www.arinc.com
AAAE — ARINC announces that it has developed an airport-specific IT service module designed to actively monitor the business processes involved in maintaining airport systems. The module is a component of the AMS Service Desk, a full-service resource for the maintenance and support for all airport IT systems. AMS has transformed the traditional help desk/call center model and customized it to create the Service Desk, which uniquely meets the maintenance and service demands of airport IT systems.
Implementing Business Process Management (BPM) tools within the Service Desk, AMS is able to monitor customer IT systems in real time. The monitoring tools cover aspects of the airport maintenance model including: preventive maintenance, escalation management, asset management, and service level agreement management as well as performance monitoring and reporting.
With AMS Service Desk, business processes can be tailored for each airport and/or system, enabling complete flexibility, and accountability. AMS’ Business Process Management system can be applied to any size airport and can be customized into an IT support solution or simply augment existing infrastructure.
www.avionica.com
www.iridium.com
Avionica will outfit nine Continental Airlines B737-800 passenger aircraft with Iridium® satellite systems to provide global, voice, and data communications. The Continental aircraft will be equipped with Avionica’s satLINK Iridium system, including antenna, wiring, structural elements, and a control panel. The initial installations will provide an Iridium phone handset in the cockpit, which is expected to be augmented by a wireless cabin handset and integration with the aircraft’s communications management unit (CMU) with a mid-year upgrade.
www.flightexplorer.com
www.sita.aero
SITA and Flight Explorer are targeting airlines worldwide with the development of an integrated decision-support solution that will provide airlines with the ability to track, manage, and communicate with flights through a single computer screen.
Airline flight dispatchers have been able to use the Flight Explorer Aircraft Situation Display (ASD) application to track flights and separately use SITA AIRCOM to communicate with pilots, but the integration of tracking and data link communications on one screen will enhance their ability to maintain complete operational control of their flights.
AirTran Airways, which already separately uses both SITA AIRCOM for in-flight data link communication and Flight Explorer’s ASD, is set to carry out the first tests of the new combined solution in September.
www.gemalto.com
www.unisys.com
Unisys Corporation reports that its Registered Traveler (RT) program, rtGO, is now open for business at Reno-Tahoe International Airport. Registration began in May 2007 and the system was expected to become operational in mid-June.
Neville Pattinson, vice president of government affairs with Arlington, VA-based Gemalto, the Unisys partner which provides the smart card, is bullish about the future of the RT program. “I think (industry) will see the program become more important as critical mass is attained between the various airports as people enroll,” he states.
The success of RT will grow as more airports join the program, he says. “We’ll see outbound travelers getting the advantage today, but on their return journeys they are subject to the luck of the draw as to whether the airport supports RT or not. I think that will change.”
“I think we’ll see the benefits to the traveler increase as (airports) work out how they can provide the additional services to this class of travelers, and I think that will become a deciding factor for which airport people decide to fly from. I think we’ll see this RT program become a very big part of the day to day travels for business travelers.”
www.passur.com
Bob Hope Airport has upgraded its existing AirportMonitor™ software to a collaborative version of PASSUR® AirportMonitor™, a web-based airspace education tool for airport communities.
AirportMonitor is a community airspace awareness tool, which provides an interactive display of air traffic and flight information in and around the terminal airspace, designed for airport websites. It enables residents to view traffic in “near-live” and replay mode.
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(Tech Bytes are compiled by associate editor David Mantey; reach him at [email protected].)
