3 Critical elements of an OPEN Communication Hub

AvFinity’s Open Communication Hub solution set offers airlines these three components that provide them with unprecedented control of their communications:

IP VPN Networks:

· Enables the customer to connect to multiple IP-based VPN’s via a single connection

· Enables the customer to reduce the number of legacy connections through direct host-to-host communications.

AvFinity AIRS^TM:

· Enables the customer to communicate with any device regardless of communication interface, host-to-host (H2H) and host-to-application (H2A) access

· Enables the customer to switch data and application at the hub

· Enables the customer to access airline databases & applications

· Enables the customer to create and deploy applications on open standard platforms using AvFinity supplied ASMS^TM software:

o Connectivity communications (Legacy protocol to IP connectivity)

o Business Rules (application logic)

o Parsing (creating data records from legacy applications)

o Scripting (rapid development languages)

o Remote hardware and software management

o Remote software installation and configuration

SOA (Service Oriented Architecture) Applications:

· Enables the customer to create and deploy applications on open standard platforms (Cisco or servers) within the network

· Enables network based Business Rules (application logic)

· Enables peer-to-peer application management e.g. APIS segment conformance

The FAA's CMHP

AvFinity recently implemented CMHP (Common Message Handling Protocol) as a replacement for the common legacy X.25 synchronous connection for connectivity to NADIN II. CMHP offers many advantages not previously offered by X.25. Leading the list is the massive throughput advantage in the range of four to six flight filing strips per second.

In addition because CMHP utilizes IP versus the analog X.25 synchronous connection, high availability is enhanced significantly. CMHP allows you to retire the dedicated Telco circuit and CSU/DSU synchronous modem, which inherently provided a major fail point should the dedicated circuit become interrupted. Previously with X.25, AvFinity achieved redundancy through a back-up CSU/DSU and the Telco. Now, with TCP/IP-based CMHP redundancy, high availability is achieved through well known techniques.

For instance, with CMHP, AvFinity is capable of connecting reliably to both Atlanta and Salt Lake City centers and can switch between the two centers within 3 seconds should one of the connectivity points fail. In addition due to the high bandwidth AvFinity now enjoys with CMHP, flight plan filings occur in a fraction of a second while AvFinity also will be able to offer additional products from the FAA such as one-minute weather observations. These services are available through AvFinity via direct server-to-server connectivity using the AvFinity network as well as through AIRS (AvFinity Integrated Router Solution), which is an appliance that handles communications and integrates with backend operational systems.

With CMHP and AvFinity's non-repudiation protocols, AvFinity has significantly enhanced connectivity capability to airlines and flight departments desiring connectivity to the FAA. At our customers' request, AvFinity can provide many products such as weather and NOTAMs in addition to flight plan filing quickly and seamlessly. Give us a call to discuss how your operations can benefit from the efficiency that this exciting technological advancement offers the aviation industry.