After the May 31 crash of an Air France Airbus in the Atlantic, interest rose in the ability for continuous data streaming of critical aircraft condition and flight data recorder information was bantied about as the next step in aviation safety. That capability is about to be tested by AeroMechanical Services Ltd and an unnamed customer in the next few weeks.

The company said this week that pre-deployment of its Automated Flight Information Reporting System (afirs™) testing has been completed on the new communications technology which promises to “stream data from aircraft to ground anywhere, anytime, in real-time.”

In the post-crash investigation, during which it became increasingly impossible to find and retrieve the black boxes, Airbus indicated its intention to begin researching such a capability. President Tom Enders announced the launch of the study which includes “industrial partners, research institutions, and international airworthiness and investigation authorities." The study, he said, would reinforce data retrieval including extending data transmission for commercial airlines, he said. The study is headed by Patrick Gavin, who heads engineering for the company, as well as Customer Service Head Charles Champion.

While the technology promises to enhance safety, it could also renew opposition to such technology by pilot unions concerned about corporate snooping. However, crews are generally supportive of anything that genuinely improves safety.

Under the brand FLYHT™, AMS manufactures the patented afirs™ 220, a streaming mode to begin transmission of essential position and Flight Data Recorder (FDR) information can be triggered. The system provides a continuous automated link between onboard avionics (including GPS and FDR), the Iridium global satellite network and a ground-based web-server that automatically routes messages to any number of designated recipients, all within seconds.

Formerly thought uneconomic owing to the massive bandwidth and infrastructure required, AMS’s technology compresses flight data to fully use available bandwidth, allowing it to send many times more information than an aircraft with a standard satellite communications system. The system also has a 2-way voice capability so crews can contact ground personnel, and includes a manually initiated event button to report a hijacking or other non-system-related emergency.

The afirs™ system uses a combination of normal transmissions using short burst data, and emergency streaming of critical position and FDR information. The use of Iridium means that there are no coverage gaps in the afirs data streaming anywhere on the globe, said AMS, adding it promises a “significant contribution to aircraft safety and operational efficiency, especially for aircraft flying outside of radar and terrestrial-based communication coverage areas.” The emergency mode data streaming enhancement to the afirs 220 system is the subject of a new patent application filed by AMS.

Currently, more than 30 operators on six continents have contracted AMS for the afirs 220 system and these operators will be immediate beneficiaries of this new application of the existing technology.

“This capability is not only valuable in improving responses to in-flight issues, but in the rare case where an aircraft is lost, this data stream can provide immediate insight into the exact flight path, location, and the possible cause of the accident.” AMS president Richard Hayden, said, noting the calls for a “live black box” after AF 447. “Doing this can provide insight into in-flight incidents and aid in rescue missions and accident reconstructions in the event that an aircraft’s black box cannot be recovered. Although AF 447 was equipped with satellite communication technology and ACARS, not having the ability to automatically stream position and flight data in real-time meant that the messages were limited in available diagnostic information.”

As part of its introduction of the new technology, the company appointed Bill Peltola director of business development for its FLYHT™ subsidiary FLYHT™ markets. Joining the company on August 3, Peltola holds an MBA from the University of Puget Sound and is a native of the state of Washington. He is a licensed private pilot from an aviation-oriented family. He has had a distinguished career in aviation communications and electronics, most recently at Aircell LLC, where over seven years as senior vice-president he played a major role in its rapid growth.

His career began at The Boeing Company, followed by 12 years at Sundstrand Data Control, where he focused on flight data recorder activities.
Increasing responsibilities in bringing air to ground communication solutions to the aerospace market saw Peltola assume senior positions at British Telecom, Iridium LLC, GTE Airfone and GEC Marconi Inflight Systems and, most recently, at Aircell LLC.


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