The CertiPath PKI bridge is a joint venture of ARINC Inc. Exostar LLC and SITA and will allow employees working with commercial contractors in these two industries to make online transactions with multiple government agencies using a single set of identity credentials.

ARINC is an Anapolis, Md.-based manufacturer of aviation communication products. Exostar is a Herndon, Va.-based online trading exchange for the aerospace and defense industries, while Geneva-based SITA provides communication services for the air-transport industry.

The CertiPath bridge is important because it eases the ability of companies in the aerospace and defense industries to do business electronically with the government, said Peter Alterman, chairman of the Federal PKI Policy Authority.

"It is the first production bridge in the private sector space that services an industry sector of serious interest to the government," Alterman said.

CertiPath will allow companies in the aerospace and defense industries to purchase digital credentials that can be used to validate the identity of employees working for them, and to digitally sign and encrypt online documents.