Rockwell Collins, which purchased ARINC in December 2013, now offers a revamped ARINCDirect, a combination of flight support services previously offered separately by ARINCDirect and the Rockwell Collins product, Ascend Flight Information Solutions. Services include flight planning online and on mobile devices; regional and international trip support; weather services; cabin connectivity options; and flight operations and scheduling services.
Pilots and flight planners can use a new feature—available at the ARINCDirect online customer portal—to assess the benefit of purchasing fuel at a lower price during one leg of a trip versus the cost of carrying the extra weight of that fuel for the entire flight. In addition to fuel prices, other factors that can impact the cost of a trip such as minimum uplift to avoid ramp fees and aircraft performance limitations can be analyzed. The new feature supports 170 currency conversions and weight calculated in kilograms, allowing tankering for international trips.
Rockwell Collins is also enhancing its ARINCDirect iPad app with a new weight-and-balance and performance feature that allows pilots to make accurate computations with or without an Internet connection. When the weight-and-balance and performance report is created using the ARINCDirect website, the enhanced app automatically synchronizes with the customer’s account, reducing the need to re-enter data while still enabling the crew to make changes with an easy-to-use interface.
Finally, Rockwell Collins has created Android versions of its Airshow 3D moving map and Venue CabinRemote apps for business jet passengers to keep them entertained, comfortable, and informed. New capabilities for the Airshow 3D Moving Map include touch controls including pinch, swipe, and zoom; topographical, high-resolution LandSat imagery; and interactive panoramic and pilot head-up display views.
