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Tag Archives: Passenger Data Trasfer

BAOA Suggest APIS to Combat Security Concerns in India

July 31, 2013
Business Aviation News
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It has been suggested by BAOA that to implementation of APIS could help to alleviate the security concerns raised in India.

Due to these heightened security concerns, the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs has blocked temporary landing permits (TLPs) for the crews of foreign business jets of non-scheduled operators (NSOPs).  They will now require mandatory employment visa’s from them to work upon flights within the country after arrival and the possibility of advance passenger information system (APIS).

The movement has placed severe restrictions upon business aviation within India and may be as much as 60% of the entire movement of 24,000 general aviation aircraft on a monthly basis recorded last year that will be affected by the regulatory changes.

Previous TLP’s were issued through the Bureau of Immigration for up to 72 hours for NSOPs foreign registered aircraft flight crew.

Mr Rajesh Bali, Secretary of the Business Aircraft Operators Association (BAOA) is concerned that business and tourism industries will be hit by the changes and recommended to the Government that they mandate APIS for NSOPs which will enable the MHA to ‘Scrutinise personally any passenger or crew flying in on business jets, as it happens in the case of scheduled airlines.’

APIS is currently mandatory for US flights, both national and international and gives the DHS the opportunity to highlight possible high risk passengers and crew before the flight even touches down.

While the issue of TLPs is suspended, airports in major destinations, such as Delhi and Mumbai are losing vital revenue in fees from business aviation.

The BAOA has suggested that if MHA will move to implement a system where crew would be issued a 3-5 year visa as is the regulation in the US, that it continue to issue TLPs until a permanent decision can be made.

Digital APIS offers reliable and secure delivery of Advance Passenger Information and Passenger Name Records, including that of the aircraft crew.  APIS solutions are offered by business aviation communications providers for border security.

ARINC eBorders APIS to Improve Border Control in Maldives

July 2, 2013
Business Aviation News
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ARINC eBorders APIS is part of a suite of integrated Electronic Border Control solutions designed to improve border security with the provision of passenger and crew data in advance of arrival offering Immigration greater control over the flow of people to and from the country.

Paradise holiday destination, The Maldives have just awarded ARINC a five-year contract for the implementation of ARINC eBorders APIS at its international airports in a bid to improve efficiency and passenger flow in addition to the obvious security enhancement of advance passenger and crew information.

Mr Hamid Fathuhulla, Deputy Controller for the Department of Immigration and Emigration in the Maldives said, “We have chosen ARINC as our technology partner because of their industry leadership as well as proven expertise and experience of working with the world’s airports and airlines.  We are confident ARINC will meet our technology needs every step of the way as we continue to grow.”

ARINC offer tailored solutions according to the individual requirements of each customer and the industry standards of the international trade organizations and governmental mandates.  With decades of industry experience, ARINC remain world leaders in the fields of aviation, transportation and security, offering an extensive range of technological and communications solutions in the air, on the sea and on the ground.

Michael DiGeorge, ARINC Asia Pacific Managing Director said, “It is crucial for airports and other points of entry to meet their border security and control requirements while providing the highest levels of customer service.  At the same time, they need to manage increased operational costs as a result of compliance to new security requirements and mandates.  We are committed to helping the Maldives meet its current and future border security and control objectives.”

The Debate Continues over Passenger Data Sharing

June 30, 2013
Business Aviation News
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The US-EU spying scandal could stir up a hornets nest for the aviation industry regarding passenger data sharing if the allegations are proved to be correct.

The German report in ‘Der Spiegel’ suggested that the US’s NSA have targeted the EU with its spying activities. Concerns have been raised and an investigation is underway, with demands from Green Party Leaders to cancel the transfer of passenger data, in the form of Passenger Name Records (PNR), which include such information as passenger name, address details, destination and baggage, payment details and travel itinerary.

Arguably, the provision of PNR and Advance Passenger Information (API), now mandatory for US flights, has considerably reduced the risk of terrorist activity.  Since 9/11, understandable concerns became obvious and, after a thorough investigation, the provision of passenger data enables government bodies to screen passengers before boarding the aircraft, thus highlighting possible ‘high-risk’ passengers while streamlining the service for ‘low-risk’ passengers.

Many believe that PNR and API passenger data exchange is a necessary procedure for all aviation travel, business or commercial, inter-state or Trans-Atlantic, to enhance security measures.  A secure, reliable passenger data sharing service can offer reassurance to the aviation passenger, the airline and to border control and immigration services.

Where should the line be drawn when it comes to security?

Aviation communications providers work hard to ensure secure, efficient and fast delivery of PNR and API to appropriate government agencies, but, the trouble is that it is not clear how the governments are dealing with the passenger data once it has been ‘used’ for its purpose.

The agreement is that the passenger data is anonymized after five years. After six months the passenger name is removed and the passenger data is stored securely.  The PNR itself is only scrutinized if the passenger is ‘flagged’ as risky.

No doubt the debate will continue, certainly with the media frenzy continuing over Edward Snowden, the NSA ‘whistle-blower’!

passenger data sharing

ARINC AviNet Solution Chosen by Tocumen International Airport

June 5, 2013
Business Aviation News
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Panama’s Tocumen International Airport with the support of the ICAO has chosen ARINC AviNet Messaging Solution for the analysis of the airport’s operational data and capturing advance passenger information (API).

ARINC also provides baggage source, load and movement messages which encompasses critical data about weight, baggage and movement for arriving and departing aircraft.

Finding ARINC’s AviNet to be the most effective solution available, Juan Carlos Pino, Tocumen’s GM said, “The new solution will assist the airport in capturing both operational and advance passenger information data from international air transport carriers.”

ARINC AviNet will be used for the on-going analysis, through the transmission of API messages, which supports Panama’s border security requirements and aims to improve airport operational efficiency.

ARINC Global Networks and IT Solutions Vice-President, Yun Chong agrees and says, “Tocumen International Airport is joining other industry leaders who are using operation data analysis to improve airport efficiency.”

ARINC AviNet for Tocumen

Controlled Access to Passenger Data Debate Continues

May 3, 2013
Business Aviation News
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It has been recently discussed that passenger data, if utilized and analyzed properly, could improve profitability for the airline industry.

Of course, this is a highly debatable subject in some sectors, due to concerns over security and data-sharing, not just passenger data, but all kind of data ranging throughout global industry.

However, passenger data is already accessed via a ‘cloud’ by government and security agencies and is carefully tagged to ensure the passenger data or any other information does not fall into ‘other’ hands.

The implementation of a ‘Data Lake’ could be the answer, enabling secure access to passenger data and related data that could be used by authorized analysts to weigh up the global aviation industry possibilities for improvement and increased profitability.

So, What is a ‘Data Lake’ & How Could it Affect Passenger Data?

A ‘Data Lake’ is basically a common storage pool with each piece of data being tagged with appropriate security information.  This will, through the use of metatags, control who is able to access the information, be it passenger data for an airline or fuel prices, for example.  The security information will stay with the data, tagging it in with certain criteria for analytical value.

The idea will place analytical information within fast and easy, but above all, secure and controlled reach of analysts, with those security tags firmly in place!

Calgary Airport Authority Agree 10 Year Extension to ARINC Contract for vMUSE platform at YYC.

May 1, 2013
Business Aviation News Introduction
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Canada’s fourth largest airport, Calgary International (YYC) has announced it will extend its current contract with ARINC, providing via the successful vMUSE platform, Common-Use Passenger Processing System (CUPPS) for a further 10 years.  The Calgary Airport Authority agreed the extension of the system with the addition of BagLink, the passenger-friendly, Common Use Self Service system and Local Departure Control on the vMUSE platform.

ARINC has been working with the YYC and CAA for 10 years and are looking forward to providing their existing and future passengers with an enhanced travelling experience for the next decade, especially with the addition of the new terminal, currently under construction and expected to be in use by 2015.  The new terminal will incorporate ARINC’s pioneering common-use technology, seamlessly integrating into the existing operations of the airport.

ARINC’s industry-leading, innovative communications, passenger and baggage processing solutions herald the past, present and future of aviation travel, benefiting airlines, airports, passengers and crew in Calgary and across the globe.

What the future holds for border security?

February 28, 2013
Business Aviation News
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Out in the news this week was a rather novel idea from the University of Arizona. Immigration interviews may never e the same again if the idea of automated lie detector tests takes off. The machine could ask the passenger a series of questions, and analyse different aspects of your behaviour: how your eyes are moving, how your voice changes, how you pause between answers, how you fidget.

Border Security Future

An image from a demonstration of the Embodied Avatar, from a video by BORDERS, the National Center for Border Security and Immigration at the University of Arizona.

The machine, an “Embodied Avatar kiosk” uses this data to assess how truthful your answers were. Whilst this is the latest technology in the field, it is unlikely to be at Gatwick in the near future. You are much more likely to start to see more of the automated border control systems in place!

British Border Security Chiefs Failing to Carry Out Checks

November 22, 2012
Business Aviation News
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Border and aviation security has again hit the headlines as it has come to light that security checks have not been carried out by government officials on asylum seekers in the UK,

The process of border security is a complex one that in aviation starts with the transmission of advance passenger information and passenger name records (PNR).

Airlines are obligated to submit this information when travelling between certain countries and face tough fines if they don’t comply.

For airlines, both commercial and in the business aviation sector, there are multiple options for transmission of this data, one of which is a service provided by ARINC called AviSec. This offers a per flight or flat rate pricing structure, geared towards cost efficiency for airlines or business jets.

As border security continues to be of grave concern, and airlines continue to have tighter regulation imposed upon them, it seems that it is the officials that need to be monitored to complete the enforcement process beyond the airport.

Independent Chief Inspector John Vine, of Borders and Immigration said of the current process for asylum seekers already in the UK that many cases were archived with little attempt to trace the asylum seeker. He added: “Security checks on controlled archive cases had not been undertaken routinely or consistently since April 2011. This was unacceptable. Through the inefficiency and delay of the Agency, those who would otherwise have faced removal will have accrued rights to remain in the UK.”

NBAA 2012 ARINC & FlightAware

October 24, 2012
Business Aviation News
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With immediate effect, ARINC Direct will exchange information with FlightAware to provide customers with a secure and customized FlightAware interface on ARINC Direct’s website. This will develop FlightAware live flight tracking information and ARINC Direct customers will now seamlessly be able to benefit from access to FlightAware’s live web-based flight tracking and fleet maps, including streaming live flight and map updates, worldwide enroute navigation data and a host of other maps and overlays. Messaging the aircraft, worldwide position and flight plan display, arrival and departure information, flight history and airport delay information are also included.

NBAA 2012 ARINC & FlightAware

The current “Track Flights” service on ARINC Direct’s website will be completely replaced with the FlightAware powered tracker. ARINC Direct customers will be provided with worldwide flight tracking on a customized FlightAware display.

Featuring the largest flight tracking website in the world with over three million users, FlightAware was the first in the market to offer web-based flight tracking of private and commercial aircraft, primarily providing services and data to aircraft and airport operators, as well as other aviation organizations to assist in their operations.

ARINC also provide an aircraft messaging consultancy service for airlines to measure their current Type B usage and costs. ARINC say that they are able to provide savings to the majority of customers and offer a free, no obligation tool. The Type B Messaging tool can be found here.

Focus on: Type B Messaging Systems

October 20, 2012
Business Aviation News
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I wanted to take a look at a solution for aviation communications; AviNet Type B messaging from ARINC as it delivers an unbeatable combination of high value and low cost for both commercial and business aviation. GLOBALink ACARS®, passenger reservations, aviation weather data and flight planning are a few message types that can transmitted, and ARINC offers a free messaging audit.

For over 50 years ARINC has operated an IATA Type B and Type A message switching service and over 700 companies depend on their network. They comply with all IATA Type B and Type A standards as well as support IATA messaging between customers and trading partners in the aviation industry. By using AviNet Type B Messaging companies can effectively communicate and share vital information with business partners, operators, and applications globally.

Type B Customers are able to communicate with entities on other networks, including FAA NADIN I and II, AFTN, and SITA. ARINC supports ATA/IATA type B message, formats various message reassurance procedures such as the BATAP and IBM MQ Series. AviNet can also manage non-IATA messages in addition to standard ATA/IATA formats.

Type B Messaging can seem to be complex and confusing, but ARINC work closely with the client to provide a consultation on the current messaging environment and to find an appropriate Type B Messaging pricing scheme. They maintain that they typically save customers over 30% on their existing Type B Messaging costs.

To find out more: typebmessaging-avinet.com