ARINC Enters BizAv Market

ARINC, the world's leading provider of communications services to the airline industry, will begin offering those services to corporate jet operators in January 2003.

The company's new ARINC Direct includes datalink, safety, communications and information services. According to Ed Montgomery, ARINC vp for aviation and air traffic services, "Business aircraft with AFIS, TeleLink or UniLink service actually use ARINC's datalink already-they just don't know us as the provider."

Until now, ARINC says, "the business aviation market has been forced to buy datalink products through third parties due to pre-existing agreements with aircraft and avionics manufacturers."

One expected advantage of buying direct is a reduction in cost. ARINC will release pricing details in January, with Montgomery promising that ARINC Direct will offer "a much better value, too."

ARINC will establish a dedicated 24/7 operations center to assist ARINC Direct users with domestic and international ground handling services. It also plans to offer training for business jet operators and recurrent International Operations Procedures training at ARINC's Annapolis, Md., headquarters.

By David Rimmer