The establishment of aviation technology specialist ARINC in the Middle East has given airports and airlines in the region something that was previously in short supply – choice.ARINCS’s multimillion dollar investment in the Middle East has helped bring a whole new range of technology alternatives to the region’s aviation sector.

The establishment of aviation technology specialist ARINC in the Middle East has given airports and airlines in the region something that was previously in short supply – choice.

Lack of competition may result in higher prices and limited product range. ARINC, which has made a multi-million dollar investment in the region, offers a real alternative.

"While effective solutions are the ultimate goal, flexibility, competitive pricing, and customer service are equally important," says Tony Lynch, regional director for the Middle East, ARINC.

"We regularly hear feedback that other suppliers provide what they want the customer to have. That’s not how we operate. We aim to give customers exactly what they want to meet their particular requirements"

It’s a policy that has won ARINC numerous customers in the Middle East for both messaging solutions and airport systems.

Major airport contracts in Dubai and Egypt
The company’s first major contract in the region was for Dubai International Airport’s Terminal 3. More recently, ARINC delivered, installed and integrated a suite of 14 specialist information-handling systems in Terminal 3 at Cairo Airport.

"We had responsibility for a multinational workforce in this complex project, which brought several leading-edge technologies to Egypt for the first time, including common-use self-service (CUSS), passenger information kiosks, biometric gates, and automatic ramp management," said Lynch.

As a master systems integrator, ARINC is used to achieving the smooth assimilation of a diverse range of information, communications and other systems.

With over 80 years experience at the cutting edge of aviation technology, the company has the expertise to specify, install, and integrate a full range of airport systems, while maximising the use of existing resources and enabling cost-sharing of common use equipment. All systems are designed to achieve the highest levels of operational efficiency and reliability whether an entire infrastructure is being engineered or legacy equipment is being incorporated into a new architecture.

AviNet Mail – Highest level of assured message delivery
AviNet mail, ARINC’s global data communications network, currently celebrating it’s 10th anniversary, is another success story, delivering 50% of the world’s operational Type B traffic and handling over 30 million messages a day.

In a recent survey, over 60% of customers said their Type B bills had fallen after they switched to AviNet Mail.

Reliable and cost-effective, AviNet Mail offers low-cost Type B, email and SMS messaging over a secure private network and provides the highest level assured deliverancy, with a core network availability of 99.999%. It is accessed through a single interface from any connection and has a simple, customisable, message-formatting template.

Supporting a broad spectrum of IP and legacy airline protocols, as well as multiple message formats, AviNet Mail is used by airlines, airport authorities and related organisations, from flight dispatch operators to caterers.

A recent survey revealed that more than 93% of AviNet customers who were questioned said they would be happy to recommend the service to others. Furthermore, over 60% reported that their Type B bills had fallen after they switched to ARINC.

Exclusive data link network for 100% coverage
Part of the investment is ARINC’s global VHF infrastructure, which is growing rapidly in the Middle East and Indian subcontinent. This enables airlines to use ARINC’s low-cost ACARS network worldwide, and with the ability to add ARINC’s exclusive HF data link network to their aircraft capability, they will benefit from 100% data coverage for all operational applications.

Middle East airline passengers can also enjoy enhanced Cabin Connect services across the whole region, using Inmarsat’s SwiftBroadband network.

True to its position as a world leader in aircraft communications, ARINC has developed Cabin Connect to provide airlines with the choice to ensure that they really can benefit from low-cost, highly-available aircraft-specific communications.

"This is another example of how ARINC’s presence in the Middle East has given the region’s aviation industry the luxury of choice," said Lynch. "The fact that so many businesses are choosing ARINC confirms that they appreciate having that opportunity."