Dealers delight in new avionics at AEA'11

At the AEA show, Aircell unveiled a new smartphone handset that runs the increasingly popular Android operating system. "What we're introducing is the first smartphone exactly designed for airplanes," said John Wade, Aircell executive v-p and general manager, business aviation services. Aircell will begin delivery of the smartphone by year-end.

Aircell's Android-based smartphone combines some unparalleled features with a device in other words useful not only for voice communications however also for controlling cabin management systems. The handset includes a 3.8-inch touchscreen display with the typical Android controls plus a telephone keypad. The buttons on the keypad respond to the user with haptic feedback and as well light up when pushed. A camera mounted on the display side of the handset will facilitate video conferencing. Aircell has incorporated noise-canceling research in the handset, which lowers the background noise in the cabin, making it easier for callers on the ground to hear the airborne caller.

Operators with an Aircell Axxess system already can replace those flush-mount handsets with the new smartphone, which is a drop-in replacement.

Also later this year, Aircell will fill the missing link in its air-to-ground communications system with voice service for the Gogo Biz broadband air-to-ground network. Gogo Biz's broadband airborne Internet access service is provided by Aircell's network of sky-oriented antennas and offers speeds equivalent to typical home high-speed Internet access. Aircell will combine the voice capability with Gogo Biz Internet in a single equipment package, which will provide both high-quality voice-over-Internet protocol telephone service and broadband Internet access.

Gogo Biz's voice service won't limit the number of users per available channel because VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) allows an nearly unlimited number of calls. Voice traffic is digitized into packets that are routed in the most efficient manner, and along these lines voice calls can be made simultaneously with Internet access. "This is VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol)," said Wade, "however a number of technologies have been introduced that optimize quality," he added. The new Aircell smartphone works with the Gogo Biz voice service, too. Owners of Aircell ATG 4000 and 5000 systems will be able to upgrade to the voice service.

Universal's third-generation datalink system, the UniLink UL800/801 communications management unit, will begin deliveries in October. The UL800/801 units meet the new requirements in accordance with Eurocontrol's Link 2000+ program. Really, this means that aircraft will need a datalink with controller-pilot datalink communications capability. For retrofit installations, this capability will be mandatory afterwards Feb. 5, 2015, for flight above 28,500 feet. New aircraft delivered beginning this year need a compliant system on board when delivered, according to Reida. "The whole idea is to drive away from voice communications."

The UniLink UL800/801 are compliant with future air navigation system 1/A and, to boot to CPDLC, offer ADS-C capabilities as so then as VDL Mode 2 network communications. VDL Mode 2 is a digital communications network with 13 times the message capacity of the current Acars system. The UL801 includes a built-in internal VHF data radio, during the UL800 works with an aircraft's onboard VDR. Both units interface with satcom systems using the Iridium and Inmarsat networks. The VDR can be used for airline operational and administrative communications and flight information services messages. Moreover to ADS-C, CPDLC enables receipt of departure clearances, FMS flight plans and textual/graphical weather reports.

Aspen's Evolution EFD1000 PFD and MFD systems don't contain their own GPS sensor or radios, so the KSN 770 adds those capabilities. Aspen's products have focused on replacing the six-pack instrument cluster however not the center stack of radios. "This accelerates our ability to have the center stack and new research," Uczekaj said.

Rockwell Collins is adding capabilities to business jets equipped with older versions of its Pro Line avionics and recently received new certifications for the Falcon 50/50EX and Beechjet 400A/Hawker 400XP.

The Rockwell Collins GPS-4000S receiver is approved in accordance with an STC for aircraft equipped with Pro Line 4 and 21 systems, making the GPS upgrade complementary to the LPV upgrades. The GPS-4000S is qualified for primary means of navigation, eliminating the check for receiver autonomous integrity monitoring. Another benefit of the GPS-4000S is compatibility with other countries' satellite-based augmentation system networks just as Europe's Egnos and Msas in Japan.

Flight Display Systems is seeing growing interest is mounting systems for Apple iPads, both in the cabin and the cockpit. The new FDARM-IPD sells for $2,533 and allows viewing an iPad in portrait or landscape mode in a cabin setting. Features of the iPad arm mount include power supply for the iPad, easy removability when not in use and no wiring changes needed when used with a Flight Display Systems base mount.

Cabin management system upgrade

For aircraft needing a cabin management system upgrade, the low-cost Club CMS provides a moving map with worldwide database, two seven-inch displays, four OLED switch panels that can control up to 12 audio sources, plugs for a headphone jack, a volume control, optional DVD player and iPod adapter. During the Club CMS is targeted at smaller aircraft just as turboprops and light jets, it is expandable. The Club CMS is going to be standard in the Pilatus PC-12, according to Healey.

TrueNorth Avionics manufactures cabin communications products that work on a variety of airborne telecom networks, including Iridium, Inmarsat SwiftBroadband and Aircell's U.S. air-to-ground network. At AEA, TrueNorth announced a new STC for the $10,995 TrueNorth Express BlackBerry messenger for the Falcon 900EX. TrueNorth Express enables BlackBerry devices to send and receive e-mail via the Iridium satcom network. Apple's iPhone will work with TrueNorth Express, nevertheless not as then as the BlackBerry, which uses less bandwidth for e-mail.

TrueNorth's Simphone OpenCabin airborne SwiftBroadband system now offers nearly unlimited voice channels using VoIP, and an ISDN interface that provides a high-quality voice channel, improved faxing capability and a boost in broadband data performance.

Another recent development is receipt of the first FAA TSO for the high-capacity lithium-ion battery in TrueNorth's wireless telephone handset. The handset as well passed flammability and environmental testing standards set by the FAA and other regulatory authorities.

The new Master Communications Console is "the industry's first touchscreen graphical telecom display," according to TrueNorth. The console helps operators manage all telecommunications functions from one station. As well available now is TrueNorth's new Stage2 broadband data router, which uses data compression, acceleration and traffic shaping research to boost a current 432 Kbps SwiftBroadband connection to 1 Mbps.

International Communications Group showed AEA attendees its latest products, including the NxtLink ICS-400, which received approval to operate on the Iridium satellite network. Selected as the satcom for Embraer's Lineage 1000, the ICS-400 includes four Iridium transceivers and a cabin telecommunications unit, which "offers global voice service coupled with telephone services similar to those found in contemporary office PABX systems," according to ICG.

EMS Aviation covers a wide range by serving OEMs and the retrofit market as then as end users just as helicopter and fixed-wing utility operators. EMS manufactures equipment for Aircell, Honeywell, Rockwell Collins and Thales. The company's products are split into three major lines: eNfusion, with large-aircraft satcom equipment operating on the Inmarsat SwiftBroadband and Swift 64 networks; Aspire, cabin equipment, including handsets, for small and midsize aircraft using Iridium or Inmarsat and Android-based handsets that can as well operate cabin systems; and Sky Connect, which serves the EMS, offshore oil and gas and firefighting segments with tracking, text and voice services.

John Broughton, EMS v-p of product development, believes it won't be long earlier all new aircraft leave the factory with high-speed data communications built in. Developments like the new constellation of Iridium satellites that will offer much higher data rates and Inmarsat's new Ka-band network will lead to even better satcom service and lower prices, he said. "There will be a price point where you may be able to consider all-you-can-eat pricing," he said. He as well expects SwiftBroadband to be used for safety services beginning in 2012. EMS's eNfusion line will be the first home of Ka-band products, he added.

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