Aviation News in Brief 30 November 2020

CSMIA rated high among by Safe Travel Barometer: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) in Mumbai has been rated among top airports around the globe by the Safe Travel Barometer for the health and safety measures adopted by the airport in the wake of the pandemic. Rated among 400 global airports, CSMIA received a Safe Travel Score of 4.3, with 4.4 being the highest, highlighting the scale of the measures adopted by the airport against the pandemic as well as the efficient implementation, maintenance and communication of these initiatives to the passengers. CSMIA was rated for its COVID-19 testing facility, thermal screening measures, its efforts to promote a contactless journey like the remote check-in facility, installation of plexiglass on counters, social distancing measures incorporated across the airport, and for its regular disinfection of high-touch surface areas. Safe Travel Barometer is considered the world’s largest and most comprehensive database of COVID-19 health and safety protocols followed by airports, airlines, cruises, hotels and many more within the travel, tourism and hospitality industry. Besides receiving a high rating amongst the international airports, CSMIA was also recognized for being the safest amongst all airports within the Asia-Pacific region, ranking second after Singapore. ALSIM celebrates 100th ALX simulator sale: Since its creation, 100 ALXs have been sold in 44 countries around the world. The very first ALX ever produced was purchased by UK based CRM Aviation, and it is still in operation today. Rob Howarth, CEO of CRM Aviation recalls: “We initially chose the ALSIM ALX as it offered the perfect platform to deliver MCC training. To this day, it is still an exceptional tool for teaching the non-technical competency requirements of the MCC course. We find our customers are able to focus on the core non-technical competencies of MCC rather than become bogged down in complex type operation. Our annual usage is nearly 2,000 hours and our ‘in serviceability’ times are pretty much 100 percent. The ALSIM ALX is a great product that the CRM Aviation instructional team have enjoyed training our customers with,” Howarth said. For Jean-Paul Monnin, CEO of ALSIM, “ALSIM has been known for providing advanced, innovative simulators and services in the simulation field. This 100th ALX delivery is an important milestone for the company as it proves that our concept keeps attracting customers. But even more significantly, our greatest achievement is to see how our customers remain satisfied with their ALX and keep using it thanks to the ALSIM’s reliability, upgradeability and versatility. Air New Zealand awarded more international cargo flights: Air New Zealand has been awarded more international cargo flights under the International Air Freight Capacity (IAFC) Scheme. This comes after the government announced Phase Two of the IAFC scheme which runs from 1 December 2020 through to 31 March 2021. Air New Zealand will operate approximately 55 international flights per week going forward. Air New Zealand General Manager Cargo Anna Palairet says this is great news not only for the airline but for importers and exporters wanting to get their product to key markets around the world. “It’s great to see the extension of the IAFC scheme as it provides much-needed support and stability to New Zealand importers and exporters. Our flying schedule remains largely the same and it’s exciting to see new services to Guangzhou and Perth, as well as some enhancements to the ongoing schedule to improve the connectivity for South Island exporters.”  Since the airline started flying under the IAFC scheme in May, it has operated more than 1,100 return flights, carrying over 39,000 tonnes of cargo in and out of New Zealand. Scoot launches new inflight portal: To better meet customer expectations in the post-COVID world, Scoot will be launching a new inflight portal, ScootHub, to serve as a one-stop shop for all customer needs inflight. ScootHub, which can be easily accessed from customers’ own mobile devices, will be the first of its kind in the region to offer such diverse functionalities. Launching in phases commencing December 2020, Scoot customers will be able to order food and beverages from Scoot Café, shop for duty-free items from KrisShop, play games, browse inspirational travel content and more, all from the convenience of their own device. This transition from physical to digital inflight menus, duty-free catalogues and magazines reduces surface contact and physical interactions between customers and crew, giving customers peace of mind about their health and safety on board. This reduced interaction also allows Scoot to resume some inflight services, such as buy-on-board food, which had been temporarily suspended. In ScootHub’s second phase, from April 2021, customers will be able to book ground activities and attractions while inflight. They can also sync their Krisflyer membership to earn or redeem miles when they purchase items via KrisShop or activities and attractions via Pelago, the SIA Group’s new platform for destination inspiration and content. Scoot has a roadmap of additional features to be deployed in subsequent phases. Jet Aviation Geneva gains Part 145 approval from Civil Aviation Authority in Russia: Jet Aviation announced that its maintenance facility in Geneva has received approval from the Russian Federation Civil Aviation Administration (RFCAA). The approval permits the company to support aircraft that are registered in Russia to the full extent of its maintenance approvals. Jet Aviation Geneva offers full heavy maintenance services for the Bombardier Global Express series, Gulfstream aircraft and Boeing business jets (BBJ). With this new approval, the company is authorized to provide line and base maintenance to these Russian-registered aircraft types. “Russia has a significant fleet of private aircraft and we are delighted to receive this important approval from the Russian civil aviation authority,” said Edgar Guerreiro, senior director MRO & FBO and general manager Geneva. “This authorisation provides Russian owners and operators the comfort and security of knowing our team of dedicated maintenance professionals is here for them when they fly through the region. We look forward to welcoming them to our facility in Geneva.” For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Matt Driskill at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Head of Sales Kay Rolland at [email protected]