DCAA showcases smart services at Gitex
Monthly Newsletter issued by Dubai Civil Aviation Authority
Inside DCAA Workshop for issuance 5 of dangerous goods permits
www.viadubaionline.com
Issue 41 October 2016
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Breast cancer awareness month
UAE in Focus UAE re-elected to ICAO Council
14
Dubai Aerospace 15 completes acquisition of Jordan aviation group Dubai Airports raises 16 Dh1.25 m for Orbis flying eye hospital
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UAE proposes new 17 aviation measurements rule to make flying safer
Tracing the tailwind of UAE’s aviation sector
‘The right action at the right time’ 8
Opinions 30
Realistic questions
Abdulla Al Blooshi
30
Airlines 32
Case for a single Asean aviation mart
Alexandre de Juniac
31
Aireen Omar
Cargo & Logistics 34
How to keep drones out of high-risk areas? 36
Technology 36
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 October 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
Workshop for issuance of dangerous goods permits
General Supervision Mohammed Abdulla Ahli Coordinator Hanan Al Mazimi Creative Manager Mohammed Al Jarouf
05 Breast cancer
Editor Shveta Pathak
awareness month
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.
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DCAA Interview
Editorial, Production, PR & Marketing Nadd AlShiba PR and Event Management
‘The right action at the right time’ Abdulla Al Blooshi
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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
twitter.com/DcaaDubai
Octoberyoutube.com/user/dcaadubai 2016
1
CONTENTS
Dubai Airports raises Dh1.25 m for Orbis flying eye hospital
16
Realistic questions 30
Alexandre de Juniac
Case for a single Asean aviation mart 31
How to keep drones out of high-risk areas?
Inflight duty-free sales big money spinners
Aireen Omar
18
China boosts aviation power with nationwide strength
36 28
Future affordable turbine engine 38
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October 2016
Lufthansa to take over Brussels Airlines
32
Message
from the President
On right flight path
I
t was no mean achievement that Dubai remained the world’s busiest airport for international passenger traffic in 2015, beating the biggest airports in the world, according to the latest Airports Council International (ACI) report.
Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum
Dubai’s ranking rose among the world’s busiest airports in terms of total passenger numbers, rising from sixth in 2014 to third in 2015. The figures are exciting. Dubai international airport saw 77.5 million passengers last year, up 10.7 per cent compared to 2014. The airport handled a record 7.72 million passengers in August, 2016, -- the highest ever in a single month --, taking the total tally to 55.85 million for the first eight months of 2016. Another peak was scaled in August when the average number of passengers per flight was recorded at 237, one of the highest Dubai has ever seen. In order to cope with the ever increasing numbers -- passengers, cargo and the number of flights – as well as to maintain the top position among the world’s leading aviation markets, we have undertaken a major upgrade of Concourse C. The expansion will enable the airport to accommodate Emirates’ growing fleet of superjumbos. The project will increase the number of A380 gates at Concourse C from 3 to 13, bringing the total number of A380 gates at DXB to 47, which is more than any other airport elsewhere in the world. The design for two runways of Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai South will be ready by end of 2017.
So far we have been on the right path to reach the target of 100 million passengers by 2020, indicating that thus far we are on the right direction to scale greater heights. Dubai has become the hub for business, leisure and aviation activities. We all know that the progress of the aviation sector is the net result of meticulous planning and execution of policies guided by our visionary leadership. I acknowledge that these achievements are testimony that our strategy, formulated right from the fledgling stages, is working well to precision.
October 2016
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Message
from the Director General
Be torchbearers of innovation
I
have a great sense of satisfaction that the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority’s (DCAA) ‘Be Innovative’ initiative has been well-received by all our colleagues. The enthusiasm is encouraging us to take up more such initiatives in our march for a ‘perfectly innovative’ environment in the aviation sector. I am delighted that all our employees have whole-heartedly subscribed to this novel thinking.
Mohammed Abdulla Ahli
Let’s hope that the initiative will ignite the imagination of our employees and they will think innovation all the time for making our services useful and gainful to our stakeholders. The feedback from our stakeholders and customers is warming the cockles of our hearts, as the ‘Be Innovative’ culture has truly influenced our staff as evidenced by the ‘innovative’ quality in their services. Let me reiterate that this initiative is paramount to our progress ahead as the most innovative aviation industry in the world, as envisioned by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. I urge all our colleagues to support this initiative in the right earnest. I sincerely hope that this experiment will succeed in inculcating the culture of innovation among our colleagues.
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Needless to say, the ultimate aim is to earn Dubai the title as one of the top innovative aviation sectors in the world. We are already on this victory path, as Dubai international airport is fast approaching the target of 100 million passengers in 2020. More than these enviable numbers, Dubai will be regarded by the world as one of the most modern and safest airports. In order to reach this goal and go beyond, we should adopt innovation as our slogan for the benefit of all our passengers, customers and stakeholders at large. Be innovative and motivate your colleagues to be the torchbearers of innovation.
Inside DCAA
Workshop for issuance of dangerous goods permits
D
ubai Civil Aviation Authority, represented by the management of Accident and Incident Investigation Section, organised a training workshop on the newly created system for the issuance of dangerous goods transport permits for a group of officers and members of
the General Department of Airports Security from the Dubai Police. The system serves the Authority’s clients from airlines to shipping companies who can get NOC (No Objection Certificate) for the transport of dangerous goods in accord-
ance with international and national standards that have been linked to this system with the General Administration for Airport Security to improve and accelerate the progress of the mechanism of action which meets the requirements of the system’s customers and users.
Breast cancer awareness month
T
he Dubai Civil Aviation Authority organised a health awareness campaign in the context of the global campaign “Breast Cancer Awareness Month,” which is held in October every year. The authority sent out a series of educational materials about breast cancer, early detection, stages of the disease, types and methods of treatment. The Breast Cancer Awareness Month is observed as an initiative with the goal of raising awareness about the disease. It has been observed on a global level since October, 2006. The participation of the Authority in the event is an ongoing strategy to participate in community and global initiatives.
October 2016
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Inside DCAA
DCAA showcases smart services at Gitex H
is Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, visited the Dubai Smart Government Pavilion, where the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) showcased smart devices and services, after opening the 36th Gitex Technology Week.
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Inside DCAA
DCAA, participating in Gitex Technology Week 2016, as part of the Dubai Smart Government pavilion, displayed the latest smart and innovative services in order to enhance the experience of customers. Among the prominent showcasing was ‘Drone Hunter’. The aircraft has been introduced to identify rogue drones operating too close to the city’s airports. When an unidentified object appears on radar, an alert is sent to air traffic control and the ‘Drone Hunter” is dispatched. Mohammed Abdullah Ahli, Director General of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, said: “Gitex is the premier event and an ideal platform to enhance communication with customers and inform them of the new market in the field of optimal use of the latest technology.” The participation of DCAA and the exhibition on smart new services and projects are in line with the vision of
the wise leadership to consolidate the status of Dubai at the forefront of the global smart cities. “We ensure our presence every year to show the leading role of the authority on the level of innovation and development and the efforts to meet with those of Dubai smart government in providing an innovative experience for the visitors of Gitex,” he added. The Authority showcased its smart services under the umbrella of Dubai Smart Government’s platform. Some of the services were drones, in the airport section. In the general section, the authority demonstrated the redesigned website. It is worth mentioning that DCAA annually participates in the Gitex Technology Week, which is one of the largest events in Dubai, for businesses and organizations interested in the field of information technology and smart services.
October 2016
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DCAA Interview
Abdulla Mohammed Abdulla Hassan Al Blooshi, Accident and Incident Investigation Section, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA)
‘The right action at the right time’
DCAA’s Accident Investigations Section to be a fully SMART investigations section
T
he Accident Investigation Section in the DCAA ensures that accidents and incidents are investigated and reported with a view to ensure that preventive measures are taken in order to create a barrier against re-occurrences. In 2015, the section conducted more than 383 inspections, those inspections are the section’s corner stone with regards to having preventive measures against the factors that can lead to accidents and/or incidents, Abdulla Mohammed Abdulla Hassan Al Blooshi, Accident and Incident Investigation Section, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA), told Via Dubai in an interview. Al Blooshi, who has been working in the aviation industry for the past eight years, working with Emirates Engineering and then DCAA, said that the section continues to work towards excellence when it comes to investigating and preventing incidents and accidents. Toward this, the section has also has planned a SMART project, which will create the giant leap to being a fully SMART investigations section. Excerpts from the interview What is the role of Accidents Investigation Section (AIS) in the DCAA? Basically we investigate occurrences that affect the safety of the aviation activities in the CTA of Dubai, CTA being the Dubai boundary, these occurrences vary depending on type of activity, scale, location, type of aircraft..etc and based on these factors as well as others the type
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October 2016
of occurrence varies between accidents or incidents.Aircraft accident and incident investigation is an investigation that doesn’t seek liability or blame. We basically find out what happened, how it happened and how it can be prevented from happening again, so it’s about ensuring that safety is maintained as ‘the’ pillar which the aviation industry is built upon. As you can understand the discussed actions are reactive in nature, i.e. an accident takes place and we react to it by investigating it, and you have to understand that there are no permanent ideal scenarios in reality, therefore you can never eliminate the chances of an accident taking place, but that is not an excuse not to at least try and mitigate those chances!, the section recognizes the need to be proactive in that regard, as such the section conducts regular inspections with the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) on the safety aspects of the operators and the aerodromes in order to identify unsafe situations that may be harmful if left unattended. We usually work in close contact with the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Dubai Police, Dubai airports and several local authorities and oper-
ators in order to investigate the occurrences as well as conduct inspections as a preventive measure, the cooperation, team work and professionalism between us have been key in maintaining this high standard of aviation safety in the emirate of Dubai. When an occurrence (incident or accident) is categorized as an ICAO annex 13 occurrence, the GCAA leads the investigation as they represent the UAE which is a contracting state with the ICAO, and the DCAA AIS team becomes a team member in that investigation and both authorities work together for the purpose of elevating safety in the emirate of Dubai as well as in the aviation industry as a whole. However, in case of investigations that do not fall under Annex 13, we solely investigate ,circulate the report and follow up with the recommendations. What is your role within your department? My work involves responding to accidents and incidents 24/7, conducting initial on the site investigations, gathering information, writing reports with recommendations, circulating the reports and
DCAA Interview
following up the recommendations with the respective entities. I also assist in conducting regular inspections, along with the GCAA. During these inspections, we check the safety aspects of the aerodrome itself or the operators. We work toward mitigating those non-conformities and raise the safety levels so we reduce the rate of accidents or incidents that take place. How is the department contributing to aviation industry’s growth? As known, the aviation industry is rapidly growing. It is the fastest and safest way of travel. The growth of aviation industry in Dubai has been rapid, and this has been possible due to the vision of the leadership, that vision is progressive and ambitious and pushes us to always want to be Number ‘1’. The aviation industry is built on safety, but the rapid growth of the aviation brings a lot of pressure alongside it, that pressure should not come at the price of jeopardizing safety, that’s a high price to pay!, our contribution is to minimize the risks and potential accidents as we grow. We try to cover almost all accidents and incidents regardless of the scale of damage involved, as neglecting minor incidents based on the damage can present a more severe and harmful outcome in the long term. What are the challenges you face in maintaining the safety? Because of the rapid growth in aviation industry, we have to keep up with the new technologies, new standards regulations, processes and procedures that operators, airlines and different entities adopt. We have to be extremely dynamic and flexible. As I said earlier, growth comes with a lot of pressure. The pressure eventually affects human beings. Human factors is major concern for any accident investigation, the way I see it, technology usually doesn’t fail until a human interacts with it, on the other hand, that technology was actually designed by a human, that paints an ironic picture! But that picture shows
“We find out what happened, how it happened and how it can be prevented” what a vital role accident investigators play in the aviation industry’s growth. Another challenge is ground incidents, when an aircraft is on the ground it is usually surrounded by an army of ground staff in order to service and help load passengers and cargo, this creates an error prone environment where humans who are under a lot of pressure are working next to the aircraft, ground incident are usually minor but again we try to keep them to a minimum. Recently, Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) or drones have become a growing concern specially that they are easily accessible to the public who have small or no knowledge of the dangers they present to air traffic when they are flown irresponsibly, awareness programs are available and we urge the public to familiarize themselves with them. How do you address these challenges? One of the means to address the challenges is to ‘innovate’, our leadership encourages innovation, you have to be on your toes and continuously innovate new ways to deal with any issue. Can you give examples of incidents that are more frequent? As I have stated earlier, minor ground incidents are common and can happen more frequently. What is the number of investigations and inspections you conduct on a monthly basis? Some investigations can take up to a year, some are done within a month. So I cannot put an exact number on how many investigations we conduct on yearly basis, but we are kept busy if I can say that, and we treat all investigations with the level of seriousness they deserve. As for inspections, we do 20-30 inspections each month alongside the GCAA on different operators.In 2015, we conducted 335 in-
spections with the GCAA on foreign operators and around 28 inspections on our own on different hazard aspects in aerodromes. The number continues to rise to keep up with the continuous growth in the aviation industry in Dubai and the UAE. Can you share with us any future plans? We have a project in the pipeline. The project is to transform the investigation section into a SMART section utilizing technology in the investigation, this will help us make an innovative leap in the investigation process. At the moment, the reports are mostly documented through papers, the aim here is to make it SMART. The innovative aspect in this project is that we are trying to minimize human involvement in the gathering of information phase of the investigation, we are aiming to make the entire effort of investigator to be focused on analysis. Another major aspect in accident investigations is to circulate notifications as soon as the occurrence takes place the system will assist in creating a faster, clearer and effortless way of circulating information, also when conducting initial on site investigation, the system will be developed to be self-intelligent, memorizing logics and previous entries, therefore it suggests items and areas for the investigator to look into in order to help him gather as much information as he needs in order for him to use in the analysis. The system is expected to be launched in 2018. What are the expected benefits? It will help minimize the effort used to gather information. The investigator will focus solely on analysis. It will also significantly reduce the time for an investigation to be completed in. Instead of taking photos on site, logging it in physically, the system will do it for you! And it will circulate the reports to the respective entities, thus creating a common platform where entities can access for the purpose of becoming safer.
October 2016
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Cover Story
Tracing the tailwind of UAE’s aviation sector
T
he UAE Civil Aviation Day, 5 October, was celebrated with pomp and gaiety, marking the immense progress the country has made in developing its aviation sector, the high score in the world. This was the third year that the UAE celebrated the UAE Civil Aviation Day with the aim of highlighting the country’s rich aviation history and legacy, current developments and innovation in the sector, as well as promoting the safety and efficiency of air transport as a mode of travel. As a central trading hub between the East and the West, and a bourgeoning global tourism and business destination, the UAE’s transport legacy has successfully been transported into the modern world. On the occasion of the UAE Civil Aviation Day celebrations, leaders and top officials traced the growth of the industry thus far and attributed the achievements to the visionary leadership and hard work of the officials and employees.
To mark the occasion, His Highness Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman, Dubai Airports, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline & Group, said: “The UAE is today one of the world’s leaders in aviation, and we continue to maintain our edge, because we are fortunate enough to have visionary leaders. Aviation in the UAE is recognised as a strategic economic driver, and a clear vision from our leadership has laid the groundwork for the right infrastructure, systems, and investments in innovative products and customer experiences required to build a leading global aviation hub. I am optimistic of the prospects that lay ahead of
us in the upcoming years as aviation continues to be a key economic sector and driver in the UAE, leaving an enduring mark for the benefit of future generations.” In 2015, the UAE was ranked highest in the world in compliance with international aviation safety standards after intensive audit trough the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)’s Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme. The UAE scored a success rate of 98.86 per cent, which is the highest in history given by ICAO. During this period the UAE scored many firsts in the world of aviation, the most noteworthy being the first place in the world in aviation safety. The UAE’s key aviation industry performers, the airlines and airports, have reached greater heights and continue to stride further. The country focuses on research and innovation which led to more efficient aircraft technology and safe and secure operational practices with associated environmental practices. Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansoori, UAE Minister of Economy and Chairman of General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), said: “The celebration of this
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Cover Story
In this regard, the UAE made significant progress in 2015 undertaking the final signature of 16 Air Services Agreements (ASAs), convening 48 bilateral ASA consultations and signing 27 Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) and two Records of Discussion.
day reflects the concerted efforts by our aviation industry in the past decades resulting in the remarkable progress and cutting-edge development we make use of today. The UAE’s main objective is to ensure the steady growth of the aviation sector while maintaining the highest standards of safety and security, as well as fostering innovation which is deeply embedded in the core of the air transport industry and is a key driving force of the sector worldwide. We will keep seeking excellence in everything we do and set an international example to be admired and followed.” Al Mansoori added: “Scoring first place in the world in aviation safety comes as a result of GCAA’s hard work locally, regionally and internationally. Efforts and initiatives by the GCAA in deploying aviation safety culture have had a
fundamental impact in the improvement that we are witnessing in the country. Aviation safety has always been our top priority parallel with exceptional service quality and assurance of growth capability”. The UAE attaches immense importance to civil aviation security and leaves no stone unturned to ensure the safety and security of civil aviation operations. As a Contracting State of ICAO, the UAE has played a vital role in the development of civil aviation security, at regional as well as international levels, in order to safeguard civil aviation against acts of unlawful interference. The UAE has taken vital steps to ensure that the governance of air transport facilitates -- both the operations of UAE airlines and the airlines of its bilateral partners -- continues to develop alongside the growth of its air transport services.
The UAE has also concluded agreements with 168 countries paving the way for its both airlines and the airlines of its bilateral partners to expand their operations. Significantly, the UAE has 131 ‘open sky’ or fully liberal agreements in place allowing the UAE to maintain its position as the second country in the world with the largest number of open skies agreements, the first country being the USA.
Airports
The country’s seven national airports continue to prosper in the global aviation industry and are growing fast, moving up in the overall rankings and overtaking the top global hubs. Passenger numbers at Dubai International (DXB) continued to rise. Passenger traffic at the airport reached 7,727,105 in August compared with 7,282,256 recorded in the same month last year, an increase of 6.1 per cent. Year-todate traffic totalled 55,850,353 passengers, up 6.9 per cent, compared with 52,264,223 during the first eight months of 2015. Passenger numbers for the first seven months of 2016 are 7 per cent higher at 44,981,967. In addition, Dubai World Central (DWC) is set to become the world’s largest airport with a capacity of 160 million passengers and 12 million tonnes of cargo per year by 2020. Since the beginning of the year, passenger traffic at Abu Dhabi International Airport has grown to 16.42 million between January 1 and August 31, an increase of 6.2 per cent from the same pe-
October 2016
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Cover Story
Sultan Al Mansoori
riod last year. The airport has recorded 2.3 million passengers in August, 2016, an increase of 2.3 per cent compared to August 2015. Mohammed A. Ahli, Director General of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, said: “The aviation industry in the UAE and its key performers, the airlines and airports, have reached greater heights and continue to stride further. The aviation sector in Dubai is proud to be a partner in this process through our contribution to the development of civil aviation in the UAE and globally for the benefit of the travelling public and the peoples of the world, through providing efficient connectivity, safe and secure air transport system and cooperation with the international organizations, such as, ICAO.” The UAE believes that the focus on research and innovation across the aviation
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Mohammed A. Ahli
sector worldwide not only leads to more efficient aircraft technology and safe and secure operational practices, with associated environmental benefits, but also helps build research capacity at universities and skills. As a consequence, the UAE launched the “Aeronnovation Programme” aimed at stimulating innovation in the industry in June 2015. The Aeronnovation programme also includes a biennial award scheme aimed at incentivising creativity and innovation within the industry for improvement in passenger experience, improvement in safety standards and reduction of emissions. Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, GCAA Director General, said: “Home to two of the fastest growing internationally acclaimed airlines, extensive development of aviation infrastructure and the plans to develop the first-of-its-kind all-encompassing aviation hub city, places
Saif Suwaidi
UAE in a unique position to create a connected future. We are committed to deliver the vision of our leadership to make the UAE the economic, trade and tourism destination for more than two billion people by transitioning to a knowledge-based economy.” Laila Ali Bin Hareb Al Muhairi, GCAA Assistant Director General of Strategy and International Affairs, said: “The UAE GCAA is driven to continue to conclude liberal agreements with countries worldwide, paving the way for its both airlines and the airlines of its bilateral partners to expand their operations, as well as to liberalise the flow of air traffic to and from partner countries and beyond.” Sheikh Khalid Issam Al Qassimi, Chairman of Sharjah Civil Aviation, said: “The fifth of October marks our pride and appreciation of the UAE’s achievements in aviation since 1932.
Cover Story
Sheikh Khalid Issam Al Qassimi
This success is the outcome of collaborative efforts of various sectors and entities that work together to assert the UAE’s leading position in the world. This day is also a motivation for us to exert further efforts and keep up with the latest advancements to ensure our leadership.” Ghaith Al Ghaith, Chief Executive Officer of Flydubai, commented: “UAE Civil Aviation Day recognises the success of the UAE and how it has established itself as a global aviation hub. Flydubai will continue to support Dubai’s economic development in creating free flows of trade and tourism.” James Hogan, President and Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Aviation Group, said: “Etihad Airways and its partner airlines are proud to have played a key role in the emergence of the UAE as a centre for global aviation. We remain committed to supporting the creation of world-class aviation infrastructure, and
Ghaith Al Ghaith
more importantly, the development of a workforce of aviation professionals in the UAE.” Adel Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer of Air Arabia, said: “The UAE’s aviation sector has grown by leaps and bounds over the last decade and is today acknowledged as one of the fastest growing aviation industries in the world. From the time Air Arabia burst on to the scene as the region’s first low-costcarrier back in 2003, we have seen how the UAE aviation sector has grown from strength to strength maintaining strong performance in an ever-changing marketplace.” The UAE has also played a role in bringing together the key players in space activities and civil aviation. In March 2016, the UAE hosted the ICAO and United Nations Office for Outer Space (UNOOSA) at an international symposium on the challenges and opportunities in space activities and civil aviation.
James Hogan
From Imperial Airways to superjumbos At 4.00 pm on 5 October in 1932 at Al Mahatta Airport in the Emirate of Sharjah, a British-owned Imperial Airways flight arrived from Gwadar, Pakistan (located in India at the time) marking the first ground aircraft landing in the UAE and the significance of the occasion. The Hanno aircraft, a four-propeller Handley Page H.P.42 biplane, had four passengers as well as its British captain, Horsey, when it made its historical landing in the UAE on its way to Bahrain.
October 2016
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UAE in Focus
UAE re-elected to ICAO Council T
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he UAE has been re-elected to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) in elections held in Montreal, Canada.
This represents the UAE’s fourth consecutive term on the ICAO Council following previous election wins in 2007, 2010 and 2013. The win comes as a result of the UAE’s successful election campaign during the ICAO’s 39th session of its triennial assembly that was ran by GCAA in collaboration with Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. Receiving the highest total votes for part 3 of the election.
best practices in safety and security whilst introducing more environment initiatives.
Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri, Minister of the Economy and Chairman of the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), said: “This is considered a major achievement for the UAE and its advanced civil aviation sector. It is another milestone that cements the UAE’s position as a leader in the aviation industry. The election victory further motivates the GCAA to continue to innovate to implement world’s
Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Director General of the UAE GCAA, said: “The UAE’s election victory confirms our country’s leading and solid global position in the aviation industry; it proves that our continuous efforts to extend bridges of cooperation with the international aviation community are paying off. We are extremely proud of this achievement and it only puts further responsibility on our shoulders to
October 2016
“The UAE plays an extremely active role in the civil aviation industry worldwide which has gained it the trust of ICAO members. The UAE is committed to continuing to work alongside the ICAO and its member states to implement important changes to further strengthen the aviation industry.”
contribute to the enhancement of the aviation industry worldwide.” The UAE joined the ICAO in 1972 and ran for a seat on the Council in 2007 and then was nominated again consecutive term in 2010 and 2013. The UAE is an active player in the organisation, which is reflected through its chairmanship of a number of specialised committees and membership in a number of committees.
UAE in Focus
Dubai Aerospace completes acquisition of Jordan aviation group
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ubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE), a globally recognized aerospace company headquartered in Dubai, has completed the acquisition of 80 per cent stake in Jordan Aircraft Maintenance Limited (Joramco) from The Abraaj Group. The agreement to purchase was previously announced on September 20. Founded in 2006, DAE has two key divisions -- DAE Engineering that provides global MRO services under the brand name StandardAero, and DAE Capital, which focuses on aircraft leasing. A specialist in aircraft leasing, financing and other management services, DAE Capital is the largest aircraft
leasing firm in the Middle East. DAE Capital has a fleet of 78 aircraft with a net book value of $4 billion, which are leased to various airlines around the world. Established in 1963, Joramco operates as a commercial aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility serving a wide range of customers in the Middle East, Europe, South Asia, Africa, Russia and the CIS countries. From its base in Queen Alia International Airport in Amman, Joramco offers services on several aircraft models manufactured by Airbus, Boeing and Embraer.
Joramco is certified by a number of regulatory authorities which include the Jordan Civil Aviation Regulatory Commission (JCARC), the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), and the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA).
2.3 million passengers at Abu Dhabi airport in August, 2016
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bu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) has recorded 2.3 million passengers in August, 2016, marking an increase of 2.3 per cent compared to August 2015. Since the beginning of the year, passenger traffic has grown 6.2 per cent from the same period last year, with 16,422,763 passengers between January 1 and August 31.
Total arrivals numbered 1,119,616, signifying a 2.3 per cent increase.Passenger traffic to India grew 14.3 per cent on 2015, maintaining its position as the top destination, with 378,675 passengers throughout August. Passengers to the UK totalled 153,208, representing a 4.2 per cent increase compared to August 2015.
Saudi Arabia rose to become the fourth busiest destination, with traffic to and from the country increasing by 12.3 per cent , largely due to the high volume of pilgrims traveling for Hajj. Passenger traffic to and from Egypt rose 26.6 per cent, impacted by Etihad’s introduction of thrice-daily flights, and Egypt Air’s increased service of 13 flights per week.
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UAE in Focus
Dubai Airports raises Dh1.25 m for Orbis flying eye hospital
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ubai Airports and its partners have raised Dh 1.25 million ($ 340,600) for Orbis, the international eye care charity organisation best known for its flying eye hospital, through their ‘Your Sight, Our Happiness’ campaign.
The amount raised is enough to help restore the sight of as many as 31,000 children suffering from cataracts worldwide. Launched in March earlier this year under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman of Dubai Airports, the campaign involved a number of activities to raise funds for the noble cause. The event hosted a special charity luncheon sponsored by Emirates Flight Catering where corporate entities could donate by sponsoring tables while individuals attending the event were offered the opportunity to sponsor cataract eye surgeries through donation coupons worth Dh 40 per surgery. The highlight of the campaign was the Plane Pull contest where 10 teams from across the airport community took the challenge to pull
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National Air Cargo’s 747 aircraft the furthest distance. Each team also made a contribution for the Orbis charity via the UAE Red Crescent. Sporting contests such as basketball, football and bowling were also organised with participants playing blindfolded to raise awareness about daily challenges faced by those with visual impairments. Describing the campaign as a huge success Paul
Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports said, “We are very happy with the outcome of the campaign. It is deeply satisfying to know that the collective efforts and generosity of employees of Dubai Airports and our partners, as well as the support and contribution from corporate entities will help improve the lives of thousands of children by restoring their sight.”
UAE in Focus
UAE proposes new aviation measurements rule to make flying safer
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he UAE’s aviation regulator General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has proposed a single set of units of measurement for all air and ground operations to make flying safer.
The recommendation was placed before the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s (ICAO) 39th Triennial Assembly in Montreal, Canada. The measurements would prevent pilots and crew members from incorrectly converting values relating to distance, height and speed especially under strenuous circumstances such as adverse weather, unfamiliar airports, and emergency situations. “With the advent of digital avionics systems that allow for the customi-
sation of their displays, we believe it is time for the international civil aviation community to consider the implementation of a singular system of units of measurement to be used in air and ground operations,” said Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Director-General of the UAE GCAA. “We have brought this proposal before the assembly because we believe in international co-operation and are constantly striving to build bridges of collaboration with the
international community and civil aviation. “The adoption of a singular system of units of measurement would not only simplify a number of processes but provide standardisation to what is currently a confusing mix of standard and non-standard units,” Al Suwaidi said. The proposal forwarded by the UAE and the GCAA was welcomed by the ICAO Assembly.
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Special Report
Inflight duty-free sales big money spinners
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hy do airlines continue with inflight duty-free sales? There are plenty of opportunities for duty-free shopping at airline terminals, often there are refund schemes that allow shoppers to buy at high street outlets.
The duty-free carts require a capital investment, they add weight, and airlines are constantly looking at ways to fly slimmer, and the choice is nothing like as bountiful as what you get from a duty-free shop in most airport terminals. So why do airline duty-free sales even exist? According to GuestLogix, skincare products, makeup and perfumes were the most popular items, followed by jewellery, watches and cigarettes. Some airlines were said
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to be turning over between $100$200 million every year in inflight duty-free sales, but it’s a mixed picture depending broadly on where the airline calls home. At one end of the scale is Korean Air, which has installed Sky Shops aboard its 10-strong fleet of A380 aircraft. Sky Shops are mini malls in the sky, walk-in boutiques stocked with cosmetics, perfumes, liquor, fashion goods, pearls, dietary supplements, chocolates, watches, electronics and pens.
Skincare products and perfumes were the most popular items, followed by jewellery, watches
Special Report
The annual figure for onboard dutyfree sales is in excess of $ 3 billion, according to GuestLogix
Middle Eastern carriers also report a more animated audience for onboard duty-free shopping. At the opposite extreme, Delta Air Lines ditched its duty-free sales totally in 2014. American Airlines did the same less than a year later. Both airlines blamed it on disputes with DFASS, the duty-free vendor they used in common, but at the root of the problem the carriers were not able to offer goods that passengers wanted to buy at a reasonable price against the USA’s super competitive retail environment. Many of the airlines still dedicated to the cause of inflight shopping are moving to make it a more streamlined, personalised experience.
Underlining the airline’s dedication to the concept, the Sky Shop sacrifices 13 of the A380s seats, a bold move when most airlines are shaving centimetres off every possible space to squeeze in another body.
Some are transitioning from the old style seat back shopping catalogues in favour of shopping over the inflight entertainment system. Several airlines encourage passengers to shop for duty-free products from their website pre-flight, with the goods delivered on-board, or even direct to the home. The next mutation in inflight shopping might be
using big data to offer a customised shopping experience. If your browsing history reveals an interest in designer handbags, or headphones, or a particular clothing brand, you could find those items popping up when you fire up your inflight entertainment system, against a background of your favourite music as determined by Spotify. Amazon already uses similar analytics to feed shoppers’ appetites when they’re surfing on third party websites. That might extend the inflight shopping adventure well beyond the realms of duty-free. If you’re on a flight returning from the AFL Grand Final in Melbourne, your airline might be privy to that information, so what about a supporter’s polo shirt, or congratulations on the big win for your team, why not sign up for a season pass for next year? If airlines can curate a shopping experience without annoying passengers they probably will, and ancillary revenues are becoming ever more meaningful for airlines.
According to Guestlogix, Scandinavians are inclined to buy more duty-free items inflight than other Europeans. VAT in Norway, Denmark and Sweden on just about every item you might buy from on-board duty-free is a hefty 25 per cent, one per cent less in Finland. That’s around five per cent higher than most other EU countries, and goes some way towards explaining their greater enthusiasm. Asian and
October 2016
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Special Report
India’s aviation market is poised for high growth in the wake of a slew of reforms in regulation and growing number of passengers, increasing number of airports and many projects on the anvil.
India’s aviation market grows at record 25.82%
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he market grew at a record pace in July, soaring 25.82 per cent as compared to the corresponding period last fiscal, posting double-digit growth for the 24th consecutive month as lower fares attracted more fliers. During January to July 2016, the growth stood at 23 per cent as compared to the first six months of the last year, reveals the latest data available with the civil aviation ministry. The growth momentum continued to stay high despite the fact that after June, the peak season for travel slows down in the country as schools and colleges re-open after the summer break. It peaks up again around the festive season, with Diwali, Christmas and new year celebrations, say insiders from aviation and tourism industry . “Indian aviation continues to soar. July passenger growth reaches a record-breaking 25%,” tweeted Minister of Civil Aviation Ashok Gajapathi Raju.
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Special Report
The travel industry experts attributed the growth during the non-peak season to promotional fares offered by the airlines, which may have resulted in passengers switching from trains to airlines. Further, the increasing tendency of people to take short vacations may have also pushed the growth. As per the statistics available with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, about 8.5 million passengers flew during July this year by domestic airlines as compared to 6.76 million during July last year.
to become the third-largest one by the end of 2020. Travel agents and other industry insiders claim that though more people fly during the peak seasons, the number of people flying during the non-peak season is also increasing due to several reasons. “The rock bottom fares due to promotional schemes and competition lured the people to take short trips
during the short or extended weekends. This could be one of the most important reason, apart from several others factors,” said Subhash Goyal, chairman, STIC Group. “Several state tourism boards are aggressively promoting tourism through difference mediums, which has overall raised the travelling push among people who now want to use every opportunity to travel to different parts of the country,” he said.
Likewise, the passengers carried by domestic airlines during the period of January-July 2016 were 56 million as against 45.59 million during the corresponding period of previous year, thereby registering a growth of 23.01 per cent. As per the estimate projected by several international and national studies, India is the ninth largest aviation market in the world and is expected
October 2016
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Middle East News
Saudi Arabian Airlines orders 63 aircraft worth $8 billion
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audi Arabian Airlines has committed to 28 wide-body jets from Boeing in a deal worth $8 billion at current list prices. The Jeddah-based ailine is also ordering 35 Airbus A320 and A321neo narrowbody aircraft, according to Director General Saleh bin Nasser al-Jasser.
The widebody order includes fifteen 777-300ER (extended range) jets and thirteen 787 Dreamliners as part of a sweeping fleet modernisation and expansion. Sulaiman Alhamdan, Saudi Arabia’s transportation minister and the airline’s chairman, announced the country’s aircraft purchases saying the shopping spree aims to upgrade the airline’s operational efficiency and effectiveness while
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improving its “ total customer experience.” The Saudi airline said its aircraft purchases will help grow its fleet from 119 to to 200 aircraft by 2020 and move 45 million passengers a year on 1,000 daily flights around the world. The airline will be taking 30 aircraft deliveries in 2017, the biggest in its 71 year history. According to Saleh Aljasser, Saudi Arabian Airline’s Director Gen-
eral of Engineering, both OEMs had committed to introducing a training programme for Saudi engineers to prepare for the MRO requirements of the aircraft at the airline’s home bases. The Saudi Arabia Ministry of Education will be providing 5,000 scholarships to send Saudi students to study aviation and aircraft maintenance in Europe and the USA.
Middle East News
Turkish Airlines Opens First Lounge in the U.S.
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urkish Airlines, which was recently named “Best Airline of Europe” for the sixth consecutive year by Skytrax, celebrated the official opening of its prestigious first lounge in the US, the Turkish Airlines Lounge Washington D.C., at Dulles International Airport (IAD) on September 30, 2016. The new 5,000 square foot lounge seats 120 guests and features amenities that cater to the needs of business and leisure travelers, which include: Food and beverage buffet, Shower and bathroom facilities, Free Wi-Fi, Business Corner with six all-in-one PCs, Prayer and relaxation rooms, Direct connection to the Aerobridge, and entertainment. “We are pleased to bring to the United States the world-renowned
lounge experience that Turkish Airlines pioneered at Istanbul’sAtaturk International Airport,” said Ilker Ayci, Chairman of Turkish Airlines. “Travelers who visit the Turkish Airlines lounge at Dulles International Airport will be treated to some of the finest services and accommodations available anywhere.” Since November 2010, Turkish Airlines has connected business and leisure travelers in the Washington,
D.C. area to the world with nonstop service through its Istanbul hub. The prestigious new lounge reinforces Turkish Airlines’ commitment to ensuring travel is both convenient and comfortable for U.S. travelers as it strives to be the international carrier of choice. Turkish Airlines currently offers 10 flights per week from Washington, D.C. to Istanbul, and serves eight other gateway cities in the US.
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Middle East News
Qatar Airways, British Airways announce joint business agreement
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atar Airways and British Airways’ parent company, International Airlines Group (IAG), has announced a joint business agreement, which will come into effect on 30 October 2016.
The joint business will benefit customers by offering a wider choice of flights, an enhanced network, greater choice of fares and superior benefits for members of their frequent flyer programmes. Crucially, the partnership between Qatar Airways and British Airways will allow the carriers to provide passengers with better links and an even more seamless travel experience between the UK, Asia, Middle East and Africa. The joint business will see the two airlines code-sharing on all non-stop flights
between the UK and Doha, to offer customers a combined route network which will serve more than 70 destinations. Between the airlines’ hubs of London and Doha the new partnership will offer seven daily non-stop services in both directions. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, Akbar Al Baker, said: “British Airways is an airline steeped in history and prestige and we are proud to be partnering with them to offer our passengers an even greater choice of global destinations.
This partnership brings together two world-class airlines to provide an enhanced operation for our passengers with increased daily flights between London and Doha, greater choice of flight schedules, wider range of fares and improved members benefits. “Today’s announcement reinforces our already established relationship with IAG and we look forward to welcoming British Airways’ direct flights to our hub, Hamad International Airport, where we can provide passengers with seamless access to our global network of more than 150 destinations.”
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Middle East News
October 2016
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International News
IATA and Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Secretariat sign MoU to enhance aviation and border security
New partnership for aviation security in Europe
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he International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the Secretariat of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen, promote, and develop cooperation on aviation facilitation and border integrity issues—two of the key components for governments to fulfil their national security responsibilities. Under the MoU, IATA and OSCE have agreed to work on issues including harmonized passenger data exchange programs, border security, airport security and the security of travel documents (including issuance). A particularly key issue for the aviation industry is aligning the requirements for Advance Passenger Information (API) with global standards, which include IATA and World Customs Organization guidelines, and the provisions of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
Annex 9. IATA welcomes the OSCE’s co-operation among its 57 participating States on this increasingly important matter. The provision of more data on passengers to border control authorities in advance of arrival should also lead to more effective screening of passengers and reduced wait-times. “Aviation security is a top priority for IATA and its members. With passenger numbers set to double over the next 20 years, it is essential that the global aviation security
network is fit for purpose. IATA and OSCE are natural partners in the security facilitation and border integrity fields. We share the objective of achieving a more efficient and effective aviation security system,” said Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s Director General and CEO. “Our organizations enjoy excellent co-operation in the areas of aviation facilitation, national security and border integrity. The signing of this Memorandum marks another important milestone in further expanding and strengthening this co-operation. We are very pleased to join hands with IATA today to promote aviation security and facilitation measures in furthering the implementation of UN Security Council Resolutions 2178 on Foreign Terrorist Fighters, and 2309 on aviation security across the OSCE region,” said Lamberto Zannier, Secretary General of OSCE. To ensure a close working relationship, OSCE and IATA have agreed to share information, consult each other on policy issues, participate in each other’s relevant committees, and work on joint training and technical assistance.
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International News
Air rage a worsening problem, airlines say
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ncidents of unruly passengers on planes are increasing, and more effective deterrents are needed to tackle the problem, according to a global airline trade group.
There were 10,854 air rage incidents reported by airlines worldwide last year, up from 9,316 incidents in 2014, according to the International Air Transport Association. That equates to one incident for every 1,205 flights, an increase from one incident per 1,282 flights the previous year. A majority of incidents involved verbal abuse, failure to follow crew instructions and other anti-social behavior.
Eleven percent included physical aggression toward passengers or crew or damage to the plane. Alcohol or drugs were a factor in 23 percent of the cases, although in the majority of incidents the drugs or alcohol was consumed prior to boarding, the association said.
Monarch Airlines at London’s Gatwick Airport.
Training staff in airport bars and duty-free shops to sell alcohol responsibly, including avoiding offers that encourage binge drinking, can cut incidents by half, the association said, citing an initiative by
“More are needed in order to have a consistent global approach to this issue,” said Alexandre de Juniac, the association’s director general.
Airlines also want more countries to ratify a 2014 treaty that closes gaps in laws for dealing with unruly passengers. So far, only six countries have ratified the pact.
One of the most famous recent incidents involved Cho Hyun-ah, the daughter of Korean Air’s chairman. She achieved worldwide notoriety after she ordered the chief flight attendant off a Dec. 5 flight, forcing it to return to the gate at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York. Head of cabin service at the time of the incident, Cho was angered she had been offered macadamia nuts in a bag instead of on a dish. A heated and physical confrontation with members of the crew in first class ensued. She was eventually sentenced to a year in prison.
October 2016
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International News
China boosts aviation power with nationwide strength
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hina is gearing up to realize its dream of “taking off” by boosting a global aviation power. It goes all out with the state will and nationwide strength, targeting to have its own aircraft with home-made aero-engine.
Within one year, China showed the world with three iconic models of its “large aircraft family”: the commissioned heavy-load airfreighter Y-20, as well as the completed first homemade large passenger aircraft C919 and the massive amphibious aircraft AG600. “The aviation industry is the crown industry in the manufacturing industry. The large aircraft is the exclusive capacity of a great power, with its will and strength,” said Geng Ruguang, deputy manager of the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), the country’s largest stateowned aircraft producer. “It is a harvesting time for China’ s aviation industry to embrace multiple symbolic major models after
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years of constant efforts. It represents the general upgrading of its national and scientific strength,” said Geng.
The new step is deemed as a strategic move of China to enhance the national power as well as the capacity of the armed forces.
The country shows unprecedented efforts and boldness in innovating to make the country an aviation power. And it has made a big decision to drive its aircraft with the “China heart” , home-made aero-engine.
“Based on the independent innovation, the AECC will stride forward to create the strong ‘China heart’ for our aircraft.” said Cao Jianguo, president with the AECC.
On August 28, the Aero Engine Corporation of China (AECC) was established in Beijing, targeting to become a world-class aircraft engine company with the indigenous innovation. The aviation engine has long been a perplexing “pain” for China’ s aviation industry.
According to Cao, the corporation will focus on building a complete industry chain with the design, manufacturing, experiment and related key material research of the aero-engine. “It will adhere to independent research and development for the national mission of aviation engine,” he added.
International News
In fact, besides the move on boosting the aero-engine industry, China has caught the world’ s attention by releasing three major models of its home-made large aircraft models. On November 2, 2015, China’ s first domestically-produced large passenger aircraft C919 was unveiled by its producer Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China (COMAC) in Shanghai. It is under important mission for China to get its role in the bursting civil aviation market, which is now monopolized by the Airbus and Boeing. With its maiden flight scheduled for next year, however, and at least another three years of test flights, it will take some time before the single-aisle jet can fly commercial air routes the world over. As a new state-owned enterprise, the AECC received investment from the State Council, the Beijing Municipal Government, Aviation Industry Corporation of China and Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, with a registered capital of 50 billion yuan (around 7.5 billion US dollars).
On July 6, 2016, two Y-20 planes, China’s largest homegrown transport aircraft, officially joined the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force.
It represents that China has gained the capacity of long-range transportation, and entered the world’ s “large aircraft club” with all members as aviation powers. On July 23, China completed production of the massive amphibian Ag600, the world’ s largest one of its kind under development phase. About the size of a Boeing 737, the AG600 is to be used to fight forest fires and perform marine rescue missions. Industry insiders said, China’ s aviation industry progress will accelerating the country to march forward to a power with stronger manufacturing industry, innovation capacity as well as national defence. “China has shown the world with an upgrading aviation industry. It will have a bright prospect with the great nation’ s determination to become a global aviation power, peering the traditional western powers,” said Geng Ruguang.
The aircraft engines are sophisticated products of the equipment manufacturing industry. Making breakthroughs in this area as soon as possible will have great value for improving China’s economic and military power and national strength. China will launch at least 100 key projects over the next 15 years to increase the country’s technological capability and improve people’s livelihoods, according to the 13th Five-Year Plan unveiled earlier this year. Aviation engines and gas turbines, as well as the “large aircraft project” were all listed among the 100 projects.
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Opinion
Realistic questions be unrealistic to expect the good times to last forever. Dramatic shifts are not uncommon in our business. And the horizon is full of potential threats: What if oil prices suddenly rise as fast as they fell? Alexandre de Juniac Director-General and CEO, The International Air Transport Association (IATA)
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irlines, all over the world, are set to collectively make a $39.4 billion net profit this year. This will be a record profit for the industry. It will also be only the second year in our history and the second in a row, in which the airlines’ return on invested capital (9.8 per cent) will exceed the cost of capital (6.8 per cent)—at the industry level. The good results come from a lot of hard work, internal restructuring and process re-engineering. Lower oil prices are, of course, helping. Passenger demand is resilient beyond expectation in the face of global economic uncertainty (although the same cannot be said for cargo demand). The past few years have not seen the kind of major global crises that marked the early part of this century.
But I don’t think that we should get too comfortable in our success. To start with, profitability is not evenly spread. Nearly 60 per cent of the profits are being generated by the US industry. However, the rest of the world is experiencing varying degrees of success. And some parts — Brazil, for example — are in crisis. Every normal business has a business cycle. It would
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What would happen if a major economy had a hard landing? Could the current protectionist rhetoric dent the demand for global connectivity? And… Is there a business disruptor out there that could reshape a major part of our industry? These are realistic — if not pleasant — questions. I am not making any predictions by asking them. But they should point us in the direction of vigilance. I am a big believer in speed and innovation. We cannot predict the future. But we need to be prepared to react quickly when the environment changes. That’s not easy for any business — and it is a real struggle for processdriven and safety-focused industries like air transport.
Edited excerpts from a speech at the IATA World Financial Symposium
Opinion
Case for a single Asean aviation mart A
lthough the Asean Open Skies policy is already in effect, there should be a harmonisation of standards across the region in terms of airline-related licensing, certification, training and safety standards to name a few. There must be a collaboration between air traffic authorities so that there is an efficient highway for the aircraft to fly in the region and costs should be standardised by all Asean countries. We think that’s the key to mobilise resources and achieve economies of scale. It will create more traffic, thus boosting businesses, especially small and medium enterprises (SMEs). It would also facilitate newer markets or new destinations like secondary or tertiary cities to be well connected through air travel. The Ministry of Transport and the Department of Civil Aviation are at the forefront in trying to get all Asean nations to standardise training and safety requirements for airlines based in the region. Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam had agreed to be part of the Asean Open Skies Policy in April. The policy or agreement provides a free environment for airlines based in the Asean region to operate across the region. Airlines are able to operate unlimited flights from their home base to various points in the region, subject to the availability of airport slot. However, currently, the Asean Open Skies agreement is only up to the fifth freedom instead of ninth freedom like in Europe.
Aireen Omar Chief Executive Officer AirAsia Bhd
(country B). The airlines are also allowed to carry passengers from country B to other international destinations. The ninth freedom right, on the other hand, gives airlines the right to carry passengers outside of its home base, usually in a certain destination in a foreign country, to another destination in the same foreign country.) We hope that it moves towards the ninth freedom. It’s important to have a single aviation market because full open skies will be meaningless without single aviation market.
Edited excerpts from an interview on regional airlines
(The Freedoms of Air are international commercial aviation agreements that allow a country’s airline to enter and land in another country. The agreement, formulated in 1944 during the Chicago Convention, has nine freedom rights. The fifth freedom right allows airlines to carry passengers from its home country (country A) to disembark them into another country
October 2016
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Airlines
Lufthansa to take over Brussels Airlines L ufthansa said its supervisory board has approved plans to acquire the remaining 55 per cent stake in Brussels Airlines via the exercise of a call option as part of its plan to boost its low-cost unit Eurowings via acquisitions. The board is also expected to discuss plans for Lufthansa to take on more jets for Eurowings from Air Berlin, sources have said, to help make Eurowings the third-largest low cost-carrier in Europe behind Ireland’s Ryanair and the United Kingdom’s easyJet. Lufthansa acquired 45 per cent of Brussels Airlines owner SN Airholding in 2009 for €65 million (Dh267.7m), taking the option of acquiring the remaining 55 per cent from 2011. Lufthansa said this year it was discussing how to bring Brussels, which has a
fleet of 49 planes, into its Eurowings low-cost platform, which currently has around 90 planes.
for bringing Brussels into the Lufthansa Group must now be discussed in detail, a spokesman said on Wednesday.
Brussels Airlines is strong on routes to Africa, where the Lufthansa network has gaps, and the German carrier previously said it will look at ways to keep some of the branding. The price and the concept
The transaction, which is subject to shareholders of SN approving the details of the deal, is expected to be concluded at the beginning of 2017, Lufthansa said.
Jet Airways joining hands with Air France-KLM, US carrier Delta Air Lines
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et Airways is forming an extensive transatlantic venture with Air France-KLM and US carrier Delta Air Lines, as the now-profitable Indian airline charts its own global expansion plans exclusive of those in
alliance with its powerful shareholder partner, Etihad Airways. Air France-KLM and Delta, along with Alitalia, have the world’s biggest transatlantic pact offering
more than 250 daily flights to the Americas. The venture that Jet is entering into will have codeshare agreements, joint frequent flyer programmes and other synergies, as well as give the airline access to over 40 points in the US, the biggest air travel market, a person in the know said. A new codeshare agreement with Delta will give Jet access to 13 international airports and 10 domestic destinations in the US via Paris. It will get access to about eight more points in the US via Paris from the deal with Air France.
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Airlines
Spring Airlines opens more than 40 international routes this year
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hanghai-based Spring Airlines is expected to open more than 40 international routes by the end of 2016, reflecting the explosive growth of Chinese citizens’ outbound travel.
As of the end of September, the Chinese low cost carrier (LCC) had opened 30 new international routes. Spring opened two international routes to Siem Reap, Cambodia, and Sabah, Malaysia, the last week of September, and one new international 3X weekly service between Guangzhou, China, and Phnom Penh, Cambodia, using Airbus A320s. The carrier also plans to launch more than 10 new international routes by the end of the year, according to the Spring VP Zhang Wu’an.
As of June 30, Spring had a fleet of 63 A320s operating 122 routes, comprising 72 domestic and 50 international. The company expected to introduce five more A320s during the second half of this year. It is noteworthy that Spring mainly focused on the Southeast Asian market during the first half of this year, especially Thailand, because of the slowdown in Japanese market demand and the yen’s appreciation, as
well as a reduction in available slots in the Korean market. Chinese LCCs still only hold an 8% share of the total Chinese air transport market, far below the 30% global average level. Spring president Wang Yu warned that Japanese and Korean LCCs have become a growing competitive threat to Chinese carriers.
October 2016
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Cargo & Logistics
The opening of $190 million dedicated pharmaceuticals handling centre will help end a legacy perception that Middle East hubs are not pharma-friendly
Emirates opens SkyPharma in Dubai
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mirates opened ‘SkyPharma,’ a dedicated cool storage facility for pharmaceutical goods, at Dubai International Airport.
The 4,000 square metre facility was opened by His Highness Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Emirates Airline and Group Chief Executive and Chairman in the presence of UAE Minister of Health Abdul Rahman Al Owais, Dubai Health Authority Chairman and Director General Humaid Mohammad Obaid Al Qatami and Emirates SkyCargo Divisional Senior Vice President Nabil Sultan. The facility is part of a wider Dh600 million ($190 million),
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11,000 square metre extension of Emirates SkyCentral at the airport and offers 4,000 sq metre dedicated to pharma cargo. The opening of the facility to handle pharmaceuticals at its Dubai home hub will help end a legacy perception in some sections of the industry that Middle East hubs are not pharma-friendly. Nabil Sultan, Emirates Divisional Senior Vice President, Cargo, speaking at the opening of the
Emirates SkyPharma facility, said: “Most of the Gulf companies are being avoided when it comes to transporting pharmaceutical products simply because of the hot temperature that happens here, especially in the summer, and which to be honest - has presented a huge challenge for us. “How do we overcome that challenge, what sort of processes and measures do we have to put in place to manage this whole issue of logistics, to ensure that there are no
Cargo & Logistics
temperature spikes during transportation?”
and by linking the entire process from end-to-end.”
The answer was a purpose-built extension at Dubai International Airport (DXB) that is compliant with the European Unions’ Good Distribution Practice guidelines for pharma and life science products.
It features temperature controlled zones (2-8 degree Celsius and 1525 degree Celsius), 88 temperature controlled individual positions in the automated ULD (aircraft pallet) handling system and five temperature controlled acceptance and delivery truck docks.
Both the temperature-controlled pharma terminals at DXB and Emirates’ freighter aircraft hub at Dubai World Central (DWC), separated by a one-hour bonded reefer truck drive, are now GDP compliant and audited by the international compliance agency, Bureau Veritas. “The fact that the GDP audit was conducted and successfully passed in June this year, during the peak of the summer season in Dubai, also demonstrates that Emirates SkyCargo capability to securely transport pharmaceutical product under extreme weather conditions. “I’m pleased to say that we managed to overcome these challenges with innovative ideas and concepts
The facilities have specialist cool chain equipment, including the Cool Dolly, basically a giant mobile fridge used either for the temporary storage of pharma goods or for transporting pharma products from the aircraft cargo door to the temperature-controlled terminal area. Other product portfolio advances include the White Container ULD and White Cover Advanced, pallet blanket all of which are designed to prevent temperature fluctuations or spikes from occurring during any part of the transportation process. “We are the first Middle Eastern airline in the Gulf and Mid-
dle East to be GDP compliant but we are also first in being certified as a multiple hub combining both airports and the bonded trucking between them. We are also first in the world to be certified that sort of level,” Sultan said. Qatar Airways and Etihad have their own tarmac transfer systems, including reefer trucks, for exchanging pharma goods in a controlled temperature environment. They also have dedicated pharma facilities at Doha and Abu Dhabi airports. “The global pharmaceutical industry is booming and it is at the moment forecast between 2014 and 2018 it is estimated to be growing at a pace of 20 per cent to 22 per cent which is a huge growth,” he said. “Along with this there is also a growth in the demand for GDP certification and this is why I express my pleasure that Emirates SkyCargo is again taking the lead and is the benchmark in the region to achieve such goals.”
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Technology
Airspace mapping companies and researchers are working on drone detection technology and geofencing system
How to keep drones out of high-risk areas?
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irspace mapping companies are working on a pilot program to detect drones that intercept sensitive and high-risk areas such as airports.
One of those firms, Santa Monica-based AirMap, worked with drone manufacturer DJI, which created “geofences” around wildfires. When drones hit the virtual boundary, the geofencing software overrides the flight controller and forces them to hover in place. Any drone deployed inside the barrier won’t be able to lift off. Defense giants Boeing Co. and Lockheed Martin Corp, as well as a handful of start-ups, have jumped into the fray, developing technology ranging from detection systems to more disruptive solutions such as software that forces unauthorised drones to go home or land safely and laser cannons that shoot unwanted drones out of the sky.
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The technology is of interest to commercial users as well as the government. The US Department of Defense hosts an annual counterdrone demonstration called Black Dart in which the military, its allies and industry partners can assess current technology and techniques. Drone maker DJI introduced its GPSbased geofence system which prevents “inadvertent” drone operations in sensitive areas, such as airports. Since drones rely on their GPS receivers to determine where they are, DJI preprograms certain locations into the geofencing system. If a drone gets close to one of these locations, operators first receive a warning, said
Brendan Schulman, Vice President of Policy and Legal Affairs at DJI. If they continue to fly their drone, they will be stopped by the geofence. The distance around these sensitive locations can vary. DJI, which analysts estimate sells up to 70 per cent of all consumer and professional drones, has included the option of overriding the geofence for wildfires, allowing a “verified” user to input credit card information or a mobile phone number to give firefighting or other authorized personnel the ability to keep using drones for legitimate efforts. Earlier this year, the Federal Aviation Administration tested FBI drone-de-
Technology
tection technology at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York and Atlantic City International Airport in New Jersey for a few weeks. Last year, Boeing unveiled its compact laser weapons system, which ignites targeted drones. At a demonstration in California, Boeing said it took only about 15 seconds for its 2-kilowatt laser to disable the drone. Autonomous drone-detection systems need to be sophisticated enough to distinguish between slow-moving drones and birds, or even the signals emitted from drones compared with those emitted by cellphones. Detection systems will likely need to integrate a number of sensors such as acoustics,
cameras, radio frequency or even radar to create “multilayer capability,”. Other companies and organizations are looking into the interdiction, or disruptive, aspect of how to safely deal with a drone threat once it is identified. At Aerospace Corp. in El Segundo, researchers are investigating how to isolate the link between a specific drone and its controller that could lead to a safe takeover — rather than blindly “jamming,” or interrupting, all of the authorised frequencies in that range to cause confusion and force a potentially unpredictable landing. Drones change their frequency band tens of times a second to ensure an
uninterrupted communications link. By using software-defined radios and integrating the team’s coding knowledge, the researchers have been able to successfully take over a drone’s controls in several tests, said Esteban Valles, Associate Director of Digital Communication in the implementation department at Aerospace Corp. The researchers have also worked on pinpointing the position of a rogue drone’s controller, allowing law enforcement to find the pilot. Aerospace Corp. does not sell its products commercially but is trying to better understand how drone communications work so it can advise customers on their own technology solutions.
October 2016
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Technology
Future affordable turbine engine
G
E Aviation successfully began testing the first full engine in the Future Affordable Turbine Engine (FATE) program under a cooperative agreement between GE and the US Army.
The engine is designed to meet a series of aggressive goals including a 35 per cent reduction in specific fuel consumption, 80 per cent improvement in power-to-weight, 20 per cent improvement in design life and 45 per cent reduction in production and maintenance costs relative to currently fielded engines. The increases in engine capabilities provide a significant contribution to increasing hot-and-high payload and performance and extended range and endurance for either upgrades to existing aircraft or new rotorcraft. The first full engine test follows the successful completion of FATE compressor, combustor and turbine rig tests in 2015.
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October 2016
The FATE compressor rig recorded the highest single-spool compressor pressure ratio in GE Aviation’s history. The combustor test incorporated extensive use of ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) in the combustor. The CMC material provides high-temperature capability and weight reduction for better performance. The FATE turbine rig was built using additive manufacturing techniques for faster construction and lower development costs. These rigs followed FATE inlet particle separator tests completed in 2014.
The CMC material provides hightemperature capability and weight reduction for better performance
31% Airlines expect a
Technology
increase in passenger demand by 2017
Sitaonair developes flight tracker
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elgium-based Sitaonair has developed Aircom Flight Tracker in response to ICAO mandating automatic flight tracking from November 2018.
How does it work?
35°N
30°N
Tracking multiple data sources -
25°N
• ADS-B • ACARS • FANS • Air Navigation Provider Data
Combining Tracking Data
20°N
15°N
The product uses existing equipment and re-purposes air traffic control data to provide consistent monitoring throughout the flight. Aircom Flight Tracker is a ground-based, cost-effective software upgrade that uses existing equipment to allow airlines to follow aircraft positions and identify any unexpected deviations or gaps in position reports.
AIRLINE ALERT
Proactive Problem Detection 0°
It was developed after ICAO and IATA called for global tracking technology that uses existing equipment and procedures as much as possible.
05°
Coupled with a range of additional features and connectivity options, FlightTracker uses airlines’ existing onboard technology to deliver wide-ranging safety and operational improvements without the need to modify aircraft.
BAD WEATHER WARNING
05°N
It uses multiple sources of data so airlines can guarantee tracking intervals at 15 minutes or less for every flight.
The company said that FlightTracker can accommodate the equipment found on every kind of aircraft – from the most basic, to those operating FANS and everything in between.
AIRCRAFT DIVERSIONS DUE TO BAD WEATHER
10°N
Combined tracking data triggers an alert to airlines when, for example, an aircraft deviates from the flight plan or stops sending position data.
TERRESTRIAL TRACKING UNAVAILABLE
10°S
15°
Air Traffic Control logons are monitored to ensure expected operations.
Monitoring
20°S
25°S
30°S
Multiple data sources are gathered & work globally to fill in gaps between any ANSP tracking.
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