Brisbane Airport named Oceania’s leading airport at World Travel Awards: Brisbane Airport (BNE) was named Oceania’s “Leading Airport” in the 26th Annual World Travel Awards 2019, held in Vietnam recently. It is the second time BNE has been recognised at the prestigious awards programme, after being named “Australasia’s Leading Airport” in the 23rd World Travel Awards 2016. BNE took out the accolade ahead of seven other major airports including Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Wellington Airports. Gert-Jan de Graaff, Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC) CEO, said the award is testament to the incredible hard work and collaboration that goes on across the Brisbane Airport. “We are incredibly proud of this achievement as we’ve worked hard to improve our facilities, processes and the passenger experience at our terminals.
Hi Air receives second ATR aircraft: ATR has delivered South Korea’s Hi Air’s second ATR 72-500 aircraft. Hi Air now has two ATR 72-500 aircraft and plans to start services soon after it receives its air operator certificate (AOC). Hi Air is based in Ulsan and plans to launch domestic services before launching short-haul international air services. The airline will steadily add more ATR aircraft to its fleet in line with its route expansion plans. There are over 470 ATR aircraft operating in the Asia-Pacific region. The fleet in this region is spread across 68 operators in 25 countries. ATR forecasts that the Asia Pacific market will require some 740 aircraft before 2038. Many of these aircraft will be required to cater for some 440 new routes.
Embraer names new marketing director in APAC: Embraer has named Victor Vieira dos Santos as its new marketing director for Embraer Commercial Aviation Asia-Pacific. Dos Santos has been working at Embraer for more than 10 years, starting as a market analyst in the Market Intelligence Department where he supported the development of regional market understanding for North and Latin America, identifying and developing new business opportunities. Prior to the current position, he was the Head of Market Strategy leading the development, communication and execution for the organisation’s global strategic planning. Dos Santos holds two bachelor’s degrees, one in Business Administration and International Affairs, as well as an MBA from the University of Sao Paulo. He is now based in Singapore.
Scoot wins another “Best Low-Cost Carrier” award: After winning the “Best Low-Cost Carrier” award at the TTG Travel Awards 2019 held in September, Scoot has won another “Best Low-Cost Carrier” award, this time at the Travel Weekly Asia 2019 Readers’ Choice Awards. This is the first time Scoot has won the award from Travel Weekly Asia. Lee Lik Hsin, Scoot’s chief executive officer, said: “We are thrilled to have won back-to-back ‘Best Low-Cost Carrier’ awards and are thankful for our customers, travel partners, and staff, for their ongoing support. We will continue to work hard to exceed our customers’ expectations.”
Korean Air signs collaboration agreement with Raytheon: Korean Air signed an exclusive collaboration agreement with Raytheon regarding the Korean Intelligence Surveillance Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance program. (* ISTAR : Intelligence Surveillance Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance) The deal was signed by Soo-Keun Lee, Korean Air executive vice president and chief technology officer and by Roy Azevedo, president of Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems. The main purpose of the exclusive agreement between Korean Air and Raytheon is to collaborate on design, modifications, flight tests and airworthiness for the ISTAR program. Meanwhile, Korean Air is carrying out depot level maintenance and upgrade programs for more than 4,500 aircraft, including Korean and US fighters, cargo aircraft and helicopters. It has the largest military aircraft upgrade capability and depot level maintenance company in the Asia-Pacific region.
IATA calls on governments to enhance tech for pax: The International Air Transport Association (IATA) called on governments and industry to work together to make the best use of modern technology to put the passenger at the centre of the journey and to achieve greater efficiency from infrastructure. The call came during the opening address by Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s director general and CEO, at the IATA Global Airport and Passenger Symposium (GAPS) in Warsaw. To improve the passenger experience, technology options should focus on what the passenger wants. The 2019 IATA Global Passenger Survey noted strong preferences by travellers for technology to enable them to track their baggage in real time and to expedite their journey through the various airport processes. The industry has solutions for both these passenger expectations—the One ID initiative, and RFID for baggage tracking. Both need the support of stakeholders, including governments. IATA’s One ID initiative is helping the industry to transition towards a day when passengers can move from curb to gate using a single biometric travel token such as a face, fingerprint or iris scan. “Biometric technology has the power to transform the passenger experience. Airlines are strongly behind the One ID initiative. The priority now is ensuring there is regulation in place to support the vision of a paperless travel experience that will also ensure that their data is well protected,” said de Juniac.
On baggage, airlines and airports are working together to implement tracking at key journey points, such as loading onto and off-of aircraft (Resolution 753). In June, airlines committed to the global deployment of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) for baggage tracking. “Implementation of RFID has seen some good progress, especially in China where the technology has been thoroughly embraced. In Europe several airlines and airports are successfully working together to introduce RFID, notably Air France at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris. Industry needs to be reminded that in addition to meeting our customers’ expectations, implementation of RFID will help reduce the USD2.4 billion cost to airlines from mishandled bags,” said de Juniac.
Infrastructure will also play a key role in meeting customer expectations. Developing infrastructure that can cope with future demand, without relying on ever-bigger airports, is essential. In cooperation with Airports Council International (ACI), the NEXTT (New Experience Travel Technologies) initiative explores important changes in technology and processes to improve operational efficiency and the customer experience.
Among its 11 work streams, NEXTT is examining several options, including the potential to:
- Increase off-site processing, which could reduce or even eliminate queues.
- Use artificial intelligence and robotics to more efficiently use space and resources.
- Improve data sharing among stakeholders to enhance efficiency.
“Accommodating growth by building bigger and bigger airports will be challenging from a public policy perspective. NEXTT provides a major opportunity to focus on using the latest industry technology standards for a sustainable future. We look forward to seeing Poland take a leadership role in delivering the NEXTT vision with the construction of Warsaw’s new airport- Solidarity Transport Hub. It’s the European Union’s first greenfield airport in over a decade,” said de Juniac.
Satcom Direct bolsters IT training for business aviation sector: In response to the growing demand for more qualified IT experts in the business aviation sector, Satcom Direct (SD) is strengthening its industry-focused training programme. The second edition of aeroIT, SD’s aviation IT certification, is now available with renewed content and an exam updated to reflect the changes; SD’s training programs have been added to the curricula offered at both FlightSafety International (FSI) and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University; and the number of SD digital self-learning courses has grown. Revisions to the aeroIT course place more focus on cybersecurity, the latest communications systems and information technology advancements to ensure aviation IT professionals’ knowledge is current with the most recent developments. The revised exam, designed to test candidates’ understanding of developing connectivity technologies, will enable existing aeroIT certificate holders to renew their existing qualification.
The updated aeroIT course now forms part of FlightSafety International’s new Cabin Master Technician program. Embry-Riddle has also approved the inclusion of aeroIT as part of its new Bachelor’s degree, Aviation Maintenance Science with an area of concentration in cybertechnology, avionics and security. The first group of students taking the program began studies this fall. The supporting SD aeroIT study book, newly reprinted in its second edition is a required text for Embry-Riddle students. Students completing the courses can take their exam on campus or via the digital Questionmark platform which SD administers.
The aeroIT course is also available through SD’s recently enhanced Learning Management System which provides computer-based training with videos and digital material. Students can fit studying into their work schedule and complete the course at their own pace. For candidates preferring an immersive instructor led experience SD offers aeroIT training at its Melbourne, FL facility and FlightSafety International delivers the aeroIT renewal course in Savannah, the Dallas North Learning Centre and the recently added, Long Beach location. The dedicated aeroCNCT course, created to support industry professionals that work with, or are responsible for, connectivity during flight is also offered at the Savannah facility. In addition to making updates to the aeroIT and CyberSAFE courses, the new self-paced courses cover a range of topics with datalink, air-to-ground, satellite modules featured, as well as courses related to SD products and services, including the SD Pro operating system.
SR Technics wins engine services contract with Ukraine International Airlines: SR Technics said it has been awarded a seven-year exclusive engine maintenance contract with Ukraine International Airlines (UIA). The agreement covers a minimum of 34 CFM56-7B shop visits. Meanwhile, work began on the first engine in the SR Technics engine shop in Zurich in August of this year. UIA and SR Technics have had a continuous partnership since April 2017, when the airline signed a five-year contract for integrated component services with SR Technics for UIA’s Boeing 737NG fleet. SR Technics was able to secure the new engine services contract with a competitive commercial offer. During three trial shop visits performed earlier this year, the SR Technics team provided UIA with a sample of SR Technics’ industry-leading services.
Hermes Logistics Technologies, Menzies sign agreement: Menzies Aviation has selected Hermes Logistics Technologies (HLT) to provide the Cargo Management System (CMS) for its global network. The most recent version of HLT’s flagship CMS, Hermes 5 (H5), will be rolled out at Menzies cargo facilities from Q1 next year. Menzies Aviation operates cargo handling facilities in nearly 40 airports across six continents, handling over 1.6 million tonnes of cargo in 2018. H5 was launched last year and the CMS continues to be adopted by airports, airlines and ground handlers across the globe, including Hanoi Airport, RSA National, LuxairCARGO, and most recently CHS Trade in the Czech Republic.
VALCORA bolsters fuel emission offsetting in collaboration with Shell Aviation: VALCORA, the digital aviation fuel supplier, has signed its first third-party agreement with an aviation fuel provider to offer customers ways of offsetting carbon emissions. In collaboration with Shell, VALCORA will offset fuel emissions through nature-based carbon credits. All Shell Aviation fuels sold through the VALCORA digital fuel purchasing platform will be carbon neutral1, meaning that emissions will be offset via carbon credits automatically included with the purchase of the fuel. In addition VALCORA customers purchasing fuel from other fuel providers through the online system will also have the option to offset emissions through nature-based carbon credits from Shell’s portfolio. Each carbon credit is subject to a third-party verification process and represents the avoidance or removal of 1 tonne of CO2. The move strengthens VALCORA’s existing sustainability offering, which enables customers to contribute to a carefully curated portfolio of international environmental and conservation projects.
The Giles Group expands team: International aviation consultancy The Giles Group announced that it named Mark Rudo as a senior associate. Rudo was recently vice president Quality, ODA, and Product Support at ALOFT AeroArchitects. That position followed a 25-year career in US Airways’ maintenance and engineering organisation where he held progressively more senior positions. The Giles Group performs safety assessments and regulatory compliance audits, assists operators and repair stations to incorporate Safety Management Systems, and also develops and delivers training programmes. Clients include air carriers and business aviation operators, maintenance organisations, manufacturers, suppliers and distributors, and foreign civil aviation authorities.
