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GigSky Links with Concur Making it Easy to Expense Mobile Data While Traveling Abroad

GigSky’s Integration with Concur Delivers Seamless International Connectivity to Concur Clients

PALO ALTO, California, September 23, 2015 – GigSky, the first global network designed for travelers, today announced the integration of the GigSky service with Concur, the leading provider of travel and expense solutions and services. Concur clients now have a simple and convenient way to access the Internet and use essential apps anywhere they go.
 

Installing GigSky gives Concur clients the ability to purchase data plans right from their devices, across more than 90 countries. Once GigSky and Concur accounts are linked, Concur clients can send e-receipts for data purchases directly to their expense reports.

“We chose Concur as an integration partner, because fundamentally, we believe in the same thing – making life easier for the traveler,” said Ravi Rishy-Maharaj, CEO and Founder of GigSky. “GigSky delivers a streamlined way for Concur clients to get online right when they land, so they can focus on what matters most – staying productive. This is at the core of what Concur provides.”

Concur functionality is now available on the latest version of the GigSky app for both iOS and Android. Additionally, it is available to iPad users who purchase the GigSky service using Apple SIM. iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3 Wi-Fi + Cellular models in the US and UK come with Apple SIM pre-installed.

GigSky is available in the Concur App Center. Offering apps with streamlined integration with Concur Travel, Expense and Invoice products, the Concur App Center delivers innovative functionality in key categories such as finance, regulatory compliance, enterprise identity, traveler productivity, travel management and much more. For more information, visit the Concur App Center.

Southwest Airlines selects GE’s Flight Efficiency Analytics

September 30, 2015

Minds + Machines, San Francisco – September 30, 2015 – Southwest Airlines has selected GE’s Flight Efficiency Analytics to support its fleet of nearly 700 Boeing 737 aircraft. GE will add analytics for a more comprehensive service with greater operational efficiency where GE already provides Flight Operational Quality Assurance (eFOQA) analytics and crew recovery solutions to tackle airline optimization challenges across the business.

“GE’s Flight Efficiency collects data generated by the aircraft and applies proprietary techniques that use historic intelligence to help drive airline business strategies,” said Alan Caslavka, president of Avionics & Digital Systems for GE Aviation. “Aircraft performance analytics are used to reveal patterns, transforming data into actionable insights that improve operations” .

In addition to providing Flight Data Management and Flight Operational Quality Assurance services, GE Aviation’s Flight Analytics System will deliver their Fuel Management Solution, which will include the evaluation and analysis of flight and operational data to identify and prioritize fuel savings opportunities and enable a platform for fuel management analytics. Click here for video on how GE’s digital solutions impact the future of air travel.

“Optimizing the performance of a fleet the size of Southwest’s requires smart technology that delivers big data in a consumable way. The GE Aviation Flight Analytics System will allow Southwest to continuously improve the reliability and efficiency of our operation,” said Mike Van de Ven, Southwest Airlines Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.

These advancements in data and analytic technologies are examples of where GE is taking Predix, the cloud-based platform for creating innovative, Industrial Internet applications that turn real-time operational data into actionable insights. .

“A key component Southwest will receive is the flight efficiency analytics, enabling visibility of fuel savings and base line calculations to provide insight into true fuel usage across all stages of flight and clear identification of fuel saving opportunities. Only accurate data enables good decision making ability,” said Michael Thompson, general manager of Digital Solutions for GE Aviation. “We look forward to beginning the implementation with the Southwest team by the end of this year.”

GE Aviation’s digital solutions are harnessing the power of the Industrial Internet and using software and analytics to make its machines smarter and more efficient. GE Aviation, an operating unit of GE, is a world-leading provider of jet, turboprop and turboshaft engines, avionics and systems for commercial, military, business and general aviation aircraft. GE Aviation has a global service network to support these offerings. GE’s fuel management and RNP services are ecomagination qualified products. For more information, visit us at www.ge.com/aviation.

GE (NYSE: GE) is the world’s Digital Industrial Company, transforming industry with software-defined machines and solutions that are connected, responsive and predictive. GE is organized around a global exchange of knowledge, the “GE Store,” through which each business shares and accesses the same technology, markets, structure and intellect. Each invention further fuels innovation and application across our industrial sectors. With people, services, technology and scale, GE delivers better outcomes for customers by speaking the language of industry. www.ge.com.

Italian Air Traffic Control Teams Up With SITA OnAir For Air/Ground Connectivity

ENAV and SITA OnAir ink partnership for VHF-based services


APEX EXPO, Portland OR, 30 September 2015 – SITA OnAir has announced that it has entered into an agreement with ENAV, Italy’s Air Navigation Service Provider, to jointly provide air/ground data VHF-based communication services in Italy.

ENAV is deploying VHF Data communication equipment at 19 airports across Italy, including Leonardo da Vinci Airport Fiumicino in Rome and Milan-Malpensa Airport. This enables airlines flying in Italian airspace to use SITA OnAir  Aircraft Operational Communications (AOC) services through  the  ENAV Data Link network  and Controller Pilot data Link Communication (CPDLC) services directly provided by ENAV.

atc iconCPDLC enables air traffic controllers and pilots to communicate via text, rather than the traditional voice communication. This improves the quality of communications and, therefore, the overall safety and efficiency of air traffic management. Significantly, it is mandated by EC regulation 29/2009, which comes into force as part of the Single European Sky initiative. This regulation mandates the use of CPDLC in the upper airspace of the European Union: all aircraft flying in Europe and all air traffic control ground systems have to be equipped with CPDLC.

    “Our partnership with SITA OnAir is a great step forward for ENAV in its strategy to provide the air/ground communications services required by the Single European Sky,” said Mr. Fausto Simoni, CNS Dept. Manager, ENAV. “SITA OnAir is a fundamental partner to provide the very best communication services for airlines flying to, from and over Italy.”

As well as CPDLC, more than 80% of the world’s airlines use SITA OnAir’s AOC to connect every aspect of aircraft operations to the ground network, integrating data from the aircraft into the airline’s infrastructure. This is an important part of the connected aircraft that is enabling the aviation industry to enhance the passenger experience, streamline cabin and cockpit operations, and optimize maintenance and flight operation procedures.

    “By partnering with SITA OnAir, ENAV has taken a major step forward on the road to the Single European Sky,” said François Bardin, Director Air Traffic Solutions, SITA OnAir. “SITA OnAir’s customers flying in Italian airspace will now be able to use the ENAV VHF communication infrastructure to exchange data with ENAV’s ATC control centers as well as their operational center. It is also an initial step towards implementation of SESAR developed concepts such as the 4D Trajectory Data Link (4DTRAD) Service”.

Other European Functional Airspace Blocks (FABs) already working with SITA OnAir include FABEC (Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Switzerland), South West FAB (Portugal, Spain) and the DANUBE FAB (Romania, Bulgaria).

Seabury MRO Solutions, New Brand Identity For Volartec

New Global Positioning Highlights a Key Milestone in the Growth of the Company’s Aviation MRO IT and Consultancy Platform



NEW YORK – September 29, 2015 – Seabury MRO Solutions, formerly known as Volartec, today introduced its new brand identity, the culmination of the first brand transformation in the company‘s 12-year history. The new name builds upon the extensive expertise Volartec has built in the area of Aviation, Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul (MRO) IT and consultancy delivery, and underscores its future commitment to rapid innovation and growth under the brand of Seabury Group, a leading global advisory and professional services firm with operations in 15 countries.

“It is another milestone in the growth of our company which we are excited to reach. Our new brand identity reflects our focus on maximizing the value of our customers’ investment and strategic service relationship to improve the long-term performance of their aircraft operations,” said Volartec Chief Executive Officer Christian Maggio. “It is through the dedication of our team that we have this opportunity to reach the next level and expand our foot print in new territories.”

Bijoy Mechery, President and Chief Executive Officer of Seabury Enterprise Solutions, a subsidiary of Seabury Group, commented: “Being part of the Seabury global brand will bring new prospects to Seabury MRO Solutions and deliver a significant leverage to what the company has done so successfully for many years, allowing its further growth and innovation in the industry.”

Alkym® Management and Control System for Aircraft Maintenance, which is the core product of Seabury MRO Solutions, represents one of the most comprehensive and cost-effective solutions designed specifically for the MRO industry to increase operational efficiency, reduce costs, improve performance, and maximize productivity while enhancing growth and meeting future challenges.

Mr. Maggio added: “Alkym brings the top functionality at the most effective price and can be taken both as a license or a lease model to suit every type of operator or MRO provider. It has been deployed in over 60 customers across 30 countries as a proven solution.”

Seabury MRO Solutions’ new brand identity is now live on its website at www.seaburymro.com, where you can explore the key benefits of Alkym and arrange a demo, as well as get further information about the company’s consulting services.

Air Malta signs to upgrade WebPMI
AeroSoft Systems Inc. is pleased to announce that Air Malta signs to upgrade WebPMI.

Finnair Selects eEnabled Software Management Solution (eESM) from Flatirons for Their New A350 Fleet
September 29, 2015

Flatirons announces today that their eEnabled Software Management (eESM) solution, part of the CORENA Suite of technical information management solutions for aircraft operators, OEMs, and MROs, will soon be used by Finnair to support configuration control and distribution of the numerous software packages that are used on-board modern eEnabled aircraft.

The eEnabled Software Management solution, offering tight integration with AMOS, is a feature rich tool that tracks all aspects related to aircraft software. Not only does it track software configurations – it also provides the opportunity to store the software in a repository on-ground for upload to the aircraft through portable data loaders and physical media, including even floppy disks. The solution increases operator safety, and provides coherent management of the aircraft’s optimal “as operated” state.

The eEnabled Software Management solution is developed by Flatirons for Lufthansa Technik, and is jointly being marketed by the two companies to the airlines industry. The eESM tool is in production at Lufthansa Technik, and supports several of their 3rd party airline customers.

Miika Haatio, Head Of A350 Fleet Engineering with Finnair noted that “Finnair is proud to be one of the first airlines to take the advanced Airbus A350 into service. We needed a tool to manage all the software upgrades on-board the aircraft. The eEnabled Software Management tool from Flatirons and Lufthansa will help us fully control all software updates on each aircraft individually. Through its integration with the currently deployed Maintenance Management System from AMOS, the eESM solution will help us to ensure best possible aircraft configuration management.”

“Finnair is proud to be one of the first airlines to take the advanced Airbus A350 into service. We needed a tool to manage all the software upgrades on-board the aircraft. The eEnabled Software Management tool from Flatirons and Lufthansa will help us fully control all software updates on each aircraft individually. Through its integration with the currently deployed Maintenance Management System from AMOS, the eESM solution will help us to ensure best possible aircraft configuration management.”

Daniel Wilk, Product Manager at Lufthansa Technik and a leader in defining the solution’s innovative approach to eEnabled software configuration management also noted that “Lufthansa Technik and Flatirons have worked hard to realize our vision of eESM for the real-world MRO enterprise. We are now seeing increasing demand for the eESM tool, as more and more eEnabled aircraft are taken into service.”

Flatirons’ President of EMEA, Toralf Johannessen, stated that “We have had an amazing partnership with Lufthansa Technik spanning more than two decades of service. In addition to a large team who are developing and supporting several of Lufthansa Technik’s MRO systems on-site, we have recently been appointed a Lufthansa Innovation Partner. As new partnerships like the Finnair agreement demonstrates, our work has been productive for the industry.”

Operators or MROs seeking additional information on the Flatirons eEnabled Software Management solution, including a personalized briefing, are invited to visit the CORENA Suite website at www.corena.com/products/eenabled-software-management-eesm/.

Finnair Selects eEnabled Software Management Solution (eESM) from Flatirons for Their New A350 Fleet
September 29, 2015

Flatirons announces today that their eEnabled Software Management (eESM) solution, part of the CORENA Suite of technical information management solutions for aircraft operators, OEMs, and MROs, will soon be used by Finnair to support configuration control and distribution of the numerous software packages that are used on-board modern eEnabled aircraft.

The eEnabled Software Management solution, offering tight integration with AMOS, is a feature rich tool that tracks all aspects related to aircraft software. Not only does it track software configurations – it also provides the opportunity to store the software in a repository on-ground for upload to the aircraft through portable data loaders and physical media, including even floppy disks. The solution increases operator safety, and provides coherent management of the aircraft’s optimal “as operated” state.

The eEnabled Software Management solution is developed by Flatirons for Lufthansa Technik, and is jointly being marketed by the two companies to the airlines industry. The eESM tool is in production at Lufthansa Technik, and supports several of their 3rd party airline customers.

Miika Haatio, Head Of A350 Fleet Engineering with Finnair noted that “Finnair is proud to be one of the first airlines to take the advanced Airbus A350 into service. We needed a tool to manage all the software upgrades on-board the aircraft. The eEnabled Software Management tool from Flatirons and Lufthansa will help us fully control all software updates on each aircraft individually. Through its integration with the currently deployed Maintenance Management System from AMOS, the eESM solution will help us to ensure best possible aircraft configuration management.”

“Finnair is proud to be one of the first airlines to take the advanced Airbus A350 into service. We needed a tool to manage all the software upgrades on-board the aircraft. The eEnabled Software Management tool from Flatirons and Lufthansa will help us fully control all software updates on each aircraft individually. Through its integration with the currently deployed Maintenance Management System from AMOS, the eESM solution will help us to ensure best possible aircraft configuration management.”

Daniel Wilk, Product Manager at Lufthansa Technik and a leader in defining the solution’s innovative approach to eEnabled software configuration management also noted that “Lufthansa Technik and Flatirons have worked hard to realize our vision of eESM for the real-world MRO enterprise. We are now seeing increasing demand for the eESM tool, as more and more eEnabled aircraft are taken into service.”

Flatirons’ President of EMEA, Toralf Johannessen, stated that “We have had an amazing partnership with Lufthansa Technik spanning more than two decades of service. In addition to a large team who are developing and supporting several of Lufthansa Technik’s MRO systems on-site, we have recently been appointed a Lufthansa Innovation Partner. As new partnerships like the Finnair agreement demonstrates, our work has been productive for the industry.”

Operators or MROs seeking additional information on the Flatirons eEnabled Software Management solution, including a personalized briefing, are invited to visit the CORENA Suite website at www.corena.com/products/eenabled-software-management-eesm/.

ADSoftware recruits top mind from the industry

French aircraft maintenance software specialist ADSoftware has today announced the appointment of Paul Zavattero to the position of International Sales Engineer.

ADSoftware has decided to recruit one of the aviation industry’s top minds to enhance its services offering. This comes following the implementation of a strategic business development plan aimed at strengthening ADSoftware’s global market position by making AirPack the preferred aviation maintenance software of choice.

Based at the company’s new offices in Toulouse France, Paul Zavattero will spearhead ADSoftware’s worldwide organisational development efforts with a focus on pursuing new business opportunities and reinforcing existing customer relationships. Paul will also be responsible for providing professional training and technical support to ADSoftware customers.

With more than 10 years’ experience, Paul joins from IFRSKEYES, where he worked as a Maintenance Information System consultant for 4 years. Here, he was responsible for project management support which encompassed guiding airlines and MROs through the implementation and optimal use of the software as well as on-site product deployment, process audits, users’ training and data analysis. Prior to this he was a reliability analyst for Thomas Cook Airlines, Manchester Airport (UK). Overall, Paul has diverse aviation expertise from being a certified commercial pilot, a technical data controller, a maintenance planner, to being an Airbus maintenance courses technical writer.

Announcing Mr Zavattero’s appointment, ADSoftware CEO, Fred Ulrich said, “Having increased our customers in the past two years from 48 to 56, it has become apparent to us that we needed to reinforce the sales and marketing department in order to accommodate anticipated future growth. I am very pleased to have a person of Paul’s calibre joining our team. Paul brings along extensive software and aviation industry expertise that will help accomplish our vision of delivering significant results and value to our clients.”

Commenting on his new role, Paul Zavattero, said, “I am privileged to be part of a new chapter in ADSoftware’s growth and its sterling record in providing seamless support to its customers. I am really looking forward to the opportunity of contributing to this great success story.

SITA OnAir New Generation Application To Boost InFlight Wi-Fi

New App and beacons set to drive usage

APEX EXPO, Portland OR, 29 September 2015 – SITA OnAir is boosting inflight Wi-Fi usage by launching its new generation inflight Wi-Fi application, optimized for mobile phones, to streamline Wi-Fi access. In parallel, the leading e-Aircraft provider is also making it easier for airlines to encourage inflight Wi-Fi usage by exploiting beacons in both the airport and onboard the aircraft.

    “Wouldn’t it be easier if you could use your phone in the air just like you do on the ground? If you could swap messages, share pictures, listen to music and watch films of your choice, and keep tabs on emails as you cross continents? We are working hard to make sure every passenger can do that”, said Francois Rodriguez, Chief Strategy and Marketing Officer of SITA OnAir. “Two of the main friction points have been that the portals themselves have not been sufficiently user-friendly and that passengers simply haven’t realized Wi-Fi is available.”

New generation inflight Wi-Fi application, the new mobile-centric platform, makes it a much better experience for passengers. Since over 80% of passengers have a smartphone, the new portal is optimized specifically for use on mobiles. It can be fully customized for each airline and even integrated into the airline app.

Example of simple navigation to the inflight platform via the airline app

The clean, ergonomic design and logical flow make accessing the Internet very simple. For example, passengers can login through their social media accounts. It also enables contextualized passenger information that opens up e-commerce opportunities for both airlines and third-party advertisers.

    “When a passenger connects through the App, they arrive on a landing page with messages relevant to their journey, like flight and destination information. We help each airline tailor the right complimentary information to provide to suit their passengers’ requirements”, continued Rodriguez. “The options for a pay-for or a complimentary Wi-Fi session are clearly laid out, so it is very easy to decide which level of service is appropriate and then access that service.”

SITA OnAir’s simple, intuitive app fully integrated into the airline visual identity

SITA OnAir is also pioneering the use of beacon technology to drive usage. Beacons at the gate can be used to push messages through the airline’s app to passengers’ phones, informing them there is Wi-Fi on the plane. More beacons on the aircraft are used to remind passengers they can now start using the Wi-Fi.

“We are always looking for ways to use technological advances to make it simpler to stay in touch when you’re flying”, said Rodriguez. “Beacons are already beginning to be used by airports across the world, transforming the passenger experience by providing gate information, help with airport navigation and retail offers. We are now planning to use them to increase awareness of inflight Wi-Fi and, combined with our new portal, to make access even simpler to use.”

Qantas Group and GE Aviation sign strategic Flight Efficiency Services agreement

San Francisco, CA – September 29, 2015 – The Qantas Group and GE Aviation have signed a comprehensive agreement for GE’s Flight Efficiency Services, which will help Qantas and Jetstar increase operational flexibility and fuel efficiency and reduce carbon emissions by drawing on GE’s industry-leading navigation services, data and analytics expertise. The agreement includes flight efficiency and Flight Operations Quality Assurance (eFOQA) analytics, as well as renewal of a long-standing relationship for the supply of Required Navigation Performance (RNP) procedures across many airports in the Qantas network.

The agreement will support one of the Asia-Pacific’s largest airline groupings, which includes Qantas, Qantas Freight, QantasLink and the Jetstar Group, operating almost 300 aircraft to 85 destinations.

“We are pleased to expand the agreement with Qantas to cover our Fuel Management solution,” said Alan Caslavka, president of Avionics & Digital Systems for GE Aviation. “GE is no newcomer to solving complex problems, whether it is for Aviation, Power & Water, Healthcare, Software or other industries. GE has utilized the same time-tested experience and expertise to develop an effective and reliable solution for Aviation. GE invested heavily to develop a new way to manage the complexities of airline operations via GE’s Flight Analytics System.”

Qantas and GE will collaborate on specific initiatives to support the transformation strategy such as flight crew awareness, procedure compliance, operational insights and airspace utilization improvements. GE’s support will include access to its full suite of analytical tools as well as process improvement, six sigma, change management and other domain expertise.

”We’re delighted to be expanding the long-standing relationship between Qantas and GE with a renewed focus on fuel efficiency,” said Alan Milne, Qantas’ Head of Fuel & Environment. “Greater fuel efficiency is an operational, financial and environmental priority for the Qantas Group, and at the heart of the biggest transformation of our business for two decades. We’re big admirers of GE’s innovation in this area and we look forward to working even more closely together in years to come.”

GE Aviation’s Flight Analytics System is the only product on the market that integrates flight data with operational data (flight logs, flight plans and load sheets), weather data, trajectory correction, navigation databases and terrain data. This will deliver innovative ways to monitor and improve the operation (how the aircraft is flying and how it is being flown) and the operational domain (where it is operating to) .

“Qantas is a leading customer of our new digital product offering which offers the most extensive analytics experience in the industry, with more than 40 million flights and 120 million flight hours processed,” said Michael Thompson, general manager of Digital Solutions for GE Aviation, “GE currently provides analytics for more than 4,500 aircraft worldwide, processing data from all the major fixed wing manufacturers from wide-body to corporate jets.

Qantas and GE pioneered the B737-800 fleet’s use of Required Navigation Performance in Queenstown, New Zealand in 2004. Since then, Qantas has progressively implemented RNP procedures at over 20 airports in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific. The new agreement will improve the airline’s operational flexibility by expanding RNP access to all suitably qualified and equipped fleets in the Qantas Group.

Qantas, QantasLink and Qantas Freight have been customers of the GE eFOQA solution since 2011, with Jetstar taking up this service in April of 2015. The new agreement will give Qantas Group access to the latest eFOQA product features and capabilities.

The Qantas Group has a strong focus on fuel efficiency and carbon emissions reduction as a cornerstone of its AU$2bn transformation strategy. GE will provide access to its Fuel Management product offering, which includes world-class operational efficiency data analytics and process improvement capabilities.

GE Aviation’s flight efficiency and digital solutions is harnessing the power of the Industrial Internet and using software and analytics to make its machines smarter and more efficient. GE is using data analytics to identify ways to reduce operating costs, increase aircraft utilization, optimize the design of terminal area navigation procedures and improve the business of flight.