FARNBOROUGH, England, 16 July 2014. Cathay Pacific officials begin their operational evaluation of the Rockwell Collins eEnabled Aircraft Solution for complete, take-off-to-touchdown advanced information management on three Boeing 777-300ER commercial aircraft.
“Rockwell Collins’ ARINC eEnabled Aircraft Solution enables us to create a highly functional, seamless communications platform, allowing us to improve the speed, accuracy, deployment and presentation of information between the aircraft and ground infrastructure,” says Cathay Pacific General Manager Operations Mark Hoey. “The ability to connect airborne systems to ground-based information technology systems in real time will result in improved operational efficiency and increased maintenance effectiveness, as well as provide a number of exciting service enhancements.”
Working in collaboration with Cathay Pacific, Rockwell Collins engineers is designing and supporting the implementation of a common aircraft network across Cathay Pacific’s fleet of B777, B747-400F, and B747-8 and Airbus A330 aircraft, as well as Dragonair’s A330 and A320/1 aircraft. The network will serve as a full-time, global air-to-ground data communication and information management service, supporting current and future high-speed connectivity. Rockwell Collins, with Cathay Pacific, has the only eEnabled fully integrated and regulation-compliant aircraft solution flying today, officials say.
“The solution we’re implementing for Cathay Pacific represents a broader trend in our industry as airlines look to fully harness the capabilities and applications that high-speed air-to-ground connectivity can provide,” explains Jeff Standerski, senior vice president, Information Management Services for Rockwell Collins. “We commend Cathay Pacific for pioneering this effort, as it becomes the first airline in Asia to begin the implementation of an almost fleet-wide eEnabled solution, the most advanced of its kind.”
Rockwell Collins’ ARINC eEnabled Aircraft Solution enables secure information management of flight operations, data communication services, cabin services, maintenance, diagnostics, and safety information throughout flight, enhancing operational efficiencies and reducing costs. It improves accuracy of fueling requirements, provides potential for increased payload, and allows for automatic upgrades of installed and portable electronic flight bags.
