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Airport Perimeter Security Breach Raises Serious Industry Concerns

December 28, 2013
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Airport Perimeter Security Solutions ProvidersTwo separate incidents of an airport perimeter security breach on Christmas Day have highlighted the importance of effective surveillance – industry-wide.

Each incident happened at different airports – one at Newark International, where a man breached the airport perimeter security fence and remained undetected as he crossed two runways to reach a terminal before being spotted by an airline employee.

The second incident occurred at Phoenix Sky Harbor International later that day. The man scaled a nine-foot high fence and ran onto the tarmac waving his arms at a plane before being captured by airport security.

Although both airports had airport perimeter security surveillance, neither detected signs of the trespassers.

Questions have now been raised, especially as the Transport Security Administration has no mandate in place for the requirement of full-time surveillance of airport perimeter security fences.

This appears not to be an isolated problem. There is an industry-wide call for greater importance to be addressed for airport perimeter security.

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.

Cessna M2 Achieves FAA Certification and First Deliveries

December 23, 2013
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The Cessna Aircraft Company, owned by Textron Inc is celebrating today after the first deliveries and FAA type certification of the Citation M2 jet is achieved. Announced in September 2011 and the prototype first flown in March 2012, the development and certification process has involved over 150,000 hours in addition to almost 1,000 test flight hours over 360,00 nautical miles.

Cessna’s senior vice-president of business jets, Mr Brad Thress said, “Cessna is once more redefining the light jet segment with the Citation M2. We’re proud to get the M2 into the marketplace and see the aircraft begin to set the standard for the next generation of business aviation.”

Cessna M2 Business JetThe beautiful jet is certified for single-pilot operation and has a flight capacity of 1,300 nautical miles at a cruise speed of 460 miles per hour. With an operational ability to work on short runways and able to climb to 41,000 ft in 24 minutes, the Citation M2 is flexible and efficient, featuring two Williams FJ44 engines.

“The Citation M2 is a versatile aircraft that fits many markets and missions, attracting owner-operators looking for an advanced, innovative aircraft of this size, capability, and value. Our launch customer, Stuart Woods, represents this type of customer: owners moving up from their Citation Mustang. Further, many new M2 owners are upgrading from a turboprop, while still others are moving laterally to a newer, same-size business jet. With its single-pilot certification, the Citation M2 has room for six passengers and is faster than many comparable aircraft, making it a strong performer in this segment,” continued Mr Thress.

The Citation M2 certainly has style and this continues into the cockpit and the roomy cabin, with Garmin 3000 avionics, high-resolution displays and touch-screen interactivity.

The six-passenger capacity cabin has eight large windows and adjustable seats and provides an aisle height of 57 inches.

Confusion in Delhi as Passengers Delayed by Bad Weather

December 19, 2013
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Critical Messaging for Aviation Weather DataWeather issues in aviation can cause disruption on many levels, which is why critical messaging is high on the list of operational priorities for most airlines.

Although not all airlines seem to handle these adverse conditions too well, as was apparent in Delhi over the last few days. Passengers were left stranded, some since Tuesday evening with little or no information, food or indeed luggage, as flights were delayed and cancelled due to foggy conditions.

There were closed desks and mobbed airline staff as the situation reached fever pitch with some passengers left standing on tarmac for more than an hour.

Traveller Annamma Sam George, who had lost her baggage enroute from America earlier in the week said, “I will never come to Delhi again in the winter. The airport authorities are probably too busy handling the cancelled and delayed flights, but my valuables are in the bag and I’m running out of cash.”

The T3 visitors lounge was packed with anxious, stranded passengers simply left with nothing.

Nothing can be done about the weather – that much is clear – but with advanced messaging solutions within aviation, there is certainly room for improvement upon passenger services and facilities in adverse conditions and situations.

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.

Satcom Direct Brings VHF Coverage to Farnborough for Aircraft Datalink

December 16, 2013
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Aircraft Datalink SolutionsVHF coverage is now extended with a combined effort from Satcom Direct, TAG Farnborough Airport and SITA, who have based their new VHF ground station equipment in Hangar 2.

The new equipment and subsequent VHF coverage will enable the airport to provide enhanced services to operators and aircraft owners with the addition of the aircraft datalink services.

CPDLC is a growing requirement in the aviation industry, with mandatory regulations for Europe coming into play at the end of this year and the beginning of next year. Although business and private jets are exempt from the ruling, it is only a matter of time.

CPDLC (Controller Pilot Data Link Communications) give greater flexibility in the cockpit and on the ground and eliminate many previous problems that are encountered during communications. The mandates will open up better opportunities for flight operations as the airwaves become less congested. Streamlining communications with aircraft datalink is not only more efficient, but also globally recognised, without interruption, given provision from a reliable and reputable supplier.

Companies such as SITA and ARINC have global ground stations to aid the facilitation of aircraft datalink messaging.

U.S. Aviation Operational Costs Outperform Europe, Say EUROCONTROL

December 16, 2013
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Solutions for Reducing Aviation Operational CostsAccording to reports issued by EUROCONTROL, the U.S. is outperforming Europe in terms of aviation operational costs. The Performance Review Commission (PRC) issued two reports and notes that while the two ATM systems show similarities in size and traffic density area, they differ wildly in terms of organisational aspects and regulatory operational variance.

The report regarding air navigation services showed that, when taking a look at the cost-per-flight-per-hour, the U.S. costs are 34% lower than those of Europe.

The cause can be largely attributed to the difference in funding. European ANSPs are funded by route and terminal charges, when the FAA relies upon the airport and airways trust fund in addition to congressional appropriations.

Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs) in Europe number 37, which oversee 63 area control centres and 260 approach control units. The U.S. has only one – the FAA’s Air Traffic Organisation, which oversee 20 air route traffic control centres and 162 terminal radar approach control centres.

The report “confirms that the observed gap in cost-efficiency performance arises from considerably higher productivity and lower support costs in the U.S. compared to Europe,” the PRC states. “Air traffic controllers in the U.S. have higher annual working hours and more flexible working arrangements, which allow the U.S. ATO to accommodate changes in demand more easily than European ANSPs.”

Aviation operational costs cover a wide and far-reaching topic, from ANSPs to the individual airport environment. In a global economically challenging era, it has never been more important to continue operational productivity in order to keep the wheels of business turning, but to ensure that costs are kept to a mangeable level. Global companies, such as ARINC, offer products and services operating within a web-based environment that can allow seamless reliability, but with a cost-efficient, integrated framework with cost-sharing capabilities.

Navtech Flight Plan Growing in Popularity

December 16, 2013
Business Aviation News
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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.

Satcom Data Link Coverage Gives Aircraft VHF Communications

December 11, 2013
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SATCOM Data Link for Business AviationSatcom Direct, aviation providers of communications solutions has announced that its International office will now bring VHF coverage for aircraft satcom data link communications.

Using the new SITA VHF ground station, the company can offer enhanced flight deck communications with the joint effort from Satcom Direct and SITA.

“Installation of the VHF antenna and ground station is another way for us to continue to support our international customers, especially aircraft that are based at TAG Farnborough Airport,” said founder and owner of Satcom Direct, Jim Jensen. “Having both a VHF and a satellite component allows Satcom Direct to offer our customers a truly global network supporting all aircraft types equipped with a wide variety of avionics.”

Satcom data link allows pilots the flexibility and enhanced efficiency of sending and receiving data messages, allowing greater operational productivity whilst lightening the cockpit load for the flight crew. The improved reliability of satcom data link messaging is a big plus for aviation operators, with global connectivity becoming increasingly necessary in today’s skies.

Business aviation benefits reach into the cabin as the office in the sky is a prerequisite on most flights, either short or long-haul.

Providers of Satcom data link for business aviation, such as ARINC Direct, bring a seamless global connection with their unique partnership of Iridium and Inmarsat satellite networks and offer coverage in previously hard-to-reach areas, such as vast oceanic expanses and Polar Regions.

Voice and internet connections are crisp and reliable with satcom data link and over the VHF network have far-reaching capability, increased efficiency and ultimately help with cost effective operations, supporting a wide variety of avionics systems and web-based operational activity.

Google’s new business jet facility to open in January

December 11, 2013
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Beautiful New Facility for Google JetsGoogle are set to break more records as they launch their new $82 million business jet facility on a 29 acre site at San Jose airport. The airport will make approximately $3 million per year in lease income.

The facility will house the personal aircraft belonging to the Google executives and principal players, joining Hewlett Packard on the site, who have corporate hangers already in place. Google will move from a NASA-owned site, which have housed their aircraft since 2007.

The new facility will bring San Jose revenue, and will create 36 permanent jobs in addition to 370 generated direct and indirect positions.

Although this will effectively give Google its own, private airport, the facility will also grant private access to “other figures in the Silicon Valley business community as well.”

The new complex will be one of the largest corporate facilities in the world once completed and in operation, but it has not been without problems.

Earlier this year, Atlantic Aviation, who currently lease part of the development, filed legal challenges against San Jose, on the grounds that the airport did not meet Californian environmental issue requirements when granting the Google facility.  Blue City will run the facility, a partner described by San Jose as “a corporation representing the personal aircraft of the principals at Google.”

There has been ‘talk’ that Google and Blue City have received hefty discounts on fuel prices to the cool tune of more than $3 million less than the current market rate for jet fuel. The report says that another Google associate, H211 received the fuel at a considerable saving and may have ‘engendered a sense of unfairness’ amongst the business aviation community.

We know that Google executives fly ‘a lot’ and now can look forward to an exclusive facility, dedicated to their private aircraft.