Airbus broadens digital reach through Skywise integration with Navblue – FlightGlobal

Airbus is combining its Skywise digital services operation with its flight operations specialist Navblue to consolidate and simplify its aviation data activities.

The combined entity will retain the Skywise name, adopted when Airbus established an aviation data platform in 2017 through a collaboration with analytics firm Palantir Technologies.

Airbus has intended Skywise to evolve as a “single platform of reference” enabling the aviation industry to access data from multiple sources to improve performance – using it, for example, to optimise fleet management, reduce flight disruption, and cut maintenance costs through predictive analysis.

The airframer had already acquired private firm Navtech in 2016. Navtech specialised in electronic flightbags, aeronautical charts, navigation data, and flight planning.

Navtech’s portfolio was subsequently combined with other Airbus divisions, including air traffic management arm ProSky, to create Navblue – a company to offer a broad range of digital flight operations products.

Airbus says it is aiming to “accelerate the digital transformation” of the aviation sector by merging Navblue with Skywise, a tie-up which took effect from 1 April.

It is promoting the merged entity, Skywise, as the “sole true provider” of end-to-end digital solutions for aircraft operators.

Airbus says digital systems which support pilots, engineers, and ground personnel have tended to be independent, and perpetuated these groups’ position as “fragmented” domains, unable to take advantage of data collaboration.

“To simplify this operational complexity, Airbus is upgrading its approach to aviation data,” it states.

Since being unveiled in 2017, Skywise has spread its reach to some 12,000 aircraft. Airbus says the platform, as a result of the merger, will become the “core” of a digital solutions company rather than a “standalone tool”.

Skywise aims to create “unified and connected” digital aviation ecosystem, the airframer adds, offering customers “compliance, resilience and predictability” irrespective of aircraft type.

The new entity will have 750 personnel and be led by Marc Lemeilleur.

“[Skywise] directly supports the drive towards ever-more connected, safe aviation on our decarbonisation journey,” he says.

Airbus senior vice-president for customer services Cristina Aguilar adds that Skywise represents a “strategic pivot”, claiming it is the “only provider able to offer truly end-to-end data to Airbus and non-Airbus fleets alike”.