Airbus selects Rockwell Collins for high-speed internet deal

Airbus has selected Rockwell Collins as a lead supplier of High-Bandwidth Connectivity for the Airbus A320 single-aisle family of aircraft, and long-range A330 and A380 aircraft.

Under the terms of the agreement, airlines purchasing Airbus aircraft can select HBC from Rockwell Collins to meet the growing demand for high-speed connectivity.

“In our day-to-day conversations with our airline customers, the need for high-speed connectivity is top of mind.

“The solution we’re providing meets the significant pressure airlines are getting from their passengers to provide a superior connectivity service while flying,” said Greg Irmen, vice president and general manager, flight controls and information systems, Rockwell Collins.

“We’re excited to be part of the movement to bring people together around the world, no matter where they may be.”

As a lead supplier, Rockwell Collins will collaborate with Airbus to develop and deploy both a linefit and retrofit HBC system to ensure an end-to-end managed SATCOM solution.

Specific details about the technology solution will be released as they are finalised.

Airbus’s HBC selection builds upon Rockwell Collins’ extensive amount of next-generation systems it supplies the aircraft maker.

Numerous Rockwell Collins systems are standard on the Airbus A350 XWB and options for the A320 and A330 aircraft families.

Most recently, Rockwell Collins was selected by Airbus to supply its Electronic Flight Bag interface and communications unit, which is part of its Secure Server Router portfolio, as options on A320s and A330s.