Astronics Aircraft Interface Device picked by Cathay Pacific

East Aurora, New York – Astronics Corp., a provider of advanced technologies for the global aerospace and defense industries, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Ballard Technology Inc. is a key technology partner with Cathay Pacific Airways and will supply the Aircraft Interface Device (AID) for the airline’s new eEnabled Aircraft Program.

 

AIDs are an essential part of many avionics upgrades, such as electronic flight bag (EFB) and in-flight entertainment and connectivity (IFEC) systems, where they serve avionics data while protecting aircraft control domains from interference and corruption. The Cathay Pacific eEnabled Aircraft solution is an advanced system for connectivity and integration with ground systems. It provides a comprehensive, integrated electronic information exchange, which will replace existing manual processes to record, manage, and distribute information for flight operations, line maintenance engineering, and cabin defect management.

 

Extensive capabilities and a record of successful deployments were key factors in the decision by Cathay Pacific to select the Astronics AID for the eEnabled Aircraft Program. The Astronics AID is small, lightweight, and rugged. It features an embedded microprocessor, high I/O density, and an internal PMC slot for functionality and I/O expansion.

 

"We enhanced our aircraft interface device to include our Ethernet switch module, which allowed the unit to satisfy two of Cathay Pacific's key system requirements in a single package. We believe this adds significant value to the eEnabled Aircraft Program by simplifying deployment and reducing system size, weight, and power consumption," noted Peter J. Gundermann, Astronics' president and CEO.

 

Astronics Ballard Technology partnered with Cathay Pacific in a successful two-year development to bring the eEnabled Aircraft system to fruition. Cathay Pacific is now carrying out an Operational Evaluation with three Boeing 777 aircraft and when completed, plans to roll out the eEnabled system across its fleet of Boeing 777 and Airbus A330 passenger aircraft as well as Boeing 747 freighter aircraft.

 

Cathay Pacific will also implement the eEnabled technology in the A330s and A320/1's in the passenger fleet of Group airline Dragonair.