Jeppesen

Jeppesen
Name	Jeppesen
Founded	1934
Founder	Elrey B. Jeppesen
Headquarters	Denver, Colorado, United States
Industry	Aeronautical navigation, aviation publishing, flight planning
Parent	Boeing
Products	Aeronautical charts, flight planning tools, navigation databases, training materials

Jeppesen Jeppesen is an aeronautical charting and navigation information company founded in 1934 by Elrey B. Jeppesen. The firm developed standardized instrument approach procedures and route charts that became essential to the operations of airlines such as Pan American World Airways, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, British Airways, and Lufthansa. Over decades Jeppesen supplied navigation data, flight planning, and training products to carriers including American Airlines, Air France, KLM, Qantas, and Cathay Pacific, while integrating with avionics manufacturers like Honeywell International Inc., Collins Aerospace, and Garmin.

History

Jeppesen originated when Elrey B. Jeppesen drew detailed approach charts to improve safety for pilots flying for companies such as Varney Air Lines and Continental Air Mail. The company’s early work influenced instrument procedure standardization adopted by agencies including Civil Aeronautics Authority, Federal Aviation Administration, International Civil Aviation Organization, and national authorities in United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Japan. Jeppesen’s expansion mirrored the postwar growth of carriers like Trans World Airlines, Eastern Air Lines, and Swissair, and the jet age fleets of manufacturers Boeing, Douglas Aircraft Company, and McDonnell Douglas. Regulatory and technological shifts from bodies such as National Transportation Safety Board and European Union Aviation Safety Agency shaped Jeppesen’s product evolution. The company became part of The Boeing Company in the 2000s following a history of acquisitions and commercial partnerships with industry stakeholders including ACE Aviation Holdings, FL Technics, and global airlines.

Products and Services

Jeppesen provides aeronautical charts, navigation databases, and flight planning tools used by airlines, business aviation operators, and general aviation pilots. Its printed and digital charting products support aircraft from types produced by Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Airbus, Embraer, Bombardier Aerospace, and Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Company. Flight operations rely on Jeppesen route-planning services integrated into dispatch systems from vendors like Lufthansa Systems, SAP, Sabre Corporation, and Amadeus IT Group. The company offers electronic flight bag solutions compatible with platforms from Apple Inc., Microsoft, Android (operating system), and avionics suppliers such as Rockwell Collins and Thales Group. Jeppesen’s training syllabi, manuals, and scenario-based curricula are used by training centers such as CAE, FlightSafety International, and airline training departments at Iberia, Singapore Airlines, and Emirates.

Fleet and Charts Production

Jeppesen produces worldwide instrument approach charts, en route charts, airport diagrams, and helicopter charts for fixed-wing and rotorcraft operations. Chart portfolios cover procedures for airports operated by authorities like Heathrow Airport Holdings, Schiphol Group, Denver International Airport, Tokyo International Airport (Haneda), and Beijing Capital International Airport. The company maintains navigation databases aligned with aircraft navigation systems such as Flight Management System, Global Positioning System, Inertial Navigation System, and performance-based navigation specifications from RTCA, Inc. and European Union Aviation Safety Agency. Jeppesen’s data production workflows interface with surveillance and meteorological data from providers including National Weather Service, Met Office (United Kingdom), and Météo-France to support operational charts, NOTAM integration, and crew briefing packages used by airlines during dispatch and inflight replanning.

Technology and Innovation

Jeppesen invested in digitization, transitioning from printed plates to geospatial databases, leveraging technologies from Esri, Oracle Corporation, and PostgreSQL for spatial data management. Innovations include optimized flight-planning algorithms, fuel-efficiency routeing, and performance calculations implemented alongside avionics protocols from ARINC, RTCA DO-178C, and RTCA DO-254. The company participated in airborne data-link and connectivity programs with satellite operators such as Inmarsat, Iridium Communications, and ViaSat, Inc., and collaborated with research institutions like MIT, Stanford University, and Technical University of Denmark on navigation accuracy and human factors. Jeppesen has adapted products for satellite-based augmentation systems like WAAS, EGNOS, and MSAS, and to regulatory frameworks for Required Navigation Performance promulgated by ICAO and national authorities.

Corporate Structure and Ownership

Originally family-founded, Jeppesen’s corporate evolution included private ownership changes, strategic partnerships, and acquisition by larger aerospace conglomerates. The company became a subsidiary of The Boeing Company, integrating charting and navigation services into Boeing’s commercial aviation support portfolio alongside maintenance, repair, and overhaul suppliers such as SR Technics and AAR Corporation. Jeppesen operates regional offices in aviation hubs including Singapore, London, Frankfurt am Main, Sao Paulo, and Dubai. Its customer base spans flag carriers, low-cost airlines like Ryanair and EasyJet, corporate flight departments, and government aviation agencies such as Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore and Transport Canada.

Safety, Training, and Education

Jeppesen provides training materials, scenario-based instruction, and crew resource management content used by airline training academies, civil aviation authorities, and academic programs at institutions like Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University, Purdue University, and Cranfield University. Its safety-focused offerings support compliance with standards from ICAO Annexes, FAA Advisory Circulars, and EASA regulations, and are used in accident investigation contexts alongside agencies like National Transportation Safety Board and Air Accidents Investigation Branch (UK). The company also develops type-specific manuals and checklists for aircraft certified by organizations such as European Union Aviation Safety Agency and Federal Aviation Administration, contributing to recurrent training for crews at carriers including Korean Air, Alaska Airlines, and JetBlue.

Category:Aviation companies