Loading

SITA and Airbus launch highly secure solution for loading software and data onto A380 aircraft

Analysis

Geneva (SITA) - Airbus and SITA today announced a new service which provides an innovative and highly secure way for suppliers and airlines to issue and load software (and more generally any dataset) onto A380 aircraft, ensuring data integrity and the identity authentication of the supplier.


As aircraft become more and more "computerized" there is a need to ensure software traceability levels, bringing them up to par with equivalent tracking systems for hardware. With over 40 function (hardware/software) suppliers in the Airbus supply chain and 1,400 individual software programs on the A380, there is a definite need for a solution meeting these requirements. The SITA solution provides these assurance levels and more.

"This agreement is paving the way for Airbus and SITA to provide new security standards to the aviation community," said Damiano Sabatino, Vice President, Southern and Eastern Europe at SITA SC. "It is the result of a close cooperation and a common approach between the two companies." Airbus and SITA have been working together for more than two years to develop this solution in compliance with Industry Standards ATA-DSWG and iSpec 2x00.

Leveraging its security expertise, SITA will provide and manage the certification process while acting as registration authority for users. This includes the secure delivery of certificates, training, and provisioning of required support. Once a supplier has been processed they will receive digital certificates, allowing them to participate in the secured supply chain for onboard software.

"SITA's Digital Certification Service guarantees 24x7 end-to-end monitoring," said Rene Azoulai, Senior Vice President of Business Development Relationship Management and New Ventures at SITA SC. "We are fully confident this new solution will bring Airbus partners and customers the level of security required in the aerospace environment. We will continue to build on our close and long-standing partnership with Airbus, over the life of the A380 project and beyond."

SITA's digital certificate service is based on Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), follows strict and audited procedures (based on industry norms) and was made available to suppliers a few weeks ago, in accordance with A380 programme requirements. Worldwide product support to both airlines and function suppliers will be ensured 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with Airbus acting as single entry point.

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

capagold.gifcapaplatinum.gif

Want More Analysis Like This?

CAPA Membership provides access to all news and analysis on the site, along with access to many areas of our comprehensive databases and toolsets.
Find Out More