Technology

Doha, 24th Feb 2025: Thales and Qatar Airways has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to establish a dedicated Inflight Entertainment (IFE) service and maintenance center based in Doha, Qatar. The local Thales facility will provide rapid access to comprehensive services such as repair, spare distribution, technical assistance and line maintenance for the full range of Thales IFE products. This will drive Qatar Airways’ operational excellence and support the airline’s ambitious growth plans to serve a large quantity of aircraft. In line with Qatar Vision 2030, this partnership will contribute to the growth of the aerospace and MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Operations) ecosystem and bring high-skilled jobs to the country. This MOU builds on a strong and long-standing relationship between the two companies. Over the years, Thales has been Qatar Airways’ trusted IFE provider for several aircraft platforms, including their Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, A350 and A380 aircraft. This partnership was recently expanded to include Qatar Airways’ new A321 NX fleet, which will be equipped with Thales’ award-winning FlytEDGE cloud-native IFE solution. Thomas Got, Vice President, Aviation Global Services at Thales said:, “Our partnership with Qatar Airways is growing stronger. This MOU underscores our shared commitment to even greater operational excellence and lays the groundwork for developing a local service hub and expertise in Doha, to support the airline’s future growth ambitions.”

Abu Dhabi,18th February, 2025: As dual-use technologies increasingly drive economies of scale worldwide, ADASI has announced their adoption of two advanced autonomous flight technologies by Abu Dhabi’s VentureOne: Perceptra, a new cutting-edge GPS-less navigation technology, and Saluki, a high-security flight control technology for autonomous systems. These technologies, both developed by the Technology Innovation Institute, are designed to deliver secure, resilient operations in the most challenging environments. They have been optimized for UAV manufacturers, offering enhanced resilience, precision, and security for autonomous aerial operations. The agreement between VentureOne, ADASI, and TII was formalized at IDEX 2025, the Middle East’s largest defense exhibition, at which Saluki and Perceptra were unveiled. Global Positioning System (GPS) technology has long been a fundamental pillar of navigation, supporting applications from everyday smartphone use to critical defense and military operations. However, this widespread reliance on GPS has exposed vulnerabilities that can be exploited through techniques like jamming and spoofing. Jamming occurs when signals on the same frequency overwhelm GPS receivers, preventing accurate location tracking, while spoofing involves transmitting counterfeit signals to deceive receivers into calculating incorrect positions or times. These vulnerabilities pose significant risks across sectors that depend on precise navigation, including autonomous drones, commercial aviation, and military aircraft. In defense and security, compromised GPS signals can impact mission success and personnel safety, while in aviation, navigation errors may cause flight path deviations and operational disruptions – reports of which have the aviation industry and international regulators such as IATA and European regulator EASA seeking urgent solutions for GPS interference, according to one Reuters report in 2024. For autonomous systems like drones and self-driving vehicles, the inability to maintain accurate positioning can create safety hazards, particularly in dynamic or high-risk environments, from aviation to defense. As the use of GPS-dependent systems continues to grow, the need for resilient, alternative navigation solutions has become increasingly critical. Perceptra and Saluki overcome many of today’s numerous challenges with advanced vision-based navigation, delivering reliable, resilient performance. Dr. Najwa Aaraj, CEO of TII, said, “Perceptra, with its GPS-less capabilities, and Saluki, with its sophisticated Zero Trust architecture, represent a significant leap in autonomous navigation with the potential to transform multiple sectors. From supporting safe travel in commercial flights, search-and-rescue missions with precise navigation, to enabling efficient urban drone logistics for deliveries in densely populated cities, these technologies have broad real-world applications. Their adaptability also makes them invaluable in defense, ensuring secure and resilient operations in even the most challenging environments. This collaboration reflects our commitment to developing advanced, dual-use technologies that serve both civilian and defense needs while positioning the UAE as a leader in next-generation autonomous systems.” Perceptra is a vision-based system that ensures reliable navigation without GPS, allowing aerial platforms to operate in GNSS-denied environments. It features visual relocking, low navigation errors, and easy integration across platforms for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and electronic warfare. Saluki is a secure, high-performance flight controller and mission computer with Zero Trust architecture. With PX4 compatibility, Gen AI capabilities, and 300 TOPS compute power, it supports multi-vehicle management for mission-critical defense applications. “At ADASI, we integrate only the most advanced, field-proven technologies to ensure our UAVs operate with unmatched precision, resilience, and security, even in the most contested environments,” said Juma Al Kaabi, the CEO of ADASI. “Perceptra and Saluki provide exactly what next-generation UAVs require: secure, GPS-independent navigation and AI-powered mission control.” “VentureOne is dedicated to ensuring that cutting-edge research becomes reality to make a positive impact and transform industries,” said Reda Nidhakou, the Acting CEO of VentureOne. “Saluki and Perceptra are just two of many new innovations to come that will help ensure more resilient and safer drone operations in different sectors, starting with defense. We are working on a more comprehensive air autonomy and security portfolio that will play a central role in future drone operations.” Last week, TII announced its collaboration with the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) to support regulatory efforts by developing advanced methodologies for air corridor design. These methodologies aim to optimize flight routes and reduce the risk of aerial incidents in complex urban airspaces, ensuring safe and efficient navigation for both piloted and autonomous drone taxis. These efforts, alongside Perceptra and Saluki, reinforce Abu Dhabi’s vision to lead in next-generation navigation and AI-powered autonomy. Both VentureOne and TII are part of the Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), which oversees Abu Dhabi’s research and development ecosystem to advance transformative technologies with global impact. ADASI is part of the EDGE Group, the advanced technology and defense conglomerate.

Bengaluru, Feb. 12, 2025: Collins Aerospace, an RTX business announced the launch of its Powered by Collins Initiative 2025 edition at Aero India. The initiative invites deep tech small- to medium-sized enterprises to work with a leader in aerospace and defense through targeted collaboration opportunities which represent technologies critical to the industry’s future. This year’s opportunities bring focus to material informatics and quantum-enabled navigation. Collaboration opportunities represent known needs for active aerospace and defense projects and programs, where collaboration through funded, rapid development demonstration programs can accelerate deployment of solutions for customers. Since its launch in 2023, the Powered by Collins Initiative has worked with companies focused on aerospace and defense as well as companies in adjacent industries. In addition to this year’s collaboration opportunities, Collins has expanded the program with the launch of the Powered by Collins ecosystem on Switchpitch – an online startup relationship management platform that helps to connect startups with enterprises, investors and technology accelerators. “Innovation and Collins’ technology development needs are constantly evolving, and the Powered by Collins Ecosystem serves as a complement to our existing collaboration network, enabling Collins business teams to engage potential solution providers throughout the year. We believe this will unlock even more dynamic collaboration and rapidly provide solutions to meet our customers’ needs,” said Mary Lombardo, vice president, Advanced Technology for Collins.

Broomfield, CO./6 February 2025: Gogo Business Aviation Satcom Direct announced the finalizing of a multifaceted Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Airbus. The MoU confirms the two organizations’ aim to leverage the full potential of the Gogo Air-to-Ground (ATG), FlightDeck Freedom, and Gogo Galileo satellite connectivity solutions to deliver low-latency, high-speed broadband internet to Airbus ACJ operators. The joint commitment, once firmedup,will allow Airbus’ ACJ Connect Link customers to benefit from ATG and Gogo Galileo Half Duplex (HDX) and Full Duplex (FDX) terminals provided as retrofit options on all Airbus ACJ types. In addition, it will include the full suite of Gogo|SD added value services, including cybersecurity services, crew training and 24/7/365 customer support. Powered by the Eutelsat OneWeb Low Earth Orbit, LEO constellation, which is the only LEO network delivering enterprise-grade aviation solutions, Gogo will supply Airbus ACJ operators with its next-gen phased array antennas to integrate into Airbus’ ACJ Connect Link solution. With a small form factor and fewer components, minimal downtime is required to equip the airframe, enabling rapid access to high-speed cabin connectivity, flight deck services and inflight entertainment. Chadi Saade, President of Airbus Corporate Jets, said, “We are very pleased to enterinto this MoU agreement with Gogo, especially as we aim to offer our Airbus ACJ operators and business leaders the highest standard connectivity solutions and customer support. This will allow them to be in the right place at the right time, connected and ready to act. Moreover, we are confident that Gogo presents a compelling solution with its cutting-edge technology, backed by a global customer support team of industry experts.” Airbus will collaborate with its qualified partners to certify the terminal integration and generate the required Supplemental Type Certificates for the HDX, FDX, and ATG equipment installations. Once the solution is approved and following the firm contract signature, Airbus will lead the marketing and sales activities to ensure that ACJ operators can optimize the suite of connectivity solutions. The Gogo Galileo solution will enrich Airbus’ ACJ Connect Link offering so that operators, passengers, and crew will be able to enjoy a plethora of uninterrupted applications, including voice, internet, email services, video conferencing, gaming, and live movie and TV streaming from boarding to deplaning globally. “With the Gogo Galileo solution, Airbus ACJ operators have immediate access to global, low latency broadband service to support full connectivity capability and redundancy. Passengers will be able to emulate their digital life on the ground in the air,” says Chris Moore, CEO of Gogo. “As these aircraft frequently travel the globe, the operators need to know they can deliver reliable, consistent connectivity at all times, and we are committed to ensuring that we deliver best-in-class connectivity to Airbus ACJ customers. This is a major milestone in the Gogo connectivity journey, and we’re proud to work with Airbus to elevate and enrich its connectivity offering,” concludes Moore.

Hyderabad/Wessling, 20TH Jan 2025: Cyient has announced that it has expanded its strategic partnership with Deutsche Aircraft, German regional aircraft manufacturer. Cyient has been awarded a multi-year contract to manage the advanced technical documentation to support the product lifecycle of safety-critical aviation systems for the 40-seater regional turboprop the D328eco. The solution will support Deutsche Aircraft’s global customer base with a modular and scalable architecture, personalized user experience, faster time to market, and worldwide access through any device. It will take advantage of Cyient AI products embedded in the solution. The collaboration further strengthens Cyient’s position as a trusted partner in the Indian and European aerospace markets, while for Deutsche Aircraft, it marks a significant stride in the “Make in India” mission.“We are excited to further strengthen our collaboration with Deutsche Aircraft by contributing to another critical milestone for the D328eco aircraft development,” said Krishna Bodanapu, Executive Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Cyient. “This continued partnership is a testament to Cyient’s unwavering commitment to delivering innovative engineering solutions in the aerospace sector. Our deep expertise across Aircraft Systems, Software, Structure, Manufacturing, and Aftermarket Solutions positions us to play a global partner role in the success of the D328eco program. Together with Deutsche Aircraft, we are excited to drive forward advancements in sustainable aviation technology, shaping the future of aerospace innovation,” he added. “We are thrilled to be working with Cyient, and the expansion of our partnership represents a strong commitment to India while supporting the “Make in India” initiative,” said Nico Neumann, Co-CEO of Deutsche Aircraft. “This expanded collaboration with Cyient will enable Deutsche Aircraft to work with one of the best ER&D companies in the Aerospace industry and further enhance the development of the D328eco Program. Cyient’s expertise and innovative approach perfectly align with Deutsche Aircraft’s vision of delivering advanced service and product solutions,” he added.

Astana, 15th Jan 2025: Stellar Entertainment has partnered with Air Astana, the largest airline in Central Asia and the Caucasus, to enhance the inflight entertainment experience for passengers of Kazakhstan’s flag carrier. As Air Astana’s Content Service Provider, Stellar Entertainment delivers comprehensive IFE services, including content curation, licensing, encoding, metadata, KCTV inflight magazine and IFE guide design and updates in Kazakh, Russian, and English, and dedicated account management. Zhamilya Jaxybekova, IFE Manager from Air Astana remarked: “We’re pleased to partner with Stellar Entertainment to deliver a world-class inflight entertainment experience with the spirit of Kazakhstan at its core. Through their expertise and extensive industry relationships, we can bring the stories and sounds of our country to a global audience, offering passengers an engaging and culturally rich journey onboard. This partnership reinforces our mission to be a cultural ambassador for Kazakhstan.” Sam Allen, Chief Executive Officer of Stellar Entertainment, expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration: “Partnering with Air Astana is an incredible opportunity to combine our global expertise with a localised focus, celebrating the unique cultural heritage of Kazakhstan. We’re proud to be part of Air Astana’s journey as they expand their network and increase their presence across Central Asia, South and East Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.” Air Astana’s vision for inflight entertainment reflects its unwavering commitment to celebrating Kazakhstan’s unique identity. The content curation strategy is designed to showcase the rich cultural heritage of the nation, offering passengers a truly immersive experience. Some key highlights of Air Astana’s entertainment approach include: • Championing Kazakh Cinema – A cornerstone of Air Astana’s entertainment strategy is its dedication to supporting Kazakhstan’s burgeoning film industry. The airline proudly features a curated selection of recent local movie releases, spotlighting the talents of both emerging and established Kazakh filmmakers. Passengers have consistently rated Kazakh films as some of the most memorable onboard experiences, reflecting their universal storytelling appeal. • Russian-Dubbed Content – Recognising its predominantly Russian-speaking passenger base, Air Astana ensures inclusivity by offering Russian dubs for the majority of its content. Many films and TV shows are dubbed in Russian for the first time, specifically for Air Astana, expanding accessibility and engagement for a wider audience. • Spotlight on Timeless Cinema – Starting February 2025, the airline’s “Spotlight” category will bring classic films to the inflight lineup. This collection goes beyond Hollywood blockbusters, offering a journey through timeless classics from around the globe. • Content adapted for Accessibility – Air Astana goes a step further in inclusivity by offering a dedicated section called ‘Accessibility’ within its inflight entertainment system. This section is specifically designed for customers with hearing impairments and visually impaired passengers. Air Astana is also tapping into Stellar’s renowned expertise in audio programming and licensing, helping to ensure that music plays a pivotal role in the onboard selection. An extensive library combines timeless classics and contemporary hits: •Fresh and Evolving Content – The airline’s massive music catalogue features 600 albums, with 50% of the library refreshed every month. This allows passengers to discover fresh tracks while enjoying timeless favourites. •Amplifying Kazakh Voices – Showcasing the country’s vibrant musical talent, Air Astana highlights an unparalleled selection of Kazakh music. From traditional melodies to modern hits, passengers can explore the sounds of Kazakhstan in the extensive inflight library of local music, reinforcing Air Astana’s role as a cultural ambassador.

DUBAI, December 12, 2024: Honeywell has signed a MoU with Sino Jet at the MEBAA show. Subject to the MoU, both parties expect to expand their collaboration in areas such as aviation services and new technology development, and support Honeywell’s alignment of its portfolio around three compelling megatrends, including the future of aviation. Honeywell has provided datalink subscription, navigation and terrain databases, and other connected services for Sino Jet’s fleet, along with extensive cooperation on aftermarket parts support. Under the terms of the MoU, the two companies plan to deepen cooperation in next-generation connectivity technologies such as Honeywell’s high-speed JetWaveTM X SATCOM system. JetWaveTM X is the next-generation SATCOM system designed for business aviation. It will provide customers with unprecedented coverage and data speeds by leveraging Viasat’s Ka-band network, which includes ViaSat-3 and Global Xpress (GX) satellites. The system enables access to speeds that exceed increasing passenger demands and the most data-hungry applications of the future, with typical speeds consistently greater than 30 Mbps and as high as 100 Mbps, even in the busiest flight corridors. Building upon the success of Honeywell’s JetWaveTM SATCOM system, JetWaveTM X is easy to install and provides the flexibility to connect to any Viasat Ka-band satellite. “We are excited to be further strengthening our partnership with Honeywell as we celebrate the opening of Sino Jet’s Middle East International Headquarters. At Sino Jet, we believe that innovation is the key driver behind our business growth and the digital transformation of the business aviation industry.” Said Chris Wu, International President of Sino Jet. “The advanced connectivity technologies and solutions provided by Honeywell have greatly benefited our clients, offering them significant convenience and value. We are eager to collaborate with Honeywell on the upcoming next-generation JetWaveTM X satellite communication system, aiming to elevate the customer experience in the business aviation sector to unprecedented levels while ensuring even higher standards of safety and operational excellence.” “Staying connected is critical to flight safety and efficiency. Honeywell’s satellite communications systems provide operators, passengers, and crew with reliable, consistent connectivity throughout the world,” said Jason Wissink, Vice President & General Manager, Services and Connectivity, Honeywell Aerospace Technologies. “We are honored to further deepen our collaboration with Sino Jet. With over 30 years of expertise in satellite communication, Honeywell aims to help Sino Jet achieve a safe, efficient, and smart fleet operation, providing passengers with a seamless connected service experience.”

SINGAPORE and Bangkok,9 December 2024 Sabre Corporation had announced an expansion of its longstanding relationship with Thai Airways. The national carrier of Thailand has selected Sabre’s advanced Fares Manager and Fares Optimizer solutions to enhance its pricing capabilities and drive incremental revenue opportunities. This agreement further strengthens the alliance between Sabre and Thai Airways, which already includes a long-term distribution agreement. By adopting Sabre Fares Manager together with Fares Optimizer, Thai Airways is poised to streamline its fares management processes, respond more effectively to market dynamics, enhance analyst productivity, and optimize pricing strategies to maintain a competitive edge. “Thai Airways is committed to delivering the best value to our passengers while ensuring we maintain our competitive positioning in the market,” said Nuthaphol Amawatana, Head of Pricing and Revenue Management, Thai Airways. “By using Sabre’s advanced fares management solutions, we can efficiently monitor competitor fare activities and quickly adjust our pricing strategies to capture revenue opportunities. This collaboration with Sabre enables us to refine our pricing approach, ensuring that we offer the right fares at the right time to our customers.” Sabre’s Fares Manager and Fares Optimizer empower airlines to proactively manage their fares, analyze market trends, and make data-driven pricing decisions with speed and precision. By automating benchmarking and optimizing fare structures, Sabre’s solutions help airlines enhance analyst productivity, refine pricing strategies, and ultimately boost profitability. Thai Airways recently added new widebody aircraft to its fleet, as well as increasing frequencies on popular flights, adding new routes, and reestablishing international routes, including to Oslo and Milan. “Airlines today face unprecedented challenges in managing the sheer volume and frequency of fare changes,” said Rakesh Narayanan, Vice President, Regional General Manager, Asia Pacific, Travel Solutions Airline Sales. “Our Fares Manager and Fares Optimizer solutions are designed to address these challenges by providing integrated end-to-end automation and intelligence. We are thrilled to deepen our alliance with Thai Airways and support their continued success in an increasingly complex and competitive marketplace.”

São José dos Campos, Brazil, November 25, 2024: Embraer has finalized the implementation of the ONEChain Program, an initiative to support the Company growth’s strategy that leverages digital transformation to help improve the management of its supply chain. The ONEChain platform was designed to simplify and digitalize supply chain operations by fostering greater transparency, agility, and collaboration through an integrated process that benefits both Embraer and its suppliers worldwide. By adopting and disseminating the best practices in the market, ONEChain has enabled the company to improve governance, standardize processes, reduce costs and expenses, increase competitiveness, agility, and productivity, as well as to digitize and unify a large part of the supply chain processes in an innovative way. “In addition to achieving enhanced operational efficiency, we have integrated all operations with our suppliers and partners in a single platform, which makes it possible to manage operations in real-time,” says Roberto Chaves, Embraer’s Executive Vice President of Global Procurement and Supply. “This guarantees a more leveled and uniform production of our products, a reduction in fixed and variable costs, and more agile decision-making processes. Recently, the ONEChain program was recognized at the Procurement Success Summit (PSS) in China, being awarded in two categories: Process Innovation Award and Procurement Ecosystem Award. “Being recognized at this global, top-level procurement award ceremony makes us very proud of the ONEChain Program, which is setting a new standard in digital transformation, supplier collaboration, and operational excellence,” added Roberto Chaves. The program has been implemented in Brazil and countries where Embraer operates: the United States, China, Singapore, as well as France, the Netherlands and Portugal.

Singapore, 04, Nov 2024: Singapore Airlines (SIA) is investing S$1.1 billion in a multi-year programme to install its all-new long-haul cabin products across 41 Airbus A350-900 long-haul and ultra-long-range (ULR) aircraft, redefining the premium travel experience on its network. In a significant milestone, the Airline will introduce a luxurious First Class cabin in its seven A350-900ULR aircraft, setting new industry benchmarks for travel on the world’s longest routes. Designed with increasingly discerning travellers in mind, these plushFirst Class seats promise to deliver an unparalleled in-flight experience. Business Class customers can look forward to an elevated travel experience with SIA’s upcoming Business Class seats, featuring innovative designs that will offer even greater levels of privacy, comfort, and convenience in all 41 aircraft. These A350-900 First Class and Business Class products are designed from the ground up, with a spacious layout and ergonomic elements that cater to every customer’s needs. These are the same seat designs that will feature on SIA’s upcoming Boeing 777-9 aircraft. Premium Economy Class and Economy Class cabinswill also be refreshed to enhance the travel experience for customers. Complementing the cabin products, the next version of SIA’s KrisWorld in-flight entertainment (IFE) system will offer greater personalisation and an extensive range of lifestyle options across all cabin classes. First Class and Business Class seats will also feature new in-flight entertainment screens. Goh Choon Phong, Chief Executive Officer, Singapore Airlines, said,“Over the past six years, we have extensively engaged customers and stakeholders in the design of our next-generation long-haul cabin products, anticipating their evolving preferences and expectations down to the finest detail. “The new First Class and Business Class seat designs will incorporate thoughtful elements that push the boundaries of comfort, luxury, and modernity, allowing our customers to relax or work effortlessly on board. Premium Economy Class and Economy Class customers can also look forward to refreshed cabin interiors that enhance their travel experience. “The S$1.1 billion investment in retrofitting our 41 A350 aircraft reaffirms Singapore Airlines’ unwavering commitment to delivering an exceptional travel experience. The introduction of these next-generation seats and KrisWorld system, together with the world-renowned warm and attentive service of our cabin crew, will set new standards in innovation, customer experience, and service excellence.” The aircraft will be retrofitted by SIA Engineering Company in Singapore. The first retrofitted A350-900 long-haul aircraft is expected to enter service in the second quarter of 2026, while the first A350-900ULR variant will follow in the first quarter of 2027. The entire programme is targeted for completion by the end of 2030. Post-retrofit, the 34 A350-900 long-haul aircraft will be configured with 42 Business Class seats, 24 Premium Economy Class seats, and 192 Economy Class seats. The seven A350-900ULR variants will feature four First Class seats, 70 Business Class seats, and 58 Premium Economy Class seats.