Avionica integrated airborne hardware supports Cathay Pacific Airways fleet-wide e-enablement

MIAMI. Cathay Pacific Airways engineers in Hong Kong sought enabling technologies for the airline’s second-generation e-enabled system to be deployed across the Cathay Pacific and Cathay Dragon fleets, including B777, B747, A320, and A330 commercial aircraft. They found their solution, appointing Avionica in Miami as the integrator and supplier for their e-enabled, airborne global connectivity program.

Avionica’s e-enablement hardware package provides Cathay Pacific a single, common set of hardware across Boeing and Airbus fleets. At the same time, Avionica brings expertise in STC development and installation support for Cathay Pacific’s e-enablement solution, at the heart of Cathay Pacific’s efficiency enhancing initiatives.

Avionica’s e-Enabled products for Cathay Pacific include aviONS (right) and satLINK MAX. aviONS – an open-platform network supporting airline and third-party software systems – enhances airborne connectivity with global 4G Cellular and WiFi. satLINK MAX is a 4-channel, FANS-1/A and ATC Voice Safety Service approved Iridium SATCOM system.

“Avionica offers Cathay Pacific an integrated airborne hardware solution for e-enablement and full-time global connectivity. As part of the STC integration experience, Avionica’s STC design data package is of among the highest quality that we have seen,” says Rob Saunders, head of engineering business improvement and lean at Cathay Pacific Airways.

This selection marks an important milestone in the development of airline e-enablement as Avionica continues its expansion into Asia’s air transport market with its versatile global voice and data connectivity solutions, officials say.

Avionica’s solution for Cathay Pacific includes:

• satLINK MAX Iridium satellite communications system
• aviONS Onboard Network Server
• avCM 4G cellular device
• avSYNC QAR download

satLINK MAX is a 4-channel, Future Air Navigation System (FANS)-1/A, and air traffic control (ATC) Voice Safety Service-approved Iridium satellite communications (SATCOM) system. The multitude of Iridium channels enables Cathay Pacific to maximize e-enabled aircraft connectivity without restricting critical voice and FANS-1/A safety services.

aviONS provides an open-platform network solution supporting airline and third-party e-enablement systems. aviONS enhances airborne connectivity with global 4G cellular and wi-fi connectivity. Cathay Pacific will tap aviONS’ Wi-Fi connectivity for crew wireless applications, including efficient in-flight reporting of cabin discrepancy.

To manage connectivity, Avionica’s avSYNC global data transfer network is available to provide automated data transfer between aircraft and their operation center. As Cathay Pacific’s e-enabled aircraft focus is efficiency, avSYNC’s ability to automate data synchronization of onboard applications would become a key component of its strategy.

“We’re excited to have been selected by Cathay Pacific in deploying the e-Enabled aircraft solution across their fleet of aircraft. We welcome Cathay to the family of customers that entrust their hardware, STC integration, and data management to us,” says Avionica Vice President of Sales Anthony Rios. “Cathay is leading the charge in e-enablement. With this selection, Avionica becomes the lead enabler to achieve that.”

Cathay Pacific Airways is a Hong Kong-based airline offering scheduled passenger and cargo services to nearly 200 destinations in Asia, North America, Australia, Europe, and Africa, using a fleet of more than 140 wide-body aircraft.

Cathay Dragon is a wholly owned subsidiary of Cathay Pacific, and the airline also has a 60 percent stake in AHK Air Hong Kong Ltd, an all-cargo carrier operating regional express freight services. Cathay Pacific has made substantial investments to develop Hong Kong as one of the world's leading global transportation hubs. The airline is a founder member of the oneworld global alliance.

Headquartered in Miami for 25 years, Avionica is an aircraft data collection and data transmission manufacturer, designing and producing innovative, safety-qualified, state-of-the-art solutions that are revolutionizing air transportation.