New industry team to offer passengers airborne communications solutions

Rockwell Collins, Airbus, and Tenzing Communications,have signed Memoranda of Agreement with to provide passenger connectivity onboard commercial aircraft. As part of its commitment, Rockwell Collins intends to make a $10 million investment in Tenzing, and will work with Tenzing to develop and deliver next-generation passenger connectivity solutions.

The new team will pursue aircraft connectivity using a phased approach with the first phase including email and other messaging capabilities. Future phases will provide broadband connectivity with Internet content, entertainment and live television as well as airline operational applications.

In July 2000, Rockwell Collins signed a memorandum of agreement with Airbus to provide the Aircraft Integrated Network System (AINS) for the A340-600, enabling a wide range of applications to support flight and maintenance personnel. This agreement was later expanded to include the provision of hardware to support the entire Airbus inFlight Information System (AFIS) for the A340 and A320-family aircraft platforms, including airline operational and passenger applications. The AINS is now scheduled to become basic equipment on all Airbus platforms beginning in 2003.

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