Pioneering British aviation data communications specialists BYTRON will celebrate a remarkable 25 years of business on 22nd November 2009. Founded by the late Richard Harris, a long-haul pilot and his wife Irene, the company initially marketed EPROM programmers to the burgeoning electronics market in the UK until Richard’s ill health and the advent of the IBM PC clone brought about a change of direction.

BYTRON’s first software, a strip printing program, caught the attention of NATS – the UK Air Traffic Service provider. This application became upgraded to a fully fledged Flight Data Management System (FDMS) in 1989. Upgraded and enhanced in line with technology and operational requirements, FDMS is still operational for NATS at Aberdeen Airport 20 years later. Ground-breaking in its day, this system set the standard for using industry standard hardware (the PC) and operating system (Unix) in the aviation environment. It was also the first computer based system in the world to successfully promulgate, transmit and receive AFTN messages. A number of other “firsts” have followed including the use of TCP/IP in 1992, and Internet delivered pilot briefing in 2001.

The company’s expertise in handling computerised Filed Flight Plans (FPL) led to Hughes Aircraft contracting the company in 1994 to provide software for the Identification Friend-or-Foe (IFF) part of the Peace Shield project, which was delivered 6 months and 13 days ahead of schedule.

Since those historic achievements BYTRON has continued to expand its portfolio of operational products and services to the aviation market including the unique skybook® information management and distribution service, electronic Flight Bag (eFB) and Global Situational Display. BYTRON is committed to delivering value added products relevant to the aviation market.

Co-founder and director, Irene Harris said “to celebrate 25 years within aviation IT is a major achievement in itself. It has been an exciting journey and would not have been possible without the BYTRON team; a team who have a strong track record for improving back office efficiency using industry standard technology. In an ever more challenging environment, there is still much to be done to increase operational agility and we look forward to the next 25 years."

BYTRON continues to set industry standards today with the skybook® electronic Flight Bag available on Class I and Class II devices.