Rockwell Collins and Condor Flugdienst, the charter affiliate of Lufthansa German Airlines, are participating in a year-long demonstration of technologies to link flight deck file servers to terminal area databases. Airbus Industrie, Lufthansa Technik (LHT) and Lufthansa German Airlines are also participating in the demonstration.

A Collins Integrated Information System (I2S) is being used in the demonstration and all eight of Condor Flugdienst's A320s will be used as test platforms. The I2S uses low-power microwaves to allow terminal area exchange of maintenance analysis and tracking, flight plan database updates and other information.

Rockwell Collins is refining I2S technologies that will reduce airline operating costs by improving the information flow between the aircraft and ground stations. Potential uses include updating flight deck databases via wireless terminal area datalink, eliminating the need for mechanics to haul data discs and equipment to the aircraft. Other potential uses include uplinking real-time weather graphics to the flight deck, allowing pilots to alter course sooner and avoid bad weather. Flight attendants can use the system to print boarding passes for connecting passengers alleviating gate congestion.

Rockwell Collins says operational savings will vary but that it expects a $100,000 savings per aircraft through reductions in ground time, enroute time and cancellations.

The flight trials will begin in early 1999 and involve airports in Frankfurt, Cologne, Berlin and Majorca.

By John Wiley