ARINC - History

History

ARINC was incorporated in 1929 as Aeronautical Radio, Incorporated. It was chartered by the Federal Radio Commission (which later became the Federal Communications Commission) in order to serve as the airline industry’s single licensee and coordinator of radio communication outside of the government. The corporation's stock was held by four major airlines of the day. Through most of its history, ARINC was owned by airlines and other aviation-related companies such as Boeing until the sale to Carlyle.

Not much later ARINC took on the responsibility for all ground-based, aeronautical radio stations and for ensuring station compliance with FRC rules and regulations. Using this as a base technology, ARINC expanded its contributions to transport communications as well as continuing to support the commercial aviation industry and US military.

ARINC also developed the standards for the trays and boxes used to hold standard line-replaceable units (like radios) in aircraft. These permit electronics to be rapidly replaced without complex fasteners or test equipment.

In 1978 ARINC introduced ACARS (Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System), a datalink system that enables ground stations (airports, aircraft maintenance bases, etc.) and commercial aircraft to communicate without voice, but data, due to the datalink system being integrated with aircraft systems via a Communications Management Unit (CMU), such as fuel quantity, weight on wheels, Flight management system (FMS), etc.

ARINC has expanded its business in aerospace and defense through its ARINC Engineering Services subsidiary.