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Aircraft Information and Communications Technology Training

September 18, 2015
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Aviation Information and Communications Management System ProvidersAs issues arise in the aircraft maintenance industry with gaps in knowledge of the fast-advancing technology on board, it has been suggested that training is necessary to ensure maintenance teams are fully aware of the latest solutions for airport information systems and aircraft communications.

According to experts, around 90% of problems that arise in the sector are down to people errors and issues. Even today’s graduates lack specific knowledge of the most advanced information management systems.

Older, legacy messaging systems are slowly being replaced all over the world with solutions such as Rockwell Collins’ ARINC eHub for example. Multi-use web-based services are increasing in popularity due to the increased efficiency of the messaging environment and comprehensive approach to information technology.

South Korea to Ask for API Before Ticketing Issue

September 10, 2015
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APIS Providers for Aviation Security | Business Aviation NewsAs countries around the world join the fight against terrorism and strive to improve their border security, South Korea make changes following a test period that saw them refuse 157 travellers from Thailand.

Previously, South Korea received passenger data via APIS after flights had left the originating airport. Then, if any passenger was ‘flagged’, airlines would have to return them to the point of departure, causing delays and incurring expense.

Now, the changes suggest that South Korea will require Advance Passenger Information before tickets are issued. The information will be screened by the ministry and only after approval, will tickets be sold to the passengers.

A statement from the South Korean Ministry said that the aim is to ‘strengthen the aviation safety and border security by analysing the passenger information in advance.’

Chicago Airports New Head Promises Action on Issue of Noise

July 25, 2015
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Visit the O'Hare Airport WebiteGinger Evans, the recently appointed Aviation Commissioner of Chicago airports, has said that she will ensure that all solutions will be investigated and presented by the beginning of August to address the problem of noise from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport.

Meeting with city officials and community groups, she announced that her staff ‘has developed 12 to 15 options’ for possible implementations that could address the issue. This meeting was the second of three proposed sessions for the negotiation of this issue that has been going on for decades.

She did not offer any details about the proposed measures, and insisted that her top priorities remain firmly in the conduct of safe and efficient flight operations.

DHS Discuss the Importance of Sharing Data

July 22, 2015
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Providers of Systems for Sharing Data | Advance Passenger Information Systems (APIS)In a recent article, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security have reinforced their opinion that sharing data throughout the world is critically important to track and monitor the movements of potential threats, particularly in the environment of international air travel.

Since 9/11 the issue of aviation security has been high on the agenda for the U.S. and for many of its international partners. Recently, with the spread of threat against the west from militant groups such as the Islamic State organisation, security forces all over the world are stepping up security measures in a bid to control or at least monitor the movement of its members and those who are leaving their home countries to join these terrorist groups.

To mitigate such risks to national and international security, given that the number of air travellers consistently rises by an average of 5% every year, DHS maintain that sharing data is the strongest way to monitor passengers. The introduction of Advance Passenger Information (API), a system that is fast-spreading throughout the world, gives agencies and governments the opportunity to analyse passenger data before aircraft leave the ground for their destination country on a domestic and an international scale.

DHS believes that the coordination of sharing data is as important as the collection of API. Sharing must be seamless, between airports and authorities, governments and agencies and between countries. Only then can the process of sharing data be effective.

Rockwell Collins’ ARINC Border Management Solution in Vietnam

April 16, 2015
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Advance Passenger Information (API) Solution from Rockwell Collins' ARINCAs Vietnam joins the fast-spreading enhancement in border security with the implementation of Advance Passenger Information (API) data transfer, the implementation of Rockwell Collins’ ARINC Border Management solution has already resulted in a 90% improvement of passenger processing times and 80% increase in the quality of information, which was previously handled manually.

The ARINC BMS has been implemented at all Vietnam’s international airports and provides system monitoring and analysis of API data, allowing the border authorities to screen vital passenger data before the aircraft lands, thus maximising efficient operations and increasing security. Currently 41 airlines are using the system, which is designed to flag passenger data that falls outside the pre-defined parameters.

The Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam issued Decree 27 in spring 2011 to request API data from passengers and crew of all airline traffic, both commercial and private, to come into line with IATA standards. According to IATA data, Vietnam’s passenger flow increased by 96% between 2008 and 2013, and this increase let to the investment in the new system implementation.

European API Data Sharing Debate Continues

March 2, 2015
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Using API Providers for Secure Flight Passenger Data SharingA new proposal put to Brussels this week has sparked controversy once again with advocates of privacy in the EU. Following the Charlie Hebdo attacks in Paris and the Brussels Jewish Museum shootings last year, the European security services have stepped up measures to detect travellers joining or returning from war in Syria and Iraq and feel that sharing airline passenger data, via Passenger Name Records (PNR) or a system similar to that in place between Europe and the U.S. in the form of Advance Passenger Information (API) would be a step closer to helping to achieve their goal.

Access to personal information across the EU by the intelligence services remains in fierce debate, particularly in countries such as Germany, who were outraged over the accusations of mass surveillance by U.S. intelligence agencies after the attacks of 9/11.

Jan Albreicht, German member of the European Parliament said, “We need to deliver whatever is necessary and proportionate to get a higher level of security. But what you are proposing now, the proposal of blanket mass surveillance of citizens, is exactly the opposite of that. It’s not delivering that.”

Anti-terror measures have become a security priority for the EU and passenger data sharing is at the top of the list in terms of monitoring the movements of suspected high-risk travellers.

Timothy Kirkhope, British member of the European Parliament said, “We need now to make sure we have enough information to look at patterns of behaviour. That is the basis on which we can find criminals and find terrorists in order to protect our citizens. Stop things happening such as the atrocities in Paris recently.”

eAPIS Requirements for Canadian Borders – Survey

February 5, 2015
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Leading Global Providers of eAPIS SolutionsCanada’s Border Services Agency is working towards a U.S.-style Electronic Advance Passenger Information System (eAPIS) to protect its borders and is hoping for complete implementation by spring 2016.

A survey has been created by the Canadian Owners and Pilots Association (COPA) to assess how the new requirements will impact Canadian and U.S. pilots crossing the borders in a bid to make the transition as seamless as possible.

“This survey will provide statistical feedback to Canadian and US officials to find a solution that both addresses their goals and minimizes duplication,” said COPA Vice President of Operations Patrick Gilligan. “COPA is heavily involved in finding creative solutions to minimize the detrimental consequences that any additional requirements will have on our sector of aviation.”

The survey, which can be completed anonymously if required, will aim to assess the general ‘feeling’ of pilots conducting cross-border leisure and personal flights – whether they think that the implementation of a system will impact flight operations in a detrimental way.

The survey will also attempt to gain a general consensus about the introduction of a single portal for the transmission of pilot and passenger data to the Canadian Border Services Agency.

The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) are working with COPA to ensure that the implementation of an eAPIS mandate remains seamless.

“We’re really working to find a way to make this as transparent as possible,” said Tom Zecha, AOPA manager of aviation security. “We encourage AOPA members who cross the border—or even those who don’t but think they might someday—to complete the survey to convey the impact a duplicate system would have on cross-border operations.”

Immigration Pre-Clearance for Passengers Bound for U.S. from Abu Dhabi

January 13, 2015
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API Helps to Maintain Security While Expediting Passenger Processing - Find out more...UAE passengers bound for the U.S. will be able to enjoy immigration pre-clearance from this week, avoiding queues on arrival by undertaking immigration, customs and agriculture inspections at terminal three of Abu Dhabi airport where U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) facilities are in place.

Conditional requirements will be the provision of Advance Passenger Information and an individual, machine-readable passport. In addition, passengers must also produce a return or onward ticket for departure from the U.S. within a 90-day window of departure.

For passengers of Etihad Airways flying to New York JFK, Chicago, Washington, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Dallas, the service will be available from January 15. The facility is currently available in six other countries and 15 airports outside North America.

APIS Implementation in India to Check Smuggling

January 9, 2015
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Find Out More About How APIS Helps National SecurityFive airports across India have implemented an Advance Passenger Information System (APIS) in a bid to bring a halt to the smuggling problem by keeping track of ‘suspicious’ passengers.

Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad and Bengaluru airports now have fully operational APIS implementation, effectively beginning the creation of the electronic database of passengers, crew and airline personnel.

APIS was given its first outing in India last year at Indira Ghandi International Airport and has now become more widespread following the success of the system there. The Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) made the decision, under the Finance Ministry, to extend the implementation to other airports in India after arrests were made and passengers apprehended.

Customs officials released a statement earlier this week, “So far the system has been generating important inputs and its leads have resulted in apprehension of passengers trying to smuggle in gold and other banned items.”

According to the statement, there have been 399 cases of gold smuggling reported at Mumbai International airport, 265 at Chennai and 171 at Delhi airports. There have been 90 cases of gold smuggling reported at Kolkata International airport, 36 at Hyderabad and 34 at Bengaluru airports during the same period.

It is hoped that the success of APIS demonstrated at Indira Ghandi International will continue at the other locations.

Keith Vaz Criticises UK Borders and Immigration

December 21, 2014
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Providers of Advance Passenger Information SystemsKeith Vaz, chair of UK Home Affairs Select Committee, has openly criticised the state of the UK immigration system in a report that warns the system is in ‘intensive care’.

The report comes after almost ten years of troubled services for the UK borders, including the e-borders scheme that never quite made it off the mark. Mr Vaz is concerned that the promise of exit checks at British ports in the form of departure lists, set to be introduced this spring will not be forthcoming as he commented within the report that the list ‘no longer looks likely’.

Mr Vaz’ concerns grow as he looks at the increased risk of illegal migration and security. Bemoaning the actions, or lack of them, of previous governments he said, “Successive governments have spent millions of pounds of taxpayers’ money on the botched e-borders programme. Everyone who enters and leaves Britain must be counted in and out.” In 2003, plans were launched for the collection of Advance Passenger Information for those leaving the UK. API is received from airlines and operators bringing passengers into the UK, but there is a distinct lack of information about those that pass across our borders into Europe and beyond.

Mr Cameron argued that much is being done to halt the progress of illegal immigration and figures are being met. The debate continues.