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South African Airways Selects ARINC’s OpCenterSM to Manage Its Flight Data Communications

Analysis

After an extremely competitive bidding process, South African Airways has selected the OpCenterSM ACARS® message handling service by ARINC Incorporated to host and manage its air operational (AOC) data link message traffic between aircraft and ground activities.


SAA joins a fast-growing community of more than 40 carriers now using ARINC's unique web-based solution for the management of essential real time operational communications.

"ARINC's proposal stood out in addressing virtually all of our specific needs with an optimal, cost-effective solution," said Captain Colin Jordaan, General Manager, Flight Operations. "We will be able to retain all the positive features of our current service while adding desirable new functionality to make our operations even more safe and efficient."

ARINC OpCenter is a hosted service offering airlines global access to operational data link messages over the Internet, or over ARINC's dedicated AviNetTM network. OpCenter eliminates the infrastructure and costs associated with proprietary airline message systems, while providing a highly flexible message management platform with an easily customizable interface to meet users' changing needs.

"ARINC OpCenter is winning friends for us every day," said Ed Montgomery, ARINC Managing Director for EMEA. "With it, we have been able to meet challenging requirements from both fast-growing economy airlines and larger international carriers. This welcome new contract from South African Airways demonstrates how well ARINC can meet specific customer needs through common technology and unique solutions."

Using OpCenter, pre-authorized airline personnel can exchange data link messages with aircraft, Air Traffic Service Provider Organizations, and remote operations sites. They can also interrogate avionics and communicate with flight crews. Message delivery is managed automatically or manually, and data is reformatted to suit user needs.

South African Airways is traditionally the largest user of ARINC's long-distance HFDL high frequency data link service in the EMEA region. The new OpCenter contract means ARINC's technology will manage not only ARINC HFDL messages, but data link messages from SAA's are other communications providers as well. "This contract positions ARINC for growth in the future as we expand traditional VHF data link coverage throughout the region," concluded Montgomery.

South African Airways is the national airline of the Republic of South Africa and the largest airline in southern Africa, with a fleet of 32 aircraft serving domestic destinations and fleet of 24 aircraft to various international destinations in Africa, America, Asia, and Europe. For more information, visit the web site at www.flysaa.com.

ARINC Incorporated is the world leader in transportation communications and systems engineering. The company develops and operates communications and information processing systems and provides systems engineering and integration solutions to five key industries: airports, aviation, defense, government, and surface transportation. Founded to provide reliable and efficient radio communications for the airlines, ARINC is headquartered in Annapolis, Maryland, and operates key regional offices in London and Singapore, with over 3,000 employees worldwide. ARINC is ISO 9001:2000 Certified.

ARINC is a CAPA Member. For more information on the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation's membership service, please click the icon below.

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