[Avionics Magazine 10-28-2016] Air transport communications and information technology provider SITA released an update recently explaining how Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) uses its “Mobility Access” Wi-Fi and cellular connectivity platform to enhance flight operations.
Photo: SITA.
According to SITA, Mobility Access has 57 million hotspots at 700 airports across 120 countries. SAS primarily uses the service to allow flight crew members to receive flight and passenger information through the airline’s crew tablet application while they’re on the ground, preparing for their next flight.
SITA also notes that Mobility Access works by installing a software client on mobile devices, such as iPads, that can use Wi-Fi or cellular connectivity. It is also integrated with SITA’s Internet Protocol (IP) Virtual Private Network (VPN) service as well. The Wi-Fi infrastructure for Mobility Access is provided by Silicon Valley-based iPass, a cloud-based (Software-as-a-Service) company that claims to have the “world’s largest Wi-Fi Hotspot footprint,” according to its website.
“It is important that everybody within SAS can easily connect to the airline’s systems and get the latest information needed in their day-to-day work. By using SITA’s Wi-Fi service enables SAS to provide a secure and cost-effective connectivity to its employees around the globe,” said Jeff Markstedt, head of IT communication at SAS.