December 2006

Issue Number 34

TURNING DREAMS TO REALITYGATEFUSIONSM

For more than 15 years, the idea of very-highspeed data connections for aircraft has been a dream of airlines. Imagine being able to Andrew eliminate the expensive Kemmetmueller, and problematic ways Business Manager, Corporate Busiof getting tapes, paper, ness Development, and data to aircraft. ARINC ARINC, the world leader in aviation communications, has worked hard to make this dream a reality. And on October 24, ARINC introduced GateFusionSMthe first Gatelink managed service available in the world! Gatelink today is generally based on the current Wi-Fi 802.11g standard for wireless communications. It involves the installation of avionics, an antenna on the plane, and a Wi-Fi infrastructure on the ground connected to the airline network. Most airlines view Gatelink as an opportunity to launch new projects like electronic flight bags (EFBs) or to provide a more automated path to and from the aircraft for applications like Flight Operations Quality Assurance (FOQA). Increasingly, ARINC has seen significant interest from In-Flight Entertainment (IFE) providers. Gatelink has had two major problems that kept it from being a communications choice for airlines. First, there was the problem of getting wireless service at airports. The hurdle of installing or getting access to Wi-Fi was high, and then getting the airports to operate identically was nearly impossible. GateFusions common-use platform with access at over 50 airports today has solved this problem and is bringing to airlines an advantage in aircraft communications previously not possible. The second issue is bandwidth. Even though Wi-Fi is a very-highspeed connection, the application still needs to communicate back to an airlines headquarters. Outside of hub airports, airlines typically have connectivity of less than 150 kbps. This slow speed impacts an airline using Gatelink. GateFusion provides a module that eliminates the impact of this
CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

WORLDS FIRST FOR AEROMOBILE

Its been some time since the ARINC/ Telenor joint venture, AeroMobile, has provided the Global Link readers with a Peter Tuggey progress update. For Director, Sales and those who missed our Airline Programs, earlier articles, Aero- AeroMobile Mobile is a solution for voice and data services allowing the safe and discrete use of cellular phones while in flight. We have been busy delivering our product commitments and addressing industry challenges since our last update. One significant milestone within AeroMobile was the first B777 installation for initial customer Emirates, which started on September 25, 2006. It was anticipated that this work would take 10 days to complete; however, on October 2 (8 days later), the work was completed ahead of schedule. This work was conducted within the planned down time of the aircraft's "C" maintenance check. In a mature model, we believe it would be possible to get this installation time down to three days or spread the three-day period across lesser aircraft "A" maintenance checks. On October 9, once aircraft power had been reapplied post "C" check, AeroMobile's engineering team returned to the aircraft with two black label shipsets of avionic equipment. To complete the necessary certification/commissioning milestones, it was necessary to operate
CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

INSIDE
Chairmans Perspective

ARINC in Europe, Middle East, and Africa

ARINC in Latin America and the Caribbean

ARINC in Asia

GLOBALink Services

Technotalk

Squitters

Acronyms

Spotlight on Dan Shea

The Global Link December 2006

CHAIRMANS PERSPECTIVE

TACKLING NEW TECHNOLOGIES HEAD-ON

Because of ARINCs wide range of products and services across dozens of markets, we routinely get a chance to try new technologies at an early stage, or when they first become cost-effective. During 2006, two technologies especially stood out in this way, both having great potential to change the communications landscape. ARINC has reacted nimbly by wrapping them into customer offerings immediately. The first breakthrough is Iridium satellite communicationshardly a new medium in 2006, but suddenly ten times more affordable after its emergence from restructuring. With its true global reach at a bargain rate, Iridium shows promise for making many ARINC service offerings more flexible and affordable, and we are incorporating Iridium into a range of products. ARINCs Iridium telephony service, launched in June, enables a user to call from anywhere to anywhere using a single telephone number. This service is very attractive to those seeking an alternative to HF communications for the cockpit or a communications solution for cabin crew, alleviating interruptions to cockpit operations. Iridium avionics can be linked to a handset installed on board, or integrated into the cockpit headset. Multichannel systems are also available to enable independent operation between cockpit and cabin. In addition to telephony services, Iridium supports bidirectional data communications. Iridium is an ideal technology for global aeronautical communications. ARINC is integrating this capability with GLOBALink services to enable ACARS messaging via Iridium. Using this capability, an airline will be able to perform airline operational control (AOC) and airline administrative control (AAC) messaging. In the first quarter of 2007, ARINC will introduce ACARS messaging over Iridium, making Iridium a new, fully integrated ACARS medium. The advantage of this solution is that no modifications are required for a customers host system. ACARS messaging over Iridium requires an avionics unit on board the aircraft connected to the CMU. This can be achieved through connection to the CMUs ARINC 741 or 761 port, a very efficient solution as it requires little or no configuration change to the CMU. The ARINC solution supports the full ACARS message set seamlessly integrated with other data link technologies. The solution provides for intelligent, dynamic routing of messages to ensure the most efficient and cost-effective deliverywithout
John Belcher Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, ARINC

modification to the existing aircraft and hostprocessing infrastructure. As part of the integration of Iridium with the GLOBALink suite of services, a new column has been added to The Global Link for Iridium services. Integration of Iridium communication technology will further solidify ARINCs GLOBALink service as the premierand most comprehensivesolution for aeronautical communications. The second breakthrough I want to mention is electronic paper. This is a new thinscreen display technology that is literally just as easy to read as printed paper. Coupled with low-cost memory and universal access to downloads, e-paper may soon do for reading what the iPod has done for listening. ARINC selected the e-paper solution from iRex Technologiesa spin-off of Philips of the Netherlandsto launch the innovative eFlyBook electronic display device for pilots. The lightweight and portable ARINC
CONTINUED ON PAGE 8

ARINC

IN

EUROPE,

MIDDLE

E A S T,

AND

AFRICA

In August, ARINC launched a Live Text News (LTN) service for air travelers, which delivers breaking news and sports updates right to a passengers seat. Colette Parks Headlines, business reports, Business sports scores, entertainment Manager, Airline Services, news, weather forecasts, ARINC and even the airlines own news and special offers are sent to the aircraft every hour, so passengers can keep up with events in the world below even as they travel at 35,000 feet above. LTN was developed in collaboration with leading suppliers in the in-flight entertainment industry: Inflight Productions for content management, Sky News for live news content, and eFlyte for the aircraft in-flight

entertainment application. The service is flexible, and content is tailored to individual airline requirements, ensuring airlines can meet their passenger demographic and branding needs. All aircraft and content can be monitored from the ground through a secure website, allowing ARINC and the airline to know at any time what content is on each individual aircraft. Virgin Atlantic was the first customer to request a Live Text News service and worked with ARINC to define the product for their unique offering. At the end of a demanding three-month schedule, a product was delivered with the flexibility to support content from multiple news providers and offering different content on specific aircraft and routes. Virgin has been positive about the service and is delighted that their passengers

can access the news at their seats any time during the flight. LTN recently helped keep Virgins passengers up to date on breaking news from ARINC when it ran the news story that Emirates Airlines will be the first airline to install a system to allow the use of mobile phones in flight. That service will be provided by AeroMobile, a joint venture from ARINC and Telenor. Live Text News is the initial phase of providing live news and sports to aircraft, and ARINC plans to upgrade the service to support video news bulletins and sports flashes when greater satellite bandwidth is available through SwiftBroadband.
Colette Parks
coparks@arinc.com tel +44 1293 641352 fax +44 1293 641211

The Global Link December 2006

ARINC AND

IN

LATIN

AMERICA

THE

CARIBBEAN

As discussed in the previous issue of The Global Link, much effort goes into the planning, implementation, and maintenance of GLOBALink coverage for Latin America and Carlos Negrete the Caribbean (LAC). In this Senior Program Manager, article, let's look at how the ARINC airline community benefits from our GLOBALink presence. GLOBALink benefits both the airlines and the regional civil aviation authorities. Both entities can use the messages generated by the pilot or the on-board equipment. These messages can be fed into existing host processors to enhance user situational awareness and communications and to reduce information delay times and cost of operations. The primary users of GLOBALink are the airlines. An important part of an airlines mission is the daily movement of passengers and payload from one city to another. Being in contact at all times with the flight crew enhances airline operations and becomes crucial whenever an irregular operation is taking place. With near-real-time information made available by GLOBALink, prompt and effec-

tive decisions can be made to reduce the impact to the airline and its customers. The challenge is to maximize the number of daily operations with the aircraft fleet, the distribution of available information, and the number of airline departments that can benefit from flight operations information. Operations, dispatch, aircraft maintenance, and crew management are all beneficiaries of data link to relay aircraft status. Implementing data link applications also helps to automate processes, which in turn can lead to time and cost savings. There is a wide variety of data link applications in use in the region. Among them are D-ATIS, Pre-Departure Clearance, Block Times, Aircraft/Engine Monitoring, Weather Reports, Special Requests, and Flight Dispatch Papers. Currently, D-ATIS users are able to obtain terminal information via data link for many airports in the United States. ARINC is currently installing its first two D-ATIS stations in South America. D-ATIS customers will soon be able to obtain runway conditions, weather data, and terminal information via GLOBALink for Ezeiza Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE), Bueno Aires,

and Ambrosio L.V. Taravella International Airport (COR), Cordoba, in Argentina. D-ATIS requests can be made and received by the pilot while the aircraft is still at its departure gate thousands of miles away. Besides the airlines, the regional civil aviation authorities have found GLOBALink to be helpful in the management of their airspace. ARINC has run successful Future Air Navigation System (FANS) trials with the civil aviation authorities of Peru (CORPAC) and Mexico (SENEAM). In both cases, the air traffic controllers were able to exercise both the automatic dependent surveillance (ADS) and controller-pilot data link communications (CPDLC) features of an ATS environment. ARINC, in coordination with the civil aviation authority of Argentina (FFAA), will be conducting an ATS trial in Buenos Aires in the near future. GLOBALink in Latin America and the Caribbean will continue to expand its reach, enhance its data link applications, and make itself a key member of the regional aviation community.
Carlos Negrete
cnegrete@arinc.com tel +1 410 266 4932 fax +1 410 573 3106

ARINC

IN

A S I A

What is the appropriate frequency setting for the ARINC network? How can we control our DSP selection? What do we need to do to enable more applications, like loadsheet, Sarawut PDC, or flight plan upload to Assawachaichit Engineering the FMC? Manager, These are some of the ques- GLOBALink/Asia, tions we are asked by our cus- ARINC tomers. These questions have no easy, straightforward answers. Depending on several factorssuch as type of equipage, avionics, route structure, or coststhe answer can vary considerably. However, by working closely with our customers, ARINC can help find the best solutions and realize even more benefits from data link. A good example is the ARINC-conducted Data Link/Avionics Training Course arranged specifically for our customers in Asia-Pacific. The ARINC Asia-Pacific Division worked with the Avionics Qualification Program (AQP) group led by Steve Leger to develop this

The attendees and ARINC instructors of the 2005 Asia-Pacific Data Link/Avionics Workshop at ARINC's Annapolis office.

course. This will be the third year in a row that we have conducted this training. The feedback from the first two years was positive and is the reason we decided to continue. This year, the course will be held December 11-15 at ARINC headquarters in Annapolis. Customers are encouraged to take the training to optimize their use of ARINC GLOBALink services. The training is an opportunity for our customers to meet technical experts and exchange ideas with them. Students will also gain practical experience with avionics, data

link functions, and protocols by observing or conducting the complete set of system tests that are the basis of ARINCs avionics qualification program. This training is another indication of ARINCs commitment to customer service and support as well as the value ARINC places on customer relationships. I would like to thank Steve, his team, and everyone involved for this successful activity.
Sarawut Assawachaichit
sassawac@arinc.com tel +66 2 285 9435 fax +66 2 285 9437

The Global Link December 2006

GLOBALink SERVICES

Shelle Kyle Business Manager, GLOBALink/HF Data Link, ARINC

HFDL
GLOBALink/HFDL
HFDL and HF Voice Use It seems a common question among HFDL users, How do I use HFDL and HF voice together? HF voice and HFDL share the same avionics architecture, typically two HF voice and/or data-capable radios each connected to a coupler with the couplers connected to one HF antenna. So, if they share the same antenna, how can they work together? Current HF voice procedures require that the flight crew monitor primary preassigned frequencies to communicate with air traffic control centers. With HFDL, no such flight crew intervention is required. Let us review the recommended practices for HF voice and HF data use. During the preflight check, using the radio tuning panel (RTP), one HF data radio (HFDR) is switched to DATA mode. This HFDR should remain in DATA mode for the entire flight through touchdown. The HFDR will negotiate the transition between HFDL ground stations (HGSs) and automatically searches for a suitable frequency from all HFDL frequency assignments. SELCAL check during preflight should proceed according to established practice. HFDL is typically configured to be disabled on the ground; therefore, no transmissions will occur. However, once the aircraft takes off, the HFDR will initiate a log-on to a ground station and will maintain connections as long as the RTP remains in DATA mode. Involvement from the flight crew is not needed. Now what about making the mandatory HF voice position reports during flight? HF voice should use the HF radio not currently being used for DATA. Because HF voice and HFDL share the same antenna, HF voice use will pre-empt DATA use, but the HFDR will remain logged on to the HGS until the maximum threshold is reached. We caution against keying the mic prior to HF voice use in order to tune the antenna. Any time the mic is keyed, HFDL transmission will be interrupted. If HF IN PROG is displayed, flight crews should delay keying the mic. Once the mic is released, the HFDR will stay locked in voice for 60 seconds, preventing data transmission. Use of the mic greater than 3 minutes will sever the current HFDL connection with the ground station and will require the HFDR to re-establish a log-on, thus delaying HFDL transmissions. By following these recommendations, HFDL users can expect optimal performance from this technology.
Shelle Kyle
mkyle@arinc.com tel +1 619 397 4210 fax +1 619 397 4179

John Christian Manager, Data Link Implementation Services, ARINC

VHF
GLOBALink/VHF

Tom McCullough Business Manager, Satellite Services, ARINC

Brian Pemberton Iridium Service Manager, ARINC

Tim Ryan Director, Aviation Communications Services, ARINC

In 2006, ARINC reached a significant milestone with our 225th operational VDLM2 station in North America. Deployments have continued throughout the year, and we have already surpassed that milestone. ARINC has significant on-ground and en route coverage of VDLM2 AOA throughout the entire region, and we will continue to expand to more locations in 2007 at the same accelerated rate as in previous years. Today, our VDLM2 network serves 30 airlines and more than 1,200 aircraft. We are now exceeding 3 million monthly messages on VDLM2 AOA. Our commitment will continue in 2007 so that all our customers can benefit from the increased efficiency and safety that ARINC VDLM2 provides. Theres another benefit as well VDLM2 eliminates several operational issues inherent in legacy ACARS, such as periodic congestion and dual service provider reception. In addition, ARINC will increase VDLM2 ATN station deployments in 2007 to expand coverage in Europe in support of EUROCONTROL's LINK 2000 Program. The

expansion (planned for the next 5 years) will nearly triple the existing coverage area in Europe. ARINC makes the migration to VDLM2 seamless. New data link users or newly equipped aircraft with VDLM2 avionics can immediately benefit from ARINCs VDLM2 service. For new and existing aircraft, ARINC is providing VDLM2 AOA as well as ATN VDLM2 service. Operators can continue to use their ACARS applications over the VDLM2 infrastructure when using the AOA serviceonly an avionics upgrade is required; the host systems and existing data link applications require no modification. Operators can transparently support their mixed avionics fleet and therefore preserve their investment in legacy host systems and applications. From the 1st station to the 225th and well beyond, ARINCs VDLM2 commitment and exceptional quality of service is here to stay.
John Christian
jchrista@arinc.com tel +1 410 266 2994 fax +1 410 266 4010

SAT
GLOBALink/Satellite
Satellite Voice Trials in the North Atlantic A limited number of airlines are taking part in a proof-of-concept trial to test the feasibility of using satellite voice primarily for air traffic services (ATS) communications. Currently, HF voice is used as a routine means for communicating with aircraft in certain flight information regions (FIRs) around the globe. The goals of this trial are to understand if any operational, technical, or security issues exist for satellite voice safety-of-flight correspondence, and also to gather the necessary data to support

The Global Link December 2006

broader customer participation in the near future. Inmarsat I-4 Status The Atlantic Ocean Region West (AORW) I-4 satellite is currently operating on the full 19 spot beams for Swift64 services. Classic Aero (H, H+, I) services are currently operating on 14 spot beams in the AORW, with the planned transition to 19 spot beams by January 2007 (effective date to be confirmed by Inmarsat). Swift64 and Classic Aero services in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) are still operating over the I-3 satellite until further notice. SKYLink/L-Band Service Launch ARINC recently launched a new dual-mode satellite service offering for business aviation aircraft. Current SKYLink customers operating on Ku-band frequencies can now also seamlessly communicate on Inmarsat L-band frequencies when necessary if equipped with Inmarsat Swift64 avionics. This service enhancement offers redundancy between two satellite technologies and provides continuous functionality for high-speed data applications. SKYLink broadband services and Inmarsat Swift64 services support satellite telephony, Internet, e-mail/text messaging, and corporate LAN access requirements. CN94 GES Upgrade Program An extensive ground earth station upgrade program (called CN94) continues as part of the transition to the I-4 satellites. This will allow the GESs to perform at greater operational efficiency and protect against GES component obsolescence. The upgrade is on target for a planned implementation by September 2007.
Tom McCullough
tmccullo@arinc.com tel +1 410 266 4986 fax +1 410 573 3106

sage set seamlessly integrated with other data link technologies. Moreover, this solution provides for intelligent, dynamic routing of messages to ensure the most efficient and cost-effective delivery. This utilization without modification to the existing aircraft and host-processing infrastructure sets the ARINC solution apart. In preparation for the launch of the service, ARINC is updating our AQP program to include Iridium compatibility testing. In addition, ARINC is working with multiple avionics vendors to validate their platforms thus enabling customers to take advantage of the ARINC services. All avionics platforms are compatible with ARINCs Iridium telephony service, but at present not all platforms support ACARS messaging or interoperability with ARINCs data link service. Iridium continues to move through the process to achieve ICAO SARPs approval for Aviation Safety services. At present, Iridium is expected to complete this process in the fourth quarter 2007, when it will be certified as an appropriate communications medium for air traffic control, or use for FANS messaging. Interest in ARINCs Iridium services continues to grow as customers learn more about the avionics solutions available. Since launching the service in June, the number of aircraft using the services has doubled each month. While this will be an impossible pace to maintain for very long, the prospects for 2007 appear positive. ARINC continues to be enthusiastic about the opportunities these new services will bring to the aviation community.
Brian Pemberton
bpembert@arinc.com tel +1 410 266 4888 fax +1 410 573 3106

ideas for future enhancements coming from our customer base. This energized customer base is what pushes the team to continue improving the product. By the end of the year, all customers will be migrated to the new OpCenter environment. ARINC Digitial Signature Service (ADSS) On September 27, 2006, ARINCs Digital Signature Service announced the completion of the cross-certification of its independent Certification Authority (CA) with the CertiPath, LLC Identity Management Bridge. This cross-certification will allow ARINC to support a multitude of identity management applications that are beginning to enter the aviation industry. It is expected that the ADSS CA will be declared fully operational by the end of 2006. Cockpit Access Security System (CASS) The ARINC CASS Service recently added a 55th airline to the CASS Service, a program which continues to fill a critical need for the commuting pilot. On September 23, 2006, the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) mandated the inclusion of a digital image of the pilot in all CASS responses. This mandate has been a necessary but challenging effort for the program participants. The CASS Test System has seen increased activity as airlines scurry to test and debug their new image software. In an effort to bring CASS to a larger group of pilots, we have recently completed system testing on a modified web-based CASS application. This application will allow many small carriers to participate in this popular program. We are hoping to unveil this new service in a beta form by the end of 2006.
Tim Ryan
tkr@arinc.com tel +1 410 266 4856 fax +1 410 573 3106

IRID
GLOBALink/Iridium

ACS
OpCenterSM

Aviation Communications Services

The OpCenter Program Team began moving customers to the newly upgraded OpCenter application in August 2006. This new version of OpCenter is built on an Oracle 10g Real Application Cluster (RAC). There are many other changes, but the database enhancement, along with a network architectural improvement, is the fundamental reason for the improved performance, availability, and flexibility of the service. As the product is rolled out, the changes to the user screens and the improved search function are receiving the most positive feedback. The best things are the additional

Continued Progress with Iridium Integration into GLOBALink Suite We are pleased to report that ARINC is on track to complete the integration of Iridium with the current GLOBALink service by the first quarter of 2007. Once this service is in place, customers will enjoy the utility of ACARS messaging seamlessly integrated with their current aircraft and host processing infrastructure. The ARINC solution is the only Iridium solution that supports the full ACARS mes-

AND WISHES FOR A SUCCESSFUL NEW YEAR FROM ARINC

The Global Link December 2006

T E C H N O TA L K

SECURITY BY OBSCURITY OR THE REAL THING?

ACARS has been serving the airlines well for nearly thirty years. For more than two-thirds of that time, airline messages to and from aircraft were reasonably secure from interception and were very secure from any form of tampering. This situation was largely due to the nature of ACARS radio signals and the equipment needed to decode them. Few people had the expertise and inclination to intercept those messages. This is a classic example of Security by Obscurity. If your signals are sparse enough either in space or in time and it takes specialized equipment and techniques to decode them, they are reasonably secure from interception. The basic signals used for plain old ACARS, that is, 2,400-bps MSK modulation, was state-of-the-art in 1978 (well...it was not that exotic even then, but it had to be able to squeeze through voice VHF radios that were not exactly hi-fi quality). Until the mid- to late-nineties, the equipment required to decode those signals was not easy to come by. The digital signal processor (i.e., the microprocessor that does things such as decode GPS signals and impress voice audio onto RF signals in digital cell phones) changed all that. Plus, the Internet disseminated not only intercepted ACARS messages but also the technology needed to send and receive ACARS messages. ACARS is no longer obscure and no longer secure. And so, it is time for The Real Thing. What is it? The technology is illustrated every time someone goes onto the Internet and makes a credit card purchase. The message carrying your credit card number to the vendor so that your account may be debited is encrypted so even though someone may intercept your message packet, they will not be able to see the numbers on your credit card. The AEEC Data Link Security (DSEC) Subcommittee is working on mechanisms that will bring similar technology to ACARS messages. However, technical security mechanisms are not the only way to protect information transfer. Operational and policy controls put in place by the airlines form the first line of defense against unauthorized use of data messages. ARINC Report 811: Commercial Aircraft Information Security Concepts of Operation and Process Framework discusses these various security controls and the framework within which security should evolve. The first step in developing security controls must be to identify the threats that are to be protected against and to assess the risks involved in security compromises by those threats. That assessment will then determine what controls need to be brought to bear on the problem. The DSEC has performed an assessment in accordance with ARINC 811 and is developing some technical controls to address the threats it has identified. If you are interested in this subject, you are invited to join DSEC in its work.
Roy Oishi
rto@arinc.com tel +1 410 266 2982 fax +1 410 573 3106

Roy Oishi ARINC Fellow

WORLDS FIRST FOR AEROMOBILE (CONTINUED)

the installed AeroMobile system while on the ground. This required special approval from the UAE national regulator, the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), and airport authority, the Dubai Department of Civil Aviation (DCA). With these approvals in place, we were able to fully commission the system. The first-ever GSM cell phone call from a commercial aircraft in airline livery was made at 16:26 UTC on October 10, 2006! Over the following days, the combination of incoming and outgoing calls totaled more than 145 minutes of talk time. Text messages were also sent to and from the aircraft. Senior Boeing representatives witnessed the installation

and commissioning activity in Dubai to ensure continuity with our Boeing line fit program. Following completion of the commissioning activities, detailed interference tests were conducteda requirement for aircraft certification. The results are being reviewed by the UK CAA, GCAA, and EASA. Final approval of this data will allow the aircraft to operate in commercial service. We anticipate this in early 2007, representing a first real-world achievement. Regulatory approval from over-flown countries is required for in-service operation. Based on our present airline commitments, we are launching on European and

Asian flight sectors, but other routes will be addressed as appropriate. Roaming agreements are also necessary so that passengers can use their phones when roaming onto AeroMobiles aircraft cellular network. Significantly, we have signed roaming agreements with more than 80 telecommunications operators today (representing more than one-quarter of the worlds GSM subscriber base) to support our proposed route structure and passenger demographic. At our next stop in service operation, I may be posting the next article in flight from my cellular phone!
Peter Tuggey
ptuggey@arinc.com tel +44 1293 641351 fax +44 1293 641211

The Global Link December 2006

SQUITTERS ACRONYMS

ARINC Direct has introduced World CallingSM, a new flat-rate billing plan for customers of its SKYLink VoIP telephone service for business jets. SKYLink VoIP users will now be billed a flat 10 per minute for all calls between aircraft and ground telephonesno matter where in the world the calls are originated or terminated. The 10 per minute VoIP rate is added to subscribers standard SKYLink data service rates. Airlines seeking an economical way to deploy data-intensive applications such as color weather graphics for the cockpit will soon have a solution. In a recent flight test, ARINC sent full-color NEXRAD weather images rapidly from the ground to the cockpit, using standard ACARS data link messages transmitted over high-speed VDL Mode 2. During the flight, the speed of VDLM2 data link allowed the flight crew to view a NEXRAD color image of Florida thunderstorms within 20 seconds after sending a request. The operational test was conducted outside Washington, D.C. for the Air Force Flight Standards Agency. A versatile new document viewer has been added to the best in class electronic flight bag (EFB)

solution offered by ARINC and Jeppesen. The companies recently received approval of ARINCs DocViewerTM from the FAAs Aircraft Evaluation Group. The integrated Jeppesen/ARINC EFB solution includes a common look and feel across all applications, with seamless support for electronic charts and documents, and optional integrated VHF ACARS communications. The solution is scalable and upgradable, with an open platform to host more functionality in the future. In October, ARINC introduced AviNet eXchange, a new business-class messaging service. The innovative service takes advantage of the latest IP technologies including XML and Web Services, while maintaining backward compatibility with the air transport industrys legacy and proprietary messaging methods. AviNet eXchange allows XML-formatted messages to be sent securely between partners using Web Services. With ARINCs service, an airline can send a SOAP-compliant XML message to a trading partner with levels of reliability not previously available using Open Standards.

AAC Airline Administrative Control ACARS Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System AEEC Airlines Electronic Engineering Committee AOA ACARS Over AVLC AOC Airline Operational Control AQP Avionics Qualification Program ATN Aeronautical Telecommunication Network AVLC Aviation VHF Link Control CAA Civil Aviation Authority D-ATIS Digital Automatic Terminal Information Service DSP Data Link Service Provider EASA European Aviation Safety Agency FAA Federal Aviation Administration FANS Future Air Navigation System FMC Flight Management Computer GCAA General Civil Aviation Authority (UAE) GES Ground Earth Station GPS Global Positioning System GSM Global System for Mobile Communication HF High Frequency HFDL High Frequency Data Link ICAO International Civil Aviation Organization LAC Latin America and Caribbean MSK Minimum Shift Keying

TURNING DREAMS TO REALITYGATEFUSIONSM (CONTINUED)

slow connection and provides airlines with an opportunity to send data to and from the aircraft at speeds never seen before. Most importantly, GateFusion is a managed service to the airlines. This brings significant benefits, including: A seamless, consistent Gatelink service worldwide Compatibility with existing infrastructures Minimal data delivery time Automated data delivery for many applications Data store-and-forward providing immediate access to content at GateFusion airports

Simple flat-price billing Cost-effective shared infrastructure Single point of contact for outages, repair, billing, and other support services As your airline moves to the 21st century in aircraft communications, ARINCs GateFusion will bring the world of high speed to your aircraft. Call ARINC today to learn how GateFusion can fit into your current and future aircraft needs!
Andrew Kemmetmueller
akemmetm@arinc.com tel +1 410 266 4778 fax +1 410 573 3431

PDA Personal Digital Assistant PDC Predeparture Clearance RF Radio Frequency SATCOM Satellite Communications SARPs Standards and Recommended Practices SOAP Simple Object Access Protocol TSA Transportation Security Administration VDL Very High Frequency Digital Link VDLM2 VDL Mode 2 VHF Very High Frequency VoIP Voice Over Internet Protocol XML Extensible Markup Language

The Global Link December 2006

SPOTLIGHT ON DAN SHEA

In his eleven years at ARINC, Dan Shea has had the opportunity to promote and support ARINCs products from both sides of the Atlantic Oceanfrom ARINCs global headquarters in Annapolis, Maryland, and the Europe regional headquarters in Crawley, outside London, England. Dan is currently an Account Director for the Aviation Solutions division in Annapolis. He began his career at ARINC in the Annapolis office as the Air/Ground Voice Business Man ager; from there he transitioned to the GLOBALink team. He also supported the SKYLink (broadband) team and dabbled in Strategic Planning before settling into his current role. Dans most memorable experience at ARINC was his assignment in Europe from 2000-2003 to support ARINC's launch of the European office. When I arrived in London, there were five of us in the office, and we were responsible for supporting the entire range of ARINC services and all the customers throughout Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. This obviously kept us very busy and forced us to have a thorough understanding of the entire ARINC portfolio. We were a small team and worked well together. We were very entrepreneurial, and it felt very much as if we were launching a new businesswhich, in many ways, we were. Dan feels very fortunate that while at ARINC he has held several challenging and interesting positions. What he enjoys most about his job is being able to help customers solve their most complex issues. Most customers focus on two aspects improving their competitive position and profitabilityand they often use ARINC's services and products to help with both. The customers often count on ARINC to assist them with automation, and there is nothing more rewarding than delivering quality products and support and gaining the trust of our customers. Dan was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland. Outside of work, he enjoys jogging, wood-working, and being involved in his kids extracurricular activitieshe often assists with coaching and volunteering from time to time at their schools. He and his wife, Barbara, have been married for 15 years and have four children: Caroline (13), Kathryn (11), Nina (9), and Danny (4). Dan is also the commander of an Air National Guard medical group, responsible for providing first-line trauma care and emergency medicine. He currently has men and women deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq. The group also provides a significant amount of state-side support, and sent a considerable amount of equipment and personnel to Belle Chase, Louisiana, to support Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.
Dan Shea
dcs@arinc.com tel +1 410 266 4571 fax +1 410 573 3106

Dan Shea Account Director, Marketing and Sales, Aviation Solutions, ARINC

CHAIRMAN'S PERSPECTIVE (CONTINUED)

eFlyBook generated a huge wave of enthusiasm at its debut in July at the worlds largest general aviation eventAirVenture 2006.

eFlyBook is intended to replace heavy and bulky paper charts and flight documents customarily carried in the cockpit. Convenient electronic updating of documents means pilots can be confident they are looking at the latest chart available for their destinationeven if they reroute. The e-paper screenwhich is legible even in bright sunlightmakes eFlyBook more user-friendly than conventional laptops and PDAs currently popular with general aviation pilots. Not only did ARINC eFlyBook break the mold technologically, but its affordable price and the need for monthly customer data support required ARINC to adopt a new type

of business plan. We partnered with companies experienced in providing products to the general aviation market to expedite the time to market and to deploy an e-commerce retail sales portal. Of course, Iridium and electronic paper are not the only new technologies ARINC grappled with this year. But they do rank high, both in terms of the excitement they have generated and making us think outside the box. Challenges are a good thing in the constantly evolving world of technology. They usually mean youre doing something right.

is published periodically by ARINC and is distributed to its customers and others in the aviation community.
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Dan Pendergast
PRODUCTION EDITOR

Debbie Coffman
PRODUCTION STAFF

Karen Clark Theresa Degutis Anne Sewell Editorial comments or questions should be sent to Debbie Coffman. tel +1 410 266 4219 e-mail dcoffman@arinc.com Photocopying is allowed. Use of articles is allowed if source is cited, but no photographs may be incorporated into another publication.

ARINC's new electronic display device for pilots, eFlyBook