The Asia Pacific Division of ARINC Incorporated announced it has been awarded a major communications contract by Shanghai-based China Eastern Airlines Co., Ltd., one of China’s largest passenger carriers. Under the contract, which was awarded in competitive bidding, ARINC will provide its advanced GLOBALinkSM/VHF, GLOBALink/HF, and GLOBALink/Satellite communication services for China Eastern.

“The rapid growth of passenger aviation today, especially in China, has placed pressure on airlines to deliver improved services for passengers along with enhanced safety,” said Mr.Shi Guofeng, Managing Director, Airlines Operations Control, China Eastern Airlines. “ARINC’s GLOBALink services have the flexibility to meet our extensive communication requirements very nicely, at a price point we are comfortable with.”

“We greatly appreciate the confidence China Eastern Airlines places in our GLOBALink service,” stated Randy Pizzi, Managing Director of ARINC Asia/Pacific. “ARINC views China as a highly strategic market, and we plan to further enhance our infrastructure there while we support China Eastern with exceptional service.”

GLOBALink/VHF is ARINC’s cost-effective, high-reliability VHF data link service, the technology behind the world standard ACARS® Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System. ACARS is used globally for air operational control and, increasingly, for traffic control. There are currently more than 120 GLOBALink remote ground stations in operation throughout China, East Asia, and Southeast Asia.

On remote routes China Eastern will make use of ARINC’s unique GLOBALink/HF data link. The only service of its type, GLOBALink/HF takes advantage of the extreme long range of HF signals, which can travel halfway around the world. GLOBALink/HF expands reliable data link connectivity to many of the world’s most remote air routes, including the busy polar routes where no satellite coverage exists.