China Airlines included in DJSI: The results of the 2021 Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) were announced on 13 November and China Airlines set another new record by becoming the only Taiwanese transport company to be included in the “Dow Jones Sustainability Emerging Markets Index” for six consecutive years. Ranking second in the global aviation industry for the first time, China Airlines has heralded international recognition with its longstanding investment in sustainability. China Airlines topped the aviation industry in five categories (Brand Management, Environmental Reporting, Climate Strategy, Social Reporting, Human Capital Development), and scored full marks for “Brand Management, Environmental Reporting, Social Reporting.” Such a strong performance demonstrates China Airlines’ commitment to sustainability through the successful integration of its business strategy with its sustainability philosophy.
Air India implements GE’s Foam Wash: Following technology trials and aircraft maintenance technician training, Air India is the latest airline to adopt GE’s 360 Foam Wash to help maintain its GEnx-powered Boeing 787 fleet. Air India previously received a technical licence from GE Aviation to use GE’s patented 360 Foam Wash system on its GEnx-1B aircraft engines and has now industrialised the innovative cleaning system into its maintenance process. GE’s 360 Foam Wash is an alternative to the water wash method. It helps restore engine performance leading to reductions in fuel consumption. The process involves injecting a specially formulated, proprietary solution that removes dust and dirt particles in the engine. During technology tests with its GEnx engines, the 360 Foam Wash solution allowed Air India to improve engine performance by reducing build-up of deposits in the engine, lowering engine exhaust temperatures, and improving engine compressor efficiency. The system is self-contained, allowing it to be used inside maintenance hangars or outdoors. GE’s 360 Foam Wash is approved for use on multiple GE engine programs, including models of GE90, GEnx, CF34 and CF6.
Fly 7 gets approval on FRASCA PC-12 NGX FSTD: Fly 7 Training located in Lausanne, Switzerland, has received FNPTII MCC/FTD2 approval by the FOCA (Switzerland’s Aviation Agency) for their FRASCA built Pilatus PC-12 NGX FSTD (Flight Simulation Training Device) which was delivered earlier this year. The FSTD is installed at the Fly 7 Training facility in Lausanne and is being used for initial and differential training and commercial company courses. Starting in January of 2022, FLY 7 and Pilatus will offer initial PC-12 NGX training and the FSTD will be leased to European AOCs. The device features a three-channel 220 degree Frasca visual system with various European custom visual databases as well as original Honeywell Advanced Cockpit Environment (ACE) System. Founded in 2011, Fly 7 joined the Jetfly Group in 2019. The company is based in Lausanne, Switzerland and is specialised in Pilatus PC-12 & PC-12 Aircraft Management, Charter as well as Training.
Bluebox, Global Onboard Partners deploy Jambojet: Jambojet has launched a travel platform in conjunction with Global Onboard Partners to provide unique destination experiences in the air and on the ground, as the digital passenger experience takes flight in Kenya. Customised for Jambojet, Global Onboard Partners’ destination platform Global Destination Explorer provides Jambojet passengers with the opportunity to explore exciting destinations across their route network. Branded Jambojet Destination Explorer, it provides information and the best travel tips across the customer journey, before, during and after the flight with helpful real-time notifications in each destination. On board, Jambojet Destination Explorer is the highlight of the new JamboPlay IFE service which can be accessed via a browser on passengers’ own devices over a wireless network provided by Bluebox Aviation Systems’ award-winning portable wireless IFE platform, Bluebox Wow. Bluebox Wow provides a captive wireless network on board and integrates Global Onboard Partners’ Global Destination Explorer service into the bespoke Jambojet digital experience that passengers see. With exclusive offers, rewards and dynamic maps to help passengers find the best places to stay, food to eat and attractions to visit, passengers can use Jambojet Destination Explorer to make the most out of their travel experience and see the best of each incredible destination in Jambojet’s network.
Volotea joins VINCI Airports’ forest carbon sink programme: Volotea and VINCI Airports have signed a partnership agreement that enables Volotea to join VINCI Airports’ recently launched forest carbon sink programme, in order to offset its residual carbon emissions and those of its customers and partners. This agreement sets out guidelines for implementing high-quality, certified forest carbon sink projects, which will draw on Volotea and VINCI Airport’ local operations and which will be developed in partnership with regional stakeholders, so as to drive local development. Recently initiated at Lyon Saint Exupéry airport, where Volotea opened a new base in June 2021, these projects will benefit from VINCI Airports’ international network, which consists of 45 airports in 12 countries, allowing for a greater variety of projects. This partnership reflects VINCI Airports’ commitment to supporting airlines in their efforts to decarbonise. In joining the VINCI Airports programme, Volotea is investing in projects that allow it to offset its carbon emissions. Volotea has been working on the transition to a less polluting aviation industry ever since its beginnings. Its efforts have been concentrated on the network’s value and eco-efficiency, the development and implementation of initiatives to reduce the emissions from its operations and support for new technologies and strategies to accelerate progress towards a more sustainable aviation sector (the airline is working on developing a 100 percent electric aircraft).
Pratt & Whitney Canada supports ADAC Luftrettung SAF strategy: Pratt & Whitney Canada announced that it will participate in a long-term sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) strategy by German air rescue operator ADAC Luftrettung. To support their goal of achieving carbon neutrality for their operations, ADAC Luftrettung will extend SAF usage to its fleet of P&WC-powered helicopters. While all Pratt & Whitney engines are certified to operate on blends of up to 50 percent SAF with conventional Jet A/A-1 kerosene, this pilot program will allow ADAC Luftrettung to validate its own best practices for SAF usage in its day-to-day operations. With a commitment to operate SAF at blends of 30-40% over the course of 36 months, the program will set one of the most extensive operational SAF usage cases for the sector. ADAC Luftrettung is one of Europe’s largest air rescue organizations, with a fleet of more than 50 helicopters, including P&WC-powered H135 helicopters.
Heli-Union extends engine MRO for PT6C-67C engines: Pratt & Whitney Canada said its customer Heli-Union has signed a five-year extension to its Fleet Management Programme (FMP) for the 12 PT6C-67C engines powering its fleet of Leonardo AW139 helicopters. Heli-Union is based in France and operates in a number of locations around the world, including serving the offshore oil and gas industry in Africa and Southeast Asia with its AW139 fleet. It signed the original FMP for its PT6C-67C engines in 2014 and the extension now provides coverage until 2029. Pratt & Whitney Canada’s FMP is a flexible, high-value maintenance planning solution that helps lock in lower operating costs and simplifies fleet operations management. The program is tailored to each customer’s individual needs and mission profile.
CPaT Global announces new features: CPaT Global announced new feature enhancements to CPaT Invent, CPaT’s dynamic content-design software platform. The recent release uses cutting-edge machine translation technology to translate text quickly and easily to the language of your choice, as well as convert text narrations to audio narration. “CPaT Invent is already one-of-a-kind in the world of aviation training distance learning, as it empowers airlines and Airline Training Organizations to truly tailor CPaT’s library of content, or their own—specific to their airframes, regulatory differences, and so much more,” said Kent Morrison, President of CPaT Global. “With this latest release of Machine Translation and Text-to-Speech, translating curriculum both for text and audio narration with a simple click of a button is unique to CPaT Global and our Invent content-design platform.” CPaT Invent Machine Translation allows training administrators to deliver translated content to a CPaT user in their native language. The built-in Text-to-Speech capability can automatically convert the translated text to audio.
Vietjet to fly first international tourist group to Vietnam post-pandemic: Vietjet will bring the first international tourist group to Vietnam on a flight from South Korea to the country’s famous tourist destination of Phu Quoc island on 20 November to kick off the country’s pilot “vaccine passport” program. The flight VJ3749 departing from Incheon International Airport with an expected arrival time of around 12pm will carry 209 South Korean tourists to Vietnam for a 4-day-3-night package tour at Phu Quoc United Center super complex. Passengers onboard Vietjet’s special flight will be welcomed with many activities and surprises. As a part of the pilot “vaccine passport” tourism program in Phu Quoc in particular and Vietnam in general, the first international tourist group arrival will highlight and create a milestone in the country’s efforts to restore the national tourism industry. This will also pave the way for the country’s step-by-step economy’s reopening and development in the new normalcy context. Following the first flight, Phu Quoc is expected to welcome 20 international flights each month in the coming time.
IAMA partners with Quali-Audit for standard auditing: IAMA, the Independent Aircraft Modifier Alliance, is partnering with Paris-based Quali-Audit, to kick off the alliance’s auditing programme. Quali-Audit will start conducting formal audits of Full and Basic alliance members in Q1 2022. The alliance aims to ensure that members modifying aircraft through STC projects maintain the highest operational standard possible. Since conceived and initially released in March 2020, the IAMA Rulebook defines a standard that has become an indispensable resource for aircraft modifiers, airlines and lessors. Members who pass the audit secure the right to use an IAMA endorsement label on their modifications. Current Full and Basic members who are Design Approval Holders (DAH) will be audited using the IAMA Audit process. Audits are mandatory as defined in the alliance bylaws.
BNA wins honours at AAA National Airport Industry Awards 2021: Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC) has taken out two Airport Excellence Awards at the Australian Airports Association (AAA) National Airport Industry Awards 2021. BAC won the Infrastructure Award for Brisbane’s new runway, which was officially opened on 12 July 2020. The new runway is expected to generate 7,800 new jobs and an additional $5 billion in annual economic benefit to the region by 2035, and while COVID-19 has limited the immediate benefits, the runway will play a crucial role in the social and economic recovery of Queensland and provide a platform for major growth opportunities for the state. BAC also won the Innovation Award for its airside driving simulator – a virtual 3D simulation with scenario-based training modules and induction programs used during the Operational Readiness and Testing (ORAT) phase of the runway project. Using computer gaming concepts in a real-world setting, BAC took an innovative approach to ORAT compliance by combining an interactive digital model of the new airside environment and a digital Hilux utility to create the BAC Airside Driving Simulator. This innovation enabled the training of 130 staff in the new airside environment and was crucial in obtaining ORAT compliance and familiarising BNE staff with this new infrastructure.
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