LISLE, Ill. — Over-the-air (OTA) programming of engine control modules will be made available for IC Bus school buses powered by Navistar engines and new Cummins engines, the bus manufacturer announced on Monday.

By the end of 2016, OTA will be available for aftermarket purchase through IC Bus dealers for all IC Bus models, 2007 and newer, that are powered by Navistar proprietary engines. For new IC Bus school buses powered by Cummins engines, OTA will be available in January 2017.

"Over-the-air programming is now a reality for school bus operators," said Trish Reed, vice president and general manager of IC Bus. "This first-in-the-industry innovation allows operators to update engine control modules with unprecedented ease and convenience over a safe, secure Wi-Fi connection, speeding their access to improved uptime and other benefits."

OTA programming of the bus' engine control module will enable the bus driver, maintainer, or fleet manager to use a mobile interface to initiate engine programming to approved engine calibrations. The procedure can be performed at the customer's facility over a secure Wi-Fi connection.

"Over-the-air programming also sets the stage for a future of connected vehicle services in the school bus community," Reed said. "This two-way connected vehicle technology allows eligible users to pull the data from the bus, analyze the data, and communicate back to the bus. This capability can potentially enable future engine calibrations and other updates to be tailored to the requirements of a particular vehicle."

School bus operators can learn more about over-the-air programming at a local IC Bus dealer.