World Premier at the Paris Air Show: Demonstration of Wi-Fi Communication between an aircraft on the ground and a maintenance operator
Paris, France, 10 June 2003 - Appear Networks, Franco-Swedish specialist in innovative Wi-Fi applications for the transport industry, today announced that the company has developed a demonstration for Sagem, enabling the transfer of data between an aircraft on the ground and an operator equipped with a communicating mobile device (TabletPC, PDA…). The solution will be demonstrated at the Paris Air Show, Le Bourget, 15-22 June 2003 (Booth E4).
Embedded data management units receive and record a large number of airplane parameters used in maintenance management and for improving flight safety. Today, this data is stored on a digital media (e.g. a PCMCIA card, optical disk…) collected on the ground by a maintenance operator. The implementation of a wireless link solution will simplify this data transfer, reduce intervention time and thus increase the availability of the aircraft. The risk of human error will also be significantly reduced.
Sagem’s FDIMU (Flight Data Interface & Management Unit), currently installed on the Airbus Single Aisle aircrafts, will be equipped with a Wi-Fi interface and used in the demonstration. The software solution will be provided by Appear Network’s Appear Provisioning Server which allows the operator to see icons appear on his mobile device (TabletPC or PDA with Wi-Fi connection) when he approaches the aircraft. The icons represent the different applications stored inside the aircraft. The user, once securely authenticated, can in one simple click and without boarding the aircraft, access and/or receive relevant information and download and run the desired application. He can then keep the downloaded files for use later in “disconnected” mode upon leaving the connectivity area.
« The aviation industry is subject to many constraints: semi-mobile workforce, complex working procedures, management of tight resources, and a race for maximum efficiency and maximum security: it is therefore a rich environment for the deployment of wireless technologies » explains Xavier Aubry , before adding, « We are pleased to be able to demonstrate our solution in partnership with a leading company such as Sagem. »
Using this new Appear Network’s « Workspot » model, applications will, in the future, be stored on board aircraft. Appear’s Click & Run™ technology enables the download of all applications upon request.
« The relevance of the Appear Network’s solution, as well as the company’s experience in the transportation sector, encouraged us to rely on their competency to download application and data on to mobile hardware for this demonstration » explains Philippe Lemasson, Head of Avionics Data Management System, Sagem.
About Appear Networks
Appear Networks, a Franco-Swedish company specializing in innovative Wi-Fi applications for the transportation industry, offers a unique solution to semi-mobile employees. “Click & Run™” software technology enables any communicating mobile device to discover, load and run applications available locally in one simple click. Appear Networks’ technology is ideal for semi-mobile workers as well as for visitors to public hotspots such as airports, train and underground stations, conference rooms or hospitals.
For more information about the Paris Air Show 15-22 June 2003, Le Bourget please visit:
http://www.salon-du-bourget.fr/
Press Contacts
Angela Hepburn
Open2Europe PR Division
a.hepburn@open2europe.com
+33 (0)1 55 02 14 51
Ann-Louise Palm, CEO
Appear Networks
ann-louise.palm@appearnetworks.com
+46 (0)8 545 91 370
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