Editor’s Note

EMS Aviation was created in January of this year by merging the former EMS Formation, EMS SATCOM and EMS Sky Connect. While geographically diverse, the new EMS Aviation shares one common goal: connectivity on every aircraft platform – large or small.

Much like EMS Aviation’s combined strengths, this edition of channels covers the gamut from tracking and medevac applications to secure VoIP for head of state aircraft, to just getting e-mail in-flight. It is this breadth of reach in the market that makes EMS Aviation’s business interesting.

If there were a theme for this edition of channels, it would be wireless connectivity, but the focus is on the challenges—technical and otherwise—facing customers and the industry at large. It’s an understatement to say that in-flight Wi-Fi® connectivity is a hot topic these days. In our Ask the Expert section, Tony Fracker illustrates how to get a BlackBerry® up and running on either of our Iridium or our Inmarsat systems. You can get also an update on our Forté AirMail™ solution. This system is designed specifically for e-mail, incredibly cost-effective and ready for installation now.

As Wi-Fi in the sky heats up, EMS Aviation is also trying to reduce the confusion around certifying this capability on aircraft. In our Trends section, Norman Vincent details the process. As more and more of us buy that coveted iPad, we’re going to need to ensure we understand how it works on the plane, and the thinking behind the FAA’s restrictions.

When the team started work on this edition of channels Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger was getting ready to sign an executive order and EMS Aviation Sky Connect Tracking capabilities were in the spotlight at an event in early May. CAL FIRE is using our systems to track their aircraft; it’s another demonstration of the breadth of EMS Aviation’s reach in the aeronautical market.

Finally, you won’t want to miss regular contributor Brendan Gallagher’s piece on Iceland’s Eyjafjallajökull volcano. With the state of the world economy, the last thing on the minds of aviators has just been moved to the top.