Support For GPS Navigation In The U.S. And Worldwide

ARINC Direct announced Monday it has enhanced its flight planning services for business aircraft with the addition of worldwide Receiver Autonomous Integrity Monitoring, or RAIM predictions.

Through a teaming agreement with DW International (DWI), ARINC Direct has been adding RAIM information automatically to flight plans filed by its subscribers since July 1st, the date the FAA set for RAIM to become a mandatory requirement. The RAIM feature is an integrated part of ARINC Direct flight planning, and no fee is involved.

The FAA now requires pilots to confirm GPS availability when they file a flight plan in the United States with GPS as the sole means for navigation. ARINC Direct extends this GPS availability information to flights in the rest of the world as well.

"By including RAIM data as a standard feature we are saving ARINC Direct customers the time and expense of using a separate RAIM service," stated Bob Richard, Senior Director of Flight Support Services at ARINC Business Aviation Solutions. "Combined with our other integrated functions such as eAPIS (electronic Advance Passenger Information System) and Flight Cost Analysis, this gives pilots and flight departments another tool to use during flight planning and to help make better operational decisions."

Based on calculated positions and real-time operational status of GPS satellites, RAIM predictions indicate the quality of GPS satellite signals to be expected along a flight path. This information allows pilots to anticipate periods of reduced GPS functionality, and to adjust flight plans accordingly.

When ARINC Direct users create flight plans on-line, ARINC sends the route and waypoint data to DWI, a GPS availability prediction company. An electronic plan is returned showing when and where GPS outages can be expected.

Operators using the new ARINC Direct service may also view a full RAIM prediction report containing additional levels of detail.

FMI: www.arinc.com