AviIT, the leading aviation software and IT consultancy is flying high after playing a pivotal role in developing the world’s first, fully integrated, Class 2 Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) software solution for one of the world’s top airlines.
AviIT has been working with Virgin Atlantic over the last fourteen months to develop the pioneering system that will remove most paper from the cockpit and enable Virgin Atlantic flight crew to gather information such as flight plans, weather information and technical documentation in electronic format and then access the information on aircraft mounted computers throughout all flight phases. The system will also provide aircraft performance calculation software and ultimately electronic charts.
A contract has now been awarded to Lufthansa Systems to implement the Class 2 Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) solution, into Virgin Atlantic’s fleet of 33 Airbus 340 and Boeing 747 widebody aircraft.
The system will also implement a number of automated data collection services which will enable Virgin Atlantic to significantly reduce the amount of paperwork involved post-flight and allow much more rapid and efficient analysis of key flight performance and engineering data which will lead to significant reduction in costs and improved efficiency of the entire flight operation.
AviIT has been working closely with Mark Snelgrove, Programme Manager for the EFB project within Virgin Atlantic, initially to define the business requirements, develop the recommended technical strategy and conduct the market research necessary to find potential solution providers.
Following on from approval of the strategy by Virgin Atlantic senior management, AviIT worked closely with the Virgin Atlantic Flight Operations, Engineering and IT departments to produce a detailed technical and functional specification for the required solution and played a key role in the evaluation and eventual selection of Lufthansa Systems as the successful partner to deliver the solution.
Mark Snelgrove, said:
“The ability of the AviIT team to work across all areas of our operation, really understand the complex business requirements and translate this into a technical solution within the constraints of the complex and evolving regulatory environment has been outstanding. We could not have achieved such a complete and relatively low risk solution without their assistance.” Following on from the contract award for implementation of the system, AviIT has been retained to work with the Virgin Atlantic and Lufthansa Systems teams to ensure the software and hardware solution is implemented in line with the agreed specifications.
David Brown, CEO of AviIT said:
“It has been a fantastic opportunity to work with two of the leading players in the aviation sector on this exciting and challenging project and we are very proud to have been instrumental in developing the solution that will deliver significant cost reduction and efficiency benefits to Virgin Atlantic over the coming years.
It has been a pleasure working with Mark and the Virgin Atlantic and Lufthansa Systems teams and we look forward to this relationship continuing through to successful implementation of the system on the first aircraft later this year.”
Simon Fox, IT Director for Virgin Atlantic commented at the launch of the implementation stage of the project:
“This is a key strategic project for Virgin Atlantic as we are moving the frontiers of IT into the cockpit - and indeed the aircraft - for the first time. I am confident that we have an excellent team in place to deliver the project on time and to the quality level we expect.”