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UK Prime Minister Says “Air Safety Must Come First” as Airport Security Measures Tighten

July 3, 2014
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Airport Security ProvidersUK PM David Cameron today said that the safety of air passengers ‘must come first’ when commenting on the tightening of airport security across the UK amidst fears of possible terrorist attacks announced in Washington.

It is hoped that unnecessary delays are not caused, but it is clear that no risks can be taken with the threat of an attack plot from the Yemen and Syrian extremist groups.

Mr Cameron said, speaking to the BBC yesterday, “We take these decisions looking at the evidence in front of us and working with our partners. This is something we’ve discussed with the Americans and what we have done is put in place some extra precautions and extra checks. The safety of the travelling public must come first. We mustn’t take any risks with that. I hope this won’t lead to unnecessary delays but it’s very important that we always put safety first, and we do.”

For the time being, airport security measures will be tightened, although it is not yet clear to what extent. Significant disruption is expected, but airport security officials are working closely with the UK government to initiate procedures that keep delays to a minimum. Air passengers are advised to allow plenty of time to pass through security at the borders.

Advanced Airport Management System Company Acquired by Woolpert

June 23, 2014
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Airport Management Systems ProvidersElectronic Logging System (ELS), software for airport operational management, has been acquired by Woolpert, Dayton-based geospatial, infrastructure management and design company. ELS is designed to simplify specific record-keeping and FAA compliant tasks including collaborative processes, airfield safety inspections and reporting.

“Woolpert is excited to work with existing ELS clients to help them achieve even greater levels of efficiency,” said Woolpert’s senior vice president and aviation practice leader, Tom Mochty. “We also look forward to assisting new clients who have been looking for the right opportunity to modernize the tools in their operational toolkit.”

Airport management systems providers bring real-time benefits to operations, with features for NOTAMs information, critical messaging, maintenance management and passenger information processes, encouraging increased efficiency and ultimately, greater operational productivity. Systems differ according to provider and companies such as ARINC, offer comprehensive messaging platforms to ensure seamless reliability throughout the messaging environment.

Woolpert maintain ‘business as usual’ for all existing ELS clients and users of the system, offering 24/7 support and hope to bring improvements over the coming year to enhance the functionality of the current software.

UAE Private Jets Most Popular Destination is Nice, France

June 22, 2014
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nice-business jets 22-06-14According to a recent study conducted by Private Jet Charter, the French city of Nice is the most popular destination for private jets out of the UAE, with five trips per year.

Following a close second is Paris for shopping, with four trips annually, then London for business, with two trips per year.

Nice is thought to be the most popular destination due to the belief that UAE high-net-worth individuals prefer to escape the hot summer months by travelling to high-end parts of Europe. Geneva is also popular for skiing during the season.

The report goes on to comment that UAE private jet users appreciate the ‘luxury and hassle-free environment’ that is provided by private charter and many are beginning to use private jets to connect to scheduled commercial airlines to destinations that are not on a standard route.

The staunch growth witnessed in the UAE of business aviation is also partly attributed to the new Al Makhtoum International Airport in Dubai, which now has exclusive private jet facilities with reduced slot restrictions and luxurious lounges.

It is thought that more and more exclusive requirements will need to be met across the UAE and further afield as the business aviation community grows.

Electronic Flight Bag for Windows 8 Introduced by Jeppesen

June 19, 2014
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Other Providers of the Electronic Flight Bag for Business Aviation

Jeppesen, part of Boeing’s Commercial Aviation Services, has launched the latest version of its Electronic Flight Bag software for Windows 8. FliteDeck Pro has been specifically designed for use with Windows 8 operating systems for tablets and can help to streamline the use of data for navigational information and flight planning for airlines, business jet operators and military fleet programs.

iPad applications are becoming increasingly popular within the business aviation industry as a significant contributor to weight-saving initiatives and fuel consumption savings and is another step closer to a paperless cockpit environment.

Electronic flight bag (EFB) providers aim to streamline the entire process of flight planning and filing flight plans and many applications give pilots and flight crew direct access to all operational information via tablets. Cloud-based applications give comprehensive access to critical data and allow simplified data sharing amongst relevant parties under a secure connection.

Jeppesens’ EFB solution has been integrated by Delta Airlines to increase efficiency in a scalable data management initiative. Managed by the global Jeppesen Distribution Manager Pro, the secure network offers reliability throughout operational activity.

“Pilots will now be able to open two applications side-by-side on screen to access critical flight information such as text and enroute charts in a split view, with Windows 8,” said Tracy Issel, Microsoft general manager for retail, consumer goods, hospitality and travel. “The full HD 1080p Surface tablet provides seamless delivery of real-time flight data from Jeppesen in all lighting conditions, and pilots can configure their tablet to provide the right information at the right time.”

Satellite Passenger Connectivity Services Selected by Thaicom

June 16, 2014
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Passenger Connectivity Communications Providers

Thaicom, a leading satellite communications provider in Asia Pacific, has selected Hughes Network Systems to deliver satellite broadband technology for passenger connectivity for SE Asian airlines in partnership with Global Eagle Entertainment.

“Thaicom has expanded our In-flight Connectivity (IFC) offering as a part of our Mobility Services, utilizing the latest satellite-based communications technologies that have extensively served sea-air-land connectivity targeting customers in Thailand and Southeast Asia,” said Dr. Sakon Kittivatcharapong, senior vice president of Ground System Operations at Thaicom PLC. “With In-flight Connectivity our airline partners will gain significant advantages by reducing operational costs while adding more value to their services.”

As passenger connectivity in the rear of the plane is becoming as increasingly important to airline operations as the connectivity in the cockpit, airlines are feeling the pressure to provide end-to-end cabin services. Satellite networks partnerships give seamless passenger connectivity for in-flight broadband and in-flight entertainment at costs that are becoming more and more competitive. With the rules beginning to relax about the use of personal tablets in the cabin, and the bandwidth capabilities growing, we can soon envisage the marketplace competition getting decidedly heavier.

Private Jets Call for Better Infrastructure

June 12, 2014
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Business Jet Communications Solutions ProvidersPrivate jet operators are noticing that as executive aircraft get bigger, faster and with longer-range capabilities, the demand for parking, hangar space and landing slots is causing problems. There is a widespread call for improved infrastructure to allow some flexibility within the flight plan.

Flight planning involves many thousands of minute calculations, including slot management and route management and as executives fly to further-flung destinations with fewer facilities, parking problems are causing increasing headaches for operators.

Many International airports are unprepared for the volume of business jets, having been designed 10-20 years ago when business jets were traditionally smaller.  This has resulted in rising parking charges and, in some cases, limited slot times that require faster turnaround times on the ground and parking elsewhere before returning to collect the owners.

Flight planning must take all these factors into account and is a service that is offered by third-party providers for business aviation. Most individual owners cannot afford the luxury of a full-time planning department as commercial carriers employ. Flight planning providers, such as ARINC Direct, specifically cater for private jet operators, whether with one aircraft or an entire fleet.

Manufacturers are working towards making improvements to the infrastructure of business aviation, Gulfstream, for example, opened the first service centre in Asia; in Beijing, and has added four full-service airport centres with maintenance and hangar facilities exclusively for business jet aircraft. Earlier this year Bombardier opened a service centre in Singapore, realising that growth will spell more demand.

American Airlines and Gogo Partner for In-flight Internet

June 9, 2014
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In-flight Internet Solutions for Business Aviation

American Airlines plans for 30 new Bombardier CRJ-900 NextGen regional jet aircraft will begin this month with the arrival of the first of the fleet. In a bid to provide ATG connectivity, the company has announced an agreement with Gogo, aero communications service provider, to install their systems for in-flight internet connectivity.

“American Airlines was the first commercial airline to launch connectivity service with Gogo, and we are excited to continue to build on our longstanding relationship with American by extending Wi-Fi service to passengers flying on its new regional jets,” said Michael Small, Gogo’s president and CEO.

In-flight internet is fast becoming a pre-requisite for business passengers in todays’ modern skies. The expectation is for connectivity to be as reliable and seamless as it is on the ground in order for business to be conducted as efficiently as the office.

Many business jet communications providers are supportive of the initiative and costs for installation and operation is competitive. The race for reasonably-priced, and above all, reliable in flight internet is gathering momentum across the globe as demand accelerates.

Delhi Airport Installs Advanced Passenger Information System

June 8, 2014
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Find out more about Advanced Passenger Information SystemIn a bid to enhance security and to check smuggling, Indira Ghandi International Airport (IGIA) has received the Advanced Passenger Information System (APIS) to keep track of passengers.

The system, put in place by the customs department, will provide an electronic database of all passengers, crew and airline staff that flow in and out of the airport. APIS systems are mandatory in the US and flag high-risk passengers while expediting the movements of low-risk passengers. The system maintains a high security situation, while streamlining ground operations and minimising delays.

The system will run as a pilot project within IGIA in the short term, with a plan to implement the Advanced Passenger Information System at all other international airports across the country. It is estimated that more than 3,000kg of gold is smuggled into the country every month and the new security measures will assist officials to keep track of ‘red flag’ passengers.

Providers of APIS systems, such as ARINC, can implement the solution tailored to the individual requirements of each airport, regardless of size or capacity.

First Shared European Advanced Information Management System Plans

June 7, 2014
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Find out more about Airline Information ManagementIn support of the Single European Sky initiative, plans have been announced by NATS, British air navigation service provider (ANSP) and Avinor, a Norwegian equivalent, to share an aeronautical information management system. The plan is a vital step forward in the Borealis Alliance of ANSPs that will look to share operational information and the association provision costs with airlines and airports across Europe.

A remotely hosted system, accessed over a secure web portal, will provide common use tools and applications that will support all the core functions for operations.

Advanced Information Management systems bring mission critical transmissions and messaging within a secure, reliable network that is easily accessible to those who need it. As airlines, airports and other partners look for ways to manage information and reduce costs, AIM systems are adaptable and offer a scalable solution for widespread improvements.

NATS head of information, Andrew Sage said, “Our joint procurement has already saved both Avinor and NATS, as members of the Borealis Alliance, considerable resource and capital investment.  It clearly signals the desire for ANSPs to collaborate as partners, motivated by business drivers, and achieve the aims of the Single European Sky.”

Head of technical and aeronautical information management at Avinor, Torunn Carlsson said, “The new system will help us improve efficiency in the IAIP production chain, and give us the opportunity to provide more and better value added information management services.”

Cost-Cutting Continues at Malaysia Airlines

June 5, 2014
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Manage Costs with Aviation ConsultancyFollowing the disappearance of flight MH370, Malaysia Airlines are suffering from the biggest financial crisis in its 40-year history. The airline had experienced losses for the past three financial years, but was beginning to recover to a break-even point in 2014 until the tragic disappearance occurred. The airline recently released figures that revealed a record $138million loss for the first quarter.

Needless to say, Malaysia Airlines are looking for ways to reduce operational costs if it is to recover and indeed survive for the next 12 months. The company are committed to examining every area of operations in a bid to save money and have a plan in place to implement measures that could bring them to a break-even point in 2015.

This month will see the retirement of the final Boeing 737-400 aircraft in the MAS fleet, being replaced with the more fuel-economic and lower maintenance 737-800s. Also, the airline plan to introduce business class seats with a reconfiguration of the cabin spaces to produce higher revenues and plans for the purchase of Airbus aircraft have been put on hold for the time being.

As competition grows within the industry, airlines all over the world are looking closely at operational spending, and in that respect, MAS are not alone. Both commercial and business carriers can save money in many areas of productivity, including messaging costs, which can run into tens of thousands of individual messages each day. Companies such as ARINC offer consultancy services specifically designed to tailor messaging packages to help airlines to cut costs.

“We have to look at the business model that will allow us to be sustainable over the next 40 years,” said Hugh Dunleavy, MAS director of commercial operations.