NBAA and Collins Aerospace have discontinued their partnership to offer Electronic Advance Passenger Information System (eAPIS) services to NBAA members. First offered in 2009, the eAPIS partnership with Collins’ ArincDirect Business Aviation Solutions helped operators comply with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) requirements for “all GA and commercial aircraft on international flights arriving to or departing from the United States to provide passenger manifest and aircraft information prior to departure,” according to NBAA.
The association explained why the service has been discontinued: “Over the past 15 years, many other service providers have developed accessible pathways for operators to transmit passenger information, and NBAA’s product saw decreasing use. This planned termination reflects the current needs of the business aviation industry.”
Collins Aerospace explained, “As part of standard business practices, we consistently reevaluate our strategic plans and mutually decided to terminate this service and focus on developing products that support ArincDirect subscribers. Customers can still submit APIS transmissions as part of a paid subscription through the ArincDirect portal. There are also free options for APIS transmissions, including a system developed directly by CBP."
Many other vendors offer paid eAPIS services such as Garmin’s FltPlan and the EasyEApis and FlashPass mobile apps.