ADS-B Weather Solution
Essential Flight Technology, Inc. and NavWorx, Inc. announce a strategic partnership to produce portable ADS-B weather solutions for iOS, Android, and Windows devices. Essential Flight Technology (EFT) will be the exclusive distributor for the Apple iOS-based version of the PADS WxBox. ADS-B weather is a freely broadcast service of the Next Generation Air Transportation System. Properly equipped aircraft will receive subscription-free weather reports and weather radar through Flight Information Service-Broadcast (FIS-B). The EFT and NavWorx solution enables these services in the cockpit of any aircraft; www.essentialflight.us.
Airport Management Suite
Siemens' Total Airport Management Suite (TAMS) uses a range of visualization technologies to display the information required by airport operators, air traffic controllers, airlines, ground handling companies, or security forces and generates forecasts, provides optimization suggestions, and supports the various airport process owners. Employees can use smart phones, desktop computers, and large video walls to obtain up-to-date information on operations and general conditions, such as the closure of terminal areas, expected weather conditions, or predictions regarding future operations; www.siemens.com.
Compact Surveillance Radar
SpotterRF's new compact surveliance radar was specifically design for commercial use at airports, and has been recognized as a low cost solution to recent security breaches such as the St. George breach and the JFK breach. SpotterRF provides the advanced compact surveillance radar (CSR) system for perimeter security for small force protection. The Spotter C40 automates the job of monitoring cameras for wide-area surveillance, empowering security professionals with protection at a lower cost, says the company; www.spotterrf.com.
FlyteAnalytics
FlyteAnalytics, the cloud-based FDM product by CAPACG, powered by AvConnect, has been selected by KSU for its fleet of training aircraft. CAPACG’s FlyteAnalytics product allows fleet operators of Garmin G1000 and other glass cockpit-equipped aircraft to employ proactive flight data monitoring programs without the added expense, weight, or downtime associated with installing lightweight aircraft recording systems (LARS), says the company. In most cases, FlyteAnalytics will be more capable than existing LARS products. The production version of the AvConnect analysis tool has the capability of processing more than 100 hours of flight data/sec.; www.avconnect.net.
Infrastructure Reporting
A free, Web application developed by University of Illinois graduate students: InfraInput.org and mobile version (m.infrainput.org) is a platform that allows anyone to report public infrastructure issues, observations, and suggestions including a sections devoted to airports. The sole intention of the student-owned and led project is to raise targeted attention among public managers and policymakers.
Self-Service Survey
Airline passengers want more control of the journey and are looking for more self-service and mobile-based offerings to reduce stress during travel, according to the 2012 SITA/Air Transport World Passenger Self-Service Survey. It reports that 70 percent of passengers now carry smartphones, which is fueling the demand for services such as self-boarding and flight information updates on mobile devices. Self-service continues to be increasingly popular with passengers: Almost two thirds used a self-service channel to check-in on the day of the survey, up from just over half last year. Close to 90 percent of passengers rated flight status updates on their mobiles and self-boarding as their top self-service technologies; read more here: www.aviationpros.com/press_release/10811311.
Social Media Budget
SimpliFlying surveyed 55 airports around the world to gain a better understanding of how they are positioning social media within the overall marketing and communications plan. Despite the fact that the majority of the airports surveyed are unsure of the expected impact social media has in years to come, 40 percent of airports plan to increase the budget for social media. Some 63 percent of airports surveyed allocate less than $10,000 annually to social media, and more than 55 percent of airports invest fewer than 100 man-hours per month. Read more here: http://www.aviationpros.com/press_release/10818078.
