the aircraft’s systems by ensuring complete connectivity globally.

Donald Li Ying, Vice President – Information Systems at Air Mauritius, said: “As Air Mauritius begins to introduce a new-generation of connected aircraft such as the Airbus A350, it is vital that we have a partner that can support the transfer of data both in the air and on the ground. This is vital to leverage the full benefit that connected aircraft can bring to the airline and our passengers.”

Maneesh Jaikrishna, SITA Vice President Indian Subcontinent, Eastern & Southern Africa said: “The continued growth in connected aircraft such at the Airbus A350 is opening new possibilities to enhance the passenger experience on board as well drive new efficiencies in how these aircraft are managed.”

“These new aircraft have become flying data centers which rely on world-class connectivity in order to exchange information on everything from engine data, passenger requirements to updates at the destination. This requires reliable, fast connectivity no matter where the aircraft finds itself. At SITA we are working with airlines globally to support that connectivity and ensure that the full benefits of connected aircraft can be unlocked.”

A total of 30% of airlines are already operating connected aircraft within their fleet and 73% of airlines will either operate or have taken delivery of connected aircraft in the next three years, according to SITA Air Transport IT Insights 2017.

Argentina | November 21, 2017–Aerolineas Argentinas (AR) has become Latin America’s first airline to digitally empower its cabin crews to take the inflight passenger service to the next level with SITAONAIR’s CrewTab.

CrewTab digitally transforms cabin crews’ pre-, in-, and post-flight activities and workflows by providing crew members with a complete, user-friendly mobile and tablet application interface.

Through this, they can access key passenger profile details, spanning everything from special meal requests, to connecting flights.

By replacing paper-based processes with SITAONAIR’s interactive CrewTab dashboard, AR international crews can also access and update the airline’s integrated back-end processes and information.

In addition, CrewTab acts as a platform enabling AR flight pursers and cabin crew to streamline advisory, documenting and reporting processes.

Now armed with this data at the touch of a button, AR crews can deliver a more personalized, proactive and responsive service for airline customers on flights to Latin America, the US, Spain and Italy.

Argentina’s flag carrier joins Virgin Australia and Philippine Airlines, among others, in harnessing this intuitive solution to advance their passenger experience offer.

Ricardo Lehmacher, Airport Manager of Aerolineas Argentinas, says: “SITAONAIR’s CrewTab delivers real-time information to our cabin crews’ fingertips, empowering us to advance our pre-flight preparations, onboard operations, and post-flight debrief reporting.

“With this rich, connected information, our cabin crews can perform at the highest level to deliver on our passengers’ expectations.”

Carlos Vianna, SITAONAIR’s Head of Business Development, Latin America, says: “We are very proud to count Aerolineas Argentinas among our most recent adopters of SITAONAIR’s intuitive CrewTab solution, and our first in the region.

“This invaluable application supports cabin crews to deliver their best connected service in more ways than one. That’s everything from CrewTab’s capacity to integrate within airlines’ existing IT systems and Customer Relationship Management (CRM), to linking cabin crews with passenger’s latest onboard preferences, such as duty-free shopping, snacking, and service style. CrewTab digitizes cabin crews to set themselves apart from the competition by delivering the more streamlined and personalized service that passengers crave.”

For more information about CrewTab and to discover the full SITAONAIR product and service range, visit www.sitaonair.aero.

United Arab Emirates | November 14, 2017–

SITAONAIR and Emirates have extended their partnership to deliver passenger connectivity solutions across its fleet of A380 and B777 aircraft for a further four years.

The news follows the recent rollout of personalized inflight connectivity for members of the airline’s loyalty program, Emirates Skywards, through SITAONAIR’s onboard Wi-Fi hub, Internet ONAIR. The project was recently awarded the Best Personalization Innovation award at the 2017 APEX EXPO in September.

The extended deal, covering 279 aircraft, underlines Emirates’ continued focus on passenger connectivity excellence by providing harmonized and seamless inflight Internet access to passengers around the globe. The new contract covers Mobile ONAIR and Internet ONAIR on all A380 aircraft, and Internet ONAIR on the B777 fleet.

SITAONAIR’s open platforms approach – launched through its hot topic white paper at last year’s APEX EXPO – delivers a consistent user experience across the various satellite connections and pre-existing onboard technologies present across the Emirates fleet, unconstrained by hardware suppliers’ refresh cycles.

David Lavorel, CEO of SITAONAIR, said: “We are extremely proud to expand the relationship with our long-standing airline customer, Emirates. We have worked closely with Emirates over the years to achieve their connected aircraft vision, and look forward to continually driving cabin connectivity innovation for the benefit of Emirates passengers.”

Emirates is the world’s largest A380 operator, with 100 A380 aircraft in its fleet all equipped with SITAONAIR cabin connectivity.

To find out more about SITAONAIR’s full inflight connectivity portfolio and open platforms vision, visit www.sitaonair.aero, speak to your local SITAONAIR contact, or submit an enquiry form.

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.

October 9, 2017–Avianca Brasil (OceanAir) is “proud” to have activated industry best-practice flight-tracking with SITAONAIR, as the airline prepares to expand its operations.

SITAONAIR’s AIRCOM® FlightTracker is now airline-operational on the domestic carrier’s current fleet of 49 A320 and four A330 aircraft. This puts Avianca Brazil well ahead of the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) 2018 safety mandate, compelling operators to state their aircraft flight positions at least once every 15 minutes.

The airline has also deployed SITAONAIR’s AIRCOM® FlightMessenger on its fleet, helping improve efficiency by translating operational data into a format that seamlessly integrates into the airline’s IT infrastructure.

Frederico Pedreira, Chief Executive Officer of Avianca Brasil, said: “Deploying this industry benchmark flight-tracker has been a priority for us, and we are very happy with the results. Having the proper technology from SITAONAIR to track our fleet, comply with the ICAO’s recommendation, and further our commitment to passenger safety, is an achievement we are proud of.

“As we begin the exciting path to expanding beyond domestic routes to offer international flights across the Americas, we do so equipped with an impressive technology that will seamlessly support the management of our growing airborne fleet.”

Carlos Vianna, SITAONAIR’s Head of Business Development, Latin America, said: “Avianca Brasil joins a select group of airlines in South America today to have activated flight-tracking technologies, reinforcing their passenger safety commitments.

“SITAONAIR’s AIRCOM® FlightTracker comes straight from aviation’s digital experts, providing automated alerting and gathering data from multiple global sources, filling in any gaps between air navigation services provider tracking. Our FlightTracker will ensure that Avianca Brasil has the intelligent innovation it needs to effortlessly support the comprehensive management of the fleet as the airline continues to expand.”

Discover SITAONAIR’s FlightTracker online at www.sitaonair.aero, speak to your local SITAONAIR contact, or submit an enquiry form online.

Wednesday 20 September 2017 – Saudia and SITAONAIR are taking the inflight Wi-Fi experience for passengers to new heights by activating fresh functionalities for personalizing the onboard digital journey.

SITAONAIR has deployed its enhanced Internet ONAIR – an inflight Wi-Fi hub providing seamless inflight internet connectivity to airline passengers – aboard 76 Saudia aircraft flying to 34 destinations worldwide. It features a new, ‘world-first’ e-ticket solution, designed by SITAONAIR and Saudia, giving First and Business Class passengers access to free inflight Wi-Fi, simply by entering their e-ticket code into the portal.

Thanks to SITAONAIR’s expert integration of its Internet ONAIR service within Saudia’s customer relationship management (CRM) systems, the airline has been given full control and flexibility over creating special inflight connectivity offers for certain passenger demographics, such as frequent fliers, and for specific routes. It also means no codes need to be handled by Saudia or sent to passengers to receive their inflight Wi-Fi treat.

Saudia’s enhanced Internet ONAIR passenger experience also benefits from:
•    An augmented ‘look and feel’ for mobile users, with over 90% of all Wi-Fi sessions used on mobile devices
•    A new, ergonomic website design, with improved navigation and user interface
•    Faster speeds for registering, validating credit cards and starting Wi-Fi sessions
•    A powerful in-built ad server tool that harmonizes various advertising formats without spoiling the passenger experience.

As part of their commitment to continue providing a world-class passenger experience and pushing the boundaries of innovation, Saudia has also introduced the ability for passengers travelling on their IFC-enabled fleet to purchase Wi-Fi sessions during the initial booking phase through their passenger service system (PSS). SITAONAIR has worked in partnership with the airline and Amadeus on an Application Programming Interface (API) integration project to give passengers greater control over their inflight connectivity experience.

Director General Of Saudia, Engr. Saleh Al Jasser, says: “As an airline we recognize our passengers’ desire for seamless connectivity that speaks to them as an individual – it is at the core of our digital transformation vision. SITAONAIR’s flexible approach and digital harmonization mastery has enabled us to offer a more bespoke, enhanced Internet ONAIR experience, in full support of our innovative IFC strategy. This total enhancement has enabled us to reconfigure our Wi-Fi price plans for all our passengers, enabling us to offer the service for a lower cost.”

Dominique El Bez, VP of Strategy, SITAONAIR, says: “It has been a privilege to work with our customer Saudia to support their evolving connected aircraft reality and passenger experience goals. Our latest Internet ONAIR enhancements are delivering a next-level IFC experience for passengers through greater personalization and flexibility of service to both airlines and their passengers. Every SITAONAIR Internet ONAIR-activated airline can now benefit from our more ergonomic, mobile-friendly design and augmented user experience, and take that next step to achieving the brand-defining, individualized IFC experience passengers value.”

Internet ONAIR’s new integrated capabilities tap directly into demand from airline passengers for greater personalization in their onboard digital experience, as highlighted by SITA’s 2017 Passenger IT Trends Survey.

To discover SITAONAIR’s complete connected aircraft portfolio, and enquire about our solutions, speak to your local SITAONAIR contact or explore www.sitaonair.aero

Global distribution agreement provides airlines with access to next generation connectivity service for enhanced safety and operational efficiency

September 14, 2017– SITAONAIR, an industry owned consortium of integrated airline communications services and operational applications, has added Inmarsat’s next generation flightdeck connectivity solution SwiftBroadband-Safety (SB-S) to its portfolio, as part of a renewed and expanded strategic agreement between the two companies.

SB-S is the first secure communications system for the flightdeck and meets stringent aviation requirements for safety and operational data exchange with the ground. Its global coverage is Future Air Navigation System (FANS) 1/A compliant and delivers Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System (ACARS) and safety and operational services over a robust, secured IP data link as well as multiple voice channels. SB-S hardware is smaller, lighter and has a lower cost of ownership than other market alternatives, saving space and weight, reducing fuel burn and making it suitable for all single-aisle and wide-bodied aircraft.

Building upon its successful long-term partnership with Inmarsat, this agreement will allow SITAONAIR to supply commercial airlines and business aviation operators with SB-S, including migration options for existing customers to install the new platform. The agreement carries forward critical existing services, while, at the same time, enabling airlines to benefit from a new set of secure, broadband IP services, that enable connectivity for applications and services. These include Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) for real-time in-flight updates, Graphical Weather for real-time enhanced situational awareness and meeting new Global Aeronautical Distress Safety System (GADSS) mandates, and enabling real-time diagnostics and performance monitoring.

Paul Gibson, Portfolio Director, AIRCOM® at SITAONAIR, said: “We’re delighted to extend our relationship with Inmarsat and be able to add SwiftBroadband-Safety to our portfolio of integrated aircraft communications services. SB-S will prove critical in connecting existing cockpit applications and unleash potential as the industry is able to develop new applications and services around a dedicated secure IP connection to the cockpit.
At SITAONAIR we’re already integrating SB-S integral position reporting to enhance our AIRCOM® FlightTracker application, further supporting GADSS.”

SITAONAIR provides communications services to more than 16,000 aircraft worldwide and currently integrates Inmarsat’s Classic Aero and SwiftBroadband satellite communications solutions into its offering. The two services have been providing world-leading cockpit services to more than 90% of the world’s transoceanic wide-body aircraft fleet for more than 25 years.

Captain Mary McMillan, Vice President of Aviation Safety and Operational Services at Inmarsat Aviation, said: “We have worked closely with SITAONAIR over the past 25 years to offer world-leading safety and operational efficiency satcom solutions to airlines. We are delighted to be moving this important partnership with SITAONAIR forward with the distribution of SB-S. This will drive the adoption of digital flight deck technology and deliver unsurpassed operational efficiencies and enhanced safety throughout the global aviation industry.”

Inmarsat is transforming the global aviation industry by bringing complete connectivity to every aircraft and flight path in the world. As the only aviation broadband provider capable of connecting the complete aircraft from cabin to cockpit, Inmarsat’s SB-S brings ‘always on, always secure’ high-speed broadband into the cockpit, transforming aviation safety and optimising flight operations to save airlines both time and money. SB-S is currently in flight in evaluations with Hawaiian Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines and United Airlines. It has been selected by Airbus as a Light Cockpit Satcom solution on its popular A320 and A330 families.

Satellite communications are estimated to have saved airlines US$3 billion over the past 15 years through improved operational communications and the ability to fit more aircraft in a given airspace through reduced oceanic separation, according to a study released by Inmarsat and Helios earlier this year.

July 7, 2017– For many holiday-goers jetting off to their dream destinations this summer, their vacation begins when they catch their flight.

A colorful new infographic from connected aircraft technology specialists SITAONAIR showcases 10 top ways that airlines can ensure the passenger experience is truly top flight for those heading off on hard-earned holidays.

“In the hyper-competitive business of air travel, passenger satisfaction ratings are king,” says Dominique El Bez, Vice President of Strategy, SITAONAIR. “Airlines across the world have to work harder than ever to give passengers the best-possible inflight experience, and to win – and keep – their customers’ loyalty.

“SITAONAIR works with hundreds of airlines around the globe, innovating bespoke services and solutions to improve airline passenger comfort and engagement.

“There are many different ways today’s airlines can enhance their inflight experience offer to passengers. More and more airlines are investing to deliver high-speed onboard internet services for connected passengers; develop exclusive airline internet apps for customers to surf the web, chat and stream inflight; and equip pilots with cutting-edge weather avoidance technologies to fly the smoothest course.

“Passengers can be rewarded with special inflight shopping treats, sent straight to their devices; aircraft can be retrofitted with 3G/4G voice-calling telephony, so passengers can stay connected in the clouds; and cabin crews can ‘go digital’, to deliver a more personalized and efficient customer service.

“Whatever an airline’s ambitions, SITAONAIR’s unrivalled industry heritage and expertise means we can support airlines to deliver their passenger experience goals.”

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

France and California | June 19, 2017–SITAONAIR and Teledyne Controls are joining forces to deliver the aviation industry’s first-ever airline-integrated ACARS datalink terrestrial cellular service.

This new partnership – announced today between SITAONAIR, the airline datalink communications world-leaders, and avionics manufacturer Teledyne Controls – represents an important evolution in airline and aircraft communications.

Datalink services are chiefly provided using VHF/VDL radio frequencies and satellites to transmit data messages, communicating vital real-time aircraft status, health and position updates between an aircraft and its airline’s flight operations.

By using Teledyne Controls’ GroundLink® Comm+ system, SITAONAIR is able to integrate terrestrial cellular services into its core datalink network, giving airlines the flexibility of another transmission channel for aircraft communications, bringing multiple benefits.

This is the first-ever option of its kind in the aircraft communications market and benefits to airlines of enabling the datalink service over 3G/4G include:

• Providing increased capacity for message transmission with levels of service, support and proactive monitoring that airlines have come to expect
• Relieving traditional datalink networks in congested airports
• Delivering the service through consistent interfaces and integrating the datalink infrastructure for seamless service delivery across networks
• Supplementing VHF datalink ground coverage in sparse areas.

Dominique El Bez, SITAONAIR’s Vice President of Strategy, says: “We are very pleased to formalize our relationship with Teledyne Controls to deliver our unique-to-market, datalink-over-cellular solution to the air transport industry.

“SITAONAIR is focused on leading the industry in evolving aircraft communications services, and this is the first step of several we are taking to bring new IP networks to aircraft for operational communications. Our vision is to deeply integrate available technology to ensure seamless interoperability between new and current networks. Fundamentally, our industry needs to know that these services, which provide critical communications, do the job, and this is the guarantee SITAONAIR delivers as a dedicated airline partner.

“The unique capabilities of our organizations, and willingness to drive innovation in the aircraft communications sphere, will bring significant benefits to both SITAONAIR and Teledyne customers and the broader aviation community.”

Marshall Dormire, Vice President of Business Development & Strategy of Teledyne Controls, adds: “We are thrilled to join forces with SITAONAIR to deliver this new datalink service. Customers have been very interested to extend datalink functionality to Teledyne’s versatile GroundLink® Comm+ system. It is now easy to quickly and securely transfer datalink data over 3G/4G wireless cellular networks worldwide.

“The GroundLink® Comm+ system automates the wireless distribution of navigation databases and Software Parts, provides data interfaces for cockpit Electronic Flight Bags, and now provides datalink over terrestrial cellular IP, all while systematically collecting recorded flight data from the airline’s fleet and delivering it to the airline.”

France | Wednesday May 24, 2017– Air France (AF) and SITAONAIR today announce a new deal to deliver seamless aircraft data to AF’s top-flight operations and maintenance optimization programs.

Under the partnership, SITAONAIR’s new e-Aircraft® DataCapture solution will capture, dissect and deliver high-quality, immediate aircraft data, significantly bolstering performance monitoring across Air France Airbus aircraft. SITAONAIR’s deployment of DataCapture across AF’s Airbus fleet began in January 2017.

The e-Aircraft® DataCapture system works by collecting, compressing and encrypting an aircraft’s Quick Access Recorder (QAR) or Digital ACMS Recorder (DAR) data, and ensures it is automatically and immediately transmitted after landing, using 3G, to a ground server provided by SITAONAIR. The complete data is then sent to Air France’s data analysis system for instant analysis and response.

Many airlines manually collect aircraft post-flight and health data as part of an overnight maintenance regime, meaning a delay of hours after a flight has landed before data is retrieved.

Replacing manual collection with SITAONAIR’s automatic e-Aircraft® DataCapture equips airlines with instant detailed insight into their fleets, from how aircraft are operating, to investigating incidents and performing maintenance diagnostics.

This cost- and time-efficient solution also helps airlines optimize staffing resources and supports seamless transitions, which help reduce the time aircraft spend on the ground.

David Lavorel, CEO of SITAONAIR, says: “SITAONAIR has an excellent working relationship with Air France, with whom we have collaborated closely since 2014 on e-Aircraft® DataCapture. This is yet another example of how SITAONAIR’s 100%-aviation communications expertise is resolving the challenges faced by the modern airline industry head-on. With our intelligent new-generation data solutions, airlines have the tools to advance their critical flight operations and maintenance operation programs, and really deliver.”

Pierre-Yves Benain, Head of Portfolio and Strategy, e-Aircraft at SITAONAIR, says: “Our intelligent e-Aircraft® DataCapture solution is already making aircraft data easier for airlines to access; reducing data retrieval time from days to minutes, without mobilizing maintenance resources. Thanks to DataCapture, airlines can get an immediate detailed picture of all parameters recorded inflight by a QAR or DAR recorder. With our Cloud-based solution, our intention is to provide an end-to-end, expert data management service at business continuity level, freeing up airlines to focus on their core operations and engineering priorities.”

Air France’s e-Aircraft® DataCapture project leader added: “We are really pleased to be taking SITAONAIR’s e-Aircraft® DataCapture system onboard. It will enable us to complete the deployment of automated QAR/DAR data collection across our Airbus fleet for our Flight and Maintenance Operational Quality Assurance programs. SITAONAIR has been instrumental in the integration of the solution into our existing on-board hardware and ground systems.”

To find out more about e-Aircraft® DataCapture and our other aircraft data management solutions, speak to your local SITAONAIR contact, or visit www.sitaonair.aero/products/on-board-device-applications-and-services/e-aircraft-datacapture/