ARINC
Encyclopedia
Aeronautical Radio, Incorporated (ARINC), established in 1929, is a major provider of transport communications and systems engineering
solutions for eight industries: aviation
, airports, defense, government, healthcare, networks, security, and transportation. ARINC has installed computer data networks in police cars and railroad cars and also maintains the standards for line-replaceable unit
s.
ARINC is owned by the Carlyle Group
, which acquired the company in October 2007. It is headquartered in Annapolis, Maryland
and has two regional headquarters: London
(established in 1999) to serve the Europe, Middle East, and Africa region and Singapore
(established 2003) for the Asia Pacific region. ARINC maintains more than 3200 employees at over 120 locations worldwide.
(which later became the Federal Communications Commission
) in order to serve as the airline industry’s single licensee and coordinator of radio communication outside of the government. The corporation's stock was held by four major airlines of the day. Through most of its history, ARINC was owned by airlines and other aviation-related companies such as Boeing
until the sale to Carlyle.
Not much later ARINC took on the responsibility for all ground-based, aeronautical radio stations and for ensuring station compliance with FRC
rules and regulations. Using this as a base technology, ARINC expanded its contributions to transport communications as well as continuing to support the commercial aviation industry and US military.
ARINC also developed the standards for the trays and boxes used to hold standard line-replaceable units (like radios) in aircraft. These permit electronics to be rapidly replaced without complex fasteners or test equipment.
In 1978 ARINC introduced ACARS (Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System), a datalink system that enables ground stations (airports, aircraft maintenance bases, etc.) and commercial aircraft to communicate without voice, but data, due to the datalink system being integrated with aircraft systems via a Communications Management Unit (CMU), such as fuel quantity, weight on wheels, Flight management system
(FMS), etc.
ARINC has expanded its business in aerospace and defense through its ARINC Engineering Services subsidiary.
, Douglas DC-9, DC-10, Boeing 737
and 747
, and Airbus A300
.
Systems engineering
Systems engineering is an interdisciplinary field of engineering that focuses on how complex engineering projects should be designed and managed over the life cycle of the project. Issues such as logistics, the coordination of different teams, and automatic control of machinery become more...
solutions for eight industries: aviation
Aviation
Aviation is the design, development, production, operation, and use of aircraft, especially heavier-than-air aircraft. Aviation is derived from avis, the Latin word for bird.-History:...
, airports, defense, government, healthcare, networks, security, and transportation. ARINC has installed computer data networks in police cars and railroad cars and also maintains the standards for line-replaceable unit
Line-replaceable unit
A line-replaceable unit is a modular component of an airplane, ship or spacecraft that is designed to be replaced quickly at an operating location. An LRU is usually a sealed unit such as a radio or other auxiliary equipment...
s.
ARINC is owned by the Carlyle Group
Carlyle Group
The Carlyle Group is an American-based global asset management firm, specializing in private equity, based in Washington, D.C. The Carlyle Group operates in four business areas: corporate private equity, real assets, market strategies and fund-of-funds, through its AlpInvest subsidiary...
, which acquired the company in October 2007. It is headquartered in Annapolis, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
and has two regional headquarters: London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
(established in 1999) to serve the Europe, Middle East, and Africa region and Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
(established 2003) for the Asia Pacific region. ARINC maintains more than 3200 employees at over 120 locations worldwide.
History
ARINC was incorporated in 1929 as Aeronautical Radio, Incorporated. It was chartered by the Federal Radio CommissionFederal Radio Commission
The Federal Radio Commission was a government body that regulated radio use in the United States from its creation in 1926 until its replacement by the Federal Communications Commission in 1934...
(which later became the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
) in order to serve as the airline industry’s single licensee and coordinator of radio communication outside of the government. The corporation's stock was held by four major airlines of the day. Through most of its history, ARINC was owned by airlines and other aviation-related companies such as Boeing
Boeing
The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
until the sale to Carlyle.
Not much later ARINC took on the responsibility for all ground-based, aeronautical radio stations and for ensuring station compliance with FRC
Federal Radio Commission
The Federal Radio Commission was a government body that regulated radio use in the United States from its creation in 1926 until its replacement by the Federal Communications Commission in 1934...
rules and regulations. Using this as a base technology, ARINC expanded its contributions to transport communications as well as continuing to support the commercial aviation industry and US military.
ARINC also developed the standards for the trays and boxes used to hold standard line-replaceable units (like radios) in aircraft. These permit electronics to be rapidly replaced without complex fasteners or test equipment.
In 1978 ARINC introduced ACARS (Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System), a datalink system that enables ground stations (airports, aircraft maintenance bases, etc.) and commercial aircraft to communicate without voice, but data, due to the datalink system being integrated with aircraft systems via a Communications Management Unit (CMU), such as fuel quantity, weight on wheels, Flight management system
Flight management system
A flight management system is a fundamental part of a modern airliner's avionics. An FMS is a specialized computer system that automates a wide variety of in-flight tasks, reducing the workload on the flight crew to the point that modern aircraft no longer carry flight engineers or navigators. A...
(FMS), etc.
ARINC has expanded its business in aerospace and defense through its ARINC Engineering Services subsidiary.
Activities and services
Though mostly known for its standards, standardization is only one major area of ARINC activities.Standardization and aviation industry activities
Aviation industry activities are managed through three dedicated committees:- AEEC (Airlines Electronic Engineering Committee): Develop the ARINC Standards,
- AMC (Avionics Maintenance Conference): Organize the annual Avionics Maintenance Conference,
- FSEMC (Flight Simulator Engineering & Maintenance Conference): Organize the annual Flight Simulator Engineering and Maintenance Conference.
ARINC services
ARINC services include:- ACARS -a digital datalink system for transmission of short, relatively simple messages between aircraft and ground stations via radio or satellite
- AviNet Global Data Network, formerly known as the ARINC Data Network Service (ADNS)
- Air/Ground Domestic Voice Service
- Air/Ground International Voice Service
- Airport Remote Radio Access System (ARRAS)
- vMUSE- multi-user systems environment for shared passenger check-in at airports
- SelfServ- common use self-service passenger check-in kiosks for Airports
- OnVoy- internet based passenger check-in system for use at off-airport locations such as hotels, cruise ships and convention centers
- AirVUE- information display system for airports
- Centralized Flight Management Computer Waypoint Reporting System (CFRS)
- Satellite Navigation and Air Traffic Control and Landing Systems (SATNAV and ATCALS)
- ARINC Wireless Interoperable Network Solutions (AWINS) - connects all types of radio and telephone systems including standard UHF and VHF analog radios, mobile digital, voice over IP systems, ship-to-shore, air-ground, standard phones, and push-to-talk cellular.
400 Series
The 400 Series describes guidelines for installation, wiring, data buses, and databases.- ARINC 404 and ARINC 600 define the Air Transport Radio (ATR) and Modular Component Unit (MCU) form factors for line-replaceable electronics unitsLine-replaceable unitA line-replaceable unit is a modular component of an airplane, ship or spacecraft that is designed to be replaced quickly at an operating location. An LRU is usually a sealed unit such as a radio or other auxiliary equipment...
in aircraft. These standards date back to the 1930s.
- ARINC 419 describes digital transmission system building blocks which were available prior to 1984. It provides a synopsis of many protocols that predate ARINC 429 such as ARINC 561, 582, 573 and 575.
- ARINC 424ARINC 424ARINC 424 or ARINC 424 Navigation System Data Base Standard is an international standard file format for aircraft navigation data maintained by Airlines Electronic Engineering Committee and published by Aeronautical Radio, Inc....
is an international standard file formatFile formatA file format is a particular way that information is encoded for storage in a computer file.Since a disk drive, or indeed any computer storage, can store only bits, the computer must have some way of converting information to 0s and 1s and vice-versa. There are different kinds of formats for...
for aircraftAircraftAn aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air, or, in general, the atmosphere of a planet. An aircraft counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines.Although...
navigation data.
- ARINC 429ARINC 429ARINC 429 is the technical standard for the predominant avionics data bus used on most higher-end commercial and transport aircraft. It defines the physical and electrical interfaces of a two-wire data bus and a data protocol to support an aircraft's avionics local area network.-Messages:ARINC 429...
is an electrical and data format standard for a 2-wire serial bus with one sender and many listeners. This standard defines one of the most commonly used data buses on modern commercial aircraft. ARINC 429, like the ARINC 561 standard, is based on the ARINC 575 data format.
500 Series
The 500 Series describes analog avionics equipment used on aircraft such as the Boeing 727Boeing 727
The Boeing 727 is a mid-size, narrow-body, three-engine, T-tailed commercial jet airliner, manufactured by Boeing. The Boeing 727 first flew in 1963, and for over a decade more were built per year than any other jet airliner. When production ended in 1984 a total of 1,832 aircraft had been produced...
, Douglas DC-9, DC-10, Boeing 737
Boeing 737
The Boeing 737 is a short- to medium-range, twin-engine narrow-body jet airliner. Originally developed as a shorter, lower-cost twin-engine airliner derived from Boeing's 707 and 727, the 737 has developed into a family of nine passenger models with a capacity of 85 to 215 passengers...
and 747
Boeing 747
The Boeing 747 is a wide-body commercial airliner and cargo transport, often referred to by its original nickname, Jumbo Jet, or Queen of the Skies. It is among the world's most recognizable aircraft, and was the first wide-body ever produced...
, and Airbus A300
Airbus A300
The Airbus A300 is a short- to medium-range widebody jet airliner. Launched in 1972 as the world's first twin-engined widebody, it was the first product of Airbus Industrie, a consortium of European aerospace companies, wholly owned today by EADS...
.
- ARINC 573 is a standard format for data parameters recorded by digital flight data recorder and flight data recorder required by the FAA and ICAO.
600 Series
The 600 Series describes the design foundation for equipment specified per the ARINC 700 Series- ARINC 604 is a standard and guidance for the purpose of designing and implementing Built-In Test Equipment. The standard also describes the Centralized Fault Display System.
- ARINC 610B is a guidance for use of avionics equipment and software in simulators.
- ARINC 615 is a family of standards covering "data loading", commonly used for transferring software and data to or from avionics devices. The ARINC 615 base standard covers "data loading" over ARINC 429ARINC 429ARINC 429 is the technical standard for the predominant avionics data bus used on most higher-end commercial and transport aircraft. It defines the physical and electrical interfaces of a two-wire data bus and a data protocol to support an aircraft's avionics local area network.-Messages:ARINC 429...
.
- ARINC 615A is a standard that covers "data loading" over ARINC 664.
- ARINC 624 is a standard for aircraft onboard maintenance system (OMS). It uses ARINC 429ARINC 429ARINC 429 is the technical standard for the predominant avionics data bus used on most higher-end commercial and transport aircraft. It defines the physical and electrical interfaces of a two-wire data bus and a data protocol to support an aircraft's avionics local area network.-Messages:ARINC 429...
for data transmissionData transmissionData transmission, digital transmission, or digital communications is the physical transfer of data over a point-to-point or point-to-multipoint communication channel. Examples of such channels are copper wires, optical fibres, wireless communication channels, and storage media...
between embedded equipments.
- ARINC 629 is a multi-transmitter protocol where many units share the same bus. It was a further development of ARINC 429ARINC 429ARINC 429 is the technical standard for the predominant avionics data bus used on most higher-end commercial and transport aircraft. It defines the physical and electrical interfaces of a two-wire data bus and a data protocol to support an aircraft's avionics local area network.-Messages:ARINC 429...
especially designed for the Boeing 777Boeing 777The Boeing 777 is a long-range, wide-body twin-engine jet airliner manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. It is the world's largest twinjet and is commonly referred to as the "Triple Seven". The aircraft has seating for over 300 passengers and has a range from , depending on model...
.
- ARINC 633 is the air-ground protocol for ACARS and IP networks used for AOCAeronautical Operational ControlAeronautical Operational Control A group or the entirety of applications used for communication of an aircraft with its airline or service partner pendants on the ground. An AOC application was traditionally hosted on an ACARS MU or CMU....
data exchanges between aircraft and entities on the ground.
- ARINC 653ARINC 653ARINC 653 is a software specification for space and time partitioning in Safety-critical avionics Real-time operating systems...
is a standard for partitioning of computer resources in the time and space domains. The standard also specifies APIs for abstraction of the application from the underlying hardware and software.
- ARINC 660 defines functional allocation and recommended architectures for CNS/ATM avionics.
- ARINC 661Arinc 661ARINC 661 is a standard which aims to normalize the definition of a Cockpit Display System , and the communication between the CDS and User Applications which manage Aircraft avionics functions...
normalizes the definition of a cockpit display systemCockpit display systemThe Cockpit display systems provides the visible portion of the Human Machine Interface by which aircrew manage the modern Glass cockpit and thus interface with the aircraft avionics.-History:...
(CDS), and the communication between the CDS and User Applications. The GUIGuiGui or guee is a generic term to refer to grilled dishes in Korean cuisine. These most commonly have meat or fish as their primary ingredient, but may in some cases also comprise grilled vegetables or other vegetarian ingredients. The term derives from the verb, "gupda" in Korean, which literally...
definition is completely defined in binary definition files. The CDS software consists of a kernel capable of creating a hierarchical GUIGuiGui or guee is a generic term to refer to grilled dishes in Korean cuisine. These most commonly have meat or fish as their primary ingredient, but may in some cases also comprise grilled vegetables or other vegetarian ingredients. The term derives from the verb, "gupda" in Korean, which literally...
specified in the definition files. The concepts used by ARINC 661 are similar to those used in user interface markup languageUser interface markup languageA user interface markup language is a markup language that renders and describes graphical user interfaces and controls. Many of these markup languages are dialects of XML and are dependent upon a pre-existing scripting language engine, usually a JavaScript engine, for rendering of controls and...
s.
- ARINC 664Avionics Full-Duplex Switched EthernetAvionics Full-Duplex Switched Ethernet is a data network for safety-critical applications that utilizes dedicated bandwidth while providing deterministic Quality of Service . AFDX is based on IEEE 802.3 Ethernet technology and utilizes commercial off-the-shelf components...
defines the use of a deterministic EthernetEthernetEthernet is a family of computer networking technologies for local area networks commercially introduced in 1980. Standardized in IEEE 802.3, Ethernet has largely replaced competing wired LAN technologies....
network as an avionic databus in modern aircraft like the Airbus A380Airbus A380The Airbus A380 is a double-deck, wide-body, four-engine jet airliner manufactured by the European corporation Airbus, a subsidiary of EADS. It is the largest passenger airliner in the world. Due to its size, many airports had to modify and improve facilities to accommodate it...
and the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
- ARINC 665 This standard defines standards for loadable software parts and software transport media.
700 Series
The 700 Series describes the form, fit and function of avionics equipment installed predominately on transport category aircraft.- ARINC 702A defines the Flight Management Systems (FMS)
- ARINC 704 defines the Inertial Reference System (IRS).
- ARINC 708ARINC 708ARINC 708 is a specification for airborne pulse Doppler weather radar systems primarily found on commercial aircraft. ARINC 708 and the Honeywell Picture bus are the predominant avionics data bus for most aircraft today superseding ARINC 453....
is the standard for airborne weather radar. It defines the airborne weather radar characteristics for civil and military aircraft. This standard also defines the way to control and get information from the radar. - ARINC 709 defines Distance Measuring Equipment (DME)
- ARINC 717 defines the aquisition of flight data for recording
- ARINC 724B defines the Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System (ACARS)
- ARINC 738 defines an integrated Air Data Inertial Reference Unit (ADIRU)
- ARINC 739 is the standard for a Multi-Purpose Control and Display Unit (MCDU) and interfaces.
- ARINC 740 defines airborne printers
- ARINC 741 is the standard for a first-generation L-band satellite data unit.
- ARINC 743A defines a GNSS receiver
- ARINC 744A defines a full-format airborne printer
- ARINC 746 is the standard for a cabin telecommunications unit, based on Q.931Q.931ITU-T Recommendation Q.931 is ISDN's connection control protocol, roughly comparable to TCP in the Internet Protocol stack. Q.931 doesn't provide flow control or perform retransmission, since the underlying layers are assumed to be reliable and the circuit-oriented nature of ISDN allocates...
and CEPT-E1. - ARINC 747 defines a Flight Data Recoder (FDR)
- ARINC 750 defines a VHF Digital Radio
- ARINC 755 defines a Multi-Mode Receiver (MMR) for approach and landing
- ARINC 756 defines a GNSS Navigation and Landing Unit
- ARINC 760 defines a GNSS Navigator
- ARINC 757 defines a Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR)
- ARINC 761 is the standard for a second-generation L-band satellite data unit, also called Swift64 by operator InmarsatInmarsatInmarsat plc is a British satellite telecommunications company, offering global, mobile services. It provides telephony and data services to users worldwide, via portable or mobile terminals which communicate to ground stations through eleven geostationary telecommunications satellites...
. - ARINC 763 is the standard for a generic avionics file server and wireless access pointWireless access pointIn computer networking, a wireless access point is a device that allows wireless devices to connect to a wired network using Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or related standards...
s. - ARINC 767 defines a combined recorder unit capable of data and voice.
- ARINC 781 is the standard for a third-generation L-band satellite data unit, also called SwiftBroadbandSwiftBroadBandSwiftBroadband is an IP-based packet-switched satellite communications network that provides a symmetric ‘always-on’ data connection of up to 432kbps per channel for aircraft.-Details:...
(SBB) by operator InmarsatInmarsatInmarsat plc is a British satellite telecommunications company, offering global, mobile services. It provides telephony and data services to users worldwide, via portable or mobile terminals which communicate to ground stations through eleven geostationary telecommunications satellites...
. - ARINC 791 defines a K-band satellite data airborne terninal unit.
800 Series
The 800 Series comprises a set of aviation standards for aircraft, including fiber optics used in high-speed data buses.- ARINC 801 through 807 define the application of fiber optics on the aircraft.
- ARINC 811 was published to facilitate a common understanding of information security concepts as they relate to airborne networks, and provides a framework for evaluating the security of airborne networked systems.
- ARINC 812 is a standard for the integration of galley inserts (GAIN) in the galley
- ARINC 816 defines a database for airport moving maps
- ARINC 817 defines a low-speed digital video interface
- ARINC 818ARINC 818ARINC 818: Avionics Digital Video Bus is a video interface and protocol standard developed for high bandwidth, low latency, uncompressed digital video transmission in avionics systems...
defines a high-speed digital video interface standard developed for high bandwidth, low latency, uncompressed digital video transmission. - ARINC 821 is a top-level networking definition describing aircraft domains, file servers and other infrastructure.
- ARINC 822 is the standard for Gatelink.
- ARINC 823 is a standard for end-to-end datalink encryption.
- ARINC 825ARINC 825- ARINC Specification 825 - The General Standardization of CAN for Airborne Use :Controller Area Network increasingly found its way into aerospace applications because of its cost effective and efficient networking capability for systems employing the Line-replaceable unit concept to share data...
is a standard for Controller Area Network bus protocol for airborne use. - ARINC 826ARINC 826ARINC 826 is a protocol for avionic data loading over the Controller Area Network as internationally standardized in ISO 11898-1. It allows Loadable Software Aircraft Parts to be loaded in a verifiable and secure manner to avionics Line Replaceable Units and Line Replaceable Modules using...
is a protocol for avionic data loading over a Controller Area Network bus. - ARINC 827 specifies a crate format for electronic distribution of software parts for aircraft. It has recently been adopted.
- ARINC 828ARINC 828ARINC 828 "Electronic Flight Bag Interface" is a document containing the description of a series of physical connectors based on MIL Spec 38999 which can be used to connect EFBs of all hardware classes with aircraft....
is an interface standard used to connect an EFB deviceElectronic flight bagElectronic Flight Bag is an electronic information management device that helps flight crews perform flight management tasks more easily and efficiently with less paper...
such as a laptop, to an aircraft. - Draft Project Paper 830 will define an application-level messaging protocol for air to ground communications.
- ARINC 834 defines an aircraft data interface that sources data to Electronic Flight Bags, airborne file servers and the like.
- ARINC 838 provides a standardized XML description for loadable software parts.
- Draft Project Paper 839 will define a standard airborne communications management function for IP-based offboard links.
- ARINC 840 defines the Application Control Interface (ACI) used with an Electronic Flight Bag (EFB)
- ARINC 841 defines Media Independent Aircraft Messaging
- Draft Project Paper 842 will provide guidance for usage of digital certificates on airplane avionics and cabin equipment.
See also
- Annex: Acronyms and abbreviations in avionics
- RTCARadio Technical Commission for AeronauticsRTCA, Inc. is a volunteer organization that develops technical guidance for use by government regulatory authorities and by industry. Requirements for membership include a fee that is based on information in the application for membership, and an interest in aviation...
- AeroMobileAeroMobileAeroMobile was established as a joint venture between ARINC and Telenor in 2006 and since January 2010, AeroMobile is a wholly owned subsidiary of Telenor...