Messier-Dowty adopts XML-based messaging service

Aircraft landing gear systems manufacturer Messier-Dowtyhas adopted an XML-based messaging service for the air transport industry to reduce the cost of doing business with more than 2,000 aircraft operators.

The Type X Messaging Service from airline IT group Sita will help Messier-Dowty to automate the company's order and delivery mechanism.

"Reducing the cost of doing business has become a key business imperative and Sita's service opens the door to data standardisation across our supply chain, which will enable us to better communicate with partners and customers," said Andy Crowther, e-Services manager at Messier-Dowty.

The company chose the Sita messaging service after an internal systems review found that extensible markup language (XML) was the best way to achieve a high level of data standardisation with the necessary security for mission-critical information.

Based on XML and Web Services, the service uses the new Type X standard, developed by Sita in partnership with other air transport industry members and is being discussed for adoption as an International Air Transport Association (IATA) standard.