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Bad weather costs commercial aviation $27 billion

August 30, 2012
Business Aviation News
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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) estimates that 70% of all aviation delays are caused by weather events, costing the U.S. $27 billion in lost productivity annually.

With two-thirds of these delays preventable with better flight planning, the public and private sector are working together to improve how air traffic controllers and pilots identify and manage weather.

The FAA’s Next Generation (NextGen) air traffic control modernization program has already begun to improve the National Airspace System and transform the way we fly. NextGen is moving aircraft navigation from traditional ground-based radar systems to a global constellation of satellites and upgrading air traffic communications infrastructure to enhance real-time data availability and enable effective collaboration through information sharing.

For business jet owners and operators flight planning for weather events can be challenging. Balancing cost and service is a necessary part of business aviation. Flight support and flight planning services, such as those offered by ARINC direct are invaluable.

As an FAA QICP-certified weather provider, ARINC Direct offers a multitude of services—including a wide array of text products and hundreds of prognostic charts and animations with the most detailed weather data customised to operational needs with both real-time and forecast weather charts, including U.S. NEXRAD and worldwide radar and satellite imagery.

For more information on how ARINC Direct can help business aviation users balance cost with exceptional service please visit the ARINC Direct Flight Support page.

E-Borders, 150,000 Illegal Immigrants & Airline Responsibilities

August 21, 2012
Business Aviation News
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This week we heard that the Border Agency currently has a backlog of 276,000 immigration cases and private companies are tendering for the contract to deal with them.

Business Aviation News - Border Management Solutions

Business Aviation News – Border Management Solutions

It is a sad fact that a third of immigrant overstay in the UK. Passenger records held in the e-borders database, which covers details of all flights outside Europe to and from Britain, will be checked and there will be careful monitoring of the 100 immigrants whose visas expire daily.

MPs sitting on the Commons Home Affairs Committee said the UK has become a ‘Bermuda Triangle’ for migrants, a country where it is ‘easy to get in, but impossible to keep track of everyone, let alone get them out.’

So what part do the airlines play in prevention of this problem?

The legal responsibilities of airline carriers are found in the migration laws and regulations of the state that grants those rights to land. All carriers must therefore be familiar with, and comply with, a wide range of legislation and regulations relating to national border control procedure and admittance.

This is detailed in Annex 9 of ICAO’s Convention on Civil Aviation, known as the Chicago Convention which covers the obligations on Carriers and states regarding the Facilitation of people and implementation of Border Control.

Having effective and harmonised guidelines to deal with:

•the communication of advance passenger information

•improperly documented travelers

•the denial of boarding to potential asylum-seekers

•and arrangements in regard to inadmissible passengers who are in transit

are important for airlines and airports to meet their obligations and provide the highest levels of customer service, as well as keep control of operational costs of staff and IT systems incurred as a result of new security requirements and mandates.

An effective solution for airlines?

The ARINC Border Management System is designed to adapt to the changes in operational process and support new technology, enabling Border Control agencies to flex with changing demands and capabilities.

Today it is not enough to simply secure borders from unauthorised entry by known undesirables. Now it is necessary to manage the stay of travellers, from entry through to exit, to know who has been in the country and when they left.

The ARINC Border Management System delivers a full stay management capability, screening all travellers before they travel, and managing visitors throughout their stay.

The ARINC Border Management system is a role-based system, managing entry and exit processes, and improving traveller flow at the primary line. The system supports secondary line investigative processes, enabling immigration, customs and other agencies to co-ordinate resources for a holistic view on potential threats.

For more information please visit ARINC Border Management Solutions

Largest private jet deal in history

August 21, 2012
Business Aviation News
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We recently saw reported on Flight Global that fractional ownership provider NetJets has placed orders that could end up totalling $9.6 billion with Bombardier and Cessna for up to 425 new private jets.

If all options are exercised, the deal could ultimately comprise up to 275 Bombardier Challenger aircraft, and up to 150 Cessna Citation Latitudes.

The deal includes firm orders for 100 Bombardier jets, comprising 75 Challenger 300s, with deliveries to start in 2014, and 25 Challenger 605s, with deliveries to begin in 2015, said Bombardier in a statement.

Business Avition News - Largest Private Jet Deal

© Bombardier

The Bombardier deal includes an after market support agreement for up to 15 years, which could end up being worth $820 million. It will see Bombardier provide scheduled and unscheduled line and heavy maintenance support for NetJets’ Challenger 300 and 605 Series aircraft.

The Cessna component of the deal includes firm orders for 25 Cessna Citation Latitudes, with deliveries to commence in 2016, and options for 125 more.

NetJets added that the purchase is part of its 10-year business plan, which includes continuous renew of its 725 strong fleet of aircraft.

Airlines Need to Invest in Passenger Communications

August 21, 2012
Business Aviation News
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It was recently reported that only a quarter of passengers satisfied with on-board wifi services. A study from FlightView found that despite the increase in uptake of services by airlines just 28% of passengers were satisfied with their service.

So how can airlines offer a better service to their passengers?

ARINC Direct offers a series of solutions for business aviation owners and operators with this very problem in mind. With ARINC in-flight broadband you can deliver solutions to promote passenger loyalty. Integrated satellite services allow you to offer your passengers easy-to-use products based on Inmarsat or Iridium satellite communications services, allowing passengers to stay connected.

ARINC Direct’s Satellite Services offer reliable, cost-effective, voice and data services for your aircraft whenever and wherever you may fly.

Passenger Communications - Satellite Communications

Passenger Communications – Satellite Communications

For voice communications the ARINC business aviation services keep passengers connected with the ability to make calls, send and receive faxes, and stay online anywhere in the world.For the full range of passenger communications services offered by ARINC direct please visit the ARINC Direct Flight Support site.

Learjet 60XR production suspended by Bombardier

August 1, 2012
Business Aviation News
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Bombardier have had to look production for the $13.7 million Learjet 60XR midsize business jet as demand has been lower than anticipated. Similarly demand for the smaller Learjet 40XR and Learjet 45XR have been exceptionally poor – although these will be subject to upgraded engines and avionic to increase appeal.

Priced at $13.5 million, the Learjet 75 is most similar to the Learjet 60XR in price and performance. The Learjet 75 will be available in the first half of 2013, says Bombardier. Both aircraft can carry up to nine passengers in the cabin, but the Learjet 75 will have less range – 2,040nm (3,780km) versus 2,405nm for the Learjet 60XR.

“We’re monitoring the market conditions,” says Bombardier when asked if production of the Learjet 60XR could resume. “If the demand improves in that segment, we may restart production. But right now our analysis indicates that demand will remain low in the near future.”

NASA asks pilots to participate in flight deck communications study

July 31, 2012
Business Aviation News
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General aviation pilots have been invited to participate in a study with the FAA, from data collected through the Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS).

The Aviation Weather in the Cockpit and Aeronautical Information Services via Data Link study hopes to gain information about incidents while pilots were using weather or AIS information in the cockpit.

“The information may be textual and/or graphical, obtained via data link or other sources to include ACARS [aircraft communications addressing and reporting system] and cell phones, on the ground or in the air,” said the NASA press release.

The study examines the type of weather data received, its accuracy, the cockpit display used, software or applications used to receive meteorological information, and end user graphical interface ratings.

Pilots who wish to participate in either study can do so by filing an ASRS report or, in some cases, by filing a report with the FAA’s Aviation Safety Action Program.

For airlines and operators who are concerned about either the accuracy or efficiency of the aircraft messaging ARINC also provide a service to analyse the cost effectiveness of current Type B communications and provide a consultancy on infrastructure and IT surrounding it. For more information please visit www.typebcheck.com

ARINC to Implement Significant Flight Deck Technology Upgrade for Cathay Pacific

July 24, 2012
Business Aviation News
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July 24, 2012  – Today we heard that ARINC will be working with Cathay Pacific Airways to implement an advanced information management system into its full fleet of Airbus and Boeing aircraft. This deployment represents the airline industry’s most significant upgrade in flight deck communications technology in more than 30 years.

ARINC reported that the communications solution “creates a true “e-Enabled aircraft” by offering fully-customized, integrated communications management of flight operations, data communication services, cabin services, maintenance, diagnostics, and vital safety information. As such, it represents breakthrough communications technology for the airline industry.”

Cathay Pacific now has the capability to select the most cost-effective communications connectivity for the aircraft and maintain a consistent data delivery connection between aircraft and remote host systems.

“Automating the flight bag saves paper, but the benefits for airlines like Cathay Pacific go far beyond that. The volume and complexity of airline operations means that the right solution can provide significant benefits across the board,” said Randy Pizzi, Vice President of ARINC’s International Division.

For more information on the full range of flight support and flight deck communications services offered by ARINC Direct who specialise in business aviation customers please visit business-flight-support.com.

Dominican Republic Chooses ARINC for Border Security Solutions

July 14, 2012
Business Aviation News
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Director of Immigration for the Dominican Republic Jose Ricardo Taveras introduces ARINC representative Jorge Ramirez (far right).
(Government of the Dominican Republic)

The ARINC Electronic Borders solutions have been seen again in the news this week after ARINC announced that the government of the Dominican Republic had chosen them for all air and maritime border security solutions.

A press conference was held to introduce ARINC to the transport sector as the technology provider of choice for aviation and maritime advance passenger information (API) system solutions to help secure the nation’s borders.

ARINC’s ability to meet the government’s border security requirements with expertise, technology competence, and cost-efficiency defined them as the clear choice for Dominican Republic officials. Other providers did not have the qualifications to meet the necessary air and maritime technology requirements. The country has plans to work with ARINC to implement an advance passenger information system for ground transportation.

ARINC’s API and PNR solutions form part of the ARINC Electronic Borders portfolio, developed to meet today’s challenges in border security. For more detailed information on how ARINC can help airlines, agencies and operators manage the complete stay of passengers in a cost efficient way please visit electronicborders.com

Could Airport Delays be Reduced with Advance Passenger Information?

July 12, 2012
Business Aviation News
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ARINC AviSec - Passenger Data Transfer & Advanced Passenger Information - airline passenger data & aircraft communications - ARINC business aviation security

ARINC AviSec – Passenger Data Transfer & Advanced Passenger Information – airline passenger data & aircraft communications – ARINC business aviation security

Passenger numbers at UK airports is growing 5% per year – meaning that the airports are under increasing pressure to process more passengers, more quickly, with ever more stringent security checks.

Whilst automatic gates and iris/fingerprint recognition help to improve the passenger processing experience one suggestion to help alleviate the problem has been earlier delivery of advance passenger information.

The use of passenger data in advance would allow screening, prior to arrival. Passengers are already required to provide data about themselves and their journey at different points before departure. From the outset, they supply key information as part of passport and visa applications. This basic identity and biographic information is being strengthened through the linking of the passport or visa to biometric data, fingerprints, facial images or iris scans. In addition, individuals increasingly provide further information to the airline through advanced passenger information when they reserve their ticket and then, at check-in, creating an assured picture of individual and travel plans.

Consolidating this data and making it routinely available to immigration authorities as soon as it is collected will enable them to carry out effective profiling and pre-clearance of travellers. Authorities will be able to use this data to identify in advance any potential risks to public safety, national security or association with criminal activity. .

The challenge for airlines and operators is transmitting this data effectively. When choosing a provider of passenger data transfer airlines need to be assured that they not only receive a reliable and cost efficient solution at the present, but that they are using a provider that can cope with future innovations, such as those suggested here.

ARINC has been delivering high-performance messaging the aviation for over 50 years and is the innovative leader in aircraft communications. Their AviSec Messaging product deals directly with this and customers can rely on an accurate service that will evolve with border security developments. For more information please visit: avisec-messaging.com