Rockwell Collins and Atkins developing world's first fully integrated common-use identity management solution for airports

Wednesday 11th March 2015

Integrated biometrics improve passenger flow and convenience while maintaining security.

PARIS (March 10, 2015) - Airports seeking ways to automate passenger processing while maintaining the highest security levels will soon have a new suite of highly configurable airport identity management solutions at their disposal.

Rockwell Collins is integrating its ARINC vMUSE™ and ARINC Veripax™ technologies with the Atkins Identity Management toolkit to capture a traveler's identity using biometrics and match it with the passenger's passport and boarding pass information.

ARINC vMUSE can accommodate a wide range of biometrics (for example, finger print, facial recognition or iris scan) to deliver a plug-and-play solution that can be implemented quickly and easily. The solution enables a phased rollout of biometric processing, with airline or gate-specific rules permitting biometrics to be used only when needed.

The integration will streamline passenger processing through the airport, from passenger identification at check-in to self-boarding gates.  The systems are being demonstrated in stand 4045 at this week's Passenger Terminal Expo 2015.

"Airports are seeking ways to improve operations and passenger flow while maintaining the rigorous security levels required today," said Christopher Forrest, vice president, Global Airports for Rockwell Collins. "We're creating a suite of self-service solutions that integrate biometric authentication into each phase of passenger processing, enabling airports to securely automate everything from check-in through boarding the airplane."

As part of the initial implementation, ARINC vMUSE common-use passenger processing systems (CUPPS) now include standardized plug-ins and configurable work flow capabilities that enable airlines and airports to implement identity management solutions as part of the check-in process, without requiring changes to an airline's Departure Control Systems (DCS).

"Combining Rockwell Collins' experience deploying CUPPS technology at airports worldwide with our proven capabilities in developing and implementing biometric applications has allowed us to create a fully integrated identity management solution for airports," said Nick Whitehead, head of strategic services, identity assurance at Atkins.  "Airports can use this service to validate a passenger's identity, ensuring that the individual given the authority to fly is actually the one who boards the plane."

About Atkins

Atkins (www.atkinsglobal.com) is one of the world's leading design, engineering and project management consultancies*, employing some 18,000 people across the UK, North America, Middle East, Asia Pacific and Europe. Our people's breadth and depth of expertise and drive to ask why has allowed us to plan, design and enable some of the world's most complex and time critical projects.

Atkins has extensive experience in the delivery of market-leading Identity Management solutions, ranging from departure security in airports to fraud detection for government.

*15th largest global design firm (Engineering News-Record 2014) and the third largest multidisciplinary consultancy in Europe (Svensk Teknik och Design 2013).

About Rockwell Collins

Rockwell Collins is a pioneer in the development and deployment of innovative communication and aviation electronic solutions for both commercial and government applications. Our expertise in flight deck avionics, cabin electronics, mission communications, simulation and training, and information management services is delivered by a global workforce, and a service and support network that crosses more than 150 countries. To find out more, please visit:    www.rockwellcollins.com