Air Facts

The iconic Air Facts, first published in 1938, has been revived as an online journal edited by Air Facts former editor Richard L. Collins and presented by Sporty’s Pilot Shop. Air Facts will continue to explore the techniques of safely using airplanes for transportation. Included is material about places to go and things to do, encouraging pilots to maximize the value and utility of general aviation. The online version of Air Facts will rely on both aviation writers and dedicated readers for content. Air Facts is free and may be accessed at www.airfactsjournal.com.

Cloud Computing

Air transport IT specialist, SITA, announces a program to build a community cloud dedicated to the air transport industry (ATI) that will improve efficiencies and reduce costs. SITA’s investment in shared cloud infrastructure is already underway and the ATI Cloud applications and services will go live from June. These include infrastructure, platform, desktop, and software-as-a-service offerings, which will enable true end-to-end business and IT solutions on demand for the needs of air transport, says the company; www.sita.aero/content/ati-cloud.

Free WiFi

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority announces that wireless internet service is now free at Reagan National and Dulles International Airports. Previously, an access fee was charged to individuals who did not have a subscription with a major wireless carrier. Now, all users who select the airport’s new free WiFi network can connect to the internet for free. The Airport WiFi equipment was originally activated in 2007 through a consortium of wireless carriers. In response to suggestions from customers, the Airports Authority pursued a new agreement with the carriers to offer WiFi services for free; www.mwaa.com.

Integrated Network

ARINC Incorporated announces it has begun a fast-track installation of its AviNet Airport IP network service at 19 major airports for British Airways. ARINC’s work supports British Airways’ current migration of its legacy passenger reconciliation system (PRS) onto a modern IP-based network platform. ARINC will provide a fully-integrated solution for British Airways at each location, including deployment of the carrier’s new application on the existing MUSE platforms and the provisioning of a new fully-managed end-to-end IP AviNet Airport service at each location; www.acrinc.com.

Interactive Route Map

The European Regions Airline Association (ERA) and Innovata announce the launch of the first dynamic and interactive route map of the ERA airline member network. The map is accessible from ERA's website at www.eraa.org. Innovata is providing ERA with the latest release of its mapping service which has been specially configured for ERA so that all destinations, direct routes, schedules, and a comprehensive timetable display for all current member airlines are dynamically plotted and displayed for users searching and querying the networks and schedules of ERA member airlines; www.eraa.org.

Mobile Website

Accessible by all smart phones and latest generation mobile telephones with internet access, Jet Aviation launchs a new mobile website designed to provide quick and easy access to the most important information from anywhere at anytime. The mobile website can be accessed via the mobile website address: m.jetaviation.com. Jet Aviation’s mobile website represents a compressed version of its main website, including the most important features such as the Charter Quick Quote, the FBO Pre-Arrival Form, maintenance contact information, and contacts for all locations and lines of business; www.jetaviation.com.

Online Police Reporting

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police Department has launched a new system enabling the public to file police reports online via the www.mwaa.com website.The Citizen Online Police Reporting System is a convenient option for members of the public to file reports for non-emergency incidents. Airports Authority Police will review each online report and provide the reporting party with an electronic notification of the report status and a printed police report; www.mwaa.com.

Shared-use Infrastructure

Air-Transport IT Services, Inc. (AirIT), announces that it will provide it’s EASE shared-use infrastructure platform solution to the Sioux Falls Regional Airport. AirIT’s shared-use airline check-in system will allow any equipped ticket counter or gate podium to be utilized by any airline operating on the system. Initially, American Airlines, Allegiant, and Delta Airlines will utilize the EASE equipped facilities. Frontier Airlines will also use the system when it begins service in July; www.airit.com.

@SignatureFBO  

Signature Flight Support Corporation sent its first tweet at EBACE 2011. The inaugural post encourages customers and industry stakeholders to follow @SignatureFBO on Twitter. Plans call for this micro-blogging service to become a key method for Signature customers to receive up-to-the-minute information on the FBO’s 100-plus global locations; www.bbaaviation.com.

Spectrometry Technology

Morpho Detection, Inc., part of Morpho, Safran group’s security business, announces a definitive agreement to acquire Syagen Technology, Inc. of Tustin, Calif. Syagen is a leading mass spectrometry technology development company for security applications. The acquisition of Syagen strengthens Morpho Detection’s (MDI) position as the a leading provider of explosives and narcotics trace detection solutions for the homeland security market. Combining Syagen’s technologies with MDI’s global commercial and service reach is expected to generate strong growth potential and offer enhanced explosives trace detection capability, especially against emerging non-conventional explosives threats; www.morpho.com/detection.