Etihad engages AviIT to support all ACARS services across fleet

AviIT, the aviation technology solutions company, is pleased to announce that Etihad Airways, the Abu-Dhabi based national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has awarded AviIT the contract to support all ACARS services across its Airbus and Boeing aircraft fleet. ACARS (Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System) is a digital data system enabling two-way transmission of messagesbetween aircraft and ground stations via VHF, HF or satellite communication systems.

AviIT was awarded the ACARS contract following an extensive review of Etihad’s ACARS usage conducted by AviIT. As part of the contract, AviIT has implemented its Archimedes and Airboard™ system to maximize the commercial and operational benefits that can be derived from ACARS data transmitted to/from the aircraft fleet.

AviIT is working closely with Etihad staff to standardise ACARS usage across the fleet, implement advanced services such as automated Flight Operations Log transmission and integrate ACARS data with engineering fault diagnostic systems, crew planning and fuel planning systems in order to provide invaluable management information from the raw ACARS data.

Integral to enabling these services is the use of the AviIT Archimedes/Airboard system. Archimedes is a very flexible and powerful ACARS message decoder system developed by AviIT that presents ACARS data in easily configurable formats for use by ground staff, engineers and increasingly, a number of diagnostic and management information systems. Airboard complements Archimedes and provides the ability to easily create and deliver valuable management information via the most suitable media (e.g. display screens, email, SMS) tailored to different departmental requirements.

David Brown, CEO of AviIT, commented:

“Archimedes and Airboard have been specifically designed to exploit the existing technology investment in ACARS by airlines, enabling data to be turned into invaluable management information that helps to reduce flight crew workload and provide Flight Ops, Ground Ops and Engineering staff with the information needed to minimize delays and reduce costs.”

Richard Dawson, EVP IT at Etihad Airways, said:

“AviIT demonstrated an intimate understanding of both flight deck and ground usage of ACARS which has already led to significant improvements in the benefits being achieved from ACARS, together with a 50% reduction in ACARS costs. We are confident that through Archimedes and Airboard we will be able to use ACARS generated data in ever more innovative ways to improve efficiency and minimize costs across the airline.”