Rockwell Collins has launched a new information management system called Ascend, with a goal to reduce flight operations costs by 7-10%.
The Ascend system is designed to streamline billing, improve fuel planning, and manage flight plans, ground handling and even maintenance updates, says Steve Timm, Rockwell Collins executive vice president and general manager for information management.
The system leverages "information hooks" embedded into the company's ProLine integrated avionics products and the Venue cabin entertainment and information system.
The system adds a secure datalink called the Aircraft Information Manager, which renders the airplane a "node" on a wider information network keeping track of all flight operations.
Information updates for flight plans, navigation and maintenance procedures will be uploaded into the cockpit automatically.
"Uploading of databases for your aircraft is a whole new experience," says Greg Irmen, a Rockwell Collins vice president and general manager.
The system also blends in flight operations services acquired when Rockwell Collins earlier purchased Houston-based Air Routing, which will be rebranded as part of the Ascend product launch.
The long-term strategy for Ascend is to boost the company's concentration in the information management market. Rockwell Collins executives envisions a future when Ascend requirements dictate avionics configuration decisions.
Ascend will be offered in tandem with new ProLine Fusion buyers, but will also be available as a retrofit package on ProLine21 and ProLine4 cockpit suites.
Uploading of databases for your aircraft is a whole new experience.
Source: Flight Daily News
