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Turkish MNG Airlines have signed a 5-year contract with Jeppesen, part of Boeing Digital Aviation, for an electronic flight bag service with iPad integration as a part of an initiative to the paper-free cockpit.

Electronic flight bag solutions enhance operational productivity with the reduction of pilot workload and paperwork and the efficiency of having essential in-flight information at the touch of a button, or at the touch of a finger with the iPad applications.

The fuel consumption aspects of flight operations can also be improved through weight reduction.

Jeppesen will deliver the flight data to airline iPads via their web-based distribution manager (JDMPro), which will ensure fast and reliable delivery of navigational and operational data, while maintaining a secure network.

Other electronic flight bag services providers, such as ARINC, bring additional services to the table with in-flight solutions for cabin services, flight planning and flight support services for an end-to-end experience.

DC Aviation Al-Futtaim Start Business Operations at Al Makhtoum Airport

November 22, 2013

DC Aviation Al-Futtaim (DCAF) has become the first integrated business aviation company to start operations at Al Makhtoum International Airport.

In a joint venture, DCAF – Germany’s DC Aviation and Dubai-based Al Futtaim, have completed the integrated hangar facility, furnished with passenger lounge and offices and are now ready to ‘go’.

Their aim is to provide premium service to business aircraft, including a range of services for aircraft management and maintenance, passenger handling and business jet charters. The company will also offer insurance services, fuel purchasing and many flight support services.

“DWC is expected to play a significant role in enhancing Dubai’s position as the regional aviation hub and we are very excited to be the first business aviation operation in what is undoubtedly going to be a world-class airport,” said Holger Ostheimer, general manager, DC Aviation Al-Futtaim.

It is becoming increasing important to manage airport operations on a scalable and flexible integration program to ensure maximum operational efficiency, utmost safety and accessibility.

Many companies offer airport hub solutions to include web-based solutions for fast and reliable global access from any computer or device. This can be of huge benefit to multi-airline operations, where multiple DCS can be accessed from one platform, improving efficiency and cost effectivity as airlines can share these operational costs.

Airport operational messaging can be seamlessly managed with these web-based solutions and with the benefit of satellite operations networks integration.

Indonesian Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta Airport to Install New Baggage Handling System

November 21, 2013

A new self-bag drop baggage handling system is to be installed in the newly completed phase of the terminal 3 building of Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta Airport in a project expected to be commenced early next year with a completion date of June 2015.

The new baggage handling system is a part of the remodelling of the airport terminal 3, which has shown major growth over the past 4 years since opening its doors on the first phase in 2009. The airport, on the island of Java is the main airport serving the Jakarta area and had an original capacity over 3 terminals of 38-million passengers. The busiest airport in the Southern Hemisphere, further growth is expected to surpass 2012’s figures of 57.8 million per year.

Vanderlande Industries is a part of the winning consortium for the project and will consist of 24 automated self bag drop points in the departures check-in area, 108 check-in positions over 12 rows, screening machines and automated transfer systems. Phase two will see extra self-bag drop and early bag storage facilities.

The new baggage handling system at the airport will greatly enhance passenger processing and create a smoother experience for passengers as a result.

Self Bag Drop facilities in airports across the world give passengers greater control over their journey, reduces waiting times and generally improves operational productivity for the airport and ground handling staff.

Other baggage handling systems providers, such as ARINC, with their ExpressDrop Solution, bring vMUSE technology and common use terminal equipment to serve multiple airlines at one kiosk.

Aviation Industry Messaging Specialists, ARINC, Receive Accolade for Work at RAK International

November 21, 2013

Aviation industry messaging specialists ARINC EMEA received an accolade during the Aviation Business Awards in the category of Technology Implementation of the Year.

Tony Lynch, Regional Director and is team based in Dubai and Cairo received the endorsement for their work with the new airport processing systems at Ras Al Khaimah Airport (RAK International).

The work involved the implementation of ARINC’s core suite of airport processing solutions for aviation industry messaging, including the latest vMUSE Common-use Passenger Processing solution (CUPPS), AirVue Flight Information Display and the Airport Operational Database, AirDB 7.

The award was presented to ARINC’s Tony Lynch and representing RAK International Airport, Imran Saeed, Senior IT and Engineering Manager by Ahmed Al Mamari, Chief Operations/Technical Officer from Royal Jet.

ARINC are proud of their award and hope to continue working with RAK International in further phases of their development. ARINC are still making pioneering steps forward and are industry leaders in aviation industry messaging with products and solutions for end-to-end support from airport operations and passenger processing to business aviation services and flight support technology.

Plans to Expand Routes and Attract More Passengers to UAE & Ras Al Khaimah Airport

The capture of passenger data is always important and new technology at RAK International airport will be utilized to its utmost as plans to expand routes to bring more passengers to the UAE and RAK International in particular are well underway.

The improvements to the airport itself and its infrastructure has increased capacity to 1.5 million passengers and all will need passenger processing and passenger data transfer.

“We are catering to the growth of RAK Airways and the expansion of routes to Ras Al Khaimah from Europe, the CIS (Commonwealth of the Independent States), Russia and Western Europe,” Mohammad Qazi, acting CEO of Ras Al Khaimah International, said.

RAK Airways has already expanded its destinations this year to 12, launching a service to Riyadh, Islamabad and Amman and has plans to add another 40 destinations with the expansion of its fleet.

Russian Ural Airlines operating from Domodedovo International Airport in Moscow is expected to bring in an additional 12,000 Russian visitors to the UAE, utilising RAK hotels and restaurants and helping to increase revenue and ultimately investment to bring the total hotel and resort space to 10,000 rooms by 2016.

Ras Al Khaimah International has been in talks with European airlines to encourage further business, two of which, Jet Air and Russia’s Ural Airlines have brought their operations to the airport.

The growing sector is encouraging emerging markets, such as Russia with plans for expansion and economic growth. Aviation companies, such as ARINC, who have a dedicated Russian language site, are supportive of the emergence of Eastern European business.

Moscow Region Looking for Investors for Fourth Airport

Plans are on the table for Moscow to develop the Ramenskoe Test Airfield into the fourth regional airport and the city are on the lookout for investors for the project.

Planners want to have a multi-functional centre, with facilities for International passengers and low cost airlines by 2015 and expanding capacity to 10 million passengers per year by the end of 2019.

The plans have an estimated cost of 7 billion rubles, or $214 million for the airfield development, well known for hosting the MAKS International Aviation and Space Show. Ramenskoe airfield has been in operation since 1941 and has one of longest runways in Europe at 5,402 metres in length, enabling them to accept any type of aircraft with no weight restrictions.

The airfield was used during the Second World War having ground-attack and long range aircraft based there. Many Russian aircraft have been tested there and today it houses aircraft of the Russian Emergencies Ministry and the Ministry of the Interior and Federal Security Service.

Investors are invited to bid under strict requirements – 25% minimum shares should be traded on the stock exchange; investors should not be affiliated with any airline operating regular passenger and cargo traffic; investors should not be an aircraft manufacturer and the company should have previous airport infrastructure construction.

Interest has already been attracted in the project, with three of the largest Russian private airport holdings. Requirements are tight, as investors must also hold international certificates such as maintenance of foreign aircraft and passenger handling.

It is an exciting project and highlights the fast pace of the growing industry. It is thought by some that the project may turn out to be designed for charter flights and growth in business aviation might suggest that to be a prudent measure.

Many companies are supportive of the emergence of Russia’s growing aviation sector. ARINC have a focus with a Russian language website dedicated to the provision of critical Type B messaging.

Malaysia Airlines Cut Bag Claims Time in Half with iPad App

Malaysia airlines have announced that they have cut the average processing times for bag claims in half with the advent of a new application from SITA, the World Tracer tablet app. The application gives airline agents the ability to check the status of a missing bag for passengers who are unfortunate enough o arrive without their luggage.

An airline agent armed with an iPad or tablet device can print a claim receipt for the passenger and can proactively manage the claim in just a few minutes, rather than the lengthy process that the passenger has to go through to locate a desk and fill out the forms.

Malaysia Airlines will trial the app at Kuala Lumpur International Airport for six months.

Automated baggage handling systems are gradually reducing instances of lost baggage, an annoying and deeply inconvenient occurrence for passengers.

The entire baggage handling process in airports is becoming more and more streamlined. Many airport operations now incorporated self service bag drop facilities for multiple airlines and online check-in.

The aim is to reduce airport operational costs and greatly enhance passenger experience with a smooth check-in and no queuing.

Business Jet Manufacturers Busy at Dubai Air Show

The Dubai air show has been busy this year with aerospace companies doing deals behind the scenes for rich and powerful Middle-Easterners with sales for private jets and helicopters.

Demands are high for security, good, robust construction and high performance.

Eric Trappier, Chief Executive of French Dassault Aviation, said that over the next 10 years, “We hope to double our orders in the Middle East where we have strong work and which attracts more and more competitors in the field of business aviation.”

Mr Trappier says that business aviation is rapidly growing in the Middle East, because of the demand for flexibility from customers.

Dassault were there to promote the new range of 5X business jets, originally unveiled in October in Las Vegas, which are expected to enter service in 2017.

American Beechcraft believe the region is a ‘key market’ for business aviation and has a market share of 69% for the turboprop products in the Middle East and 88% in North Africa.

“We do see this is a very strategic market for us and we expect growth over the next five years,” said Richard Emery, President of Sales for Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Beechcraft.

He described some of the luxury aircraft as ‘flying apartments.’

Embraer Executive Jets announced a purchase agreement for a Lineage 1000 to Arab Wings.

Style and comfort is a big factor for the purchase of executive jets here in the Middle East. The analogy of the flying apartment is pretty accurate, but also pretty luxurious, with the incredible designs.

French interiors designer Jacques Pierrejean said “The market has evolved with aircrafts that have changed in size. We are more and more carrying flying apartments.” His latest project was the design for the interior of an Airbus Corporate Jet for Emirates, who earlier this year launched their VIP charter flights service.

The design is luxurious, with large living room space and mini suites with shower. The movement towards larger aircraft is a reflection upon the demand for ‘home comforts.’

U.S. Government Shutdown Delays Cost Business Aviation $1.9 Billion

November 19, 2013