ASiQ Limited, the developers of the patented in-flight SafeCell mobile phone system, announced today that they have developed an iPad Bluetooth App that can overcome the problems associated with the use of Wi-Fi in aircraft cockpits.
Melbourne, Australia (PRWEB) June 17, 2011
Recently, Wi-fi hit the headlines regarding interference with cockpit displays. It was reported that under testing, Wi-fi managed to blank out the cockpit displays on a B737NG, which resulted in Boeing suspending Wi-fi installations. This has become an issue for airlines wanting to use iPad’s in the cockpit for crew communications, as part of their Electronic Flight Bags programs “EFB”.
Ron Chapman, ASiQ’s CEO, stated “the issue for Wi-Fi is that under certification testing, in order to provide an acceptable safety margin, wireless transmitters are powered up to 5 times their maximum power. In the case of Wi-Fi, it turns a 1000 milliwatt transmitter into a 5000 milliwatt transmitter. Now compare this to the Intel Aircraft safety Report on Bluetooth.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/7156308/Aircraft-Safety-Report-for-Bluetooth
During aircraft testing, Bluetooth was powered up to 500 times its normal power and at a distance of only 10 cm, was still below the aircraft standards. So it is fairly safe to assume that Bluetooth at 5 times its normal power should not be an issue at all.”
Ron also said “it was during the development of our new iPhone App for corporate jets, that we realised we could deliver a similar data service on the iPad. What makes it really exciting is that our iPhone Bluetooth proprietary software currently allows up to 3 Apple devices to communicate simultaneously, which means that both pilots and the head of the cabin crew could all have access. Combine this with our satellite/radio controller and message distribution software and you now have a very low cost mobile solution that airlines can implement for crew data communications”
About Bluetooth
Class 2 Bluetooth is standard in the majority of portable devices and as its maximum output is only 2.5 milliwatts, or 500 times less than Wi-Fi, it is ideal for the aircraft environment. The combination of Bluetooth’s low power and the way it operates, is the reason it is documented as safe for use in aircraft. Bluetooth can accommodate up to 3Mbps, which is more than enough bandwidth for the cockpit.
About ASiQ
ASiQ has over 2 decades experience in designing and implementing crew and passenger communications and originally developed G3CARS, a sophisticated airline EFB solution. ASiQ found that the biggest obstacle for airlines implementing an EFB program was the high cost of EFB hardware (up to $15,000 per pilot plus installation) and the lack of a low cost in-flight communications interface. The combination of ASiQ’s Bluetooth App, message distribution network and the iPad, opens up a whole new opportunity for airlines and corporate jets
About SafeCell
SafeCell is the only, and worlds first, in-flight Bluetooth mobile phone solution covering all mobile platforms including Apple, BlackBerry, Android and Symbian mobiles phones. SafeCell operates in flight mode which means no roaming charges. SafeCell is compatible with all satellite and aircraft radio communications networks.
ASiQ currently has the new corporate jet iPhone App under test and will release it commercially early next month. ASiQ licenses its software and Apps for distribution.
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Ron Chapman
ASiQ Limited
61 3 94371233
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