Flybe Case Study Ensign and Flybe transform flight data capture: Aircraft flight telemetry captured instantly

Flybe, the UK regional low cost airline has helped to transform air travel in the UK. Now with the help of Ensign, leaders in wireless networking and data capture solutions; they are transforming the transfer of their in-flight safety data.

Flybe's aircraft carry on-board sensors to ensure ongoing safety and efficiency and vital data from these sensors need to be processed at the earliest opportunity. To replace a system in which stored data was physically removed from an aircraft for download to host computers, Flybe selected the 'real-time' speed of Wireless LAN from Ensign.

Instant Data Transfer

The benefit of the Ensign solution is the 'instant' transfer of data as an aircraft comes in range of the LAN.

Flybe operates from two bases, at one data can be downloaded when an aircraft is in range of the base Wireless LAN. At the other, Ensign achieved an effective 'line of sight' solution from the aircraft parking stands over the 500 to 1000 metres to Flybe's engineering hangar close to the runway.

The Technical Solution

The installation comprises an 802.11g Wireless Bridge with a high gain directional antenna high up on the hangar, aligned towards the stands. Although near the practical limits of Wireless LAN in this particular environment, careful installation and system configuration by Ensign ensures that
vital data is downloaded directly from the aircraft within the 25 to 40 minutes stand time on the tarmac. By rotation of aircraft fl ight plans between the two airports, all of Flybe's fl eet data is retrieved within its tight timescales.

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