787 Launch Customer - ANA - Selects SITA for AirCom Management

As the initial flight of Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner approaches, launch customer ANA (All Nippon Airways) has selected aviation IT specialist SITA to provide a message processing solution to manage the configuration and distribution of the higher traffic volume and variety of aircraft cockpit messages required for the new aircraft.

Takanori Yukishige, Vice President, Information Technology Services, ANA, said, “Traditionally, we have developed all our Datalink processing in-house; however, our existing mainframe system could not manage the requirements of the 787. We needed to be able to adapt to the new aircraft without major re-programming and to do so in time for its first commercial flight.

“SITA’s Aircom Server has provided this for us. In addition, we now have the versatility of the system acting as an ACARS gateway for air-to-ground messaging and a Type B gateway for the ground-to-ground communications used by our Cargo division.”

Philip Clinch, Vice President Aircraft Communications and Messaging, SITA, added, “[The]Aircom Server will allow ANA to format messages without any software development; something which was not possible with their in-house system. Most importantly, by enabling simple message configuration and reducing the mainframe workload we are delivering significant cost savings to the airline.”

SITA’s Aircom Server is also evolving to manage data sent via IP link to the new generation of systems that will come as standard in the 787, equipment such as Electronic Flight Bags, which generate much higher data transfer requirements than ACARS systems.

ANA has ordered 50 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, with delivery of its first 787-8 derivative scheduled for the first quarter of 2010, with around 20 787s entering its fleet over the following two years.

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