#CAIPODCAST Ep. 88: Shift5 CGO Talks Cybersecurity and Unleashing Connected Aircraft Innovation Faster
On this episode of the Connected Aviation Intelligence Podcast, Shift5 Chief Growth Officer and co-founder Michael Weigand is the guest.
Shift5 is a cybersecurity company that focuses on protecting transportation and military infrastructure and assets from cyberattacks. The company was co-founded in 2018 by Weigand and Josh Lospinoso, a former US Cyber Army Officer who previously founded RedOwl Analytics, which was acquired by Raytheon/Forcepoint in 2018.
Weigand is responsible for executing Shift5’s long-term growth objectives. Prior to Shift5, Michael served eight years in the US Army as an Airborne, Ranger qualified, Infantry officer and was selected as one of the first Cyber operations officers.
He discusses some of the certification and innovation challenges faced by companies developing new electronics software and systems for aircraft which has typically lagged behind advancements in other markets.
Check out this excerpt from the interview below, where the Shift5 CGO compares advancements in other technology markets and how they compare to aviation:
“There are some companies out there doing an amazing job providing aircraft connectivity and other solutions. But the pace of software development that we all take advantage of in our professional lives and where we’ve seen disruption in the automotive industry where we can push over the air software updates, and advance functionality and user features and benefits in a car—think of advances made by Tesla and other manufacturers that are incorporating a lot of those concepts into their newer offerings—we just don’t yet see or have that in the aviation space. A big part of that is regulation. How do we ensure that things are tested and are safe to the levels of requirements and performance expectations that we have in aviation? But candidly, I just think there is a way to achieve both of these things. To deploy especially software features and functionality and advancement faster and provide more value while also maintaining safety. I don’t think that we’ve even begun to scratch the itch there in aviation.”Â
This episode is sponsored by Shift 5.
Shift5 is the OT cybersecurity company that protects the world’s transportation infrastructure and weapons systems from cyberattacks.
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#CAIPODCAST Ep. 87: How NetForecast Measures In-Flight Internet Quality of Experience
On this episode of the Connected Aviation Intelligence Podcast, Alan Jones, Chief Technologist for NetForecast, joins to discuss how his company helps airlines generate quality of experience scores for in-flight internet services and applications.
NetForecast is a Virginia-based independent provider of in-depth analysis and reporting on internet performance and user experiences. It was founded in 1999 and has leadership that participated in co-writing the Airline Passenger Experience (APEX) Connectivity Working Group specification “Evaluating the Passenger Connectivity Experience.”
As the company’s chief technologist, Jones is responsible for the design and deployment of NetForecast’s QMap network user experience quality monitoring service. He heads research and development for user experience measurement, data collection, and cloud-based aggregation for terrestrial, mobile, and satellite-based internet services.
Jones discusses some of the basic metrics NetForecast uses to measure in-flight internet network service performance, how airlines can produce in-flight connectivity Quality of Experience scores, and more.
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#CAIPODCAST Ep. 86: AirFi CEO Talks Wireless IFEC and Creating Mall in the Sky for Airlines
On this episode of the Connected Aviation Intelligence Podcast, Job Heimerikx, CEO and co-founder of AirFi, joins to discuss commercial airline wireless in-flight entertainment and connectivity trends.
AirFi, a global supplier of wireless in-flight entertainment and connectivity technologies, is headquartered in the Netherlands. Their technology is rather unique in the in-flight entertainment and connectivity market because of its size and what it can enable for airlines in terms of applications such as in-flight movies, ordering meals, and payment validation.
Some of their airline customers include Sun Country, Eastern Airlines, Corendon Dutch Airlines, and Atlantic Airways, among others. We discuss the unique size of their wireless IFEC solution, how they’ve added Iridium connectivity to their technology, and why they’re finding that the type of low bandwidth non-streaming connectivity they’re providing is still popular with airlines in 2022.
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#CAIPODCAST Ep. 85: OneWeb’s Ben Griffin Explains How LEO Satellites Address Capacity, Throughput Needs for In-flight Internet
On this episode of the Connected Aviation Intelligence Podcast, Ben Griffin, Vice President of Mobility Services, OneWeb, joins to discuss how the introduction of their Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite could provide a paradigm shift for in-flight internet service in the near future.
Last week, Eutelsat and OneWeb reached an agreement to combine, bringing together satellite assets in Geostationary Orbit (GEO) and Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) for multi-orbit service. Since this interview was conducted on the day of this major announcement, the discussion does not focus on the Eutelsat-OneWeb agreement; however, Griffin does provide some initial reaction on how the partnership might benefit their plans for in-flight connectivity (IFC) in the future toward the end of the conversation.
Griffin does explain why their LEO constellation a perfect match for IFC service because of the amount of capacity the systems will make available, low latency, and global coverage, including over the polar regions. The OneWeb executive also provides perspective on how the company is evaluating the results of a recent test of their partially completed LEO network conducted on a Boeing 777.
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#CAIPODCAST Ep. 84: OneWeb, SpaceX, and Telesat Answer LEO In-Flight Connectivity Questions
On this episode of the Connected Aviation Intelligence Podcast, executives from OneWeb, SpaceX, and Telesat discuss the future of Low Earth Orbit (LEO)-powered in-flight connectivity for commercial airlines and business jet operators during an hour-long session at the 2022 Connected Aviation Intelligence Summit.
Would LEO satellite networks be capable of providing connectivity to every airborne aircraft in U.S. airspace simultaneously at any given time in the future? Will more airlines be receptive to SpaceX’s direct-to-airline LEO IFC equipment and service business model? What type of connection speeds and improvements in latency can LEO provide for connected in-flight passenger sessions? Will LEO satellites provide connectivity to airlines that fly polar routes?
During this exciting session recorded live during the Connected Aviation Intelligence Summit last month, the following executives answer the above listed questions and more:
- Jonathan Hofeller, VP, Starlink Commercial Sales, SpaceX
- Philippe Scherlet, VP, Aviation, Telesat
- Jason Sperry, Market Development Director, Business Aviation, OneWeb
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#CAIPODCAST Ep. 83: Air Canada 787 Pilot Talks Aero HygenX and Autonomous Aircraft Disinfection
On this episode of the Connected Aviation Intelligence Podcast, JP Floyd, Air Canada 787 Pilot and Senior Director of Compliance and Standards for Aero HygenX, joins to discuss autonomous aircraft disinfection technology.
Aero HygenX is a Canadian tech startup founded by pilots and experts in aircraft maintenance. The company has developed an autonomous robot called “Ray” that uses UV-C technology and motion sensors to self-navigate the aircraft cabin while disinfecting air and surfaces throughout. Several airlines including Avelo Ethiopian Airlines and Zambia Airways have adopted their robot disinfection technology.
Floyd also provides some perspective on some of the challenges of flying throughout the pandemic over the last two years as well as some of the goals Aero HygenX wants to achieve with its disinfection technology.
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#CAIPODCAST Ep. 82: Shift5 CGO Talks Developing an Aircraft Networking Security Program
Michael Weigand is the chief growth officer of Shift5 Inc., a startup firm providing cybersecurity services across commercial and military segments of aviation, rail and other forms of transportation.
Weigand is a former U.S. Army cyber officer who co-founded Shift5 in 2019. During his live presentation given at the 2022 Connected Aviation Intelligence Summit, Weigand gives an in-depth technical overview of how connected aircraft systems work, why they’re vulnerable how airlines can develop an Aircraft Network Security Program.
The FAA first established its Aircraft Network Security Program in 2015 as an Advisory Circular for airlines that operate aircraft featuring connectivity. Weigand goes well beyond explaining how airlines can develop an ANSP into giving a detailed explanation as to how specific aircraft computers and data bus networks function, and why he believes there is no such thing as an “un-connected” aircraft for airlines anymore even with those that do not specifically feature passenger-facing connectivity onboard.
Below is an interesting observation given by Weigand during the presentation:
“I want to suggest that the industry not focus on the infotainment and passenger connectivity systems as the primary cyber threat to the aircraft. Candidly, from a security professional’s perspective I don’t care that the passengers don’t have Wi-Fi, because that system was degraded by a malicious actor. We care about flight safety first and foremost, it’s really the flight deck, it’s the green side of the aircraft that the conversation needs to be focused on, and I think previous security research done initially by the hacking and academia community has kind of mislead the industry to talk about what’s going on in the cabin and not in the flight deck.”
Have suggestions or topics we should focus on in the next episode? Email the host, Woodrow Bellamy at wbellamy@accessintel.com, or drop him a line on Twitter @WbellamyIIIAC.
Listen to this episode below, or check it out on iTunes or Google Play If you like the show, subscribe on your favorite podcast app to get new episodes as soon as they’re released.
#CAIPODCAST Ep. 81: NSR’s Brad Grady Talks Market Outlook for In-flight Satellite Connectivity Services
On this episode of the Connected Aviation Intelligence Podcast, we provide a replay of the live presentation given by Brad Grady, Research Director for Northern Sky Research, during the 2022 Connected Aviation Intelligence Summit.
Grady covers a range of different topics from the potential of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite networks to disrupt the IFC market to airline business models, the impact of the increase in business jet operations and more.
Have suggestions or topics we should focus on in the next episode? Email the host, Woodrow Bellamy, at wbellamy@accessintel.com, or drop him a line on Twitter @WbellamyIIIAC.
Listen to this episode below, or check it out on iTunes or Google Play. If you like the show, subscribe on your favorite podcast app to get new episodes as soon as they’re released.
#CAIPODCAST Ep. 80: What’s Next for EFBs in Airline Operations with Collins Aerospace
On this episode of the Connected Aviation Intelligence Podcast, Jon Merritt, VSL Flight Deck and Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) Applications, Collins Aerospace, joins to explain how the use of EFBs are evolving for airline pilots.
On June 1, Collins launched its new FlightHub Electronic Flight Folder with access to new fuel savings application. Merritt, who is the former director of flight operations technology for United Airlines, discusses the importance of establishing a strategy when it comes to the adoption and operation of new EFB apps.
Have suggestions or topics we should focus on in the next episode? Email the host, Woodrow Bellamy, at wbellamy@accessintel.com, or drop him a line on Twitter @WbellamyIIIAC. Also, check out the agenda for the 2022 Connected Aviation Intelligence Summit just posted to our event website!
Listen to this episode below, or check it out on iTunes or Google Play. If you like the show, subscribe on your favorite podcast app to get new episodes as soon as they’re released.
This episode is sponsored by Collins Aerospace.Â
Learn more about how Collins Aerospace can enable Flight Profile Optimization by clicking here.
Download the Collins Aerospace FlightHub Data Sheet by clicking here.
#CAIPODCAST Ep. 79: How Cirrus Aircraft Operators are Flying with a New IQ
On this episode of the Connected Aviation Intelligence Podcast, we’re joined by two guests, including Ivy McIver, a pilot and director of the SR Product Line at Cirrus Aircraft and the company’s director of business development, Seneca Giese.
Two years ago, Cirrus Aircraft released its new Cirrus IQ app, giving SR20, SR22, and SR22T pilots and maintainers the ability to remotely check the status and performance of systems and components on their aircraft. McIver and Giese explain how Cirrus IQ works and what new features they’re developing and adding to it.
LListen to this episode below, or check it out on iTunes or Google Play. If you like the show, subscribe on your favorite podcast app to get new episodes as soon as they’re released.
