ViaSat Acquires Arconics for Connected Aircraft Software and More

ViaSat corporate headquarters in Carlsbad, Calif. Photo: ViaSat

[Via Satellite 11-15-2016] California-based provider of global broadband services, ViaSat, has announced a new agreement to acquire aviation software solutions provider Arconics. The acquisition comes following recent years where Arconics and ViaSat had partnerships focusing on serving the wireless In-flight Entertainment and Connectivity (IFEC) needs of multiple airline customers.

The Arconics connected aircraft software platform enables the Arconics App Suite, which spans wireless In-flight Entertainment (IFE), Electronic Flight Bag (EFB), airline document management and cabin management solutions, to communicate and share data with the aircraft and, using available connectivity, to connect with ground systems across mobile or avionics platforms.

According to ViaSat, “tens of thousands of pilots, ground staff and cabin crew members across five continents” are currently using Arconics software for cabin and cockpit related flight operations activities. Qatar Airways, Cathay Pacific, Ryanair, Aer Lingus and Tigerair Australia are among the commercial airlines currently using Arconics software.

Post-acquisition, ViaSat expects to also offer airlines real-time insight, control and agility of aircraft and flight data with highly-integrated, highly-customizable aircraft operations tools that tap into the power of ViaSat’s advanced high capacity Ka-band satellite network, which has more capacity in orbit than any other in-flight Wi-Fi provider.

In connection with the acquisition, ViaSat establishes a presence in Dublin, Ireland, and will continue to build its operations in Sydney, Australia. More than 30 Arconics team members with both technical and business expertise will join ViaSat.

The company expects the acquisition to “materially affect ViaSat non-[Generally Accepted Accounting Principles]GAAP earnings for fiscal year 2017.”