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Honeywell Tests Secure ACARS Ground System
Honeywell says it has successfully tested a secure ground system for ACARS (aircraft communications addressing and reporting system), which when coupled with its secure ACARS avionics, can create a totally secure aeronautical datalink.

France Orders ADS-B Ground Stations from Thales
The Technical and Innovation Department (TID) of the French ANSP (air navigation service provider), DSNA, has awarded Thales a contract to deliver up to 10 ADS-B (automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast) ground stations, along with supporting RCMS (remote control and monitoring systems) and training services.

Honeywell Seeking TSO for 3-D Weather Radar System
Honeywell announced at the recent Farnborough Air Show, that it has applied for FAA TSO (technical standard order) for its new 3-dimensional, volumetric scanning weather radar that can analyze the vertical makeup of thunderstorms for better information about their height.

New Software Will Make Updating Easier for Jeppesen Customers
Jeppesen has a new plug-and-play software application that makes managing its electronic navigation charts easier for its customers.

ILFC Orders More Cockpit Door Surveillance Systems
International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC) has ordered more cockpit door surveillance systems from Global AirWorks, the aviation division of Global ePoint.

Garmin Has New "All-Glass" Retrofit Package for GA Cockpits
Garmin International introduced a new "glass" avionics suite, specifically designed for the retrofitting general aviation aircraft, at the Experimental Aircraft Association's AirVenture 2006 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, this past week.

Garmin Makes Its G1000 Integrated Avionics Available for Retrofit
Garmin International is making its G1000 integrated avionics suite available for retrofits, starting with the Beechcraft King Air C90.

ASiQ Invention Addresses Cell-Phone Inference and Passenger Annoyance
ASI Entertainment (aka ASiQ) says it has applied for a patent for a new concept that allows mobile phones to be operated inflight, without interfering with the aircraft's avionic systems and the cell-phone ground networks, and deals with the problem of annoying fellow passengers.

Jeppesen Reduces Prices of Its Weather Product on Two Applications
Jeppesen has reduced its subscription prices for its weather product to $5.95 per month or $60 per year on two of its popular flight planning applications.

Aegean's A320s to Be Equipped with Teledyne Controls' FDIMUs
Aegean Airlines will install Teledyne Controls' FDIMUs (flight data interface management units) on its new A320s for data acquisition, aircraft condition monitoring and data recording.

ARINC to Market "Electronic Paper" Reader Technology for Aviation
ARINC has signed a distribution agreement with iRex Technologies, a spin-off of Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands, to market a reader of "electronic paper" to aviation users.

FAA Certifies Short-Field Performance Enhancement for B-737NGs
The FAA has certified a Boeing enhancement for its B-737NG that increases the aircraft's short-field performance allowing operators to increase their payloads in and out of airports with runways less than 5,000 feet long.  The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) should add its certification soon.

FAA Certifies Eclipse 500 for Provisional Use
The FAA certified the Eclipse 500 for provisional use, which the company expects will lead to a full type certification for the VLJ (very light jet) by August 30^th.

Check Out Additional Fleet Changes

Boeing Sees Continuing Growth of World's Air Cargo Fleet
The global air cargo fleet will continue its current trend with strong 20-year growth, according to Boeing's Current Market Outlook (CMO) 2006, which will lead to a doubling of the world freighter fleet from 1,789 to 3,563 airplanes in 20 years.  Both numbers slightly up from Boeing's 2005 predictions.

Check Out Additional Industry Trends

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Honeywell Tests Secure ACARS Ground System

Honeywell says it has successfully tested a secure ground system for ACARS (aircraft communications addressing and reporting system), which when coupled with its secure ACARS avionics, can create a totally secure aeronautical datalink.

Dean Flatt, the president of Honeywell Aerospace Defense & Space, described the system as "the first security technology in the aeronautical datalink arena to use strong, international standards-based cryptography," which will give its airline and military customers the same level of protection for their sensitive air-ground communications that is taken for granted with wireless or Internet communications.

The system's authentication and data integrity algorithms ensure that received messages originate from a legitimate source and are not corrupted, either accidentally or intentionally, while at the same time providing each customer with the flexibility to configure the system in accordance with its organizational security policy.

Besides its security encryption, Honeywell says the system can reduce transmitted data message size by up to 30 percent trough its data compression techniques.

During testing, the ground system demonstrated an ability to manage secure ACARS sessions with up to 10,000 aircraft simultaneously.  And its host server has built-in hardware and software features that automatically recover from system failures and restore the system to operational status without intervention by an operator.

Honeywell expects the system will be located at airline and military operation centers and at the facilities of ACARS datalink service providers.

According to Honeywell, the system not only supports today's ACARS network, but is compatible with ICAO security requirements for future air traffic control datalink communications.  07-28-2006.  (Top)

France Orders ADS-B Ground Stations from Thales

The Technical and Innovation Department (TID) of the French ANSP (air navigation service provider), DSNA, has awarded Thales a contract to deliver up to 10 ADS-B (automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast) ground stations, along with supporting RCMS (remote control and monitoring systems) and training services.

During the contract's first phase, three ADS-B ground stations will be installed on Île de La Réunion in the Indian Ocean that will be used for surveillance purposes in what is currently non-radar airspace.  In addition, an ADS-B ground station is also planned for the Ajaccio airport in Corsica and two others will be installed at the Marseille - Provence Airport.  The first installation is scheduled for mid-2007.

According to Thales, the three French-based systems will be used for ADS-B operational trials within CRISTAL MED (cooperative validation of surveillance techniques and applications of package I for the Mediterranean region), which is part of the Eurocontrol's CASCADE program to implement ADS-B applications along with CPDLC (controller pilot data link communications) and other datalink services.

Thales says its ADS-B AS–680 ground station equipment will be the first to be fully qualified and certified according to Eurocontrol's European Safety Regulatory Requirements (ESARRs).  07-29-2006.  (Top)

Honeywell Seeking TSO for 3-D Weather Radar System

Honeywell announced at the recent Farnborough Air Show, that it has applied for FAA TSO (technical standard order) for its new 3-dimensional, volumetric scanning weather radar that can analyze the vertical makeup of thunderstorms for better information about their height.

(A TSO is a minimum performance standard for specified materials, parts, processes, and appliances used on civil aircraft.)

Volumetric scanning is a key ability, said Garrett Mikita, the vice president of Honeywell's airline business segment.  Mikita noted that unlike conventional radars, which provide only direction and range information, the RDR-4000 automatically scans a volume ahead of the aircraft from the nose out to 320 nautical miles, and from the ground to 60,000 feet, to provide altitude information for automatic flight plan and flight path weather detection.  This radar is "smart" enough to look for relevant hazardous weather along an aircraft's vertical flight plan, and anticipate storm threats during the climbs and descents.

The RDR-4000's scanning technology has several other new capabilities as well, Honeywell says. These include what it calls a "terrain-based digital ground clutter extraction" for removing ground returns, and an automatic compensation for the earth's curvature.  It also includes a unique vertical profile view of weather ahead of the aircraft that can be presented simultaneously with the normal radar view.  And it has advanced digital and signal processing techniques and a pulse compression technology that increases the radar's performance.

To remove ground clutter, RDR-4000 has an internal terrain database, adapted and scaled-down from Honeywell's EGPWS (enhanced ground proximity warning system).  Other features include forward looking windshear detection, Doppler turbulence detection and altitude-based reflectivity compensation.  07-30-2006.  (Top)

New Software Will Make Updating Easier for Jeppesen Customers

Jeppesen has a new plug-and-play software application that makes managing its electronic navigation charts easier for its customers.

Jeppesen Services' Update Manager will allow its existing customers to simply download the software from its Website at no charge.  New customers will have it included with their Skybound and/or MFD (multifunction display) electronic chart services, also without any additional fee.

By clicking on a desktop icon, customers will be able to see the status of all of their chart update services, and when the application is running, a pop-up balloon will appear when updates become available.  Users can assign aircraft tail numbers to individual services as well, and add a comprehensive download history log.

The idea is to relieve customers from having to manage multiple data delivery methods, such as the Internet and CDs, for their navigation information.  Now all updates can be performed anywhere an Internet connection is available.

Also new is the ability to perform off-line programming of data cards and USB (universal serial bus) flash drives, thus freeing customers from needing an Internet connection during the entire programming process.  Now they can download the updated data, and then transfer it to the card or USB drive when it is convenient to do so.

Jeppesen says it is still supporting users of its Skybound II NavData update service, but this particular PCMCIA (personal computer memory card international association) hardware solution will not work with its Update Manager software.  MX20 electronic chart subscribers need to call Jeppesen to convert to the new JeppView for MFD service before using this service.  All other customers, including Avidyne MFD chart customers, may simply download the application.

Additional information is available at www.jeppesen.com/navsuite.  07-29-2006.  (Top)

ILFC Orders More Cockpit Door Surveillance Systems

International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC) has ordered more cockpit door surveillance systems from Global AirWorks, the aviation division of Global ePoint.

The follow-on order for AirWorks' CDSS is for new A330s that will be delivered to Germany's LTU International Airways.  Besides LTU's A330s, ILFC previously has ordered CDSS kits for A319s on lease to Air Berlin, and B-737s leased to Pegasus.

AirWorks' CDSS uses cabin video surveillance cameras in aircraft cabins and cargo areas along with touch-screen monitors in the cockpit for security and other potential threats such as fire and air rage.  The system can also be useful in preventing cargo and baggage pilferage and loss.  07-29-2006.  (Top)

Garmin Has New "All-Glass" Retrofit Package for GA Cockpits

Garmin International introduced a new "glass" avionics suite, specifically designed for the retrofitting general aviation aircraft, at the Experimental Aircraft Association's AirVenture 2006 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, this past week.

The G600 suite consists of a liquid-crystal PFD (primary flight display) and MFD (multifunction flight display) that communicate and integrate with several complimentary Garmin panel-mounted products, which Garmin believes will make a glass cockpit "an affordable option for thousands of aircraft owners."

The bezel framing the G600's PFD and MFD (10"w x 6.7"h) allows for easy installation into the existing instrument panel in most aircraft.  The system is designed to take the space that is currently occupied by the instrument six-pack (attitude, airspeed, altitude, vertical rate, turn coordinator and directional gyro).

Garmin G600

Source: Garmin International

Garmin Makes Its G1000 Integrated Avionics Available for Retrofit

Garmin International is making its G1000 integrated avionics suite available for retrofits, starting with the Beechcraft King Air C90.

The G1000 system integrates all primary flight and navigation information, along with engine instruments, communications and safety information, onto two high-definition, liquid crystal 10.4-inch PFDs (primary flight displays) and one 15-inch MFD (multifunction display).  Some of its other notable features include:

• A new GFC 700 three axis, fully digital, dual-channel, fail-passive AFCS (automatic flight control system) with automatic pitch trim.

• Dual integrated solid-state AHRS (attitude and heading reference systems), which can align while in motion.

• Dual integrated RVSM-compliant digital air data computers.

• Integrated EICAS (engine indication and crew alerting system).

• Integrated Mode S transponder with TIS (traffic information service) capability.

• Dual integrated navigation and communications modules.

• Integrated TAWS (terrain awareness and warning system).

• Dual integrated digital audio control systems.

• Digital radar.

• Optional integrated satellite weather datalink and audio via XM WX satellite weather through Garmin's GDL 69A.

Garmin anticipates receiving its King Air C90 STC in the spring of 2007.  A list of specific available serial numbers and other information is available at http://www.garmin.com.  07-30-2006.  (Top)

ASiQ Invention Addresses Cell-Phone Inference and Passenger Annoyance

ASI Entertainment (aka ASiQ) says it has applied for a patent for a new concept that allows mobile phones to be operated inflight, without interfering with the aircraft's avionic systems and the cell-phone ground networks, and deals with the problem of annoying fellow passengers.

Simply put, ASiQ's invention shuts down the mobile phone's voice transmissions while allowing its ability to function for emails, SMS (short message service) and games.

It does this by attaching a "unit" to the cell phone via a standard Bluetooth or cable connection, which communicates via existing aviation data communications networks.  ASiQ says since the system prevents cell phones from transmitting on their normal frequencies, it solves their interference problems, while simultaneously reducing data delivery costs by not using the cellular roaming network.  And, of course, since voice isn't allowed, passenger annoyance from this factor doesn't present itself.

ASiQ says its unit will be inexpensive, will comply with aviation standards, and is designed to work with all cell phone networks - GSM (global system for mobile communications), CDMA (code division multiple access), UMTS (universal mobile telecommunications system) and EDGE (enhanced data rates for GSM evolution).  07-29-2006.  (Top)

Jeppesen Reduces Prices of Its Weather Product on Two Applications

Jeppesen has reduced its subscription prices for its weather product to $5.95 per month or $60 per year on two of its popular flight planning applications.

Jeppesen Weather integrates worldwide, textual and graphical weather data, as well as NOTAMs (notices to airmen) and other information, into its FliteStar and Jeppesen Internet Flight Planner (JIFP) applications to create a comprehensive briefing package.  The weather information is analyzed and prepared by Jeppesen's in-house aviation meteorologists on a 24x7 basis.

Jeppesen says its weather product will soon include maps of icing conditions and turbulence as well as NEXRAD (next generation weather radar) reports.  07-29-2006.  (Top)

Aegean's A320s to Be Equipped with Teledyne Controls' FDIMUs

Aegean Airlines will install Teledyne Controls' FDIMUs (flight data interface management units) on its new A320s for data acquisition, aircraft condition monitoring and data recording.

The Greek regional carrier recently ordered 17 A320s, with options for six more.  It already uses Teledyne's flight data units on its B-737 fleet.

Teledyne Controls' FDIMU can be installed on the A320 family as well as A330s and A340s.  It combines the functions of data acquisition, condition monitoring, and recording - which have been traditionally separated - into a single LRU (line replaceable unit), to reduce weight and space.  07-30-2006.  (Top)

ARINC to Market "Electronic Paper" Reader Technology for Aviation

ARINC has signed a distribution agreement with iRex Technologies, a spin-off of Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands, to market a reader of "electronic paper" to aviation users.

Under the marketing agreement, ARINC will be the exclusive distributor of the technology with its new eFlyBook , a self-powered electronic library that stores and displays en route charts and other material.

Electronic paper is a non-glare white plastic screen that displays electronic documents just as if they were printed traditionally.  A user can also "write" on the screen with a stylus just like the regular medium, and the electronically captured handwriting can be stored and erased again and again.

The technology's "electronic ink" carries a charge, which enables electronic updating, and requires no front or back light and is viewable under a wide range of lighting conditions, including direct sunlight.  It requires no power to maintain an image, only to turn the page.

ARINC asserts that eFlyBook’s legibility "greatly exceeds" that of traditional laptop and tablet computer screens and other devices currently used in general aviation cockpits, and because of its new "persistent display" technology, the screen requires very little power and no backlighting, which allows it to run on several long flights over several days on a single charge.

ARINC eFlyBook

Source: ARINC

FAA Certifies Short-Field Performance Enhancement for B-737NGs

The FAA has certified a Boeing enhancement for its B-737NG that increases the aircraft's short-field performance allowing operators to increase their payloads in and out of airports with runways less than 5,000 feet long.  The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) should add its certification soon.

The design changes include a two-position tail skid that enables reduced approach speeds, sealed leading-edge slats that provide increased lift during takeoff, and increased flight spoiler deflection on the ground that improves takeoff and landing performance.

The short-field design package is an option on the 737-600, -700 and -800 and is standard equipment for the new 737-900ER, Boeing says.  The enhancements increase payload capability for landing up to 8,000 pounds on the 737-800 and 737-900ER and up to 4,000 pounds on the 737-600 and 737-700.  They also increase payload capability for takeoff up to 2,000 pounds on the 737-800 and 737-900ER and up to 400 pounds on the 737-600 and 737-700.

Boeing is delivering the refurbished test airplane to Brazilian low-cost carrier GOL Linhas Aereas, which is the launch customer for the package.  The jet is the first of 67 737-800s ordered by the carrier.

Eleven customers have ordered the package so far for more than 250 airplanes. In addition to GOL, Alaska Airlines, Air Europe, Air India, Egyptair, GE Commercial Aviation Services (GECAS), Hapagfly, Japan Airlines, Pegasus Airlines, Sky Airlines and Turkish Airlines are some of the operators that have ordered the modification.  07-30-2006.  (Top)

FAA Certifies Eclipse 500 for Provisional Use

The FAA certified the Eclipse 500 for provisional use, which the company expects will lead to a full type certification for the VLJ (very light jet) by August 30^th.

"Provisional" certification means that the aircraft is restricted from performing some operations until full certification is granted.  Full certification will allow the aircraft to be flown using IFR (instrument flight rules) with a single pilot throughout its complete operating envelope, and enable the company to start making deliveries to customers.  The aircraft is also RVSM (reduced vertical separation minima) capable.

The provisional type certificate was presented to Vern Raburn by FAA Administrator Marion Blakey in a special ceremony at EAA's 2006 AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, on July 27^th.  Vern Raburn, Eclipse Aviation's president and CEO said, "We have looked forward to this monumental accomplishment since Eclipse was founded nearly eight years ago."

Eclipse describes its 500 as the least expensive twin-turbofan business jet in the world.  The aircraft is powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW610F engines that are flat rated at 900 pounds of thrust and feature a dual-channel FADEC (full authority digital electronic control).

The company anticipates delivering more than 50 Eclipse 500s by the end of year. 07-30-2006.  (Top)

Brazil's TAM took delivery of its seventh A320.  07-29-2006.

Prague-based Silesia Air has added a Cessna Citation Excel to its fleet.  07-29-2006.

Pratt & Whitney Canada received a Transport Canada type certification for its new PW610F engine that powers the Eclipse 500 very light jet (VLJ).  07-29-2006.

Taughannock Aviation Corporation (TAC) has added a Falcon 20 and GIV-SP to its chart fleet.  07-29-2006.

Kazakhstan's Air Astana took delivery of a leased A320.  07-29-2006.

EVA Air took delivery of its third B-777-300ER.  07-29-2006.

Düsseldorf-based charter carrier Blue Wings signed an MOU for 16 A320s and four A321s to be delivered starting in 2009.  07-29-2006.

Republic Airlines ordered 30 Embraer 175s, which brings the U.S. regional carrier's total firm orders and options of the type to 78 and 75 respectively.  The aircraft were originally options under an amended and reinstated Embraer/US Airways purchase agreement, which were transferred to Republic.  07-29-2006.

Futura International Airways of Palma de Mallorca ordered three B-737-800s along with three purchase rights.  07-29-2006.

The Government of Spain ordered a Bombardier 415 amphibious aircraft for fire fighting missions.  07-29-2006.

Guadeloupe-based Air Caraibes will acquire an A330-300 that will replace a leased A330-200.  07-29-2006.

Horizon Air converted an option for a Q400 turboprop into a firm order and has acquired two others from Hainan Airlines.  07-29-2006.

Caribbean Star Airlines took delivery of the second of four Q300s it is getting this year.  07-29-2006.

Kenya Airways took delivery of a B-767-300.  07-29-2006.

Comtran and Jet Engineering have begun a program to retrofit MD80s with blended winglets.  07-29-2006.

Comtran has extended its MD80 series Stage 4/Chapter 4-compliant Jet Nozzle application to the B-727, and will market it as the SUPERQ727-4.  The 727 modification will also include Comtran's QuietWing meant to increase the tri-jets performance and value.  07-29-2006.  (Top)

Boeing Sees Continuing Growth of World's Air Cargo Fleet

The global air cargo fleet will continue its current trend with strong 20-year growth, according to Boeing's Current Market Outlook (CMO) 2006, which will lead to a doubling of the world freighter fleet from 1,789 to 3,563 airplanes in 20 years.  Both numbers slightly up from Boeing's 2005 predictions.

While accounting for the expected retirements of 1,209 airplanes, a total of 2,983 airplanes added to the freighter fleet by 2025, according to the annual CMO, which was released earlier this month prior to the Farnborough Air Show.

The report shows that nearly 62 percent of the additions are in the widebody category (medium widebody plus large freighters with a capacity of 40 tons or more).  Their share of the total fleet will increase from 50 percent, currently, to 64 percent in 2025.  Consequently, there will be an increase in overall average freighter airplane payload.

Standard-body freighters are defined in the forecast as having less than 50 tons capacity and the body width of single-aisle passenger airplanes. The share of these freighters will decrease from 50 percent to 36 percent over the next two decades.  In many cases, operators such as express carriers prefer medium widebodies as a replacement for retiring standard-body freighters.

Boeing's prognosticators believe three-quarters of the freighter fleet additions will come from modified passenger and combi airplanes.  The remaining airplanes entering the fleet, about 766, will be new-production freighters.

Freighters, as a share of the global jetliner fleet, will remain at about 10 percent during the forecast period, and by 2025, freighters of all sizes will provide more than half of the world's total air cargo capacity, a slight increase from today and consistent with last year's forecast.

Although new airplanes will make up a minority of the total world freighter fleet, they dominate the large-size category (widebody freighters of more than 80 tons capacity) with many airlines preferring their technical advantages, reliability, and fuel efficiency.

The Current Market Outlook is available on the Boeing's Website. The company says it will issue a more detailed estimate - its World Air Cargo Forecast 2006/2007 - at the 2006 International Air Cargo Forum and Exposition in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, in September.  07-28-2006.  (Top)

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported that 2006 international passenger traffic for the first half of the year grew 6.7% while international freight traffic was up 5.2% over the same period in 2005.  The passenger load factor reached 75.1%, 1.2 percentage points higher than during the same period last year.  For June, passenger traffic for IATA carriers increased 6.5% over June 2005, while capacity increased 4.4%, and passenger load factor reached 78.3%, more than 1.5 percentage points over June 2005.  IATA's full June statistics are available here. 07-29-2006.

Cessna delivered 76 Citations in the second quarter of 2006, bringing its first-half deliveries to 142 compared with 118 in the same period last year.  The Textron-owned company has received orders for 165 Citations so far this year and plans to deliver about 300 for the entire year, compared to 247 in 2005.  Cessna last delivered more than 300 Citations in 2002.  07-29-2006.

Gulfstream delivered 54 business jets in the first half of this year versus 41 in the first half of last year.  Its large aircraft (G350 through G550) shipments increased to 34 from 29, and deliveries of its midsize/super-midsize jets (G100 through G200) increased to 20 in the first six months of 2006 from 12 in the same period last year.  07-29-2006.

Raytheon Aircraft delivered 36 business jets and 33 King Airs in the second quarter, bringing first-half deliveries to 58 jets and 54 King Airs.  By year-end, it plans to deliver a total of 156 business jets (including five super-midsize Hawker 4000s in the fourth quarter) and 142 King Airs; last year it shipped 141 jets and 114 King Airs.  The company sold 28 jets and 38 King Airs in the second quarter of 2006, versus 28 jets and 42 Kings Airs in the same three-month period last year.  07-29-2006.

The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) reported shipments of 1,843 general aviation airplanes in the first half of 2006, a 19.1% increase over the same period last year, with industry billings rising 34.9% to $8.8 billion.  Both shipments and billings broke previous records.  The overall upward trend in industry shipments covered all aircraft segments:  Shipments of piston-powered airplanes in the first six months of 2006 were up 17.4% from the same period last year to 1,270 units. Turboprop shipments rose 12.1%, from 141 units in 2005 to 158 units in 2006.  Business jet shipments increased 27.7% from 325 units to 415 units.  07-29-2006.  (Top)

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