FlightStore appoints new head of ground operations

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Online airborne shopping service FlightStore announced this week the appointment of Ian Gardener as operations director. Previously IT specialist with Plessey Aerospace, Computer 2000 and Micro Peripherals, Gardener will run all the company's ground-based data distribution, handling and security measures.

According to FlightStore a vital feature of their system is what happens to the passenger's personal data when he or she buys something inflight using the IFE handset and seatback screen. The company's 'brain' has to capture sales information from different airlines in different formats via different satellite systems bound for different retailers located anywhere in the world.

Ian Gardner commented: "There are going to be passengers sending data from above the world to different retailers via different SATCOM providers. My team ensures this process occurs flawlessly so everyone gets the data they need and none gets the data if they aren't meant to. We glue the whole process together from aircraft to retailer.'