Via Dubai Magazine | February 2016 by Nadd Al Shiba PR & Event Management

Monthly Newsletter issued by Dubai Civil Aviation Authority

www.viadubaionline.com

Issue 33 February 2016

Inside DCAA 5

Introductory training for RPAS operators

DCAA attends 6 Bahrain International Airshow launch

UAE in Focus Emiratesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;additional 10 97 Economy seats per flight to Zambia, Zimbabwe Etihad enhances US operations

Dubai International Airport retains No. 1 position as worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s busiest for international passenger traffic

China visa waiver for 12 UAE passports Opinions

European aviation industry needs to aim higher

Continuing successful cooperation in 2016

Frank Brenner

Technology 38

Sharon Dijksma

Our goal is to make every passenger aware, safe and happy

Airlines ban hoverboards

Cargo & Logistics 34

Airlines 32

Taleb Aldhanhani

ATM 28

Our Smart Services DCAA Smart App will allow the customers the below services: • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Issuance of Landing permissions Issuance of No Objection Certificate for Carriage of Restricted Articles Issuance of No Objection Certificate for Aerial Work Issuance of No Objection Certificate for Aircraft Warning Light Issuance of No Objection Certificate for Heliport Issuance of No Objection Certificate for Pyrotechnic Display Issuance of No Objection Certificate for Building Height (Below 300m) Issuance of No Objection Certificate for Building Height (Above 300m) Issuance of Approval for Heliports Certification Issuance of Approval for Crane Operation Issuance of Approval for GSM or other communication tower Issuance of Approval for Balloon Operations Issuance of No Objection Certificate for Sky Trackers / Space Cannon

Registration Requirements: • • • • • • •

Company Name Company Address Telephone Number Fax Number PO Box City Choose one secret questions

• • • • • • •

Username Password Email Address Name Mobile Number Emirates ID Number Category (Individual - Airline - Agency - Expert - Provider)

You can download the application

by searching in App Store and Play Store by typing DCAA or scan the QR code

For more information, please call technical support on: +971 56 6810685 February 2016 2 email: it.support@dcaa.gov.ae

www.dcaa.gov.ae

CONTENTS In 2007, the functions of the Department of Civil Aviation were restructured. Accordingly, the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) was established as a regulatory body, by a decree of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid AlMaktoum, Ruler of Dubai, on proclamation of law No. 21 of 2007, as amended by law No. 19 of 2010, to undertake development of Air Transport Industry in the Emirate of Dubai and to oversee all aviation-related activities.

Via Dubai is the official bilingual monthly newsletter of DCAA, designed to highlight the initiatives and developments in the aviation industry and act as a knowledge-sharing platform for all the stakeholders and aviation professionals.

Inside DCAA 05

Introductory training for RPAS operators

General Supervision Mohammed Abdulla Ahli

06 DCAA attends Bahrain International

Coordinator Hanan Al Mazimi

Airshow launch

Creative Manager Mohammed Al Jarouf E-mail: viadubai@naddalshiba.com

Legal Disclaimer The views expressed in the articles are of the writers and not necessarily belong to DCAA. We take all reasonable steps to keep the information current and accurate, but errors can occur. The information is therefore provided as is, with no guarantee of accuracy, completeness or timeliness. The DCAA or Via Dubai does not warrant or assume any legal liability or responsibility for the quality, accuracy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of any information. Via Dubai does not endorse or recommend any article, product, service or information mentioned in the newsletter. Any perceived slight of any person or organisation is completely unintentional.

Advertise with us Editorial, Production, PR & Marketing Nadd AlShiba PR and Event Management

Tel +971 4 25 66 707 Fax +971 4 25 66 704 info@naddalshiba.com www.naddalshiba.com

DCAA Interview Our goal is to make every passenger aware, safe and happy

Taleb Aldhanhani

Printed by Printwell Dubai

Our Vision Dubai Civil Aviation Authority is driven by the vision of Dubai to become the global Aviation Capital contributing to prosperity and enabling growth for Dubai.

Our Mission Dubai Civil Aviation Authority is committed to support the aviation sector in:

E-mail: dcaa@dcaa.gov.ae Website: www.dcaa.gov.ae Tel: (971) 4 216 2009 Fax: (971) 4 224 4502 P.O.BOX 49888 Dubai, United Arab Emirates

u Capturing the full value potential as a global passenger, tourism, trade, cargo and logistic hub u Providing the capacity, connectivity and leveraging existing assets to meet the aviation sector and economic growth plans of Dubai u Ensuring sustainable and responsible growth committed to safety, health, environment and security u Providing and creating customer-focused services to gain competitive advantage from innovation, knowledge and efficiency u Building and retaining capabilities, for the aviation sector, while offering career opportunities for Nationals u Ensuring a transparent, effective and commercially balanced regulatory framework that reflects the interests of the aviation industry, Dubai and the UAE u Providing efficient and cost-effective services to the aviation sector

http://www.facebook.com/DCAADubai

2016 twitter.com/DcaaDubai February youtube.com/user/dcaadubai

CONTENTS

AED 4.67 million UAE Drones for Good Award sees latest technology airborne

UAE in Focus 10 Emiratesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;additional 97

Economy seats per flight to Zambia, Zimbabwe

11 Etihad enhances US operations in 2016

24 33 Boeing, Canadian aviation

12 China visa waiver for UAE passports

industry launch sustainable aviation biofuel project

34 Emirates SkyCargo lifts high-

profile equipment charter for Uganda Nile bridge

35 Etihad Airways delivers strong cargo volumes for 2015

12 Dubai Duty Free Group

sales reach Dhs 6.8 billion (US$1.933 billion) in 2015

GCAA to ensure airlines comply with new disability rules

28 2

February 2016

Message

from the President

Confident of making 2016 another year of great achievements

he credit of the stupendous success of Dubai’s aviation sector in 2015 goes to each person and entity associated with the industry.

Guided by the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE’s Vice-President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, to build the Aviation Capital of the World in Dubai, we are well-prepared to take this success further and achieve greater heights in 2016. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has predicted another good year for passenger travel with numbers set to cross 3.8 billion in 2016. The International Association is also positive on profit outlook for the airlines at an estimate of $ 33 billion. Lower oil prices are favouring the industry, giving profits a boost while strong demand for passenger travel, use of smart technology and positive economic indicators are further strengthening the industry. We are witnessing solid performance by airlines and airports, the employment in the sector is rising rapidly, passengers are benefitting like never before and competition is contributing to rapid growth of the aviation sector. All of these factors clearly indicate brighter and better 2016.

Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum

Dubai’s aviation sector has been in the forefront when it comes to new initiatives, introducing innovative technology for enhancing passenger experience and meeting the rapid passenger growth. The performance of our aviation sector has been exemplary and the government’s vision of delivering the best and ensuring customer happiness, keeps us all firmly on the path that only leads to success and excellence. I would like to express my sincere thanks to the UAE’s visionary leadership for the guidance and directives and, at the same time, thank all stakeholders and especially the employees who give their best. Together we have succeeded and I am confident that 2016 will be witness to many more achievements. 

February 2016

Message

from the Director General

A year of innovation and excellence E

xcellence is deeply rooted in our work culture at the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA). His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum UAE’s Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, has always inspired and encouraged us to constantly innovate, achieve excellence and make all our customers happy. Year 2016 will witness many initiatives by the DCAA in this direction. We continue to encourage creative “out of the box” thinking. Through the ‘Mohammed Bin Rashid Smart Majlis’, the largest smart and integrated platform in Dubai, we have been receiving highly innovative ideas. The committee formed within the DCAA is thoroughly analyzing them to implement some of those innovative ideas to DCAA, which will further accelerate our journey to excellence. Passenger awareness is another area of our focus this year. We will be launching an extensive awareness campaign to impart information to every passenger who uses the Dubai airports. Although, it will be a challenging task as Dubai International Airport is the world’s busiest for international passenger traffic. We are preparing ourselves to meet this challenge successfully. This issue of ‘Via Dubai’ gives more details on how passengers can benefit through this campaign, which will also enhance customer experience.

February 2016

Mohammed Abdulla Ahli

We also believe that training, awareness and building skills of the employees are crucial to achieving our strategic goals. In that direction, we have also introduced training workshops for Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems operators. As we continue to walk the path of knowledge, innovation, creativity and growth, we stay firmly focused on ensuring the safety and security of our skies. 

Inside DCAA

Introductory training for RPAS operators T

he Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA), through its Aviation Regulation and Safety Section of the Standards and Regulations Department, has introduced workshops to train RPAS in rules and provisions for using the Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems. The training targets Dubaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s General Department of Organisations Protective Security and Emergency personnel. The 3-day training aims to disseminate know-how and provide police personnel with all the information, provisions and essential rules regulating the operation of RPAS. Comprehensive advanced trainings will be organised in the future to enhance knowledge about the subject. ď&#x201A;&#x192;

February 2016

Inside DCAA

DCAA attends Bahrain International Airshow launch

is Excellency Mohammad Abdulla Ahli, Director General of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) attended the launch of Bahrain International Airshow 2016 held at the Sakhir Air Base in the Kingdom of Bahrain. He was accompanied by a number of DCAA directors, including Saood Kankazar, Director of Air Transport and International Affairs, Shaima Al Qasimi, Senior Manager of International Affairs, Ahmad Al Zarouni, Public Relations Manager and Balqees Al Junaibi, Media Manager. Ahli held a meeting with Bahrainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications Engineer Kamal Ahmad, to discuss a number of aviation sector related issues. The Director General and accompanying delegation made also a field visit to familiarize themselves with country pavilions and local, regional and international specialist aviation companies participating in the Show,

February 2016

and the latest equipment and modern technologies on display. The Bahrain International Airshow 2016 was privileged with the participation of UAE Cavaliers Team, who made spectacular air display individual acts.

Bahrain International Airshow is a three-day biennial event that enjoys the participation of a wide array of worldwide aviation industry companies and authorities catering for the needs and requirements of the aviation sector in the Middle East region in general and the Gulf in particular. ď&#x201A;&#x192;

Inside DCAA

Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi, Chairman of Sharjah Civil Aviation and HE Mohammed Abdulla Ahli, Director General of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) and the accompanying delegation at the Bahrain International Airshow 2016.

HE Mohammed Abdulla Ahli, Director General of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA), along with Saood Kankazar Director, Air Transport and International Affairs at Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Shaima Al - Qasimi Senior Manager International Affairs at Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Ahmad Al Zarooni, Public Relations Manager at Dubai Civil Aviation Authority.

HE Mohammed Abdulla Ahli, Director General of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) and the accompanying delegation with HE Akbar al baker CEO of Qatar Airways

HE Kamal Ahmed, Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications in the Kingdom of Bahrain With HE Mohammed Abdulla Ahli, Director General of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) and a group of VIPs.

HE Mohammed Abdulla Ahli, Director General of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) and the accompanying delegation of the authority, Saood Kankazar Director, Air Transport and International Affairs at Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Shaima Al - Qasimi Senior Manager International Affairs at Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Ahmad Al Zarooni, Public Relations Manager at Dubai Civil Aviation Authority.

HE Mohammed Abdulla Ahli, Director General of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) and the accompanying delegation from the DCAA, Saood Kankazar Director, Air Transport and International Affairs at Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Shaima Al Qasimi Senior Manager International Affairs at Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Balqees Al Junaibi, Media Manager.

February 2016

DCAA Interview

Taleb Mohamed Aldhanhani, Aviation Consumer Protection manager, Air Transport & International Affairs Department

‘Our goal is to make every passenger aware, safe and happy’

ommitted to enhancing passenger experience, the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority’s (DCAA) Air, Transport and International Affairs Department will be launching an extensive awareness campaign this year.

Taleb Mohamed Aldhanhani, Aviation Consumer Protection Manager, said in an interview with Via Dubai: “This year we will focus on awareness. Our ultimate goal is that any passenger who uses airports in Dubai should be aware, safe and carry with them a happy experience.” Excerpts from the interview: Can you tell us about your role in the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA). As an Aviation Consumer Protection Manager, I am involved with handling customer complaints related to airlines, receiving suggestions and ideas through Dubai government’s suggest and also through the Mohammed Bin Rashid Smart Majlis, which is the largest smart and integrated platform in Dubai connecting 30 entities, launched by His Highness Sheikh Moham-

February 2016

med Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE’s Vice-President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. Q. What kind of complaints you receive from passengers and how do you deal with them? We handle issues related to passengers who travelled via any airport in DubaiDubai International or Al Maktoum International, faced issues such as denied boarding, ticket fraud, lost luggage, bad behavior, and after approaching the airline concerned were not satisfied with the action or decision of the airline and they approach us. Once we receive a customer complaint, we forward it to our investigation team, who then contact the airline. After analyzing the situation by considering both the sides, we try to reach to the exact cause of the problem and provide a resolution based on international rules and regulations governing it.

Q. How many complaints do you receive on an average and which are the most common ones? The complaints range from lost luggage, refund ticket, denied boarding, to bad attitude. On an average we receive about 15 complaints a month. While in around 20 per cent cases, the airline is responsible, almost 80 per cent complaints arise due to lack of information or misunderstanding on the part of the passenger. We have noticed that in most of the cases, passengers lack information they are not aware of the rules and regulations. For instance, when they buy a ticket, they need to check the details whether it is refundable, partially refundable, some airlines only give a voucher in refund, sometimes the ticket is non-refundable. Similarly, regulations related to declaration of certain items.

DCAA Interview

The items that they can put in carry-on baggage and the ones they cannot. Many times passengers are not aware that they should not put medicines, prescriptions, valuables, jewellery and documents in the carry-on baggage. Q. What would you advise the passengers in this case? Passengers should equip themselves with important information before travelling such as information about transit visa, luggage, ticket details as well as their passport expiry dates. We are planning to launch an extensive awareness campaign starting the first quarter of this year.

Q. Dubai Airports is on the top slot in terms of receiving international passenger traffic. How would you reach out to such large number of passengers? We will use every channel that is important in reaching out to the passengers; we plan to distribute booklets, brochures at the airports, malls, special stands, social media, radio and advertisement through other media. Our goal is to make every passenger who uses airports in Dubai fully aware.

Year 2016 will be a year of passenger awareness.

Q. Tell us about the ideas and suggestions you are receiving through suggest and Smart Majlis? We have been receiving very innovative and creative ideas.

The campaign will cover every aspect of information that passengers can need.

On an average we get about 20-25 ideas a month from the public and our employees.

We have a coordinator from each department to handle suggestions. So when we receive the idea, we forward it to the concerned department, once they send their reply, a committee sits together to assess and analyse the idea for its implementation. There are a few of them to be implemented soon, we will announce them and share the details in near future. Q. How do you plan to take these ideas further and what is your vision? We look into each idea, each complaint with utmost priority, analyse it with the ultimate goal of enhancing passenger experience and making all the passengers who use airports in Dubai happy, aware and safe. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum inspires us to constantly achieve excellence and make all our customers happy. We are constantly working to achieve that goal. ď&#x201A;&#x192;

February 2016

UAE in Focus

Boeing 777-300ER will replace the current Airbus A340-300 on route

Emirates’additional 97 Economy seats per flight to Zambia, Zimbabwe

mirates is set to enhance its on-board experience and increase capacity on its Zambia and Zimbabwe route with the deployment of a larger Boeing 777-300ER aircraft from February 1, 2016. The Boeing 777-300ER will replace the current Airbus A340-300 and offer an additional 97 Economy Class seats per flight. The aircraft will have eight private suites in First Class, 42 lie-flat seats in Business Class and 310 spacious seats in Economy Class.

Zambia with markets in the rest of Emirates’ extensive global network, through seamless and convenient connections via our Dubai hub,” he added.

“At Emirates we are constantly seeking ways to enhance our services, and the upgauge to the Boeing 777300ER on the Lusaka-Harare route is part of our commitment to offer Zambian and Zimbabwean travellers even more comfort and entertainment on our daily service,” said Orhan Abbas, Emirates Senior Vice-President, Commercial Operations, Latin America, Central and Southern Africa.

Popular destinations for both Zambian and Zimbabwean travellers include Dubai, London, Beijing, New York, Hong Kong, Manchester and Delhi, amongst others.

“In addition to the enhanced on-board product, we are also able to offer more seats, ensuring capacity to meet growing demand on the route, not just outbound from Zimbabwe and Zambia, but also inbound from the United States, UK and Australia, as we continue to build and strengthen trade and tourism links between Zimbabwe and

February 2016

Emirates’ First Class private suites have electrically operated doors to ensure privacy, a flat bed, including a mini-bar and work desk, while Business Class features sleeperettes, and Economy Class comfortable and spacious seats. Across all cabins the aircraft is fitted with Emirates’ award-winning ice entertainment system, which offers customers over 2000 channels of on-demand audio and visual entertainment, from the latest movies, TV shows, music, audio books and games.

Customers will continue to enjoy the famous on-board hospitality from Emirates multi-national cabin crew, including Zambian and Zimbabwean nationals, as well as gourmet meals and generous baggage allowances, with 50kg for First Class, 40kg for Business Class and 30kg for economy class. With 155 Boeing 777s in service and a further 190 on order, the aircraft is the backbone of the Emirates fleet and very popular with customers. The deployment of the aircraft on the Lusaka and Harare route also makes Emirates’ southern Africa network an all Boeing 777 operation, with flights to Durban, Cape Town and Johannesburg in South Africa, and Luanda in Angola, highlighting the importance of the region with a growing and vibrant tourism and business sector. 

UAE in Focus

Equipment changes on two key routes

Etihad enhances US operations in 2016 E

tihad Airways will continue to optimise its United States network with equipment changes on two key markets in 2016.

Currently, the UAE’s national carrier operates leased Jet Airways Boeing 777-300ER aircraft for its daily flight to and from San Francisco. These aircraft will be replaced with Etihad Airways Boeing 777200LRs from April 25. The daily EY101 flight from Abu Dhabi to New York’s JFK airport and the return EY100 service will also see leased Jet Airways Boeing 777-300ER aircraft replaced by Etihad Airways Boeing 777-300ERs from June 1. The second daily Etihad Airways service to and from New York JFK, EY103 and EY102, will continue to be operated with the airline’s flagship A380 aircraft in 2016.

Kevin Knight, Etihad Airways’ Chief Strategy and Planning Officer, said, “With the growth of the Etihad fleet, we will be pleased to soon fly these important US services in our own colours, continuing to provide the very finest service in the sky to our guests.” The Etihad Airways Boeing 777-200LR to be deployed on the San Francisco route will be configured to carry 239 guests in three cabins, with eight First Class seats, 40 Business Class seats and 191 Economy Class seats. The Boeing 777-300ER to be deployed on the New York route will be configured to carry 328 guests, also in three cabins, with eight First Class seats, 40 Business Class seats, and 280 Economy Class seats.

Kevin Knight All Etihad Airways guests flying to the United States pass through US Preclearance at Abu Dhabi Airport, meaning they clear US immigration and customs before boarding their flight and arrive in America as domestic passengers. Etihad Airways offers a new premium lounge for First and Business Class guests to enjoy once they have passed through US Preclearance in Abu Dhabi. Etihad Airways currently operates double daily flights to New York JFK, a daily service to Chicago, daily to Washington DC, daily to Los Angeles LAX, daily to San Francisco, and three flights a week to Dallas-Fort Worth. The airline opened a new flagship premium lounge in New York last year. 

February 2016

UAE in Focus

Follows amendment to MoU on mutual visa exemption for holders of diplomatic passports

China visa waiver for UAE passports

olders of special and service passports issued by the UAE will be exempted from visa requirements to enter the People’s Republic of China as of January 11, 2016, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced.

special and service passports issued by the UAE and service and public affairs passports issued by China.

Ahmed Saeed Al Dhaheri, Assistant Under-Secretary for Consular Affairs, MoFA, announced the visa waiver after the ministries of foreign affairs in the UAE and China exchanged diplomatic notes regarding mutual visa exemption for holders of

The visa waiver followed an amendment to the memorandum of understanding on mutual visa exemption for holders of diplomatic passports issued by the UAE and China which was signed on January 17, 2012. Accordingly, holders of UAE diplo-

matic, special and service passports can enter China without the need for pre-entry visa as of 11th January, 2016, and stay in Chinese territories for up to 30 days. Al Dhaheri said this exemption underscores the growing relations between the two countries and gives a boost to joint co-operation in the future. 

Mc Loughlin: There is a lot to look forward to in 2016

Dubai Duty Free Group sales reach Dhs 6.8 billion (US$1.933 billion) in 2015

he New Year began on a high note for Dubai Duty Free as the group, which incorporates the airport retail operation and its Leisure division, announced turnover of Dhs7.057 billion (US$1.933 billion) for 2015. The figure includes Dubai Duty Free sales, which reached Dhs6.892 billion (US$1.888 billion) for the year. Colm McLoughlin, executive vice chairman said: “Overall, it has been

February 2016

a very good year and I would like to thank H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman of Dubai Duty Free, for his ongoing support and I join His Highness in thanking our great team of staff, our suppliers and of course our customers, who are fundamental to our continued growth. “There is a lot to look forward to in 2016, including the opening of Concourse D at Dubai Interna-

tional, which is a fantastic facility that will be very well received. We have a 7,000 sq metres retail operation in Concourse D and will be introducing some new brands and concepts there.” Dubai Duty Free recorded an impressive 26,848,832 sales transactions in 2015, which is an average of 73,558 sales transactions per day across both Dubai International and at Al Maktoum International. 

UAE in Focus

Ruling definitive on airberlin codeshare dispute

Court ruling clears Etihad to operate 26 codeshare flights for full winter schedule First scheduled non-stop air link between Central America and Middle East deferred

tihad Airways has welcomed the ruling last month by the higher administrative court in Luneburg reversing an earlier judgment and allowing it to continue operating 26 out of the 31 codeshare flights for the full Winter schedule - which ends on March 26, 2016.

tinue with all those codeshares beyond the winter schedule.

The court definitively ruled that 26 of the 31 codeshares are lawful.

“This ruling is a victory for consumers and competition in Germany.

Together with the other 50 approved codeshares with airberlin, 76 of the 81 codeshares are now approved once and for all, that is 94 percent of the codeshares applied for. The other five codeshares are on German domestic routes.

“We remain strongly committed to our strategic partner, airberlin, and will redouble our efforts to provide a strong competitive alternative to the dominant German carrier, Lufthansa.

The court’s interpretation of the UAE-Germany Air Services Agreement also means that Etihad Airways will be able to con-

Etihad Airways President and Chief Executive Officer, James Hogan, said, “We are pleased with the ruling which confirms 94 per cent of Etihad Airways’ codeshares.

“We would like to encourage German consumers to support airberlin and its 8,000 staff, who have been seriously damaged by this sustained attack on their business,” he added. 

mirates Airline has announced that it will defer the launch of services between Dubai and Panama until March 31, 2016, in order to fully receive all regulatory codeshare approvals from the wider Central and Latin America region. “This service, the first scheduled non-stop air link between Central America and the Middle East, was originally planned to commence on February 1, 2016,” a spokesperson for Emirates Airline said in a press release. The carrier’s spokesperson added, “We firmly believe in the potential of the route, not only as a valuable trade and tourism link between the two fast growing global cities of Panama and Dubai, but also as a gateway for travellers across Emirates’ global network to access Central and Latin American markets with just one stop in Dubai, and vice versa.” 

February 2016

Cover Story

Annual passenger traffic more than 78 million in 2015

Dubai International Airport retains No. 1 position as worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s busiest for international passenger traffic

ubai International retained its position as the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s number one hub for international passengers by registering annual traffic of just over 78 million in 2015.

Boosted by the growth of some 100 airlines that connect Dubai International to more than 240 destinations around the world, most notably Emirates and flydubai, annual passenger traffic at DXB surged 10.7 per cent to reach a record 78,014,838 passengers in 2015 compared to 70,473,893 recorded during 2014. Passenger numbers in December 2015 totalled 7,053,243, an increase of 8.5 per cent compared to 6,498,573 recorded during the same month in 2014, taking the average monthly traffic for the year to a record high of 6.5 million. It was the second time in the year after August when monthly traffic exceeded the 7 million mark. Aircraft movements in 2015 reached 403,517, up 14.1 per cent

February 2016

compared to 353,507 movements recorded during 2014. Monthly aircraft movements in December totalled 35,575 compared to 33,595 movements during the same month in 2014, an increase of 5.9 per cent. During the year DXB welcomed new airlines including Air Canada from Toronto, Eurowings from Cologne and China Southern from Wuhan, among others. A total of 12 new passenger destinations were also added thanks to the ongoing network expansion of Dubai-based airlines flydubai and Emirates. A traditionally strong market, India retained its position as Dubaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s single largest destination country in 2015 with 10,391,376 passen-

gers, a year on year growth of 17 per cent compared to 8,908,362 in 2014. The UK was placed second with 5,682,307 passengers (+6 per cent) followed closely by Saudi Arabia at 5,466,358 (+12 per cent). In terms of destination cities served by DXB, Doha retained the top spot with 2,782,600 passengers (+18 per cent) followed closely by London with 2,659,602 passengers (+1 per cent) and Mumbai with 2,214,221 passengers (+14 per cent).

Cover Story

Spurred by Emirates’ network expansion and ongoing growth on routes to the region, North America topped the regional markets in terms of percentage growth in 2015 (+25 per cent), followed by the GCC (+15 per cent), and Asia (+12 per cent). Despite the transfer of all pure cargo operators from DXB to Dubai World Central, cargo volumes remained relatively steady with

2,506,092 tonnes of air freight passing through the airport during the year, up 3.4 per cent compared to 2,423,677 tonnes recorded during 2014. Monthly freight volumes in December totalled 218,408 up 5 per cent compared to 207,618 recorded during the same month in 2014. Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports said, “It’s another banner year for Dubai International where we

broke records, engaged and entertained our customers in new ways, and retained our position as the world’s number one international hub. But we have no time to rest on our laurels as we are already busy testing the readiness our newest facility, the USD 1.2 billion Concourse D, which when it opens for our 70 plus airlines this quarter, will play a crucial role in helping us welcome millions of passengers in comfort and style.” 

February 2016

Special Report

Continuing Traffic Growth and Record Airline Profits Highlight 2015 Air Transport Results

â&#x20AC;&#x2039;P 16

reliminary figures released today by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) show the total number of passengers carried on scheduled services rising to 3.5 billion in 2015, a 6.4 per cent increase over last year.

The number of departures reached app roximately 34 million globally, and w orld passenger traffic, expressed in terms of total scheduled revenue pass enger-kilometres (RPKs), posted an increase of 6.8 per cent with approximately 6,562 billion RPKs being performed.

4,130 airports and 173 air navigation s ervices providers (ANSPs), continu ed to play a critical role over 2015 in fostering the growth of tourism and trade. Over half of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 1.1 billion tourists are transported by air today, while aircraft carry 35 per cent of w orld trade by value.

T he aviation industry, composed o f some 1,400 commercial airlines,

I nternational scheduled passenger t raffic expressed in terms of RPKs

February 2016

grew by 6.7 per cent in 2015, up from the 6.0 per cent recorded in 2014. European traffic increased by 5.5 per cent and accounted for the largest share of international RPKs at 37 per cent. The Asia/Pacific, meanwhile, had the second largest share with 28 per cent a nd grew by 8.2 per cent. The Midd le East region moved 14 per cent o f world RPKs and recorded growth

Special Report

of 12.1 per cent compared to 2014, while North America, also with a 14 per cent RPK share, recorded 3.3 per ce nt growth. Ca rriers in Latin America and the Ca ribbean managed 4 per cent of wo rld RPK traffic and recorded 7.9 pe r cent growth, and Africa, with a 3 per cent share, grew at a rate of 0.6 pe r cent. In terms of domestic scheduled air se rvices, overall markets grew by 6.9 per cent in 2015. North America, the world’s largest domestic market with 43 per cent share of the world do mestic scheduled traffic, experienced around 4.7 per cent growth in 2015. Th e Asia/Pacific region, which accounted for 39 per cent of world domestic scheduled traffic, grew strongly by 10.3 per cent in 2015 – mainly due to strong double digit growth in India and China.

Low-cost carrier activity

Lo w-cost carriers (LCCs) carried more than 950 million passengers in 20 15, approximately 28 per cent of to tal scheduled passengers. LCCs in As ia/Pacific represented 31 per cent of total LCC passengers carried, followed by Europe with 30 per cent and No rth America with 26 per cent. Th e increasing presence of LCCs in emerging economies is considered to ha ve been an important contributing factor to overall growth in passenger traffic.

Falling oil prices fuel positive 2015 results

De spite sluggish economic growth in advanced economies and most emerging markets, global passenger tr affic (RPK) growth in 2015 still increased by around one percentage

point compared to the previous year. A nearly 40 per cent decline in the average 2015 jet fuel price gave air ca rriers some flexibility to lower air fares and help stimulate this incr ease.

Passenger Capacity boosted

Se ating capacity offered by the wo rld’s airlines in 2015, expressed in available seat-kilometres (ASKs), increased globally by around 6.1 per ce nt. Wh ile capacity growth ranged from 0.1 per cent in Africa to 13.8 per cent in the Middle East, the average global passenger load factor improved by 0.5 percentage points over 2014; ranging from 68.9 per cent for Africa to 83.5 per cent for North America. De spite an increase in capacity offered in all regions, continued air carri er optimization resulted in average pa ssenger load factors reaching 80.2 per cent compared to 79.7 per cent in 2014.

Air cargo still facing challenges

Wo rld scheduled freight (air cargo) traffic, measured in freight tonne-kilometres (FTKs), grew by 2.2 per cent in 2015 – less than half of the 4.9 per ce nt growth rate registered in 2014. This is considered a reflection of the stagnating general economic situation wo rldwide. Th e international segment of freight tr affic, which represents nearly 87 pe r cent of total air freight, grew by ar ound 2.9 per cent after registering 5. 2 per cent growth in 2014. Th e scheduled international freight lo ad factor declined from around 50 per cent in 2014 to 47 per cent in 2015, also mirroring generally we ak world trade trends. 2015 also

More than a third of world airline profits in 2015 were generated by North American carriers sa w more and more air carriers impr oving their cargo capacity utiliza tion by moving higher volumes of freight via passenger aircraft, rather than making use of dedicated freighters.

Airline financial results

Fuel accounted for nearly a third of air ca rrier operating costs in 2014. The si gnificant decline in fuel costs and the positive effects of growth in traffic offset the mixed effects of a strong US dollar on the yields and unit costs of the air carriers. As a result, the airline industry is expected to end 2015 with another re cord operating profit of around US D 60 billion and an operating ma rgin of 7.6 per cent. 2014 had seen an operating profit of USD 42 billion and operating margin of 5.5 pe r cent. Mo re than a third of world airline pr ofits in 2015 were generated by No rth American carriers. Looking forward to 2016, a further decline expected in oil prices, coupled with an improving economic scenario, should see passenger traffic and profits conti nue their upward trend. 

February 2016

Exclusive

IATA developing new payment methods

he International Air Transport Association (IATA) is working on new payment methods called IATA EasyPay as part of the ongoing efforts towards a sustainable financial health for the industry estimated to be worth $714 billion in 2015, representing 42 per cent growth in five years.

The airline industry is projected to be handling in excess of three billion passengers this year. IATA’s over 260 airlines in 126 countries accounts for over 83 per cent of total air traffic. The global trade body for the airline industry said the new and voluntary form of payment for the IATA Accredited Agents is to issue and pay airline tickets through IATA. It will allow the implementation of the new Accreditation models and Credit Limit Management. Agents willing to use IATA EasyPay will need to open an EasyPay account and transfer funds. Based on a ‘Payas-you-Go’ model, transactions

will be final upon authorization; no charge back will be possible. The money will be transferred to the airlines within 48/72 hours since the ticket is issued through the Billing and Settlement Plans (BSPs). The trade body’s Payment Methods Working Group (PMWG) is preparing a Business Case for the industry players to take the initiative for a formal launch sometime next year. BSP is a system designed to facilitate and simplify the selling, reporting and remitting procedures of IATA Accredited Passenger Sales Agents, as well as improve financial control and cash flow for BSP Airlines. At the close of 2014, there were BSP operations in 181 countries and territories. The system currently serves 400 participating airlines with an on-time settlement rate of 99.98 per cent. In 2014, IATA’s BSP processed $255.7 billion. Participation in a BSP is open to all airlines (both IATA members and non-members). A BSP is the central point through which data and funds

February 2016

flow between travel agents and airlines. Instead of every agent having an individual relationship with each airline, all of the information is consolidated through the BSP. Agents make one single payment to the BSP (remittance), covering sales on all BSP Airlines. The BSP makes one consolidated payment to each airline, covering sales made by all agents in the country/region. Agents are provided with a range of electronic ticket numbers to be used for sales on any airline. IATA’s Supplier-to-Airline e-invoicing project (formerly IATA Financial Exchange) is driving the adoption of standardized electronic invoicing of major industry suppliers. An Industry standard, IS-XML, has been developed. The project is now assessing through five airlines visits that the standard is fit for purpose and allows for the expected level of accounts payable automation. The first Airline Disclosure Guides (ADGs) are being drafted and will include Hedging (IFRS 9), Aircraft Acquisition Cost and Depreciation, Maintenance Accounting and Segment Reporting.

Exclusive

Credit Risk Management

The vision for on-time, faster, safer industry funds based on a more relevant and customer centric settlement system is shaped around different programs. The NewGen ISS framework has been endorsed by the Passenger Agency Conference Steering Group (PSG), the governance body that is responsible for its implementation. It is now seeking industry consultation on the program features. A new Agency Management Solution is being developed and consists on a technology update necessary to the delivery of NewGen ISS. This is done by addressing process changes, defining the required data governance for Agency and developing the systems needed to support the processes and the implementation of agreed solutions. A 2015-2020 ISS Business Plan has been launched. Finally, an Agency Credit Risk Management community has been created whereby an Agency Credit Risk Manager has been identified in each BSP member airline, as the main point of contact concerning any Agency Credit Risk issues. Moreover, Information Management Reports have been created and distributed to all BSP airlines. After forty years with little evolution in the method of payments, the payment sector is now going through major structural changes in the areas of technology, regulatory changes, and new entrants that provide both opportunities and risks to the airline industry, says IATA. Airline ticket sale is an attractive ground for fraudsters and airlines have to contend with several types of fraud: “family or friendly” fraud, frequent flyer fraud, travel agency fraud, cross-channel fraud, third party fraud, acceptance of stolen or counterfeit

The concept of credit limit management does not exist at industry level credit card account numbers, internal fraud, and theft of cardholder data from company systems. Credit card fraud is believed to cost the industry around $1bn annually in lost revenues, averaging 0.3 per cent of revenues paid by cards, but with internet fraud estimated as high as 1.7 per cent. It is estimated that card fraud also leads to increased merchant rates, costing an approximate additional $500 million. Finally airlines have to bear the costs of fraud prevention tools, manual processes, fraud dispute handling, and

charge backs, as well as lost sales associated with declined purchases (“false positives”). IATA noted that the lack of agent credit limit management is a major cause of unrecovered defaults. Currently, by resolution, IATA performs a yearly financial assessment of travel agencies, but IATA is not mandated to either inform or intervene when agencies sales are going beyond a given amount. The concept of credit limit management does not exist at industry level. Some airlines have implemented additional measures to limit the risks with partial information only while still exposed to the overall industry risk. Tony Tyler, Director General and CEO of IATA, remarked: “We are working on a critical agenda to ensure the future of this important industry by placing it on a firm financial footing.” The largest contribution to airline financial well-being, he says, is the provision of safe, secure, efficient systems for the movement of funds between the different parts of the value chain. 

February 2016

Middle East News

Demand expand by 5.4%, and capacity rise 9.2% for Nov 2015

Middle East carriers buck decline in Air Freight volumes

he International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data for global air freight markets showing air cargo volumes (measured in Freight Tonne Kilometers) were down 1.2% in November 2015, compared to November 2014.

Middle Eastern carriers saw demand expand by 5.4%, and capacity rise 9.2%. Although the Middle East led the way as the only market showing positive growth, the rate fell to less than half the 11.9% average growth for the year-to-date. Falls in the oil price are impacting some economies in the region. Total cargo volumes, however, expanded compared to October 2015, and were higher than the low point in August. This indicates that the decline in cargo demand may be bottoming out. The negative year-on-year comparisons occurred across all regions with the exception of the Middle East. Of

February 2016

the major markets that together comprise more than 80% of total trade, Europe was down 2.0%, North America by 3.2%, and Asia-Pacific by 1.5%. The comparative weakness in these regions was driven largely because the performance in November 2014 was very strong. Latin American and African markets also fell, by 6.4% and 6.0% respectively. The Middle East region posted 5.4% growth. “The freight performance in November was a mixed bag. Although the headline growth rate fell again, and the global economic outlook remains fragile, it appears that parts of Asia-Pacific are growing again and globally, export orders are looking better. In fact, the

downward trend in FTK volumes appears to be bottoming out. But there is a great deal of uncertainty. The current volatility of stock markets shows how much the health of the global economy – upon which air cargo depends - remains on a knife-edge,” said Tony Tyler, IATA’s Director General and CEO. Asia-Pacific carriers saw a slight fall in FTKs of 1.5% in November compared to November 2014, and capacity expanded 3.2%. Compared to October, volumes expanded by a strong 1.9%. Over recent months, the declining trend in volumes has halted. Better demand in advanced economies is driving export growth in some countries, particularly in Japan. 

Middle East News

Oman Air wants to fly Empty Quarter O

man Air wants the Rub’ Al Khali (Empty Quarter) airspace to be opened for regional flights, which will help save fuel and also reduce the duration of flights for passengers, The Times of Oman reports.

Oman Air’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Paul Gregorowitsch said, “A key work area of interest to Oman Air is the opening of the airspace in the Empty Quarter or Rub Al Khali. “This will lead to reduction in fuel and time savings for WY

(Oman Air) flights going to GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries, especially Jeddah and Medina.”

Once the Empty Quarter is opened, flight timings to Jeddah could come down drastically from the current three hours and 35 minutes to Jeddah. Speaking to the Times of Oman (TOO), Chris Goater, manager of Corporate Communications, International Air Transport Association (IATA), said “This would help in improving efficiency, reducing delays and carbon emissions.” 

Saudia receives two Dreamliners and a B777-300ER

oeing and Saudia celebrated the triple delivery of two Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners and a 777-300ER (Extended Range). A third Dreamliner will be delivered to Saudia

within the next week. The airline ordered eight 787-9s in 2010. "The delivery of our first Dreamliners marks yet another exciting

chapter in Saudia's long-standing relationship with Boeing that began in the early 1960s," said Saleh bin Nasser al-Jasser, director-general, Saudi Arabian Airlines. "With its reputation for reliability, operational efficiency and comfort, we now look forward to the 787 becoming an integral addition to Saudia's fleet as we continue our fleet modernisation and expansion as part of our transformation plans." The airline will now have 48 Boeing airplanes in its fleet that currently include 777-200ERs, 777-300ERs and 747-400s. Over the last 55 years, Saudia has taken delivery of over 130 Boeing airplanes including 707s, 737s, MD-11Fs, DC-9s and MD90s. 

February 2016

Middle East News

Increase of 6.6 per cent over previous year

30 million passengers used Jeddah airport in 2015

bout 30 million passengers traveled through King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA) in Jeddah in 2015, which is an increase of 6.6 percent over the previous year.

“This is the largest number of passengers in all the Kingdom’s airports,” the airport’s director Abdullah Al-Rimi said. He said since its inception, the airport has been witnessing an increasing number of air traffic movement which is three times its actual capacity. Rimi referred the large number of passengers using the airport to the increasing number of Haj and Umrah pilgrims, tourism and economic activities.

February 2016

“The air transport companies operating to and from the airport have gone up from 64 to 80 last year. They reach 100 companies during the Haj and Umrah seasons,” he said. The director said the continuous rise in the air traffic and the increasing number of passengers represent a grave challenge to the airport in its transitional period before the shift to the new airport. “We have a big responsibility to provide excellent services to the passengers and to all airline companies

using the airport,” he said. Rimi said, when it is formally opened, the new airport will satisfy the needs of the air transport market in the Kingdom. “The new airport will be a quantum leap in air travel industry in the region and will enable the Kingdom to compete with the world in the domain of airport and passenger service,” he said. The General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA) has said the upgraded airport will become fully operational by the middle of 2017. 

February 2016

International News

Carbon accreditation for Brisbane Airport

orporation’s continued efforts in managing its carbon emissions have been officially recognised by Airports Council International (ACI) with Brisbane Airport (BNE) now certified as Airport Carbon Accredited at Level 3 (Optimisation).

To achieve Level 3 Optimisation Accreditation, BAC successfully reduced the level of its Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions, mapped the carbon footprint for the whole of Brisbane Airport, and demonstrated successful engagement with key stakeholders in ongoing efforts to improve the airport’s environmental sustainability.Brisbane Airport is the second Australian airport and the eighth airport in the Asia-Pacific region to reach this level. BAC’s CEO and managing director, Julieanne Alroe, says the airport’s sustainability strategy aimed to reach beyond a risk and compliance position.

February 2016

“At Brisbane Airport we are committed to sustainability and putting in place programmes that help us manage and minimise long-term impacts of climate change and adverse environmental impacts from aviation and property development activities,” says Alroe. “Achieving Level 3 Optimisation Airport Carbon Accreditation is an achievement we’re very proud of and one that encourages us to continue our efforts to further reduce our carbon footprint.” Patti Chau, regional director of ACI Asia-Pacific, notes: “I wish to congratulate Brisbane Airport in becoming the second airport in Australia to attain Airport Carbon Ac-

creditation Optimisation Level.“The accreditation demonstrates Brisbane Airport’s strong commitment to environmental protection and ensuring sustainable growth. “I look forward to seeing the airport’s future achievements on its journey towards carbon neutrality.”Currently there are 151 airports certified at one of the four available levels of the programme. These airports welcome nearly a third of global air passenger traffic. The global Airport Carbon Accreditation programme certifies airports at four different levels of accreditation (Mapping, Reduction, Optimisation and Neutrality). 

International News

Boeing achieves record commercial airplanes deliveries in 2015

oeing delivered 762 commercial airplanes in 2015, 39 more than the previous year and most ever for the company as it enters its centennial year. “The Boeing team has worked hard to achieve strong performance,” said Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Ray Conner. “Our team did a fantastic job achieving higher deliveries and getting our products to our customers as quickly and efficiently as possible. This will continue to be our focus.” In 2015, Boeing recorded 768 net orders, valued at $112.4 billion at current list prices. At year end, Boeing held 5,795 unfilled orders from customers worldwide.

“We had a solid year of orders in 2015, maintaining a strong, balanced backlog that will help ensure a steady stream of deliveries for years to come,” said Conner.Worldwide demand for air travel has continued to be robust, said Randy Tinseth, Vice President, Mar-

keting, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “Global passenger traffic in most key regions is increasing,” said Tinseth. “Our customers continue to perform well in the marketplace and we’ll continue to support them with the industry’s best products and services.” 

Free yoga rooms opened at Frankfurt Airport A

place to exercise and relax are not words normally associated with the world’s airports, but they could be used to describe Frankfurt Airport from this week following the opening of its new yoga rooms. Airport operator,Fraport, has opened two professionally equipped and free yoga rooms in the airport’s passenger terminals. Visitors will find all the required ranging from yoga mats, blocks, cushions and pads, and a floor-toceiling mirror helps practitioners check their posture, said an Airport World report. Videos on monitor screens explain exercises to music while the gateway claims that subdued lighting

and a wall-sized Buddha evoke “an appropriate ambiance”. This new service at Frankfurt Airport is available to transferring passengers who have enough time between flights. Passengers can find the yoga rooms located in Terminal 1 past the security checkpoint near gates C14 and C16, and in Terminal 2 past the passport checkpoint near gates D1 to D4. Open around the clock, the yoga rooms can be enjoyed free of charge. Fraport says that the yoga rooms are the latest customer service focused initiative intriduced under the umbrella of its “Great to have you here!” service quality programme. 

February 2016

International News

GCAA to ensure airlines comply with new disability rules

he Ghana Civil Aviation Authority has warned it will sanction airlines as well as industry players who fail to comply with new revisions to the provisions for the carriage by air of disabled persons, according to a media report.

The new revisions which took effect on January 2, 2016 are geared towards ensuring that persons with disability get the right treatment and services in the aviation industry. Prior to the revision of the rules industry players had warned persons with disability in most cases were not given the right treatment. The revised law is expected to cover all persons with any form of disability.

February 2016

Under the revised law a broad area of persons have been roped in including persons with visual, speech, and hearing impairments. Also persons with cancer, heart disease, diabetes, mental retardation, emotional illness, drug addiction, and alcoholism have also been placed under the revised law. The directive is to apply to all Ghanaian registered Air Carriers, Airport Operators, Ground Handlers, Security Profiling firms,

Immigration, Ghana Revenue Authority (Customs Division), Tenant Restricted Area Operators, Restaurant Operators and all other service providers at airports serving civil aviation. Meanwhile aircraft operators per the revised law cannot refuse to transport persons with disabilities on the basis of their disabilities except for safety requirements as specified in the Ghana Civil Aviation (Safety) Regulations, LI 2000. ď&#x201A;&#x192;

International News

Chinese aviation sector flies into 2016 on record profits

hina’s aviation industry is coming to the end of its most profitable year in history and is headed for a 2016 that will see more new airlines formed and new international routes added as the sector stands out as a bright spot in the mainland’s slowing economy, according to a report in South China Morning Post. The industry turned in a total profit of 54.8 billion yuan (HK$65.7 billion) in the first 11 months of the year, up 76.2 per cent year on year, according to the Civil Aviation Administration of China’s annual work meeting late last week. Low oil prices have helped the industry save on its biggest single cost and further stimulate demand with lower ticket prices, despite the yuan’s sharp devaluation in the second half eating into airlines’ bottom lines, said the report. The top aviation regulator said passenger traffic had grown by an average of 10.4 per cent a year for the past five years, with the industry’s accumulated total profit for the five years reaching 180 billion yuan – more than triple the amount in the previous five years. China’s commercial fleet has grown by 1,047 planes to 2,645 planes in the past five years, while the number of airlines increased from 45 to 54.

The report added that several start-up airlines formed this year are expected to start flying in 2016, including Colourful Guizhou Airlines, Hongtu Air and Guilin Air, which were ushered in by the CAAC’s lifting of a seven-year-long moratorium on airline licence applications in 2013. As the licence review process lasts two years, more new names are expected to hit the market next year. Industry insiders say “several dozen” companies are queuing up for air transport licence applications, and that the number of aircraft leasing companies is also ballooning, as both the outlook for the industry and a “prestige effect” associated with being in the plane business are drawing more companies into the sector, the report said. “Aircraft leasing is the crown jewel in leasing now. There are a lot of leasing companies with their core business not in aircraft but want to branch out by doing just one or two plane deals for the sake of wooing

investors,” the report quoted Zhao Mingfeng, chief operating officer at SkyCO International Financial Leasing, a newly formed aircraft lessor partly owned by the Guangdong Airport Group, as saying. In its 2016 global airline sector outlook, Credit Suisse identified the continuation of the “Chinese outbound juggernaut” as the No 1 growth driver for Asia-Pacific airlines and the “strongest source of growth” for the Australian tourism industry. “Market access [is] a greater driver of PRC travel demand than economic growth,” its analysts wrote in the report. “The removal of barriers that include visa processing time and onerous border controls, together with the induction of demand that growing destinational choices and frequencies provide, are – we believe – more important in driving demand than economic growth that owes its size to foreign investment and infrastructure development.” 

February 2016

ATM

PASSUR Aerospace announces the Unmanned Aerial System and Drone Traffic Management Integration Service

ASSUR Aerospace, an aviation business intelligence, big data, and software solutions company, announced the establishment of an Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) – Drone Traffic Management Integration service.

The service is designed to help commercial drone operators become more informed, effective, and collaborative members of the National Airspace System (NAS) by integrating them into PASSUR’s aviation intelligence platform, currently used by the main NAS stakeholders (airlines, airports, business aviation, and the FAA). The new service will help drone operators understand how the commercial airspace operates, including its capabilities and limitations, and ensure that they quickly become connected and informed stakeholders within the avia-

February 2016

tion community – so that they can appropriately represent their interests with traditional NAS operators and the FAA. “Today’s NAS user community operates every day, collaboratively, on our platform – so we are well positioned to help commercial drone operators integrate into the civilian airspace community and work effectively with other stakeholders,” said Leo Prusak, PASSUR’s Vice President of Air Traffic Management Products and Strategy. “We believe there is a range of operational and business objectives that need to be balanced to

ensure optimal use of limited system capacity.” “PASSUR’s platform, historical database, and air traffic expertise have facilitated the introduction and assimilation of new technology in the NAS,” said Jim Barry, President & CEO of PASSUR Aerospace. “PASSUR has a 15 year track record of being successful in bridging the needs of disparate stakeholders – and helping them collaborate productively. We believe we can do the same for the emerging commercial drone and UAS sector.” 

ATM

Airbus to launch on demand charter airline

nternational taxi service Uber is teaming with European Airbus for an on-demand helicopter service to launch at the Sundance Film Festival later this week. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Airbus chief executive Tom Enders said “It’s a pilot project, we’ll see where it goes — but it’s pretty exciting.” Uber’s has conducted previous helicopter trials. In 2013 in New York it offered UberChopper for flights between Manhattan and the Hamptons and operated a similar service at the last Cannes Film Festival with the price as high as several thousands of dollars. The latest version will see customers get picked up and taken to their waiting H125 and H130 helicopter, Airbus told the publication. Aviation International News earlier this month reported how Uber planned to launch a limited expansion into per-seat helicopter ride sharing. 

ATM to increase at highest rate in next 6 years

‘Global Smart Airports Market 2015-2019’ report, published last month, by Research and Markets looks at smart airport solutions and systems across the board for the next five years. In fact, the report states that the market for ATM is expected to increase at the highest rate in the next six years. While major applications of smart airports - landside, terminal side and airside installations – are in focus, what is noteworthy is that advanced technologies and solutions dealing with air traffic management (ATM) are being cited as key focus to smooth airport operations. To run a profitable airport, it demands effective restructuring and streamlining passenger travel, which reduces operation costs, the report states.

The smart airports market has been valued at $9,718.07 million in 2014, and is expected to reach $13,481.17 million by 2020, at a CAGR of 5.61% from 2014–2020. The growth of the smart airport systems market has been primarily triggered by the increase in the air and passenger traffic, in both developed and developing nations, stressing the need for better ATM. 

European ATM master plan outlines 20-year vision

ingle European Sky architects have given the green light for an updated technical blueprint for the SESAR ATM modernisation programme which sets out the deployment and

development vision between now and 2035.As the technological pillar of the Single European Sky initiative, SESAR aims to modernise and harmonise air traffic management in Europe. The SESAR Joint Undertaking (SESAR JU) was established in 2007 as a public-private partnership to support this endeavour. It does so by pooling the knowledge and resources of the entire ATM community in order to define, research, develop and validate inno-

vative technological and operational solutions. The SJU is also responsible for the execution of the European ATM Master Plan. The members of the Administrative Board of the SESAR Joint Undertaking (SESAR JU) formally approved the 2015 edition of the European ATM Master Plan – the main planning tool for air traffic management (ATM) modernisation in Europe. 

February 2016

Opinion

Continuing successful cooperation in 2016 All nations have to provide a national CO2 action plan to ICAO by the end of the year. And for all ECAC states, this plan will include a common section for which EUROCONTROL is providing baseline estimates for 2010 and forecasts for 2035. Frank Brenner Director General, EUROCONTROL

ollowing the discussions at COP21 – the United Nations Climate Change Conference, the ICAO Assembly will also be focussing on environment. When we talk about the environment, it’s not all about market-based measures. We are seeing environmental issues having a direct impact on the performance of the Europe’s ATM network. In part that’s because of the effect that environmental issues have on the development of Europe’s airports. Growth is being constrained and we can expect to see increased congestion at certain key airports having an increasing effect on the performance of the network. We’ve also seen other effects such as resistance to the introduction of precision-based navigation has led to a number of trials being suspended. That reduces the prospect of widespread deployment of PBN which, in turn, means that there is less chance of meeting some of the Single European Sky flight efficiency targets. EUROCONTROL has a wide range of projects which help, from A-CDM to Collaborative Environmental Management. But I’ll focus on a few which have global implications.

3030

February February2016 2016

Another very relevant area in which we are working is on Global Environmental Standardization. This is in close collaboration with the EU and with ECAC. EUROCONTROL has worked for over 15 years in supporting states and the EU on ensuring Europe’s contribution to developing Global Environmental Standards. These standards have to work – they have to achieve the goals underlying their creation and they have to be workable for those who have to implement them. Precision based navigation earlier and this is an area that has been added to the work programme of the Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection with a to provide guidance on the use of PBN. Another new area in the committee’s work programme is the development of guidelines to airports on the opportunities to reduce noise. The partnership of ECAC, EUROCONTROL and the EU has been remarkably successful in the past. Let’s make sure that we continue to generate benefits for Europe, as well as for the world.  (Excerpts from speech at ECAC DGCA)

Opinion

European aviation industry needs to aim higher T

he landscape of global aviation is changing. The number of passengers is growing and new players are entering the global market. It’s crystal clear we need to give it our best to compete in this game. The European aviation industry must become more competitive, more innovative and more sustainable. Aviation is highly important to Europe’s economy, with two million jobs, a direct contribution of €110 billion to our GDP, and an indirect contribution of €510 billion. Aviation has special importance for Europe. It not only links our regions and peoples, and promotes tourism and commerce. Europe was also the birthplace of global aviation. Today, Europe is still a major player in the industry. The challenge is now: how can we keep it that way? Studies show that the number of air passengers will double over the next 15 years. While the largest share of this growth is expected in Asia, there is potential for growth in Europe as well. Let’s seek out the best opportunities to benefit from working together within the European Union. We need to become more competitive. We can achieve a lot with smart regulation and lower costs, from ticket prices to taxes. We need to tackle some dilemma’s on our external aviation policy. Proposals have been drafted for negotiating mandates with a large number of countries. Which markets are important for us? Which third countries have expressed interest to negotiate with the EU? Fresh opportunities and fair competition: these are our aims.

Sharon Dijksma, Dutch Secretary of State for Infrastructure and Environment

We need to increase our capacity to innovate. Take drones, a new factor in our airspace that is literally demanding more space. Introducing EU rules for drones will clear the way for further development of this innovative market. We have to enlarge airspace capacity, cut costs and reduce environmental impact. Personally, I think we need to aim higher. The world is demanding ever quieter and cleaner aircraft. Investing in clean, quiet planes now will save a lot of money later, and is essential to reach our climate targets. This is one clear way we can prove that we are still trendsetters in aviation. Aviation matters now and it will still matter 10 years from now and 20 years from now. Above all in Europe. So we’re setting to work now to ensure its future.  (Excerpts from the speaking notes for Sharon Dijksma at the opening of the European Aviation Summit)

February 2016

Airlines

Airlines ban hoverboards

overboards may be gaining popularity, but they’re falling out of favor with an increasing number of big airlines.

More than 60 airlines have banned hoverboards from being taken on their flights—either as carry-on items or in Aer Lingus, Air Berlin, Air Canada, Air France, Air New Zealand Air Seychelles Air Tahiti Air Transat Alaska Airlines Alitalia All Nippon American Airlines

Asiana Austrian Airlines Avianca Bangkok Airways British Airways Brussels Airlines Cathay Pacific China Airlines Delta Airlines Dragonair Easyjet

Several airlines, including Southwest, appear to allow hoverboards in certain circumstances, although policies have been changing rapidly, the report added.

checked luggage—because of concerns about the scooters’ lithium-ion batteries, which are potentially combustable,

February 2016

Emirates Etihad Fiji Airways Finnair FlyBE Garuda Hong Kong Airlines Japan Airlines Jet Airways Jetstar KLM – Royal Dutch

said a report on fusion.net.Among the airlines that have banned hoverboards in all passenger luggage are:

Airlines Korean Airlines LAN Airlines Lufthansa Malaysia Airlines Monarch Philippine Airlines Qantas Qatar Airways SAS Saudi Arabian Airlines

For their part, hoverboard makers have maintained that the scooters are safe, even as local news broadcasts have been headlined by stories of hoverboards that have

Singapore Airlines South African Airlines Sri Lankan Airlines Swiss International TAM Airlines Thai Airways Thomas Cook Thomson Airways United Airlines Virgin Australia

caught on fire and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has recorded at least 70 complaints of hoverboard-related emergency room visits. 

Airlines

Aviation industry, research institutions collaborate to make jet fuel from forest residues.

Boeing, Canadian aviation industry launch sustainable aviation biofuel project

oeing, the University of British Columbia (UBC) and SkyNRG, with support from Canada’s aviation industry and other stakeholders, are collaborating to turn leftover branches, sawdust and other forest-industry waste into sustainable aviation biofuel.

Canada, which has extensive sustainably certified forests, has long used mill and forest residues to make wood pellets that are used to generate electricity. A consortium that includes Boeing, Air Canada, WestJet, Bombardier, research institutions and industry partners will assess whether forest waste could also be harnessed to produce sustainable aviation biofuel using thermochemical processing. “Sustainable aviation biofuel will play a critical role in reducing aviation’s carbon emissions over the long term,” said Julie Felgar, managing director of Environmental Strategy & Integration, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “Canada is in a terrific position to leverage its sustainable forests to make environmental progress for its aviation industry and other transport sectors.” A 2015 Boeing-sponsored study by UBC found that aviation biofuel made from forest waste could meet 10 percent – about 46 million gallons, or 175 million liters – of British Columbia’s annual jet fuel demand. These efforts could also supply biofuel to ground and marine vehicles, saving about 1 million tons of CO2 emissions per year on a life cycle basis across the transportation sector, the study found.

“Air Canada believes that developing a reliable supply of sustainable aviation biofuel in Canada will play a role in achieving our emission reduction goals,” said Teresa Ehman, Director, Environmental Affairs, Air Canada. “WestJet has invested billions of dollars in fleet renewal to reduce our fuel consumption and to ensure we are doing our part towards responsible growth and environmental sustainability,” said Geoff Tauvette, Director of Fuel and Environment, WestJet. “WestJet’s social responsibility mandate is to extend our culture of caring beyond our aircraft doors and we are proud to support initiatives such as these that reduce our carbon footprint through the research, development and production of aviation biofuels in Canada.” This project, announced during the 2015 Canadian Bioeconomy Conference in Vancouver, was recently awarded funding by the Green Avia-

tion Research and Development Network (GARDN) of Canada as part of a portfolio of investments in technologies to reduce aviation’s carbon emissions. The consortium is led by UBC and NORAM Engineering and Constructors, Ltd., of Vancouver. Project partner SkyNRG, based in the Netherlands, is the global market leader for sustainable jet fuel, having supplied biofuel to more than 20 carriers worldwide. Using sustainably produced biofuel reduces lifecycle carbon dioxide emissions by 50 to 80 percent compared to conventional petroleum fuel, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. As part of Boeing’s commitment to protect the environment and support long-term sustainable growth for commercial aviation, the company has active biofuel projects on six continents, including in the U.S., Australia, Brazil, China, Europe, Middle East, South Africa and Southeast Asia. 

February 2016

Cargo & Logistics

Cargo, weighing about 84 tonnes, flown in on Boeing 777 Freighter

Emirates SkyCargo lifts high-profile equipment charter for Uganda Nile bridge

mirates SkyCargo, the freight division of Emirates, has again demonstrated its capability to handle all types of cargo, this time a very important load of heavy machinery and steel parts for a new bridge currently being constructed across the Nile River in Uganda. er and charters and hub operations teams worked very hard to ensure the success of this charter,” said Ravishankar Mirle, Emirates Vice- President, Cargo Commercial, Far East and Australasia. “Emirates SkyCargo has carried many outsized items of cargo over the years, from helicopters, to ship rudders, aircraft engines and even a yacht’s mast, among others, so we have a lot of experience in managing this type of cargo,” he added.

Emirates SkyCargo was recently awarded the charter by a Japanese construction company to carry the heavy equipment from Tokyo’s Narita Airport to Entebbe on December 26, via the cargo carrier’s hub in Dubai. The cargo, weighing about 84 tonnes, consisted of machinery, including a winch, down-the-hole hammer, and steel parts for the bridge. The cable-stayed bridge, currently one of the biggest bridge developments in central and east Africa, is a project by the Government of Uganda with support from the Government of Japan, and is located at Jinja near the source of the Nile.

February 2016

Once completed the bridge is expected to improve transport flows on the Northern Corridor route which links Uganda and neighbours Burundi, Rwanda and eastern DRC to Kenya. “This was a very high profile charter for what clearly is a very important project in Uganda. We were delighted to be entrusted by the construction company to move this load, and prove that Emirates SkyCargo has the capability and capacity to move large and outsized cargo, requiring careful planning. “Our field teams in Japan and Uganda along with our Dubai-based freight-

To carry the cargo, Emirates SkyCargo used one of its Boeing 777 Freighter aircraft, which is capable of carrying over 100 tonnes of cargo per flight. The aircraft is one of the most modern and technologically advanced freighters available, with its wide main deck enabling access for outsized cargo and larger consignments. Emirates SkyCargo operates a fleet of 15 freighters, including two Boeing 747-400Fs and 13 Boeing 777Fs, that operate from their base at Emirates SkyCentral, located in the logistics district of Dubai South, from where they service over 50 scheduled freighter destinations around the world. 

Cargo & Logistics

Airline accounted for 88 per cent of cargo imports, exports and transfers at Abu Dhabi International Airport

Etihad Airways delivers strong cargo volumes for 2015 E

tihad Airways delivered solid operational performance in 2015 by achieving continued growth in passenger and cargo volumes.

James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ President and Chief Executive Officer, said: “No airline group is doing more to stimulate new competition in the aviation industry.” Etihad Airways reported strong cargo volumes for 2015, with 592,090 tonnes of freight and mail flown in total, a four per cent increase yearon-year. The airline accounted for 88 per cent of cargo imports, exports and transfers at Abu Dhabi International Airport last year. During 2015, Etihad Cargo enhanced its global reach by offering bellyhold capacity on Etihad Airways’ six new passenger destinations, bringing to 96 the total number of passenger destinations on which cargo services are currently provided.

per cent year-on-year), with an average age of 5.8 years – one of the youngest and most environmentally-friendly in the industry. The airline took delivery of 11 Airbus (four A380s, six A321s and one A320) and four Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft in 2015, while further leased capacity was also added. To support the next phase of its global network expansion, Etihad Airways will receive 10 aircraft deliveries this year, including five Boeing 787-9s, three A380s and

two Boeing 777-200 Freighters. Mr Hogan said: “We enter 2016 with confidence as a stronger, more dynamic airline that will continue to support the evolution of Abu Dhabi as a global aviation hub. “We continue to face challenges, not least the protectionism of the major American and European legacy carriers. We will continue to fight to bring new competitive choice to travellers around the world.” Etihad offers a combined passenger and cargo network of almost 600 destinations including its 197 interline and 49 codeshare partners. 

Etihad Cargo also expanded its freighter services to several new markets including Dakar, Nouakchott and Douala, bringing the number of freighter-only destinations operated to 20. Etihad Airways’ fleet consisted of 121 aircraft at the end of 2015 (+9

February 2016

Cargo & Logistics

Port of Rotterdam up 4.9% in 2015 on large quantities of oil shipped in for refining

Why oil’s slide is Rotterdam’s rise

oods throughput in Rotterdam increased by a total 4.9 per cent to 466.4 million tonnes in 2015. This significant growth is almost entirely attributable to the increased throughput of crude oil and oil products.

Allard Castelein, CEO Port of Rotterdam Authority: “Low oil prices result in high margins for the refineries, so they have large quantities of oil shipped in for refining. This not only applies to the refineries in Europe but also to those in Russia. “The latter produce a relatively large amount of fuel oil which is shipped to the Far East via Rotterdam. The result is an 8 per cent increase in the throughput of crude oil and an 18 per cent increase in the throughput of oil products” Although this year the port owes its growth to oil, according to Castelein the port is in a transition phase: “Due to the need to combat climate change, the port is fully committed to energy efficiency as well as the development of renewable energy and bio-based chemistry. Rotterdam already has one of the most energy efficient refining and chemicals clusters and the largest biobased cluster in the world. It is our ambition to retain our leading position.” When it comes to throughput in 2016, the Port Authority aims to match the port’s strong performance in 2015.

Liquid bulk

The throughput of crude oil increased by 8.1 per cent to 103.1 million tonnes,

February 2016

driven by low oil prices. The supply and transport of oil products increased by 18.0 per cent to 88.5 million tonnes.

the commissioning of two new power plants on the Maasvlakte.

In addition to a substantial increase in the throughput of fuel oil, more gas oil and diesel came into the port for the European market.

The handling of containers fell by 0.5 per cent to 12.2 million TEU (twenty feet equivalent unit, the unit of measurement for containers) and by 1.1 per cent to 126.3 million tonnes ( weight). In the first half of the year 6.2 million TEU was handled, the second half 6.0 million TEU.

The throughput of LNG increased by no less than 91.3 per cent. However, in absolute terms with 2.3 million tonnes, this segment is still small. LNG prices in the Far East have fallen sharply and are now comparable to those in Europe, which increases the trade and shipping volume of gas in our region.

Dry bulk

The throughput of ores and scrap fell by 0.6 per cent to 33.9 million tonnes. Although steel demand slightly increased, this was offset by the import of cheap Chinese steel. The throughput of coal increased by 1.0 per cent to 30.7 million tonnes. The coal transported to Rotterdam consists for approximately 40 per cent of coking coal used in blast furnaces and 60 per cent of coal for power plants. The vast majority thereof is used in Germany. The demand for energy coal in Germany decreased due to the increase in solar and wind energy. In the Netherlands, demand rose due to

Containers

The volume of transport to Asia, by far the most comprehensive trade flow throughout 2015, increased by 2 per cent. Container transport to Latin and North America fell. Within Europe, transport to the Iberian Peninsula and Great Britain increased. The strong British economy also played an important role in attracting roll on roll off (Ro/Ro) traffic over the North Sea. An additional factor was that transportation via Calais suffered from strikes, refugee problems and failures in the tunnel under the English Channel. Ro/Ro traffic increased by 10.1 per cent to 22.0 million tonnes. Other break bulk decreased by 5.5 per cent to 5.7 million tonnes. The main reason was the one-time flow of incoming container cranes in 2014. Together, Ro/Ro and other break bulk make up the category break bulk. This category increased by 6.5 per cent. 

Cargo & Logistics

DAFZA and LinkedIn join hands to enhance recruiting opportunities

he Dubai Airport Freezone Authority (DAFZA) and LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional network on the internet, officially formed an alliance to strategically collaborate on human capital and sales and marketing endeavors. The move was announced during a special meeting that took place at DAFZA headquarters in the presence of Amna Lootah, Assistant Director General for Finance and Commercial at DAFZA, and Rajai El Khadem, Head of Public Sector at LinkedIn MENA. This alliance will enable professionals working at DAFZA to expand DAFZA’s awareness, reach and employer brand on LinkedIn as well as access knowledge, information

and insights from the world’s largest professional network. Further, this LinkedIn platform will be a good enabler for potential investors around the globe to easily connect with and access DAFZA and its key stakeholders as well as attract professionals and talent from various industries to the

Freezone. For its part, DAFZA will leverage its affiliation with LinkedIn to attract the best talents to the Freezone, actively engage investors and entrepreneurs interested in DAFZA’s potential as a business destination, and further build DAFZA as a globally reputable employer brand. 

Etihad, Masdar Institute design temperature-sensitive cargo ‘dolly’ system

he Masdar Institute of Science and Technology and Etihad Cargo, the fast-growing cargo division of Etihad Airways, have jointly announced the launch of a new design for a smart, temperature-controlled, sustainable and energy-efficient air cargo container (cool dolly) system.

At present, many international airports and ground-handling teams around the world employ transportation dollies that are diesel-powered, with energy-intensive cooling units which are expensive to operate and often do not meet all performance requirements. As a result of the

close collaboration between Masdar Institute and Etihad Cargo, the innovative new cool dolly is specifically designed to optimise the transportation of temperature-sensitive cargo, which includes pharmaceuticals, livestock and perishable products that need to be transferred between the aircraft to the storage compartments in the cargo warehouses at Abu Dhabi International Airport. The new hybrid cool dolly design incorporates the use of innovative thermoelectric module technologies, modified compressor units, and a custom-made power bank that can be attached to solar panels for sustainable recharging, ensuring that the temperature can be regulated to meet the needs of temperature-sensitive cargo while minimising power consumption. 

February 2016

Technology

AED 4.67 million UAE Drones for Good Award sees latest technology airborne

he Organising Committee of the UAE Drones for Good Award has announced that 20 contestants have qualified to the semi-finals at the National and International competitions of the award, which attracted entries from all parts of the world.

The UAE Drones for Good Award is the biggest award of its kind, offering a total prize money of AED 4.67 million (US$1 million for International Competition and AED 1 million for National Competition).

advanced approach to addressing the challenges faced in different sectors, especially since they were selected from 1,017 projects submitted from 165 countries from around the world.

Launched by the UAE Government during the second Government Summit in 2014, the UAE Drones for Good Award is aimed at making optimal use of technology to serve humanity and create happiness in the community.

He said that the second edition of the Award witnessed large number applications that displayed high levels of innovation and technological development, strengthening the international position of the Award globally to achieve its goal of using new technology to serve humanity.

Saif Al Aleeli, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Museum of the Future Foundation and Coordinator General of the UAE Drones for Good Award, said the qualification of these innovative projects to the semi-finals stage highlighted their

Al Aleeli said the UAE Drones for Good Award has today become a global benchmark for applied innovations of drones in major sectors involving governments, organisations and individuals.

20 contestants flying semifinal race in Dubai this month It has encouraged the use of technology in a cost-effective manner as the scope of employing drones technologies in the area of government services continues to grow amid significant advancement in research and development. Stressing the importance of exchanging knowledge between national and international teams to develop this sector, Al Aleeli invited the public to the Award event to enjoy the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;liveâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; performances during the semi-finals and finals competitions which will be held in Dubai Internet City from February 4-6, 2016. The successful entries to the semi-final stage of the second UAE Drones for Good Award have come from a range of countries, including the UAE, Canada, Australia, United States, United Kingdom Ethiopia, Greece, and the Philippines. ď&#x201A;&#x192;

February 2016

Technology

NASA working on ‘hybrid’ plane

esearchers at the NASA Glenn Research Center are working on developing a hybrid plane that will function kind of like a hybrid car, relying on both fossil fuels and electricity to power itself through the sky.

Scientists are working on all components of the hybrid system, developing new hybrid electric engines, but also working to improve small pieces, like insulation around the wiring in the aircraft. “These systems use electric motors and generators that work together with turbine engines to distribute power throughout the aircraft in order to reduce drag for a given amount of fuel burned,” Amy Jankovsky, a NASA engineer said. “Part of our research is developing the lightweight machinery and electrical systems that will be required to make these systems possible.” The researchers think that these advances could make flying up to 30 percent more fuel efficient. Considering that commercial airlines in the United States used over 8.9 billion gallons of fuel last year, that’s a huge chunk of gas saved, and a large reduction in carbon emissions. These new technologies are being developed under the purview of NASA’s Environmentally Responsible Aviation (ERA) project, could cut airline fuel use in half, pollution by 75 percent and noise to nearly one-eighth of today’s levels.

Glenn Research Center

Today, the lab, now known as NASA Glenn Research Center, has engineers and scientists engaged in an agency-wide effort to develop alternative aircraft designs using low-carbon pro-

“Aircraft are highly complex machines,” says Jim Heidmann, manager for NASA’s Advanced Air Transport Technology project. “Moving toward alternative systems requires creating new aircraft designs as well as propulsion systems that integrate battery technologies and electromagnetic machines like motors and generators with more efficient engines.”

Will rely on both fossil fuels and electricity to power itself through the sky

Glenn researchers are looking at power systems that generate electricity in place of, or in addition to, thrust at the turbine engine and then convert that electricity to be converted into thrust using fans at other places on the aircraft.

says Amy Jankovsky, subproject lead engineer. “Part of our research is developing the lightweight machinery and electrical systems that will be required to make these systems possible.”

“These systems use electric motors and generators that work together with turbine engines to distribute power throughout the aircraft in order to reduce drag for a given amount of fuel burned,”

In addition to designing better motors, generators and integrated electrical system architectures, Glenn engineers are also researching the basic materials that go into those components. 

pulsion technology for larger passenger aircraft that Wright may have never dreamed of.

February 2016

Technology

New design makes Middle Row best seat on the plane

he middle seat has long been the scourge of air travelers. While there aren’t really any good seats on a plane, the middle is the choice of last resort.

The window seat comes with a view, and the aisle provides a quick escape route, while the middle seat offers neither — and feels even more cramped and crowded because of the presence of passengers on either side.

es of width apiece for window and aisle seats. The middle seats in the Side-Slip design also come with their own dedicated armrests, so there’s no need to battle it out with neighboring travelers for elbow space.

Thanks to a revolutionary new design concept, however, the middle seat could one day turn into the most coveted spot on the flight.

The design of the seat, invented by the Denver-based Molon Labe Designs, allows the aisle seat to “slip” sideways over the middle seat, making the aisle considerably larger— with room enough for a wheelchair or two people side by side. With more space in the aisle, boarding and disembarking times could be cut up to 33 percent, since that ex-

It’s called the Side-Slip seat, and one of the upsides of the design is that passengers “stuck” in the middle row get seats that are two inches wider — 20 inches, versus 18 inch-

February 2016

cruciatingly slow guy playing Tetris in the overhead compartments wouldn’t hold up the entire line. For low-cost airlines specializing in short flights with swift turnaround, this could save serious money and help stave off already-high consumer aggravation. According to Airlines for America (AOA), every minute wasted on the runway costs airlines $81.18, which goes up to about $100 when margin is included. As any traveler knows, those minutes add up fast, and for an airline with 1,000 daily turnarounds, that could be up to $245 million in savings yearly. 

Technology

TSA releases ‘Airport of the Future’ strategy

he US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has released its ambitious strategy to create what the agency describes as the “airport of the future”. its pre-screening lanes. TSA wants to take this approach a step further through a system, combining technology, data and processes within and across airports. The agency “envisions a future defined by intelligence-driven, riskbased screening procedures and enhanced technology that will enable TSA to employ a flexible, adaptable and robust multilayered approach to detecting an evolving range of threats,” the plan stated.

The 45-page “Strategic Five-Year Technology Investment Plan for Aviation Security” lays the groundwork “for future innovation and meets the immediate technology demands of specific mission needs.” TSA oversees about 440 federally regulated airports, which include a daily stream of about 1.8 million passengers and 1.2 million checked bags. But over the next 20 years, the number of passengers is predicted to increase by 1.1 billion, according to the 2015 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) forecast. TSA technology and procedures may need to grow, too, to meet the security needs from this influx of passengers, the report stated. The agency plans to devote a “significant portion” of its $3.6 billion se-

curity capability acquisition budget to security technologies, according to the report. TSA has moved away from a onesize-fits-all approach to security and began incorporating a risk-based security strategy, beginning with its adoption of such programs as

TSA’s near-term enhancements, which have a one-to-three-year timetable, include such programs as a checked baggage risk-based security pilot and an open threat assessment platform, which would be an X-ray detection system to help TSA employees complete passenger risk assessment. 

February 2016