The aerospace consortium comprising Airbus, ARINC, Astrium and Tenzing Communications intends to complete the business plan for its broadband connectivity services next month. The partners are going ahead with development of broadband entertainment and communication services despite the downturn and intend to start testing their services on the Airbus Flight Information System (AFIS) testbed in February, according to Simon Glenister, ARINC marketing director.
The services, which will compete with Boeing's Connexion, will form part of AFIS, which is intended to connect an aircraft to the ground in real-time (Flight International 18-24 September). The initial focus of the services is passenger internet and live television, but will include cockpit and cabin crew communication services.
Although the post-11 September crisis is expected to slow the take-up of new in-flight services, the partners still believe there will be a few early pioneers of broadband connectivity, says Glenister. They are continuing to talk to potential launch carriers and are currently building up a value chain for each potential application to develop a full briefing for possible customers by January.
Brazilian carrier Varig has installed Tenzing Communication's e-mail and internet services on the first of six new Boeing 777s as part of a fleet-wide programme. Services will be available to passengers in the first quarter of next year via the Matsushita System 3000 in-flight entertainment system. Varig becomes the first South American customer for troubled Tenzing which has been forced to halve its workforce and has seen a number of airline customers defer their programmes.Source: Flight International
