News

The IMS Company steps up to the flight deck

April 22, 2009

Handheld IFE market leader The IMS Company has added a new string to its bow, acquiring electronic flight bag (EFB) provider Flight Deck Resources.

In a move that fits neatly with its existing work on developing handheld players and content delivery services, Californian-based IMS has added the EFB vendor to its existing entertainment and engineering divisions. IMS Flight Deck, as it is now known, will continue to pursue its business as a supplier of multi-purpose handheld devices for the use of flight crews in air transport and business and general aviation.

“We have expanded our product reach and can now sell products and services not only for the cabin but also for the flight deck,” says IMS chief executive Joe Renton. “The acquisition reflects our strategy of prudently growing our business. IMS Flight Deck is a single source for EFB hardware, software, mounting and certification.”

A number of Flight Deck Resources staff have joined IMS Flight Deck, moving to IMS’ facilities in Brea, California.

The division offers the SkyTab EFB product line and proprietary software applications. Single-piece Class 1 and Class 2 portable EFBs, the SkyTab units can display navigational charts, terminal procedures, GPS data, company policies, documents, aircraft manuals and flightplans. They can also be used for performance calculations, satellite communications, display of real-time weather information, and airport moving-map applications.