Airbus to Offer Lufthansa Systems Electronic Charts on All Models

Airbus and Lufthansa Systems have agreed to make electronic charts available on all in-production models, including the new A380.

Under the agreement Airbus will make Lufthansa Systems' eRouteManual available to its customers through a factory-installed or retrofitted class-3 EFB (electronic flight bag).

"The Airbus A380 will be the first aircraft in the world to use the eRouteManual as a class III electronic flight bag solution," said Wolfgang F. W. Gohde, CEO of Lufthansa Systems, at the signing of the contract.  "First, we are proud that our electronic chart solution will be integrated into the on-board information system of the A380... And second, we are pleased that, starting immediately, our eRouteManual will be offered as a retrofit for Airbus aircraft that are already in operation."

Lufthansa Systems offers the eRouteManual in three expandable levels of use. Its highest level displays the charts and other information on separate, permanently integrated screens for the captain and co-pilot.  In the Airbus A380, they are called VDUs (visual display units) that are mounted to the left and right of the cockpit console in the pilot's direct line of sight.  For aircraft that are already in service, the eRouteManual can be used with normal laptops or tablet PCs (class-1 EFBs) or class-2 portable computers with aircraft mounting options.  Class-3 EFBs with fully integrated systems are available for all new aircraft.

Mr. Gohde said the eRouteManual is an important milestone in Lufthansa Systems' effort to digitize all appropriate aviation processes:  "Our goal is to offer airlines a comprehensive, modular and technologically consistent platform for all flight processes on the ground and on board."  01-31-2006.

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