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Competition Grows as Low Cost Carriers Move to Long Haul Flight Communications

December 31, 2013
Business Aviation News
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Although complaints arose over the Christmas period as delays grounded passengers around the globe, the move to long haul flight communications for low-cost airlines is set to light the fires of competitive costs within the industry.

Long-Haul Flight Communications Solutions ProvidersRecently, Norwegian Air Shuttle announced a new strategy that promises discount flying to long-haul routes such as Bangkok, Florida and New York and has ordered a fleet of Boeing and Airbus aircraft.

Ryanair are also making noises about plans to introduce long-haul flights once prices for wide-body aircraft come down.

Long haul flight communications ensure that global coverage is achieved. High Frequency Data Link is the answer. Communications can be transmitted and received via a network of ground-based stations and satellite networks that can provide truly global, seamless coverage, critical for long-haul flights across oceanic expanses and Polar Regions, where ground-based stations are intermittent.

 

ARINC Acquisition Completed by Rockwell Collins

December 26, 2013
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ARINC Headquarters Complex at AnnapolisIowa-based aviation equipment supplier, Rockwell Collins has announced the completion of the acquisition of ARINC Inc, also confirming that two subsidiaries have been sold and that the Annapolis employees will not be immediately affected.

The ARINC Industry Standards Organization has been sold to SAE International and plans to divest ARINC’s Aerospace Systems Engineering and Support, based in Oklahoma City are underway. Both sales and integrations are expected to take six to nine months to complete. For the foreseeable future, Rockwell Collins has no plans to close the Annapolis Headquarters or relocate any staff.

Similarly, the 300-strong workforce in Oklahoma City will see business as usual for the time being.

Rockwell Collins announced its intention to buy ARINC in August this year for $1.39 billion and expect revenues of more than $600 million within the next quarter.

Concerns Raised with EU Block on Passenger Data

December 19, 2013
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Provision of Passenger Data to Enhance SecurityConcerns are growing for security chiefs about the increasing risk of potential terrorists being allowed to travel freely around Europe after the release and use of passenger data was blocked on human rights grounds earlier this year.

Cressida Dick, Assistant Commissioner of the Met expressed a warning that young men are able to fly to Turkey, hire a car and drive across the border into Syria. Her concern is that a ‘small number could fall under the spell of terrorists and return to Britain with deadly skills and motivation’.

Passenger data has been effectively used to identify potential high-risk passengers, alerting government agencies and border control before those passengers touch down at their destination. Supporters of the share of this data, referred to as Advanced Passenger Information (API) say that the information is critical to help track terrorists, people traffickers and serious criminals that regularly traverse international borders.

The system was developed after the terror attacks of 9/11 and is mandatory for passengers travelling to and within the U.S. and other parts of the world.

API is delivered electronically via the DCS of airlines. Providers maintain reliable, secure delivery and limited access to the information.

The Civil Liberties Committee of the EP claim that the passenger data storage system raises privacy concerns and critics are unhappy about the data being kept for five years, which could lead to passenger profiling.

As the EU Counter-Terrorism Coordinator points out that the numbers of fighters travelling to Syria is increasing, it has made a call to put airline passenger information availability back into practice, giving security officials the ability to track the movements of particular groups across Europe.

The head of MI5, Mr Andrew Parker, revealed that spies had observed ‘hundreds of people’ travel to Syria and added that some had indeed returned to the UK.

It is unclear how, when or even if, the use of passenger data may return to the forefront of aviation travel in Europe.

Navtech Flight Plan Growing in Popularity

December 16, 2013
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Flight Planning Tools for Enhanced OperationsCanadian flight operations software and services company, Navtech Inc are experiencing success with their Navtech Flight Plan (NFP) product this year.

Flight planning tools and support services are critical to today’s’ airways, providing operational productivity, flexibility and solutions to the ever-growing demand for cost optimization.

As the flight deck boldly strides towards a paperless environment and so does the flight bag, the need for flight planning tools to be seamlessly reliable is also an issue for operators.

Navtech Flight Plan is amongst the most popular choices for flight planning services for commercial airlines and brings complete control to the management of mission critical resources and messaging solutions.

Business aviation leaders, ARINC Direct, offer comprehensive flight planning tools and services for executive jet aircraft operations and rely upon a unique partnership with Iridium and Inmarsat satellite networks to furnish the sector with seamless connectivity on a global scale.

As business passengers are searching for new business in every corner of the globe, it is becoming necessary for flights to achieve further-reaching capacity than ever before.

Flight planning, flight support and passenger communications are swiftly becoming on par with flight deck communications for importance in business aviation as passengers want to travel further, in comfort and with all the necessary communications in place to continue with business as usual.

Aircraft Registry Launch Planned by Jersey Government

December 6, 2013
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Jersey Plans for Aviation RegistryAfter negotiations broke down over the effort to create a joint aircraft registry between Jersey and Guernsey, Senator Alan Maclean approved plans for a dedicated Jersey registry this week.  Both states decided that one registry for both would fail to meet their separate commercial and operational interests and objectives.

It is hoped that the planned launch of a Jersey aircraft registry next summer will open up new opportunities for business on the island.  Guernsey will launch theirs on Monday.

With a formal aircraft registry in place, the Senator hopes that business jet owners will find the island attractive and in turn, figures that this will bring greater opportunities for business, particularly in the legal and financial services sector.

Senator Maclean said, “This is an exciting opportunity for Jersey which will form an incredibly strong additional element to our inward investment strategy.”

Former Director of Civil Aviation for the Isle of Man, Brian Johnson, who is also Director of Operations for Appleby Aviation Ltd, will act in an advisory capacity for the set up and establishment of the registry, which is hoped will be formally launched in August 2014.

Mission Critical Messaging Upgrade for Mihin Lanka & SriLankan Airlines

December 4, 2013
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SriLankan Airlines Upgrade Passenger Processing Systems as Tourism GrowsSriLankan Airlines and Mihin Lanka have announced an upgrade to the AMADEUS Altea Suite for enhanced mission critical messaging capability as a part of the bid to become more ‘customer centric.’

The messaging system will allow the airline to manage more effectively passenger reservations, departure control and inventory processes.

Although the changeover, scheduled for 7th and 8th December will cause slight disruption, it is hoped that this will be minor and should not affect online check-in, other than the duration reduced to 24 hours.

SriLankan Airlines offices will be available by telephone throughout the changeover to deal with the redemption of air miles for FlySmiLes members between 6th and 13th December.

Once completed, the changeover will make a significant difference to passenger processing, streamlining operations and procedures, bringing passengers an enhanced travel experience.

The new system plays a major role in the expansion of SriLankan Airlines and also with the planned induction into the OneWorld Alliance in the first part of 2014.

DW International Aviation Consultancy & Navtech Partner for Flight Planning

December 4, 2013
Business Aviation News
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Leading TypeB Messaging Consultancy ServicesUK-based aviation consultants, DW International have announced a new partnership with Navtech, leading in-flight operations software and services providers. The partnership agreement will provide GPS coverage information for airports and routes for the Navtech Flight Plan (NFP) customers to meet PBN guidelines and mandatory State requirements.

Bill Macey, Product Director of Flight Planning at Navtech said, “The relationship with DWI will strengthen the Navtech Flight Plan product. We are continuously motivated to provide our customers with superior quality offerings, especially when they are supported by a partnership with a reputable aviation firm like DWI. Their reliable 24/7 service, along with their initial help desk support will afford our users peace of mind.”

DW International brings technical support as an independent consultancy for aviation communications, navigations and air traffic management.

Many companies enlist the services of consultancy firms for product planning and advice in many areas of aviation.

Leading industry companies, such as ARINC, operate independent consultancy agencies calling upon combined years of experience and technical knowledge to assist the industry with messaging solutions, communications appraisals and operational activities to streamline facilities, maximising cost effective practices across the board.

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

November 22, 2013
Business Aviation News
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Global Connectivity with ARINC eHub Solution for AirportsDC 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.

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

November 20, 2013
Business Aviation News
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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

November 20, 2013
Business Aviation News
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Support for Russian Aviation from Global CompanyPlans 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.