April/May AirWays News

Transcription

1 April/May 2012 AirWays News We are committed to helping our customers get to their destinations by providing the tools, information, services and support needed for streamlined, efficient flight operations. AirWays is published bi-monthly by Rockwell Collins Flight Information Solutions, which can be viewed online at Global flight plan format change to go into effect later this year - On November 15, 2012, one of the biggest changes in flight planning the aviation industry has ever experienced will go into effect. The intention of the format change to flight planning is to update the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) model flight plan form in order to meet the needs of aircraft with advanced capabilities and the evolving requirements of automated air traffic management (ATM) systems, while taking into account compatibility with existing systems, human factors, training, cost and transition aspects. The new format is designed to permit the transmission of vital information on aircraft capability and crew qualifications as a foundation for future automated ATM systems. In an effort to provide awareness of the changes and to ensure a smooth transition, the Civil Air Navigation Services Organization (CANSO) and ICAO have created regional task forces to work with organizations across the globe to be ready for the new format. Following ICAO s 2008 notification of the mandated change, members of the Rockwell Collins Flight Information Solutions group began meeting monthly with appropriate stakeholders, including the FAA, to stay updated on the global changes that would be taking place. Greg Murray, principal technical support specialist for Rockwell Collins, has been a member of that team since the beginning. Murray explained that the rules of air are not changing. The format change is preparing for performance-based navigation (PBN), and Air Traffic Control (ATC) monitoring efforts such as SESAR (Euro) and NextGen. These changes will allow systems to work better with monitorization as the technology continues to advance. The format changes require more equipment information to be entered when filing a flight plan. Currently equipment indicators are limited to 13 characters. In the new format, equipment indicators could exceed 69 characters, and there will be no limit to the number of codes that can be included in a flight plan. The new format will also allow additional plain language remarks to be entered, but there will be requirements regarding the order in which the remarks must be entered. This summer Murray and other members of the Rockwell Collins team will be reaching out to customers to ensure we have all the information required for the change, including aircraft weight, fuel load preferences, speeds, current equipment codes, etc. Data from over 600 aircraft will be gathered in preparation for the format change.

2 Beginning in July, flight plans can be submitted using the new format, to assist in the transition. Effective November 15, if flight plans are not in compliance with the new format, they will be rejected. Rockwell Collins is committed to helping our customers prepare for the upcoming change. Contact Greg Murray at or for more information. Additional information can also be found at ICAO s website at Rockwell Collins launches data center to provide secure hosting option for FOS - In today s global environment when so many transactions take place over the internet, customers are looking for assurance that their business data is safe. Rockwell Collins takes these concerns very seriously and works to ensure the safety and security of our customers data. Rockwell Collins Flight Services, located in our facility in Houston, Texas, serves business aircraft operators and provides around-the-clock flight operations support for over 800 aircraft. Information Technology (IT) and business functions at the facility are tightly integrated throughout our Ascend Flight Information Solutions offerings. Through both our web-based and hosted solutions, Rockwell Collins is able to provide our customers with a mature, robust computing environment. The 7x24 IT operations and support available to our customers provides proactive monitoring of the IT infrastructure supporting the Ascend solutions. Our trained and experienced staff possesses extensive IT expertise in operations, software development, and product domain knowledge. In addition, industry best practices are employed including ITSM processes such as incident, change, and release management. Rockwell Collins also takes additional steps to ensure security through controlled facilities access, 7x24 video monitoring, regular internal and external IT security and controls audits, and penetration testing. This combination of people, process, and technology ensures our customer s data is secure both physically and digitally. Additional features of the data center include: High availability computing infrastructure (clustering, virtualization) Redundant networking and connectivity Layered security (application firewalls, infrastructure firewalls, intrusion detection/prevention) Anti-virus protection, formal patch management Business continuity/disaster recovery (Hot-site data center and operations support) Environmental controls (HVAC, power, humidity, fire suppression) Multiple power feeds, uninterruptible power systems (UPS) and backup generators Data backup and replication services 7x24 system monitoring and remote management 250GB of 3rd party data transactions daily Tight integration with 3rd party service providers To further secure our customers data, Rockwell Collins FOS hosting environment includes: Highly available and dedicated server instances for each customer Remote access over secure web connection from a variety of client devices including Windows, Macs, tablets Strong security features, including enforced password complexity and expiration Tight integration with other Ascend solutions Inherent disaster recovery Physically secured computing environment Encrypted data backups Strong IT Security and Controls processes including on-going internal/external audits and penetration testing Total IT managed services solution For more information on FOS hosting and our FOS subscription services, contact the Client Support Center (CSC) at or ascendfsclientsupport@rockwellcollins.com.

3 Ascend mobile apps keep crews connected, anytime, anywhere Use of an ipad or other mobile device on the flight deck is gaining momentum. Late last year, the FAA approved the use of these mobile devices by commercial airlines in all phases of flight. Business aircraft operators are also widely adopting mobile technology. Rockwell Collins continues to advance its mobile applications. Ascend Flight Manager Mobile is currently the only flight operations application to integrate schedule and dispatch software tools, trip documents, weather data and airport directory information into a single application for mobile devices. With the addition of the briefcase, paperless flight operations are becoming a reality. Introduced at the NBAA Schedulers and Dispatchers conference in January, the briefcase module enables electronic access to trip briefs, flight plans and more, eliminating the need for pilots to carry paper forms of schedules, navigational charts and other documents. A new document management module provides flight departments with the ability to organize all flight-related documents in FOS and have them automatically synchronized to an ipad, where they are stored locally on the device. Using the document management feature, schedulers and dispatchers can push these items to the crew members; once they have taken any required action, crew members can acknowledge completion, which syncs up with the FOS system. FOS Mobile enables crews to complete pre- and post-flight checklists, log expenses and duty time, report safety or service issues and view their trip briefs. FOS Mobile is available for iphone, BlackBerry and Android devices, and as a module on the Flight Manager Mobile ipad app. From takeoff to touchdown, Rockwell Collins Ascend Flight Information Solutions can provide your flight department with all the tools, services and support you need for streamlined, efficient flight operations. Let us help you put the Power of Ascend to work for your flight department. Contact us at ascendfsclientsupport@rockwellcollins.com or to learn more. Rockwell Collins opens Berlin office to provide Ascend flight support services for European operators - Rockwell Collins has opened a new flight services office to provide flight planning support for European business aircraft operators. The office is located in the General Aviation Terminal area at the new Berlin Brandenburg International Airport. Europe s airspace is growing more complex with increasing congestion and regulations, said Steve Timm, vice president and general manager, Flight Information Solutions for Rockwell Collins. The expansion of our presence in Europe and new capabilities to support European operations will allow us to better serve flight departments that face these complexities and provide the most efficient and cost-effective routes possible for their flights. Specific enhancements to the Ascend flight planning tools have been introduced to support European operations. These enhancements include Eurocontrol Central Flow Management Unit (CFMU) routes and validation. Ascend Regional Trip Support (RTS) for European operators is part of the company s Ascend flight information solutions offering, the industry s only integrated, one-stop suite of flight operations applications and services. Ascend RTS features self-service tools that are accessible online via Ascend Flight Manager, as well as full service flight planning, scheduling and dispatch, weather, datalink and dedicated flight watch. More information about Ascend flight information solutions is available at You can also contact Wolfram Pinhammer, European Sales Manager, at wpinhamm@rockwellcollins.com or +49(0) regarding the European office.

4 UK flight support office prepares for busy summer - Visitors to the United Kingdom (UK) should be prepared for an unprecedented number of major events this summer, which will likely affect business as usual. On May 18, the Olympic Torch arrives in the UK and begins a nationwide tour. Locations the torch is traveling to that clients may be interested in include: May 25 Cardiff June 1 Liverpool June 2 - Isle of Man June 3 Belfast June 8 & 9 Glasgow June 11 Invernes June 13 - St. Andrews & Edinburgh July 9 Luton July 15 Southampton July Central London Additional events in the UK that could affect customers flight operations include: May Annual Chelsea Flower Show June 2-5 HM Queen Elizabeth s Diamond Jubilee June 8-July 1 - Euro 2012 Football (Poland/Ukraine) June 16 Trooping the Colour June 21-September 9 London 2012 Festival June 25-July 8 Wimbledon July 6-8 FIA British Grand Prix held in Silverstone, 40 miles north of London July 7-8 RIAT Fairford Airshow July 9-15 Farnborough Airshow July British Open Golf July 27-August Olympics Games August 29-September 9 Paralympics Games All aircraft arriving or departing from coordinated UK airports from July 21-August 15 and using controlled airspace will require an arrival and/or departure slot. Although there are still sufficient slots available during this period, access to your preferred FBO or airport will be at a premium. Some airports are already declaring capacity on the ground for aircraft parking. Check current slot availability at Slots issued are blocks on and blocks off times, and scheduling needs to include taxi times at both ends of the journey. Airspace restrictions remain in two phases, from July 14-August 15 (Olympics) and August 16-September 12 (Paralympics). More information about airspace restrictions can be found at Rockwell Collins UK-based flight services staff has been heavily involved with various stakeholder groups in all aspects of the pre-planning, and are still involved in operational stages. Please contact us at with any questions. Employee Spotlight: Robin Bortolloti, Technical Support Specialist, Flight Information Solutions What are your responsibilities? I am a Technical Support Specialist for FOS. I provide solutions for technical problems with the scheduling & dispatch software, as well as training. How long have you been with Rockwell Collins? One year on May 1.

5 How did you get where you are today? I grew up around aviation. My mother and father both worked for various major airlines and both retired from American Airlines. My own aviation career began after college, when I worked for several years at two different airlines. For seven years prior to coming to work for Rockwell Collins, I was the Manager of Marketing, Sales and Scheduling for a Part 135 charter and management company. What are your interests or hobbies? My passion is traveling. I have always enjoyed visiting new and exciting places in order to learn more about different cultures and people. My 3-year-old daughter and I enjoy hiking, going to the beach, and attending any local festivals and cultural events together. We are very adventurous! What's your favorite part of your job? The people! I absolutely love the interaction with the clients and my coworkers. I find that I have a unique perspective and approach to our customers, since I was a Rockwell Collins/FOS customer for more than six years prior to my career here. I also enjoy that my work allows me to remain connected to aircraft operators all over the world. I often miss the day-to-day of working in a flight department. Visiting clients and talking with them over the phone helps me get my fix! If you could tell our customers one thing, what would that be? If you find yourself wishing that a part of your job was easier or more automated, FOS is probably capable of accomplishing it already! Just send us an or give us a call and we can help you. FOS Technical Support can be reached by contacting or ascendfsclientsupport@rockwellcollins.com. Italian luxury tax update - The Italian Government recently passed legislation that changes the application of the Italian luxury tax for non-italian registered aircraft. For such aircraft, the amount of time in Italy that triggers the tax has been extended from 48 hours to 45 consecutive days; if a non-italian registered aircraft spends more than 45 days in Italy, the tax applies on a pro-rata basis. Commercial flights are exempt from this tax. However, a charter or aerotaxi passenger tax has been introduced. Charter or aerotaxi operators are responsible for paying this new tax of 100 or 200 euro per passenger. The lower rate applies to flights of less than 1,500 kilometers, while the higher rate applies for flights over 1,500 kilometers. More details can be found on the NBAA website at You can also contact Rockwell Collins Compliance Manager, Rick Snider, at resnider@rockwellcollins.com or Critical aircraft data capture and transfer has never been easier - Today s sophisticated avionics provide an unprecedented level of safety and situational awareness. They also bring an ever-increasing number of databases with different update schedules. It s hard for even the most conscientious flight departments to keep their aircraft compliant. Additionally, the on demand nature of business aircraft makes it difficult to forecast aircraft availability for important database updates. The complex logistics of managing data transfers can spur a host of problems that impact both the accuracy of onboard equipment and the timeliness and efficiency of maintenance efforts. Ultimately, it could limit an aircraft s availability. Rockwell Collins Ascend Aircraft Information Manager (AIM) eliminates practically all the manual steps from data transfers to and from the aircraft. We ve taken the worry out of missing critical update cycles.

6 Here s how it works: AIM is a service that provides a secure, automatic, confirmation-managed link whenever your aircraft is in range of a wireless connection. AIM automatically and wirelessly stores the latest avionics database updates in the onboard Ascend Information Management Server (IMS) at regular intervals. Because the updates reside on your aircraft, they are ready for your maintenance technician, pilot, or other authorized initiator to load information to your avionics system, no matter where your aircraft is located. Through Ascend s online Dashboard, your maintenance crew can easily monitor the transfer of important database updates, including electronic maps, FMS, SMS, TAWS, SVS, or other system information. AIM can also transfer data from your aircraft. When initiated, your airplane s avionics system will load aircraft and performance data reports into the onboard IMS at the end of each flight. When the aircraft lands, the IMS will automatically seek and make a wireless connection, link your aircraft with the Ascend Data Center, and transfer the data reports. The Data Center automatically sends the reports to your network, where it is available for your maintenance crew to immediately assess the aircraft s health status. If a secure wireless connection is not available, the flight crew or technician can still transfer data via the IMS standard USB port. Critical aircraft data capture and transfer has never been easier. By keeping current on the health and performance of an aircraft s key systems, AIM allows maintenance technicians to not only spot potential problems; they will also be better equipped to maximize the efficiency of each scheduled maintenance interval, dramatically reducing ongoing maintenance and unscheduled repair costs. Operators of Pro Line 4 or Pro Line 21 aircraft will be able to subscribe to AIM by adding Rockwell Collins IMS and upgrading their database unit to the DBU-5010E on the aircraft. This system was recently installed by StandardAero and certified for the first time on a Dassault Falcon 50EX. Currently the IMS-3500 is certified on the Falcon 50/50EX and the Challenger 601. Hawker 750, Hawker 800XP, Hawker 850XP, Hawker 900XP, Challenger 300, Challenger 604, Challenger 605, and Piaggio Avainti P-180 II are expected to be certified with the next three months. Additional models are scheduled to be added soon. The IMS-6000 is certified on the Bombardier Global 5000/6000 and will be certified on the Gulfstream G280 later this year; certification for the Embraer Legacy 500 is expected early next year. Rockwell Collins offers special incentives to customers who participate in First-of-Type certification. Click here to see an overview of what AIM can do for you and your maintenance department. For additional information, call Come visit Rockwell Collins! May 1-3, NBAA Maintenance Management Conference, Nashville, Tennessee. Exhibit 203. On May 1 at 11:00 am, Bob Ellis, Rockwell Collins Flight Information Solutions marketing director will be discussing the latest technology available in wireless data transfer May EBACE2012, Geneva, Switzerland. Booth 436 in Hall 6 June Gulfstream Operators Conference 2012, Savannah, Georgia Connect with Rockwell Collins Using social media tools helps our employees and our customers stay informed and connected. Here are four ways for you to get the latest news from Rockwell Collins: Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Watch us on YouTube Give us your feedback AirWays is published by Rockwell Collins Commercial Systems Flight Information Solutions Marketing. To provide feedback send an to AscendSales@rockwellcollins.com. Copyright Rockwell Collins. All rights reserved.