Business Aviation Services Growth Takes Gogo to Larger Premises

February 3, 2014
Business Aviation News
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Other Providers of Business Aviation ServicesConsiderable growth in the business aviation services sector has been highlighted by the announcement that Gogo plans to relocate its business aviation division, Aircell, to a larger facility in Broomfield, CO, later this year.

Aircell provides business aviation services, including in-flight entertainment and connectivity to private jet aircraft. With almost 200 employees, and plans to create more jobs, the company expect further growth over the next few years and hope that the new facility, housing more than double the space that they currently occupy, will suit their future expansion needs.

The business aviation services sector has experienced a surge in recent times, largely due to the competitive demands of the modern executive traveller. It is expected to offer seamless connectivity during the entire flight and with aircraft covering greater distances, it has been necessary for business operators to step up to the challenges of continuous connectivity.

Business aviation services providers, such as ARINC Direct, bring seamless connectivity to their customers with a unique partnership of Inmarsat and Iridium satellite communications networks. This partnership offers truly global coverage, even when traversing oceanic expanses and Polar Regions.

As demands continue to grow, the business aviation services sector is expected to become more and more competitive and will give rise to further expansion as the year passes. There are no visible signs of business slowing, and as regulatory conditions continue to add to the pressure, it is set to be an interesting year for business aviation services.

MRO Exhibition in Dubai Hosted by Penton’s Aviation Week

February 2, 2014
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Integrated Airport Operations Solutions on Show in DubaiThe fifth annual MRO Middle East Exhibition and Conference will be held at the Dubai World Trade Centre and hosted by Penton’s Aviation Week, information and services provider for aviation and defence industry.

The conference will focus upon ways to maximise aviation efficiency using enhanced management practices while facing the issue of reducing costs; a growing concern amongst airports and operators across the world. The fact remains that streamlining airport operations is a high priority throughout the industry and solutions must be found to increase operational productivity while keeping a close eye on cost efficiency.

At the exhibition hall, product and service providers will be showcasing their solutions, including the latest in technological advancements, tools resources and services to help address some of the difficulties faced by global airports and operators.

Canadian Aviation Industry to Review Speed of Airport Security Screening

February 1, 2014
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Increasing Efficiency of Airport Security Screening TechniquesA team comprising of representatives from the Canadian airport authorities and airlines has been formed to conduct a study with an aim to speed up the process of airport security screening. The Airport Pre-Board Screening Efficiency Team will focus upon ways to improve the speed of airport security screening without compromising the security of passengers.

In 2012, more than 51 million passengers, at 106 checkpoints and 311 screening lanes were screened by 5,400 screening officers at Canada’s airports; an improvement of 30% compared to 2010, from 90 to 120 passengers per lane, per hour during peak times.

Lisa Raitt, Canada’s Minister of Transport said, “I trust the Airport Pre Board Screening Efficiency Team will find efficiencies that can be implemented without undue cost to Canadian travellers. Transport Canada will provide appropriate supports to this team.”

iPad Electronic Flight Bag for TAG Aviation

February 1, 2014
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iPad Electronic Flight Bag ProvidersTAG aviation have brought the iPad-based Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) on board following recent authorization from the Swiss Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA).

The move towards a paperless cockpit is being embraced by operators due to its flexibility for flight planning and in-flight operational tools. TAG have selected Jeppesen’s Mobile Flitedeck with mobile device management to allow users to access data remotely.

Damien Chollet, deputy postholder for TAG Aviation flight operations hails the iPad as a ‘great tool that everybody likes to work with.’

The iPad Electronic Flight Bag, with its up-to-the-minute information is already firmly ensconced in the future of the flight deck. Providers are continually updating their apps to ensure their competitive stake in the industry as a whole.

WSI Corp Aircraft Datalink Package Brings Global Flight Tracking

February 1, 2014
Business Aviation News
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Global Flight Tracking Services for Business AviationHoneywell GDC Aircraft Datalink clients of WSI Corporation can now look forward to global flight tracking as part of the WSI Fusion Package. The announcement is a part of the WSI and Honeywell agreement to enhance business aviation operations.

Global flight tracking enables operators to stay ahead and facilitates operational decision making that will keep flights on time, reducing the impact of disruptive events, such as adverse weather conditions in the planned flight path.

WSI Corporation, based in Massachusetts with offices in Birmingham, U.K. bring weather data to aviation and rely upon aircraft datalink communications to deliver up-to-date, reliable information. Business aviation operators are flying increasingly greater distances and global flight tracking is a valuable tool for the industry sector.

ARINC Direct is another provider of business aviation services to the sector and offer global flight tracking as part of their Flight Support Services package. Global flight tracking is made possible using the network partnership of Inmarsat and Iridium satellites, which can bring seamless connectivity for aircraft datalink  communications.

BA Revamp Airport Hub Communications

January 25, 2014
Business Aviation News
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Benefits of Web-based Airport Hub CommunicationsBritish Airways has had a major rethink over its airport hub communications in a huge cost-management exercise at Heathrow.

After the events of 9/11, the entire aviation industry experienced a hard-hitting profit drop as airport operations were severely affected. To avoid fines and spiralling costs, it is critical that airlines manage to facilitate smooth and reliable airport operations, enabling fast turnaround times and fewer ground delays.

Therefore it is crucial to maintain reliable airport hub communications, especially during take-off and landing over a range of up to 200 nautical miles.

Reliability is everything. The BA ground-to-air radio system is made up of multiple radio base stations distributed around Heathrow using leased lines. The challenge for the airline was to reduce and manage airport hub radio costs, while maintaining the critical reliability that cannot be compromised.

Also, BA were faced with the problem of continuity while the upgrades and switching were taking place. As the largest carrier out of Heathrow, there was certainly no question of grounding aircraft. It was necessary to ensure the new network was set up and ready to go before the switch, which could be a costly endeavour if an entire framework had to be ready.

The answer for BA was the deployment of ground-to-air radio via IP (RoIP). This also allows for expansion, which the previous system did not, already being at almost ‘full’ capacity.

Employing Twisted Pair’s solution, WAVE, has transferred the RoIP to desktop PC’s and server infrastructure, offering a streamlined alternative, seamlessly efficient and brings cost-optimal airport hub radio communications to the fore.

Lee Weatherley, voice and video solutions manager at British Airways said, “Our network convergence project was primarily focused on streamlining the management and provisioning of telephony services throughout the company. We are now exploring ways to exploit the new network to support other forms of communication—for example, we also operate paging, TV, video conferencing and CCTV over our IP network.”

BA operators are now able to communicate to Smartphones and devices, PTT networks and radios from any WAVE-enabled PC across an entirely secure network. Communications history is easily saved and revisited and communications can take place across multiple channels simultaneously, improving the system, managing operational costs and streamlining the process of airport hub radio communications.

 

FLYHT Aerospace Solution for Critical Data Transfer

January 24, 2014
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Critical Data Transfer Solutions ProvidersByron Capital Markets have recommended a ‘strong buy’ option for FLYHT Aerospace Solution, which includes critical data transfer solutions, aircraft operations management and fuel management system for aviation operators.

“FLY sits at a significant revenue inflection point in 2014 with several events serving as catalysts in the near and medium term”, says the Byron report, “Airbus currently has a backlog of 1,600 planes to be cleared in three years.”

Next-generation messaging systems are set to be mandatory in the skies by February 2015. The strict regulatory requirements is an expected solution for congested airwaves and will mean that critical data transfer can be seamlessly reliable, while lessening the workload in the cockpit.

“Crowded skies, aging fleets, outdated communications are stifling airline the industry,” states the Byron report, “Increasing globalization and trade between developed and emerging markets has and will continue to spur air travel, crowding skies further. Carrier fleets are aging. Workhorses such as the Boeing 737 and 767 are nearing 20 years’ old and are fuel inefficient compared to the current alternatives.”

Other providers of critical data transfer solutions are working hard to ensure that aviation operators are ready for the changeover by this time next year.

WSI Business Aviation Flight Deck Weather Solution

January 21, 2014
Business Aviation News Introduction
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Flight Deck WeatherWeather Services International (WSI) has announced a new platform in its aim to further improve aircraft efficiency and safety. The new WSI Business Aviation Solution platform combines tools such as weather and flight information, operational data and airspace constraints, offering those tasked with making operational decisions a comprehensive view of this vital data.

WSI’s information systems are currently in use by over 130 commercial airlines on over 55,000 daily flights and have three main platforms; each targeted to fulfil distinct data requirements.

For pilots WSI Pilotbrief offers global weather information to assist in the optimisation of flight paths.  For schedulers and dispatchers WSI Fusion enables global flight tracking with real-time weather alerts, and WSI Hubcast enables ground crew to track flights and prepare for disruptive weather events.

Up-to-the-minute weather data is critical to flight safety, to facilitate swift decision-making on the flight deck and flight support teams on the ground. Other providers, such as ARINC Direct, bring radar data information outside the U.S. to business aviation operators; the only providers to do so.

Working as the professional solutions arm of The Weather Company, WSI is able to alert aviation to multiple hazards en-route, providing information on anything from turbulence, icing and convection right through to the less frequently encountered presence of volcanic ash.

Garmin Launch New HFDL Receiver

January 21, 2014
Business Aviation News
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High Frequency Data Link (HFDL) for Aviation

Garmin International Inc., part of Garmin Ltd., has announced a new portable ADS-B and GPS receiver, the GDL 39 3D. The device adds simultaneous display of aircraft attitude information (pitch and roll), interactive mapping, traffic, and weather information to the Garmin Pilot(TM) application, and includes Garmin’s TargetTrend(TM) relative motion technology.

Garmin say that the subscription-free weather data provided with the system will be similar to that offered by commercial satellite weather providers while the dual link ADS-B receiver will be able to supply ADS-B traffic, weather, and WAAS GPS data to Bluetooth(R) compatible iOS and Android devices.

The GDL 39 3D is able to serve data to two devices wirelessly while hardwired to a third, and gathers traffic and weather information from the vicinity in such a way as to make it available the moment the device is switched on.

Garmin’s Vice President of Aviation Sales and Marketing, Carl Wolf said that the new device demonstrated the companies commitment to easing the transition to ADS-B for all aircraft owners.

Tulsa International Take the Reins in Airport Management

January 21, 2014
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Airport Operations Management ProvidersA major shake-up has seen Tulsa International become independent from the City of Tulsa in a move, initially approved by Mayor Dewey Bartlett, that has now been officially agreed by Tulsa Airports Improvement Trust (TAIT).

The agreement will now give the airport more freedom for airport operations management, although, the city of Tulsa will retain control of the airport through TAIT board members appointed by the Tulsa City Council, Tulsa Airport Authority will now lease the airport from the city on a 25-year term.  This will allow it to contract out or hire in for services such as legal, IT and human resources support which were previously provided by Tulsa City which was then reimbursed by the airport. However, some services will continue to be provided by the city and Tulsa International’s 150 employees will remain on their current pension plan.

Passenger numbers at Tulsa International declined 0.3% to 1.316 million in 2013, with an overall decline of 18.5% since 2007. This decline is set against an overall operating budget of $58.5 million in 2013, though airport officials believe the leasing arrangement will enable them to make savings of $500,000.