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Rockwell Collins, FlightAware Ink Deal to Offer ADS-B Tracker

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Rockwell Collins, Inc. recently collaborated with the world's largest flight tracking information company FlightAware, to offer its business aviation customers with Aireon's space-based Automatic Dependent Surveillance—Broadcast (ADS-B) flight tracking systems. Per the terms of the deal, FlightAware's terrestrial ADS-B coverage will be incorporated in Aireon's space-based ADS-B coverage for Rockwell Collins' ARINCDirect solution.

What’s ADS-B Flight Tracking Technology?

ADS-B is a surveillance technology, through which an aircraft determines its position via Global Positioning System (GPS) and periodically broadcasts it, thereby enabling itself to be tracked.  FlightAware operates a worldwide network of ADS-B that track ADS-B equipped aircraft flying around the globe. FlightAware designs and manufactures FlightFeeder, a network ADS-B receiver that receives ADS-B data and feeds the data to its servers over any available Internet connection.

How Will Rockwell Collins Benefit?

With the use of Aireon’s space-based ADS-B technology, an improved global air traffic surveillance system with increased safety, enhanced efficiency and predictability at lower costs will be provided. This, in turn, is expected to benefit Rockwell Collins as its customers will now have a better clarity of an aircraft's position.

Post its partnership with FlightAware, Rockwell Collins now boasts the potential to expand and improve operations on a global scale by providing improved and effective information management, mission communications and flight simulation, and training products.

Furthermore, Rockwell Collins will significantly benefit from the integration of FlightAware's terrestrial ADS-B coverage with that of Aireon's in its ARINCDirect Flight support solutions, and thus provide an enhanced comprehensive suite of support and services such as flight planning, cabin connectivity, flight operations management along with maintenance and other third-party services.

Growth Prospects

Per Markets and Markets research firm, the Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) market is projected to see a CAGR of 20.6% during 2016-2022 to $1.32 billion. This growth can be attributed to the increase in airspace congestion, requirement for an efficient surveillance system and efforts undertaken to reduce fuel emissions on a global scale. Considering the growth prospects of the ADS-B market, the latest strategic partnership should allow Rockwell Collins to effectively boost its profit margin.  

Price Movement    

Rockwell Collins stock stood at 0.00% in the last year compared to the industry’s growth of 7.7%. The underperformance may have been caused by the intense competition the company faces along with high exposure to fixed-price contracts.



Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider

Rockwell Collins currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

A few better-ranked stocks in the same space are AeroVironment, Inc. (AVAV - Free Report) , Curtiss-Wright Corporation (CW - Free Report) and Heico Corporation (HEI - Free Report) .

While AeroVironment and Curtiss-Wright Corporation sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), Heico Corporation carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

AeroVironment pulled off an average positive earnings surprise of 365.27% for the trailing four quarters. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2018 earnings has moved 22.5% north to $1.36 in the last 90 days.

Curtiss-Wright Corporation delivered an average positive earnings surprise of 22.27% in the last four quarters. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2018 earnings has moved up 9.23% to $6.15 in the last 90 days.

Heico Corporation came up with an average positive earnings surprise of 2.15% in the last four quarters. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2018 earnings has risen 2.73% to $1.88 in the last 90 days.

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