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Spider Tracks Limited
Spidertracks
Company typePrivately held company
IndustryAviation
Founded2007
FounderJames McCarthy
HeadquartersAuckland, New Zealand
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Aleks Banas, CEO
Websitewww.spidertracks.com

Spidertracks is a New Zealand–based company specialising in the development of hardware and software for the general aviation industry. The company specialises in flight tracking, aviation communication, and flight data acquisition.[1]

History[edit]

Spidertracks was founded by James McCarthy in 2007 in the small rural town of Pohangina, just outside Palmerston North, New Zealand.[2] Following the death of high-profile businessman Michael Erceg in a helicopter crash in 2005, Erceg's downed aircraft was not located for two-weeks due to the failure of an emergency locator transmitter (ELT).[3]

McCarthy and some associates saw the opportunity to develop a lightweight, portable, 'real-time' GPS tracking device for the aviation industry.[4]

The team developed a device known as a 'Spider' – a small device that plugs into an aircraft's auxiliary power outlet and is mounted in the cockpit.[5]

Information such the aircraft's location, altitude, speed, and direction were transmitted via the Iridium satellite network every two minutes to the Spidertracks software platform. The founders claimed this offered a much more reliable way to locate an aircraft in an emergency situation.[4][5]

Spider Tracks Limited was registered with the New Zealand Companies Office on 20 February 2007.[6]

In 2020, Spidertracks launched their latest hardware device – 'Spider X'.[7] According the Spidertracks, in addition to the real-time tracking and communication functions of previous models, the device is able to record and wirelessly transmit attitude and heading reference system (AHRS) data to the Spidertracks cloud-based platform.[8] The flight data is then processed post-flight to enable a 3D virtual flight replay and reporting on specific events or safety violations.[9] Spidertracks claim this provides a low-cost, simple solution for Flight Data Monitoring and Flight Operations Quality Assurance for the General Aviation industry.

In March 2022, investment firm Arcadea Group acquired a 95% shareholding of Spidertracks for an undisclosed sum.[10]

In June 2023, the strategic merger of Air Maestro and Spidertracks was announced.[11] Arcadea's Managing Director Paul Yancich stated in a press release that “Air Maestro and Spidertracks have long been solving different elements of the same fundamental challenge within aviation: how to operate a profitable, successful flight organization without ever sacrificing quality, safety, or efficiency. This is a monumental challenge, and, until this merger, no single business could come close to serving customers’ entire needs.”.[12] Aleks Banas, CEO of Air Maestro, took over the CEO role of the combined business.

Locations[edit]

Spidertracks' head office is in Auckland, New Zealand, with a secondary office in Parker, Colorado. The company also claims to employ staff across the world.[13]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Huber, Mark. "Spidertracks Adds AHRS Data". Aviation International News. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  2. ^ "Aircraft tracking company sees itself as world leader". RNZ. 11 May 2010. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  3. ^ "NZ liquor baron fatally flew chopper into cloud – report". NZ Herald. 19 March 2010. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Employers and Manufacturers Association (EMA) Northern – Spidertracks". www.ema.co.nz. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  5. ^ a b Glasgow, Michael J.; Niehus, Gregory A. (October 2012). "Improving General Aviation safety using low-cost Iridium devices". 2012 IEEE/AIAA 31st Digital Avionics Systems Conference (DASC). pp. 4C5–1–4C5-11. doi:10.1109/DASC.2012.6382341. ISBN 978-1-4673-1700-9. S2CID 16370.
  6. ^ "View All Details". app.companiesoffice.govt.nz. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  7. ^ "Spidertracks introduces the Spider X". Vertical Mag. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  8. ^ Huber, Mark. "Maverick Is Launch Customer for Spidertracks FDM". Aviation International News. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  9. ^ "Spider X: Flight Data Monitoring & Aircraft GPS Tracking". www.spidertracks.com. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  10. ^ "Shareholdings". app.companiesoffice.govt.nz. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  11. ^ "Air Maestro and Spidertracks Merge To Revolutionize Aviation Safety, Operations, And Fleet Management | Blog | Spidertracks". www.spidertracks.com. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
  12. ^ "Air Maestro & Spidertracks Merge to create the Leading Global Aviation Safety, Operations, and Fleet Management SaaS Platform". Arcadea Group. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
  13. ^ "About Us | Spidertracks". www.spidertracks.com. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spidertracks

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