Ian Sheppard has acted as Editor International Show Editions for AIN since June 2013. Based in the Redhill, England, Ian reports for the various AIN publications as well as providing support to International Editor Charles Alcock in covering international air shows (such as Farnborough, Paris, Singapore and Dubai), and the EBACE and MEBA business aviation events. His central role is to cover Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA).
Prior to becoming more involved with AIN in mid-2011 (initially as deputy international editor), Ian worked for various aviation publications through his company, First Aerospace Media. This included being part of the AIN team covering daily news at international air shows.
Ian has worked for publications such as Flight International (technical reporter, 1997-8) and Aerospace International (editor, 1999-2000). He was publications manager at Airclaims (Ascend) between 2000 and 2004 before forming First Aerospace Media. Since mid-2009 Ian has also been managing editor of Regional International, the journal of the European Regions Airline Association (ERA).
Ian hasis working towards a European commercial pilot licence, having held an FAA private pilot license in 1991, and instructor rating. He also has a degree in aeronautical engineering from the University of Bath, England, and a graduate diploma in law from Kingston University, and is a graduate of the legal practice course (College of Law, Guildford).

Editor

Ian Sheppard

Arinc Direct, which provides flight-planning services online, continues to develop functionality for both its PC-based and newer iPad-based service. Company director James Hardie told AIN last month that the service offering has been enhanced, with synchronization of data between two iPads in the cockpit now possible using Bluetooth, plus real-time Cloud synchronization of data.


Furthermore, the <a href="http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/meba-convention-news/2012-12-11/arinc-direct-connects-meba">Arinc Direct Connect service</a>, announced at the NBAA Convention in November last year, has moved to the pre-production certification stage. A small portable device facilitates Acars messaging, use of an iPad (with app) as the user interface, voice (using iPhone or Android device) and e-mail. It can use the Iridium or Inmarsat satellite networks for global coverage that both pilots and passengers can tap into, and there are two channels so users can carry out simultaneous voice and data or two simultaneous voice calls.


Hardie added, “We are in the process of obtaining RTCA DC-160G environmental qualification, U.S. FCC approval, European Community Mark and Iridium certifications.” Arinc Direct expects to demonstrate the device at the EBACE show next month, with the unit moving into full production this summer.


The company is also working to enhance the capabilities of Arinc Direct, which can be accessed via its iPad app, rather than using a computer. The original app focused mainly on flight planning and weather briefing, but Arinc said that “in the near future” the app will “form part of the flight-deck communications infrastructure with support for messaging [as well as] additional flight-planning and filing functionality.”

Arinc Moves Forward with EFBs and iPads

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