Monthly Newsletter issued by Dubai Civil Aviation Authority
Inside DCAA Safety Summit to 14 highlight key strategies for safety culture
www.viadubaionline.com
Issue 47 April 2017
Sheikh Mohammed tours Dubai International Government Achievements Exhibition
DCAA participates 6 in Government Achievements Exhibition
A desert camp for “Happiness”
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“Today’s Reader, 8 Tomorrow’s Leader” DCAA participats in Earth 9 Hour initiative
UAE in Focus Safety Summit to highlight key strategies for safety culture
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‘Women in Aviation’ 16 committed to increasing the share of women in Middle East’s aviation sector
12 Border integrity Dr. Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu
A pat for UAE airports
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Angela Gittens
28
Advanced cybersecurity Dans showcases the 18 services world’s largest tower simulator
Opinions 28
DCAA to implement online system for employee requests Faisal Abduljalil Saeed
Satcom helps airlines save $3 billion 41
Airlines 34
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Cargo & Logistics 38
30
Technology 40
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 April 2017 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.
Inside DCAA 06 DCAA participates in Government Achievements Exhibition
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.
General Supervision Mohammed Abdulla Ahli Coordinator Hanan Al Mazimi Creative Manager Mohammed Al Jarouf Editor Shveta Pathak
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E-mail: viadubai@naddalshiba.com
“Today’s Reader, Tomorrow’s Leader”
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A desert camp for ”“Happiness
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 DCAA to implement online system for employee requests Faisal Abduljalil Saeed
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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
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twitter.com/DcaaDubai
Aprilyoutube.com/user/dcaadubai 2017
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CONTENTS
Dans showcases the world’s largest tower simulator 18
Safety and security in sharp focus
A pat for UAE airports 28
29
Dr. Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu
Advanced cybersecurity services
20
New technology helps pilots communicate with ATCs
32
2
Angela Gittens
Border integrity
41
April 2017
Message
from the President
A matter of security
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o economy can progress without providing security and safety to all stakeholders, whether it’s life, investments, industrial activities or services. It’s more pronounced in the case of aviation. We take pride in the fact that the UAE has been recognised as the top country worldwide by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), for compliance with international security and safety standards. Our airports have always stood first when providing security to passengers, airlines operating here and all stakeholders. The increasing number of passengers and airlines using our airports is the best testimony to our efficiency and their confidence in us. We have realised the need for such security ever since we started building up the airports to receive the ever-increasing number of passengers, which contributed to the overall growth in the economy.
Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum
The forthcoming Airport Show, to be held in Dubai from May 15-17, 2017, will be good opportunity to learn from experts and leading companies in the world the latest safety and security solutions and products. In our endeavour to make Dubai one of the top aviation hubs in the world we leave no stone unturned to ensure security and lead change and innovation. This can be achieved by learning from our own experience and learn from experts. Because safety and security concern all of us.
Our experience and dedication enable us to win the confidence and trust of passengers to use our airports. But we don’t want to rest on our laurels when it comes to security. We have been consistently implementing measures to enhance security and ensure a seamless passenger experience using the best technology available today.
April 2017
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Message
from the Director General
Learning opportunity
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e deem it a great recognition when Ms Angela Gittens, Director General of Airports Council International (ACI), wrote in her first monthly column in Via Dubai that ACI and Dubai Civil Aviation Authority share the common vision of ensuring the aviation industry’s sustainable growth. We are glad to present to you Ms Angela’s expert views based on her long years of experience from which we all can learn immensely. We have a great sense of fulfillment and satisfaction that Ms Angela said Dubai International Airport for one, the next-generation travel hub, is implementing innovative practices such as automatic passenger identification and a seamless passenger journey. These accomplishments have not come in a day. It was achieved through continuous and sustained efforts put in by one and all. We have a commendable record of maintaining the highest security standards to reaffirm Dubai’s role as one of the leading aviation hubs in the world. This we earned by virtue of our early enough steps to ensure safety and security, inspired by our visionary leader His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
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Mohammed Abdulla Ahli
Dubai has a unique opportunity, due to its location and rapid growth, to lead change and innovation in regards to security. Keeping this in mind, DCAA is organising the fifth edition of the World Aviation Safety Summit 2017 in Dubai. Crisis communications and the auditing and oversight of safety management systems will be among the many topics discussed by top industry leaders at the summit. Let me call upon all stakeholders to derive maximum benefits out of it, particularly the Masterclasses, a platform for experts to discuss the latest industry trends, insights and international best practices. The ultimate aim is to offer a safe and pleasant airport experience to one and all.
Inside DCAA
Industry leaders to advise on drone safety measures at Summit
A
s drones continue to increase in number and popularity around the world, the aviation industry is working to address the challenges they bring and ensure safety is maintained. This will be one of a number of topics that will be under examination at the World Aviation Safety Summit, which will take place in Dubai on 11 and 12 April. Each month, pilots and air traffic controllers report more than 100 drone sightings to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which has been compiling and issuing reports on these encounters. The FAA says such reports have increased since 2014, with more than 1,200 incidents in the U.S. last year. As a result of these incidents, regulators have been working on formulating rules for how to incorporate commercial drone
operations into airspace and trying to inform hobbyists about the dangers that drones can bring. From January 2013 to June 2016, 856 reports from seven official sources were found through International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) research on drones, with one suspected and one confirmed collision included. H.E. Mohammed Abdulla Ahli, Director General, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA),
commented: “It is important that we continue to educate our citizens on the rules around drones to ensure maximum safety in our airspace. Regulations and procedures are helping to minimise the dangers and we are working with industry stakeholders to continue addressing the challenges that drones bring. The World Aviation Safety Summit will be the perfect platform to propose new measures and agree on improved ways of keeping airspaces safe and secure.”
April 2017
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Inside DCAA
DCAA participates in Government Achievements Exhibition
D
ubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) participated in Dubai International Government Achievements Exhibition (DIGAE) under the patronage and presence of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The three days long exhibition - which was organized by Dubai Government Excellence program of The Executive Council, Dubai – witnessed many government bodies’ initiatives. The inauguration was attended by Abdul Rahim Al Mulla, Director of Corporate Support and Communication, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Khalid Abdul Karim Al Arif, Executive
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Director for Safety and Aviation Environment, Mohammed Linjawi, Executive Director of the Aviation Safety and Accident Investigation Sector. His Excellency Mohammed Abdulla Ahli, Director General, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, said:” The Dubai Civil Aviation Authority’s participation in Dubai International Government Achievements Exhibition (DIGAE) 2017 falls in line with the
vision and directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and comes as an assurance of Dubai government’s pioneering in all fields, and specially that of governmental excellence and creativity. “By participating we aim to spread and apply the concepts of excellence in all of DCAA’s activities, letting the
Inside DCAA
public know all of DCAA’s achievements in the field of civil aviation. DCAA always seeks to develop the aviation sector and provide it with more excellence elements which enable it to face future challenges to achieve greater achievements globally and locally. His Excellency visited DCAA’s stand during its participation in the exhibition, where he welcomed some senior officials from various government departments participating in the exhibition. He also toured the exhibition to learn more about all kinds of achievements showcased by the participating government bodies. DCAA also participated in the AskGov Leaders session,where Mohammed Linjawi, Executive Director of
the Aviation Safety and Accident Investigation Sector, was available at DCAA’s stand to answer all the questions of the visitors.
DCAA’s stand received numerous visitors during its participation in DIGAE and they were introduced to DCAA’s achievements in the field of civil aviation.
April 2017
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Inside DCAA
A desert camp for “Happiness”
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ubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) organized a camping trip to Dubai Tourism Desert Camp as part of the initiative “Employees Happiness, Our Happiness in DCAA”. HE Mohammed A Ahli, Director General of DCAA, and a group of DCAA staff participated in the activities that included BBQ and fun games. “We would like to extend our gratitude to Dubai Tourism Department for sponsoring the camp, providing the camping equipment, and the dinner,” said HE Mohammed A Ahli, who honoured Khalid Abdulattif Al Hammadi, Deputy Director, Finance, in Dubai Tourism Department, for their sponsorship.
“Today’s Reader, Tomorrow’s Leader” Initiative
D
ubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) participated in the initiative“Today’s Reader, Tomorrow’s Leader” launched by Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation (MBRF), where it aims to distribute books to the families of travellers who travel through Dubai International Airport, as well as to promote Dubai as a capital of knowledge.
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April 2017
Inside DCAA
DCAA participates in Earth Hour initiative
Year of Giving:
More initiatives announced throughout UAE
M
ore initiatives are being launched throughout the UAE to make the Year of Giving a success.
The Year of Giving was declared by the UAE President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and followed by a directive by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Rule of Dubai. A high-level committee for the Year of Giving said that various initiatives are being launched by each of the seven emirates and will target all segments of the UAE society.
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ubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) participated in the Earth Hour initiative, organized by DEWA.
Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA presented an honorary shield to Abdul Rahim Al Mulla, DCAA’s Director of Corporate Support and Communication for the participation of DCAA in the Earth Hour.
A total of 1,400 nationwide initiatives which will involve all members of the community will be dedicated to the UAE martyrs, who sacrificed their lives while performing their national duty, according to Mohammad Bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister for Cabinet Affairs and the Future. Officials from each emirate announced their own local initiatives. Dubai will be launching 375 initiatives in partnership with both the private and government sector. Abu Dhabi will be having 247 initiatives which will mainly focus on volunteering work and spreading the culture of volunteering among people. Sharjah announced 56 initiatives, including volunteer initiative to help needy families in the maintenance and restoration of their old homes. Ras Al Khaimah’s will have a total of 337 initiatives, Ajman 113 initiatives, Umm Al Quwain 90 initiatives and Al Fujairah 188 initiatives.
April 2017
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DCAA Interview
Faisal Abduljalil Saeed, Administration Services Affairs Manager, Finance Affairs and Administration Department, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority
Committed to ensuring strong support to DCAA employees
DCAA to implement online system for employee requests
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he Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) is committed to supporting the aviation sector and ensuring safety of the skies. Toward achieving this goal, the DCAA employees work relentlessly and always strive to give their best.
The result of these efforts have been the remarkable achievements of the DCAA all these years, whether it is in adopting the latest technology or in implementing latest innovative ideas. Behind this efficient functioning is the support system provided by the Finance Affairs and Administration Department to the employees, which, through its timely and positive support ensures that employee requests and necessary procedures are completed promptly whether these are related to visas, furniture, vehicle requests, insurance or other functions. In an interview to Via Dubai, Faisal Abduljalil Saeed, Administration Services Affairs Manager, Finance Affairs and Administration Department, DCAA, shared how the department ensures immediate response to requests and what inspires him to continue excelling. Excerpts from the interview: Can you share with us how your department supports the DCAA’s functioning. Our department is responsible for handling DCAA’s assets, visa processing, IDs, insurance, parking, airport passes
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April 2017
and other requirements of the employees. Our objective is to complete these requests in the shortest possible time, while at the same time provide the best solutions in terms of quality as well as value for money.
When it comes to time, sometimes we start processing soon as we expect the requirement to arise, without waiting for the employee to put in a request, such as furniture, insurance etc. In most cases, we want to complete the request on the spot because any delays
DCAA Interview
from our side can affect the work progress of employees, who are working in line with the vision and mission of the DCAA. We are firmly committed to ensuring that we provide them the best services and continue improving. How do you ensure timely completion of requests? Since we are aware of the procedures to complete different types of requests, we always want to stay ahead of them. This means that if there is a new employee, for instance, we have determined their requirements and we are ready to go ahead with the procedures soon as the employee requests, or even before that. What are your further plans toward enhancing efficiencies? We are working on implementing a new system. All our administration services
will be available online once this system is implemented. As of now, we do it on email or phone. The online system will facilitate faster processing of requests. When will the online system be implemented? We are already working on it. Within this year, we will implement it. How has the work culture in the DCAA helped you progress? I joined the DCAA in 2012 as an administration executive, was promoted as senior executive and later as the Administration Services Affairs Manager. The work culture in the DCAA is very friendly, our management always inspires us to deliver the best we can, we are encouraged to stay updated and upgrade our skills and knowledge. We are also encouraged to give new innovative ideas, which are implemented.
All this is highly inspiring and constantly motivates us to give better than what we delivered before. It is for this reason that I strongly feel that the role I have is very important part of ensuring the happiness of employees within the organisation. ď‚ƒ
April 2017
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Cover Story
Sheikh Mohammed tours Dubai International Government Achievements Exhibition
H
is Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, visited Dubai International Government Achievements Exhibition (DIGAE), and heared from participants their achievements. Dubai Civil Aviation Authority participated in support of the government’s excellence program as well as to highlight the Authority’s achievements in the field of aviation.
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Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) participated in Dubai International Government Achievements Exhibition (DIGAE) under the patronage and presence of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
the participating departments their achievements and services. The stalls he visited included Dubai Municipality, Dubai Health Authority, Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), Dubai Police, Dubai Airports, Dubai Lands Department, Dubai Customs and the Dubai Executive Office.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed toured the Exhibition area to hear from
The three-day event on April 2,3 and 4, organised by the Dubai Government
April 2017
Excellence Program (DGEPP) at the General Secretariat of the Executive Council of Dubai, was participated by 80 departments and companies from 20 countries. DCAA, which participated in the exhibition in support of the government’s excellence program, showcased its achievements and vision for the future.
Cover Story
“By participating we aim to spread and apply the concepts of excellence in all of DCAA’s activities, letting the public know all of DCAA’s achievements in the field of civil aviation. In the exhibition the Authority highlighted the most important achievements in the field of aviation, airport security and services, the latest technologies adopted, smart system for fast and easy movement of passengers, in order to spread knowledge and share experiences among participants at the local and international levels.
His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman and CEO of Emirates Airline and Group, and Chairman of Dubai Air Navigation Services (dans), said: “Dubai Air Navigation Services stand at the exhibition featured the world’s largest Tower Simulator, TOSIM, a 360 degree cutting edge facility that simulates the future of aviation and is utilised as a training facility to train Air Traffic Control Officers.”
His Excellency Mohammed Abdulla Ahli, Director General, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, said:” The Dubai Civil Aviation Authority’s participation in Dubai International Government Achievements Exhibition (DIGAE) 2017 falls in line with the vision and directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and comes as an assurance of Dubai government’s pioneering in all fields, and especially that of governmental excellence and creativity.
The DCAA stall attracted large crowd and the Authority’s volunteers made presentations on the various services and achievements. About the services and contribution of dans, HE Mohammed A. Ahli said: “In the race to excellence, the organisation’s participation at the event is one of the many channels through which dans strives to cater to the government’s vision and initiatives that aim at enhancing organisational performance, as well as creating a promising future that is shaped on becoming pioneers in human development, innovation and excellence.”
April 2017
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UAE in Focus
Safety Summit to highlight key strategies for safety culture
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orld Aviation Safety Summit in Dubai to engage with local and international stakeholders from regulatory authorities, airline operators, airport operators, aircraft manufacturers, pilot associations, safety organisations and air traffic control service providers. The fifth World Aviation Safety Summit (WASS), hosted by the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) on April 11-12 in Dubai, is slated to be high profile forum that will deliberate a host of crucial issues affecting the aviation industry. The Summit will highlight key strategies for the safety culture of the future by engaging with local and international stakeholders from regulatory authorities, airline operators, airport operators, aircraft manufacturers, pilot associations, safety organisations and air traffic control service providers. WASS will address how the aviation industry implements essential safety measures in order to efficiently manage the processes, threats and risks facing aviation safety profes-
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April 2017
sionals worldwide. The Summit will also closely examine best practices in crisis communications, reputation management, safety performance and wildlife management. According to the Aviation Safety Network (ASN), which keeps a database of all air travel incidents, 2016 was the second safest year on record. Yet, despite the lack of major airline accidents challenges remain across aviation cyber security, environmental impact mitigation, communications, and safety performance management. WASS will evaluate a variety of such topics in order to highlight best practices and lessons learned. As WASS’ Association Partner, experts from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) will provide attendees with updates on the
latest industry safety trends and best practices. Since 1997 the average number of airliner accidents has shown a steady and persistent decline. According to ASN, this is largely due to the efforts of international aviation organizations such as ICAO, IATA and the Flight Safety Foundation. Some of the sessions at WASS include enhancing safe and secure operations; overflight and handling a complex geopolitical environment; safety performance, monitoring, measurement and benchmarking; business continuity and air safety; cyber security for safety; and risk management and predictive safety. H.E. Mohammed Abdulla Ahli, Director General at the Dubai Civil
UAE in Focus
mands of the industry. We look forward to welcoming the world’s global aviation safety experts in Dubai for the fifth edition of the Summit.”
Masterclasses Aviation Authority said: “As Dubai’s Civil Aviation Authority, we are committed to the development of safety in the aviation sector locally, regionally and internationally. We are dedicated to backing the World Aviation Safety Summit and look forward to supporting the learning and innovations that come out of the global gathering. We believe that bringing global safety experts together will make a genuine difference to the industry, enhance performance levels and highlight Dubai’s commitment to ensuring a safe and secure future for air travel.” Nick Webb, Managing Partner at Streamline Marketing Group, the event organisers, said: “Returning for its 5th edition, WASS has established itself as an ideal platform for thought leaders of the global aviation safety sector to come together and discuss essential safety measures. Air traffic is booming, and with such rapid growth it is critical that industry and safety experts discuss solutions to the challenges and ever-growing de-
The Summit will include a series of Masterclasses by leading experts in fields related to aviation safety practices. Key topics include crisis communications and the auditing and oversight of safety management systems. WASS will highlight key approaches to audiences consisting of local and international stakeholders such as regulatory authorities and airline operators. The Masterclasses come as part of the annual summit’s efforts to provide a platform for leading experts to discuss the latest industry trends, insights and international best practices. Donald Steel, Associate Director of Crisis Communications at Kenyon International Emergency Services, will deliver the Crisis Communications and Reputation Management Masterclass, addressing the challenges and presenting the latest best practices when communicating during a crisis. With wide experience in crisis communications and aviation responses
to emergency situations, Steel will provide expert insight and experience into some of the most relevant issues in the field. This includes preventing and minimising reputational damage, developing communications plans and methods of evaluating levels of crises, and setting up crisis communications nerve centres. Safety management expert Vangelis Demosthenous will conduct the Auditing and Oversight of Safety Management Systems Effectiveness (SMS) Masterclass which will discuss safety management . He will address the knowledge, methodologies and skills required for auditing and overseeing an effective SMS. “These Masterclass sessions are yet another way in which WASS has established itself as an excellent platform for industry experts and global thought leaders to come together and make a genuine difference to the industry. The sessions offer leading experts in key fields of aviation safety the opportunity to address challenges in a range of fields with local and international stakeholders. We look forward to welcoming attendees in Dubai for the first edition of the WASS Masterclasses,” said Nick Webb, Managing Partner at Streamline Marketing Group, the event organisers.
April 2017
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UAE in Focus
‘Women in Aviation’ committed to increasing the share of women in Middle East’s aviation sector
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minent international women leaders from the aviation industry will converge at the 2nd Women in Aviation General Assembly on May 15th to promote the higher participation of women in the Middle East’s robust aviation sector.
Hosted by Airport Show 2017, the General Assembly and Student Career Orientation Programme is being organised in partnership with Women in Aviation (Middle East Chapter) and will involve participation of aviation experts of international acclaim and over 200 attendees. The forum will help connect government and private companies, which are keen on hiring women, with aspiring professionals in the aviation sector. Airport Show 2017 is being held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group from May 15-17, 2017.
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With women constituting over 60 per cent of Arab countries’ science, technology, engineering and mathematics graduates (according to UNESCO), the forum is taking active measures to enhance their participation in the Middle East’s robust and rapidly growing aviation sector, which contributes over $157.2 billion to the GDP and generates more than 2.4 million jobs. In Dubai alone, the aviation sector is estimated to contribute 37.5 per cent to its GDP and support over 750,000 jobs by 2020 Laila Hareb, Assistant Director General - Aviation Strategies and International Affairs at General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), said: “Women in the UAE are making their mark across all sectors.
Laila Hareb: Women in UAE making their mark across all sectors In line with the vision of our leaders toward driving women’s participation in the national development of the nation, I would invite women to be a part of this highly important forum and of the aviation sector, particularly to tap into the numerous opportunities offered in the booming aviation sector in the Middle East, which has a very strong growth outlook.
UAE in Focus
“Airports across the region are investing to the tune of millions of dollars toward expansion and the region is also set to be the fastest growing region in the world for the airline industry. The region has no shortage of talent and there is a perfect opportunity for the industry to tap into the talent pool and, for those aspiring to be a part of this sector, to avail of the opportunity.” The ‘Arab Women in Aviation’ conference is supported by key industry stakeholders, including Sky Prime Aviation as Platinum Sponsors, Mubadala and Strata as Silver Sponsors and Boeing, Etihad Airways Engineering, Commercial Bank International, Abu Dhabi Aviation, Royal Jet, Maximus Air, MSI Aircraft Maintenance Services and Air Navigation Services of Sweden as the event’s General Assembly Sponsors. Mervat Sultan, Co-founder and President, Women in Aviation Middle East, said: “Most roles in aviation are still dominated by men around the world and with the help of conferences such as these, we hope to change this. The region is quickly becoming the global hub for aviation and women will have a huge role to play in this growing sector. The Women In Aviation Middle East Chapter is pleased to support the organisers in highlighting the exciting career opportunities that will open for women across aviation in the region over the next decade and promoting the role of women in the aviation and aerospace industry. We look forward to welcoming many of our colleagues and partners from across the region to the conference in May.”
Mervat added: “Empowering women in highly skilled roles is a major initiative of the governments in the Middle East. We are pleased to announce that Women in Aviation is receiving an equally strong interest from companies in the private sector who are keen on hiring women. Our Middle East chapter is now focussing on spreading awareness about aviation as a career of choice in the region by visiting schools, universities and colleges, when students are seeking the right information and direction to choose the best career for
60 per cent STEM graduates in Arab countries are women themselves. In addition, we are also helping companies in the aviation sector that are keen on hiring women to reach the right talent. All the efforts are focussed toward attaining the main goal, which is increasing the participation of women in Middle East’s aviation sector.” The first general assembly of Women in Aviation, held in 2016, was a record success with major participation from women professionals across the aviation sector such as pilots, engineers, managers and training and recruitment professionals. Salem Abaid Al Muzaini, CEO, Sky Prime private aviation services, said: “We are proud to be the platinum sponsor of the Women in Aviation General Assembly. Sky Prime is supporting to empower women and en-
hance their participation in aviation & all sectors.” The general assembly and career orientation programme will provide the participants an opportunity to get inspired and hear women who are motivating millions with their success in this sector. Among the sessions will be a special panel on ‘Inspirational Stories’ of the most successful and talented women in aviation around the world who have made it to the top of their organisations, a session exploring the wide spectrum of roles in aviation, as well as a practical guide on how to excel in these roles for aspiring young professionals, a presentation on key developments that will shape the Middle East’s future aviation landscape and the economic stimulus these will create for the region and a panel discussion on preparing the aviation leaders of tomorrow. Daniyal Qureshi, Group Exhibition Director, Reed Exhibitions Middle East, organisers of Airport Show 2017, said: “Across the GCC, we see exemplary initiatives being taken to encourage the participation of women in aviation, particularly as the region’s aviation sector is amongst the fastest growing in the world. The Middle East’s aviation and aerospace industries will see a huge boom in job opportunities over the next decade and this is the right time to ensure an equal opportunity for women in this sector. In line with our objectives of supporting the sustainable growth of aviation in the region, Airport Show is pleased to host Women in Aviation, which we are sure will create a positive long-term impact on our society.
April 2017
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UAE in Focus
Dans showcases the world’s largest tower simulator
D
ans enabled 84 million passengers to reach 240 destinations from Dubai in 2016; Organisation participated in the Dubai International Government Achievements Exhibition.
Dubai Air Navigation Services (dans), the leading air navigation services provider for Dubai and the Northern Emirates, in 2016, enabled 84 million passengers to reach to 240 destinations safely from Dubai Airports, as the organisation successfully managed an hourly average of 35 air traffic movements in “arrivals” and an average of 39 movements in “departures” during peak hours at Dubai International Airport (DXB). The organisation has been instrumental in driving significant growth in air traffic movements, as a daily average of 1,530 air traffic movements has been managed during 2016, in addition to recording a total capacity growth of 3 per cent in comparison to the year 2015. Dans participated in the Dubai International Government Achievements Exhibition, held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Prime Minister and Vice President of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, at the Dubai World Trade Center. His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Airports; President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority; Chairman and CEO of Emirates Group, Chairman of Dubai Air Navigation Services (dans) stated: “Dubai Air Navigation Services stand at the exhibition featured the World’s largest Tower Simulator (TOSIM), a 360 degree cutting edge facility that simulates the future of Aviation
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and is utilised as a training facility to train Air Traffic Control Officers (ATCO).”
cient and expeditious air navigation services to Dubai and the Northern Emirates.”
HE Mohammed A, Ahli, Director General of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and the CEO of Dubai Air Navigation Services (dans), commented: “In the race to excellence, the organisation’s participation at the event is one of the many channels through which dans strives to cater to the government’s vision and initiatives that aim at enhancing organisational performance, as well as creating a promising future that is shaped on becoming pioneers in human development, innovation and excellence”.
Ibrahim Hussein Ahli, Deputy CEO of dans, commented: “In order to emphasise its crucial role, dans showcased the organisation’s journey from its onset and until today through showcasing several projects that support the organisation’s mission to continuously cater to the ever growing expansion in the aviation sector, such as the Approach Peak Offload procedure ( APO), that has led to reduction of peak arrival delay by 40 per cent at Dubai International Airport (DXB).”
He added: “Dans plays a pivotal and significant role in the aviation sector, that is identified as one of the main and leading economic boosters that contribute 28 per cent of Dubai’s GDP, in addition to providing ample opportunities for innovation and offering 250,000 employment opportunities, through providing safe, effi-
Dubai Air Navigation services (dans) is the air navigation services provider that manages the Dubai and Northern Emirates airspace. dans also provides air navigation services for airport authorities and numerous prestigious airlines, including the World’s busiest airport in terms of international passenger numbers-Dubai International Airport(DXB).
UAE in Focus
April 2017
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Special Report
Safety and security in sharp focus
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he tremendous growth in passenger numbers and airlines necessitates the need for ensuring safety and security. Dubai airports are gearing up to serve up to 146 million passengers by 2025; Global airport security market size set to exceed $12.8 billion by 2023; Dubai set to host Aviation Safety Summit. Safety and security at airports have come to sharp focus with the unprecedented growth in passenger numbers and airlines across the world as well as increased security threats at crowded airports. With an impressive safety record at the UAE airports, the authorities have been taking a series of measures, including adopting advanced technologies, to ensure safety and security as well as a pleasant experience for passengers at airports. After hitting an all-time high in January, passenger traffic at Dubai International Airport (DXB) continued to grow steadily in February. As per the report issued by Dubai Airports, the increase is by 8.8
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per cent and the passenger number reached 6,948,157. The total year to date passenger traffic at DXB is 14,985,165, which is 9.3 per cent more compared to the 13,711,181 recorded during the first two months of 2016. This growth momentum will continue and Dubai airports are gearing up to serve up to 146 million passengers by 2025. Airports across the region are investing heavily to improve passenger facilities as well as to ensure safety and security. Global airport security market size set to exceed $12.8 billion by 2023. The Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) is roping in experts from all over the world to talk on the
crucial role of security at the forthcoming Aviation Safety Summit in Dubai. As drones continue to increase in number and popularity around the world, the aviation industry is working to address the challenges they bring and ensure safety is maintained. This will be one of a number of topics that will be under examination at the World Aviation Safety Summit. The World Aviation Safety Summit, now in its fifth edition, hosted by the DCAA has been established as the meeting place for thought leaders of the global aviation safety sector to discuss essential safety measures in order to efficiently manage the pro-
Special Report
cesses, threats, risks and calamities facing aviation safety professionals worldwide. “It is important that we continue to educate our citizens on the rules around drones to ensure maximum safety in our airspace. Regulations and procedures are helping to minimise the dangers and we are working with industry stakeholders to continue addressing the challenges that drones bring. The World Aviation Safety Summit will be the perfect platform to propose new measures and agree on improved ways of keeping airspaces safe and secure.” HE Mohammed Abdulla Ahli, Director General of DCAA, earlier said. The UAE has accomplished an enormous and unprecedented achievement by ranking highest in the world in compliance with international aviation safety standards. The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), the world body responsible for the standardisation of international civil aviation, has
said that the UAE is the best in safety and security at airports. ICAO had given the UAE the highest rating in the world for security compliance. The organisation also urged Arab countries to follow the UAE and Dubai’s aviation security delivery model. Angela Gittens, Director General of Airports Council International (ACI), told Via Dubai: “The Middle East has a unique opportunity, due to its location and rapid growth, to lead change and innovation in regards to security. Dubai International Airport for one, the next-generation travel hub, is implementing innovative practices such as automatic passenger identification and a seamless passenger journey.” She said ACI’s prominent area of focus is the safety and security of the travelling public. Recognizing the challenges of growing passenger numbers, continuously evolving threats and limited resources, ACI and the International Air Transport Association created the Smart Security programme to strengthen security, increase operational efficiency and improve the passenger experience.”
Airport security market The huge increase in passenger numbers and the increased need for security reforms amid unrest in many parts of the world, have propelled the need for security reforms and there is major focus on investment toward security. Globally, the airport security market size is set to exceed $12.8 billion by 2023, according to a new research report by Global Market Insights. Rising safety and passenger protection concerns, growing air traffic with the increasing air travellers owing to the time related factors and rising disposable income are expected to stimulate global airport security market size over the forecast period. Enhancement of security technology that offers operators with better situational awareness greater efficiency, and increased security is anticipated to contribute to the airport security market size, the report said.
On the various options available to authorities for ensuring security at airports, she said: “There is no one solution for all airports.
A report by Visiongain assesses that the airport security market reached $9.34 billion in 2016, driven by growth in the commercial air transport market and the need to process increasing passenger numbers without negatively impacting the quality of security.
The programme has identified a number of components that can be implemented, depending on the regulatory requirement, and the needs, facilities and risk profile of the airport. One example is Centralized Image Processing (CIP), the networking of X-ray machines, which has proven extremely beneficial in improving throughput
and reducing processing times. Other innovations include a complete redesign of the checkpoint environment, automation of lanes (e.g., tray handling systems), advanced X-ray capabilities, resource optimization (e.g., parallel divesting) and automated checkpoint performance monitoring solutions.
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Middle East News
Saudi woos foreign investors to airport projects
S
audi Arabia is currently in the middle of a new wave of airport construction activities, expansion and renovation of airports across the kingdom; Foreigners allowed to invest without local partners. tional Airport at Dammam are slated for privatization in late 2017. The remaining airports are expected to privatize in 2018-2022. In a direct move to attract more foreign investors and expertise, GACA recently announced that no obligation exists to have a local Saudi partner. For some airports, the limit for local investors has been capped over 25 per cent leaving the rest of ample opportunities for investments.
Foreign companies will be allowed to invest in the privatisation of Saudi Arabia’s airports without the need for local partners and local investment will be capped to encourage the overseas investment. Saudi Arabia is currently in the middle of a new wave to airport construction, expansion and renovation of across the kingdom. The kingdom is planning to leverage its unique strategic location and its existing strengths to become a global transportation and global hub connecting three continents- Asia, Africa and Europe, according to Saudi Arabia Airport Privatization Opportunity Outlook 2022. The report, which gives comprehensive insight on the privatization opportunity existing in the Saudi
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Arabia aviation sector, highlights the ongoing initiatives undertaken by the Saudi Arabia government to promote and attract foreign investments in civil aviation sector. The domestic and international passenger travel in Saudi Arabia is increasing by 10 per cent CAGR in last six years with total travel expected to surpass 140 million by 2022. A vigorous privatisation process leading to private sector participation in all of the Kingdom’s airports has commenced with both Prince Mohammed Bin Abdulaziz Airport in Madinah and Terminal 5 at King Khaled International Airport in Riyadh. These airports have been concessioner to the private sector. King Abdulaziz International Airport at Jeddah and King Fahd Interna-
The choice has been left with the company itself to have a local investment partner. The regulatory authorities have capped the ownership of some of the airports to make sure the foreign investors have the majority of holdings. All of the qualifying international companies, operators and service providers can participate in the privatization process. The country’s domestic and international airports will be privatized and will be ‘corporatized’, or restructured to operate like a private company, in advance of the privatization process, while remaining will be state owned. While experiencing oil crisis for years, Saudi Arabia is planning to develop an economy independent of oil trade. The kingdom has made large revenues from oil commerce throughout the world.
Middle East News
ME airlines post strongest passenger demand growth
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egional carriers witnessed year-over-year demand growth of 14.4% in international passenger traffic. Middle East airlines posted the strongest growth in international passenger demand globally in January, according to the latest report released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Regional carriers saw year-over-year demand growth of 14.4 per cent, compared to 9.3 per cent globally, the report said. Capacity among Middle East airlines also climbed 11.4 per cent while the load factor rose against the year-ago period for a third consecutive month, up 2.1 percentage points to 79.8 per cent. Globally as well, capacity rose 7.5 per cent and load factor climbed 1.3 percentage point to 80.3 per cent. All regions recorded year-over-year increases in international passenger demand. The report also found that domestic passenger demand climbed 9.9 per cent in January year-on-year. All markets except Brazil showed growth, paced by double-digit increases in China, India and Russia. Capacity increased 8.7 per cent and load factor was 80.1 per cent – up 0.9 per cent percentage points.
New B737-800 to join Oman Air fleet O
man Air, the national carrier of Oman, has announced that a new Boeing B737-800 aircraft has joined its fleet. This new aircraft will be used on short and medium-haul routes and has a capacity of 162 seats, with 12 business-class seats with a seat pitch of 46 inches and 150 economy-class seats with a seat pitch of 30 inches. Each seat is equipped with an LCD screen measuring 10.6 inches. Abdulaziz Alraisi, Oman Air‘s Executive Vice President Products and Brand Development, said: “Oman Air is adding new aircraft to its fast growing fleet to keep up with the expansion programme. Known for its energy efficient systems, and
combined with Oman Air’s superb maintenance staff and facilities, this is an ideal acquisition as we spread our wings to further afield.” Oman Air has operated B737s for many years and the aircraft provide the backbone of the airline’s long and medium haul fleet, with 32 currently in operation.
Oman Air partners with Lufthansa
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man Air, the national carrier of Oman has signed a partnership agreement with Lufthansa for expansion across Europe and North America. Under the new agreement, fliers using Oman Air can connect to 59 destinations across Europe and North America from Lufthansa’s Frankfurt and Munich hubs on an interline basis. Lufthansa will codeshare with Oman Air on Oman Air-operated services from both Frankfurt and Munich to Muscat, allowing their guests to expe-
rience the hospitality and service of Oman Air. In order to provide Oman Air’s customers a seamless travel experience while connecting in Frankfurt and Munich, the airline will be moving terminals in Frankfurt to the Lufthansa-operated terminals, Frankfurt Terminal 1 and Munich Terminal 2. Oman Air will also be re-timing its current services to Frankfurt to arrive and depart from Frankfurt during the morning to facilitate connections in Frankfurt to Europe and North America in under three hours.
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Middle East News
Qatar Airways Cargo expands Asia network Q
atar Airways Cargo has announced that it has started its first freighter service to the Cambodian city of Phnom Penh.
The A330 freighter operating on the Doha-Phnom Penh-Doha route once a week will offer over 60 tonnes of cargo capacity each way, the airline has said in a press statement. Garments, which represent the largest portion of Cambodia’s manufacturing sector and account for 80 per cent of the country’s exports, represent the majority of uplift out of Cambodia. Qatar Airways Cargo currently carries more than 70 tonnes of belly-hold cargo on the daily wide-body passenger flights to Phnom Penh via Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, every week. The introduction of direct freighter services on this route offers export-
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ers “increased capacity and flexibility” to transport their commodities to Qatar Airways’ global network of more than 150 destinations via its hub in Doha, the press statement said. “This is our fifth freighter destination launched this year, in tandem with our increased fleet size,” said Qatar Airways cargo division chief officer Ulrich Ogiermann. “Intra-Asia air cargo has grown over the years, and we have observed substantial migration of manufacturing trade from China to Southeast Asian countries such as Cambodia and Vietnam,” he said. “Qatar Airways Cargo has made a substantial investment in its operations at its Doha hub to ensure that
all cargo deliveries are processed efficiently and seamlessly,” the statement added. Qatar Airways Cargo recently took delivery of its 12th Boeing 777F, taking the total count of freighters in operation to 21. The cargo carrier offers QR Charter, which utilises its fleet of Boeing B777s, Airbus A330s, and Boeing 747 freighters. Its portfolio of products currently includes QR Pharma, QR Fresh, QR Live and QR Express, offering “efficiency and compliance” in the handling of temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical and perishable cargo, transportation of live animals as well as time-critical shipments.
International News
UK airlines face trouble after Brexit
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rexit will take the UK out of the European Common Aviation Area agreement that allows airlines to operate across EU countries.
British carriers such as easyJet face the prospect of having to cease serving some markets should Britain and the EU fail to negotiate an accord to preserve the kind of liberal market access provided by the European air-traffic agreement. Passengers also could be confronted with higher ticket prices. The UK has triggered the two-year Brexit process, a move would take the UK out of the European Common Aviation Area, or ECAA, agreement that allows airlines to operate across EU countries. British Prime Minister Theresa May has stated her desire for continued airline flexibility; however, the ECAA is governed by the European Court of Justice, to which the U.K. has said it no longer wants to be subject. British airlines would have to set up an operating company in the EU to be covered by the ECAA agreement in the future. But there is a catch: Eu-
ropean aviation regulations state that EU investors must hold a majority of such a company’s shares.
following Brexit it may fall foul of rules stating that EU carriers must be majority-owned by EU investors.
Budget carrier Ryanair said flights between the UK and Europe could come to a standstill in two years.
EasyJet currently has around 49 per cent of shareholders domiciled in the EU. Around 34 per cent of those shares are owned by founder Stelios Haji-Ioannou and his family. The company wouldn’t disclose what percentage of its investors are British.
Airlines based in the EU have the right to fly to, from and within any country in the bloc thanks to the single aviation market created in the 1990s, but Britain now has just two years to renegotiate access or come up with an alternative system. U.K.-based low cost carriers, especially Luton-based easyJet , are among those most affected by Brexit, because they typically make more use of the EU rights to fly between other member states and not just to and from the UK. Another issue for airlines is ownership structure. Ryanair was 53.6 percent owned by EU nationals in mid-2016, including 20 percent ownership by UK nationals, meaning that
The discount carrier has about 110 airplanes across 27 EU countries, excluding Britain. EasyJet plans to set up an EU operating company and will announce the location in the coming weeks, said spokesman Paul Moore. That company would need a majority of EU shareholders. An additional airline operating certificate could require easyJet to change the registration location on some planes, most of which are registered in Britain. That could cost around GBP10 million ($12.4 million). The company reported a before-tax profit of GBP495 million in 2016.
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International News
India’s Udan scheme takes off to tap civil aviation opportunities T
he Indian government has launched a unique scheme called Udan to tap the country’s civil aviation opportunities fully. More than 45 unserved and underserved airports will be connected under the scheme Udan (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik, which translates to “Common man, get ready for flight) that seeks to make flying more affordable. “Udan network will cover the whole country, giving a major economic
boost to hinterland areas,” Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju said. The Udan scheme is a critical component of the national civil aviation policy unveiled last June. It offers viability gap funding to operators to fly smaller aircraft to such airports with a commitment to price tickets for at least half of the seats at Rs2,500 ($39, Dh138) for an hour-long flight. In the first round of bids, 11 new or existing airline operators pitched for more than 200
routes. The government has approved 27 proposals from five players, adding 128 routes to India’s aviation map. The estimate is that this will add 650,000 new seats with a subsidy of Rs 2 billion ($30 million). Under the Udan scheme, 45 cities will be mainstreamed on India’s flight connectivity grid. These include a dozen airports where limited but irregular flights operate, and as many as 31 destinations that are not connected at all despite the existence of airport facilities.
HondaJet to make first appearance in Hong Kong, Taipei
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onda Aircraft Company has announced that the HondaJet will make its first appearance in Hong Kong and Taipeinext this month. “Honda Aircraft Company continues to evaluate new markets as part of our global sales strategy for the HondaJet,” said Michimasa Fujino, Honda Aircraft Company President and CEO. “With its high performance, superior fuel efficiency, and a range that covers this region, the HondaJet would be a valuable tool to support
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business growth in this emerging region for light jets. We are looking forward to presenting the HondaJet and its capabilitiesto many people through these special events.” The HondaJet is an advanced light jet developed from a clean sheet design and certified by the United States Federal Aviation Administration, European Aviation Safety Agency, and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority of Mexico. The HondaJet
incorporates advanced technologies that allow it to achieve both high speed performance and high fuel efficiency. With a maximum cruise speed of 422 knots (486 mph) the HondaJet is the fastest jet in its class; it soars highest in its class with a maximum altitude of 43,000 feet; and it is the most fuelefficient light jet in its class by up to 17 percent. It has an NBAA IFR range of 1,223 nautical miles (1,408 miles).
International News
China’s aviation growth unlikely to challenge US dominion
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hinese interest in becoming globally competitive in aviation has driven a lot of investment in aviation. US companies such as Cessna, Brantly, Teledyne, Avioics, Henniges and Epic Air have been acquired or are in a joint venture or other arrangement with Chinese companies. Chinese companies have been steadily increasing their investment in the US aviation industry in the past decade but are unlikely to present a threat to US competitiveness in the near-term, according to a new report by RAND Corp., which conducts research and analysis on defense and national security, among other topics. China, as part of its five-year plan, has prioritised the importance of strengthening its underdeveloped domestic aviation industry--specifically large commercial aircraft, regional jets and general aviation equipment such as business jets, small aircraft or helicopters. By contrast, the U.S. aerospace and defence manufacturing industry is well established and makes up an estimated 13 per cent of total U.S. manufacturing. U.S. companies such as Boeing are important parts of the global aviation supply chain. Chinese interest in becoming globally competitive in aviation and has driven a lot of investment in aviation. Chinese companies have been investing in the industry--at a pace of one or two deals a year--largely through mergers and acquisitions or joint ventures. U.S. companies such as Cessna, Brantly, Teledyne, Avioics, Henniges or Epic Air have been acquired or are in a joint venture or
other arrangement with a Chinese company. Chinese investments have been growing in scope and quantity but are still mostly limited to smaller general aviation companies with technologies that are not particularly relevant to commercial or military aircraft, the report said, adding that “there are few technology-transfer concerns.” Moreover, even though Chinese investors are flush with cash, further investments are constrained by U.S. government foreign investment and export laws, the report said. Optimistic industry projections estimate that China will make up one-fifth of all global demand for commercial aircraft, the report said. Boeing and Airbus see 39 per cent of demand for large commercial aircraft
coming from Asia over the next 20 years, with half coming from China alone. Because China is such an important market to Boeing and Airbus, the country’s efforts to create its own large commercial aircraft are of great interest. The country started testing a competitor to the Boeing 737--the Chinese C919--in November 2015. Chengdu Airlines started the first commercial operations of an aircraft manufactured in China, a direct competitor to the Boeing 737. The report concluded that China’s efforts to create its own commercial aircraft do not pose a threat to U.S. manufacturers such as Boeing because it will take China decades not only to develop the technology needed to compete but also to earn the necessary safety certifications needed to become a global supplier.
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Opinion
A pat for UAE airports
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irports Council International (ACI) recently announced the winners of the 2016 Airport Service Quality (ASQ) Awards, recognising those airports whose customers rated them as delivering the best overall experience during the year. We are proud to say that ASQ is the only customer service benchmarking programme that surveys airport customers on their day of travel; it is not available to individuals that may not have actually experienced the airport nor does it rely on memory. In the ten years of learning about their customers and recognizing that the customer experience is a competitive factor in the attraction and retention of air service for their communities, airport managers around the world have consistently raised their customer service levels. As such, we have our largest group of winners yet with categories that have been designed to recognize the achievements of airports of different sizes and in different regions. The UAE airports have definitely distinguished themselves. I congratulate Abu Dhabi International Airport for having won first place in Best Airport by Region and Most Improved Airport; and, Dubai International Airport for having won third place in Best Airport by Region. The ASQ Survey measures customers’ evaluations of 34 key performance indicators, including check-in, security screening, restrooms, stores and restaurants, virtually every touchpoint of the passenger’s journey at the airport. The fact that every airport in the programme uses the same survey allows airport management to benchmark themselves to others as well as to themselves over time, and provides them with the tools to adapt to their customers’ needs as they evolve. Promoting a culture of continuous service improvement has also become a matter of optimizing non-aeronautical
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Angela Gittens Director General, ACI World
revenue performance, as we have learned from a study undertaken last year. ACI will hold a celebration of the winners of the 2016 ASQ Awards at the 27th ACI Africa/World Annual General Assembly, Conference & Exhibition in Port Louis, Mauritius, 16–18 October 2017. The official ceremony will be Tuesday 17 October where the world’s airports will proudly recognize the outstanding accomplishments of the best.
Angela Gittens, Director General, Airports Council International (ACI), will be continuing her exclusive column in Via Dubai’s forthcoming issues.
Opinion
Border integrity
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he International Civil Aviation Organization’s Traveller Identification Programme (TRIP) strategy is designed to assist states in meeting international obligations with respect to a number of priorities, including enhancing the fight against terrorism, reducing cross-border crime, and combating various threats to international civil aviation. These priorities are particularly conducive to facilitating passenger movement and growth of tourism that is so important to the economy. The global transition to machine-readable passports is now nearly complete and I would like to remind all International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Member States that 24 November 2015 was the deadline by which any remaining non-machine readable passports were to have been removed from global circulation. Continued attempts to travel with these documents could lead to significant passenger and border control impediments, meaning that it is critical for governments to encourage their citizens to renew any remaining non-machine-readable passports in circulation without delay. In the area of ePassport implementation, some 110 of ICAO’s 191 Member States currently report that they are issuing ePassports – with nearly 600 million in circulation worldwide. However, further challenges persist, mainly due to the fact that some ePassports currently in circulation are not fully compliant with ICAO specifications. Another ePassport implementation issue I would like to raise revolves around the ICAO Public Key Directory (PKD), and more specifically the situation whereby many States issuing ePassports are still not using the ICAO PKD to verify and authenticate their chipbased data. PKD membership is essential if states wish to capitalise on the full security and facilitation benefits that ePassports are meant to deliver.
Dr. Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu President, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
Going forward, more intensified advocacy efforts are being implemented to underscore the role of the PKD as a fundamental contributor to effective border integrity. ICAO, for its part, has recently put in place a new PKD operating agreement, which led to the reduction of registration fees for new PKD participants. I am confident that by working together, and fostering greater coordination among the many agencies and stakeholders involved, we can enhance even further the security and facilitation of your borders and air transport’s global network.
Edited excerpts of a speech at the Traveller Identification Programme (TRIP) Seminar
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ATM
Satcom helps airlines save $3 billion
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atellite communication in the cockpit improved air traffic control; Increasing airspace capacity leads to more aircraft being able to choose optimum flight levels.
Satellite communication (satcom) in the cockpit has saved airlines more than $3 billion thanks to safety and efficiency benefits, according to a study by Helios and Inmarsat, the world’s leading provider of global mobile satellite communications. Satcom is the use of voice and data services via satellite to communicate with aircraft outside the range of conventional ground radar and Very High Frequency (VHF) stations, such as over oceanic regions. It is typically used for air traffic control and airline operations. The inaugural study, conducted by Helios, valued the benefit of satcom to airlines between 2001 and 2016. It found that one single Air Traffic Control (ATC) benefit mechanism – reducing separation minima, which allows aircraft to fly closer together safely – was responsible for savings of $890 million alone. Thanks to satcom, planes can now fly within 30 nautical miles of each other because of safe, reliable communication and tracking; previously aircraft were required to maintain a separation of 100 nautical miles. This allows aircraft to fly closer together and means more planes can fly in a given airspace, which is particularly beneficial over the busy skies of the North Atlantic. If an aircraft is not equipped with satellite communication capability, it must maintain the 100
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nautical mile separation, and is not permitted to fly in certain areas. Increasing airspace capacity also leads to more aircraft being able to choose optimum flight levels, saving time and fuel. The $890 million saving is a major part of the $1.1 billion total ATC saving identified by the study. Other benefits that satcom provides to ATC include: Individually-tailored flight plans that save time and fuel; Dynamic Airborne Reroute Procedure, which allows airborne rerouting of aircraft when data indicates a more efficient route is available, for example due to a change in weather conditions; Tailored arrivals, where arrival times are planned to allow an ideal descent route and to avoid holding patterns; and Procedures in some oceanic regions to allow aircraft to climb or descend through an altitude that is already occupied by another aircraft. A further $1.9 billion is saved thanks to the ability of aircraft to communicate with their Airline Operations Centre (AOC). AOC applications use real-time
information to help airlines improve flight safety or provide a more efficient service at a lower cost. Delay management and scheduling is improved, fleets and flight crew can be better managed, maintenance can be taken care of and turnaround time on the ground is reduced. Traditionally AOC communication is provided by the exchange of simple text messages between the pilot and the controller. As satcom bandwidth capacity increases, bringing broadband connectivity to the cockpit, there will be an explosion of IP-based AOC applications, allowing airlines to further optimise flight operations and fleet management. For example, an aircraft’s health can be constantly monitored, and any maintenance issue signaled ahead to the ground
ATM
crew so parts and maintenance staff are ready as soon as the aircraft lands. Until now, most maintenance information was delivered upon landing, with potential for delaying speedy resolution of an issue. Broadband connectivity will also help with urgent ATC demands, as our skies see ever more traffic. By 2030, there will be more passengers in the sky each year (7 billion) than there are people on the ground right now. They will fly in 40,000 aircraft, the majority of which will be connected. The Helios study looked at benefits over
oceanic regions, but it also highlights how satcom can complement existing ground-to-air data communications over land too. Savings over continental regions could equal those over the oceanic regions. For example, in the congested airspace of Europe, the Iris Precursor project has been established by the European Space Agency with support from Inmarsat and other aviation companies. It uses satcom to allow precise ‘4D’ flight path control, which optimises flight speed and descent profiles. It is designed to dramatically reduce delays, particularly around large hubs.
Nick McFarlane, Managing Director at Helios, said: “This is the first time that the benefits of satellite communication have been quantified and the results are impressive. The technology has already delivered huge benefits to the industry and emerging applications mean the trend is set to continue, in fact it is set to accelerate.” Captain Mary McMillan, Vice President of Safety and Operational Services at Inmarsat Aviation, said: “This study shows how satellite communication has already done so much to improve the safety and efficiency of the skies.
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ATM
New technology helps pilots communicate with ATCs
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ilots and air traffic controllers at Miami International Airport have a new way to communicate with one another. Many passengers have been stuck on the runway and delayed while a pilot waits for air traffic control communication.
The issue arises because the controller in the tower is likely handling 20 to 30 flights at a time. But a new technology called Data Comm will help eliminate those delays. “We’ve seen some pretty amazing results from the tool in Miami,” FAA Data Comm program manager Jesse Wijntjes said. “On average, we see across the entire operation somewhere between 6 and 12 minutes of savings
on an airplane that actually has the technology and one that doesn’t.”
requested altitudes, flight plan routes and changes before taking off.
United Parcel Service helped pioneer the software with the Federal Aviation Administration.
“The tool allows the controllers to send these revisions to multiple airplanes at the same time, which helps them get off the ground and save time and fuel,” Wijntjes said.
It will help with what’s called the departure clearance phase of flights, which is when pilots and air traffic controllers are communicating last-minute details of a trip, such as
Data Comm also helps reduce the chance of human error during the process. Without the technology, controllers verbally go over details and the pilot must repeat all of it back. Now, the vital information goes straight into the cockpit computer. “Sometimes, especially internationally, it can be difficult to understand what the clearance is,” UPS Capt. Gregg Kastman said. “It can be a change in a waypoint, in an airway, and those can be significant problems if you fly in the wrong place.” Data Comm is already being used at 55 airports, including MIA, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, Tampa International Airport and Orlando International Airport. Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers is expected to get the technology in the near future. The next phase is to bring the software to the skies so controllers can send any changes directly to the cockpit computer instead over the radio.
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ATM
India overtakes Japan to become third largest in air traffic
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ndia has become the third largest aviation market in terms of domestic passenger traffic, beating Japan, an industry report has said.
India’s domestic air passenger traffic stood at 100 million in 2016 and was behind only the US (719 million) and China (436 million), Sydney-based aviation think-tank Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA) said in its latest report. In its latest report CAPA suggests, India acquired the third spot globally by unseating Japan, which flew 97 million domestic passengers in 2016. Domestic air traffic has shown a consistent growth of 20 to 25 per cent throughout 2015 and 2016, peaking in January this year at 25.13 per cent. However, the domestic travel demand rose 16 per cent in February this year,
ending the long streak of over 20 per cent. According to CAPA, India which enjoyed the fourth position in terms of overall air passenger traffic (both domestic and international) along with the UK, has also inched closer to becoming the third largest one by March next year. “India will become the third largest market 2-3 years ahead of what was projected. This is because the growth has been much higher,” Kapil Kaul, head of CAPA India, said. Japan, which flew 141 million passengers in 2016, was ahead of India whose total air passenger traffic was 131 mil-
lion in the previous year, as per CAPA. United States with 815 million passengers in 2016 enjoyed the top position, followed by China with 490 million, according to the report. “While we will reach the third spot for both domestic and international air travel ahead of the projected period, we will remain at that position for a very long time because it will not be easy to surpass China and the US,” Kaul said. Earlier International Air Transport Association (IATA), a trade association of the world’s airlines, has suggested in its passenger forecast that India will displace the UK in terms of becoming world’s third largest aviation market internationally as well by 2026.
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Airlines
Frontier Airlines files for IPO A
merica’s ultra-low-cost carrier filed for a rare US airlines public issue with an offering size of $100 million.
America’s ultra-low-cost carrier Frontier Airlines has filed for an initial public offering (IPO), which means it likely plans to go public sometime in May, after three years of slashing costs and shaking up its flight routes. The Denver-based company last year flew 14.9 million passengers through 59 airports in the US, Mexico and the Caribbean. The no-frills carrier filed for a rare US airlines IPO with an offering size of $100 million, according to a filing. Frontier and Indigo Partners, the private equity firm that acquired it in December 2013, plan to sell shares in the offering. The company is aiming to go public as soon as the second quarter.
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Airline IPOs in the US are few and far between. Virgin America was the last to go public, raising $353 million in November 2014. The carrier was acquired by Alaska Air Group for $4 billion last year, continuing a flurry of consolidation within the industry over the past decade. Indigo is led by veteran airline executive William Franke, who has extensive experience overseeing discount carriers. The firm once controlled Spirit Airlines, which went public in 2011, and is the largest shareholder in Wizz Air Holdings, a low-fare operator in Eastern Europe. After the Indigo buyout, Frontier’s new owner transformed it into what’s known as an ultra-low-cost carrier — an airline
that offers inexpensive base fares and adds fees for everything else. Frontier has cut its cost to fly each seat per mile — a measure of efficiency — by 27 per cent since the end of 2013 by flying its planes more, shifting to larger aircraft, replacing its reservation system and boosting employee productivity, the airline said in the filing. The changes made its so-called unit cost among the lowest in the industry. Frontier operates a fleet of Airbus jets on more than 275 daily flights within the U.S. and to Mexico and Jamaica. Indigo acquired the Denverbased airline from Republic Airways Holdings for $36 million in cash. The total transaction value was $145 million including debt.
Airlines
SpiceJet retains lead over Jet as most valued aviation company I
ndia’s budget airline SpiceJet, which has surpassed Jet Airways to become the county’s second most valued aviation company, continued to retain the position today. With a market capitalisation (m-cap) of Rs 57.09 billion ($870 million), SpiceJet, which was on the verge of going belly-up two years ago, for the second day stayed ahead of Jet that had valuation of Rs 56.06 billion ($862 million) on the Bombay Stock Exchange. Shares of SpiceJet were trading 2.03 per cent higher, while those of Jet were up 2.53 per cent. SpiceJet’s m-cap move up to Rs 55.98 billion ($861 million), which was Rs 1.34 billion more than Jet’s Rs 54.64 billion valuation.
InterGlobe Aviation, which operates Indigo, is the country’s most valued aviation company with a wide margin at a market cap of Rs 366.52 billion. SpiceJet’s share price has risen over 63 per cent so far this year, while that of Jet was up 38.47 per cent. SpiceJet had reported 24 per cent fall in net profit to Rs 1.81 billion in three
months ended December 2016. It operates 343 daily flights to 45 destinations - 39 domestic and six international - using a fleet of 32 Boeing 737NGs and 17 Bombardier Q-400s. Jet Airways had reported a nearly 70 per cent plunge in net profit at Rs 1.42 billion in the three months ended December 2016.
China’s “big three” airlines set to report record profits
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hina’s “big three” airlines -Air China Ltd., China Eastern Airlines Corp. and China Southern Airlines Co. – are set to report the biggest combined profit since 2010. The airlines are increasingly ferrying passengers from the mainland to Europe and the U.S. without hopping over in Hong Kong or Singapore. Hundreds of billions of dollars of new aircraft in the past decade have helped the state-owned airlines expand in a market where some 488 million people — or the combined populations of the U.S., Germany
and the U.K. — take to the skies every year. Chinese travellers prefer to fly with Chinese airlines and hence, as the Chinese travel more, their airlines benefit,” said Steve Saxon, a Shanghai-based partner at McKinsey & Co. “Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou are all becoming powerful hubs as well, being able to draw traffic from China to Europe and U.S., increasingly competing with Tokyo, Seoul and Hong Kong.” The carriers will report earnings for 2016 that may validate their strategy of capacity expansion, new routes
and cheaper fares. They may report a combined profit of about 19.5 billion yuan ($2.8 billion) for 2016, their best since 2010, according to estimates compiled by Bloomberg. Analysts say only currency swings and fuel price volatility have damped their earnings growth. A market that grew almost 11 percent last year — three times the clip in the U.S. — means China’s carriers are in a sweet spot their premium rivals in the region can only envy. Demand for seats has by and large kept pace with capacity addition.
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Airlines
Lufthansa to expand its Eurowings brand to fight competition D eutsche Lufthansa wants to add long-distance airplanes to its lowcost Eurowings arm as competition for discount travellers from Europe to the Americas intensifies. “We need aircraft beyond the seven we have,” Lufthansa Chief Executive Officer Carsten Spohr said at an aviation event, referring to the Airbus A330s based in Cologne that Eurowings uses for inter-continental leisure flights. Berlin, Hamburg and Dusseldorf would make “interesting” expansions, he said. Europe’s large network carriers are adding low-cost subsidiaries to ferry tourists around the world and defend themselves against long-distance competition from no-frills challengers including Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA. Lufthansa’s Eurowings has
been serving about a dozen mainly sun-and-beach destinations since December 2015, with Air France and British Airways owner IAG SA working to launch similar services. “IAG and Air France, they are copying our model,” Spohr said, referring to IAG’s new airline Level and Air France’s plans to start Boost. Level will begin offering cut-price inter-continental flights from June
and could eventually operate more than 30 aircraft, IAG said. The start up will initially connect Barcelona with destinations in the Americas including Los Angeles, Oakland, Buenos Aires and Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic with tickets as cheap as 99 euros ($106) each way. Air France-KLM Group is setting up Boost after revealing that its French mainline division is losing money on 35 percent of its routes.
Air Asia to start a Vietnamese carrier A ir Asia, the low-cost Malaysian carrier, plans to start a Vietnamese carrier in a local partnership, as cheap fares and rising incomes fuel a travel surge in the Southeast Asian nation.
The region’s largest budget airline will partner Gumin Co., Hai Au Aviation Joint Stock Co. and businessman Tran Trong Kien for the venture, which is expected to start flying early next year, AirAsia said in a statement to the stock exchange. Gumin will own about 70 per cent of the new venture, with AirAsia holding the rest. Vietnam is the latest country to lure
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Air Asia CEO Tony Fernandes, who is seeking to build a pan-Asian budget airline, as the 28 per cent growth in passenger traffic was triple the pace in other Southeast Asian nations. The fifth-biggest market in the region has seen domestic traffic double since 2013, and the middle-class will comprise close to a quarter of its population by 2010, AirAsia said.
AirAsia has over the years established affiliates in Indonesia, Thailand, India and Japan, and is betting on a lowcost, long-haul model for international travel through its AirAsia Xunit. It has ordered hundreds of planes worth
billions of dollars from Airbus SE to meet its growth ambitions, and is in the process of selling a plane-leasing unit to raise more cash.
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Cargo & Logistics
Emirates SkyCargo targets perishables market
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mirates SkyCargo has added extra perishables solutions as part of its new SkyFresh product. The cargo carrier said its SkyFresh product brings together the cool chain infrastructure at its Dubai hub, its wide-bodied aircraft including freighters, and a range of innovative cool chain solutions. This includes its new 16-tonne capacity ventilated cool dolly, which helps ensure that perishables maintain their freshness during the entire air transportation process. “The Ventilated Cool Dolly not only maintains a constant temperature while transporting cargo, but also has a ventilation system that allows it to bring in fresh air from outside,” the airline said. “The fresh air is then cleaned using custom built filters, cooled and then circulated inside the refrigerated interior where the temperature sensitive perishable cargo is stored.” One of the major challenges faced by air cargo for the transport of perishables and other temperature sensitive products is how to keep them at the right temperature while they are on the tarmac being loaded onto aircraft. Others, including Etihad and Brussels, have also launched cool dolly products, although these have tended to target the pharma market. The overall Emirates SkyFresh offering will feature three levels - Emirates Sky-
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Fresh, Emirates SkyFresh Breathe and Emirates SkyFresh Active - each offering varied levels of cool chain protection for different kinds of perishables. The basic solution, Emirates SkyFresh, is geared towards temperature tolerant fruits and vegetables and will offer quick ramp transportation and thermal protection through Emirates SkyCargo’s White Cover blanket. Emirates SkyFresh Breathe provides protection for temperature sensitive perishables such as fresh cut flowers, ready to sell cut fruits and vegetables and fresh fish. Unique features will include prioritised ground handling as well as the use of the Emirates SkyFresh Ventilated Cool Dolly. Emirates SkyFresh Active will offer the highest protection for perishables that cannot withstand any temperature deviation using specialised temperature controlled containers during transportation.
The company said that the transport of perishables is an important part of its business. “People all over the world are increasingly aware and interested in culinary flavours and produce from different countries and regions,” Emirates SkyCargo said. “In line with this trend, the catering and hospitality industry globally has also been offering more international dining choices to customers. More and more perishables from different parts of the world are shipped by air to ensure that the products arrive fresh and within a short span of time at the destination.” In 2016, Emirates SkyCargo transported close to 400,000 tonnes of perishables. This included salmon from Norway, strawberries from California, flowers from Ecuador, meat from Australia, mangoes from the Indian subcontinent, wine and cheese from France.
Cargo & Logistics
Etihad Cargo increases fleet number with 10th aircraft
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tihad Cargo has taken possession of its 10th freight aircraft, an Airbus A330F. The group — which launched 10 new freight routes in the past 12 months, during which it carried 602,000 tonnes of cargo — now fields five Airbuses and five Boeing 777 freight aircraft. “Etihad Cargo is a $1 billion business, which makes it one of the world’s most successful air cargo operations,” James Hogan, Etihad Aviation Group President and Chief Executive Officer said, noting that it had become the fastest growing division of Etihad Airways since it was founded in 2004, a year after the airline itself. The delivery follows 12 months of sustained growth for the carrier, which launched 10 new freighter routes and carried 602,026 tonnes of cargo – a moderate increase on 2015.
This growth was highlighted by James Hogan, as he delivered the welcome address on the opening day of the IATA World Cargo Symposium (WCS) in Abu Dhabi. “The Etihad Aviation Group’s seven equity partner airlines from the world’s sixth largest cargo group and wider partnerships are playing an increasing role in our business. We are working with Avianca to extend our
reach in the important market of South America; with AirBridge Cargo in the US, Middle East and Moscow for the oil and gas industry; while our Preferred Handling Partner programme builds strong partnerships and ensures consistent quality and service across the Etihad Cargo network.” Etihad Cargo operates to 124 destinations from its Abu Dhabi hub with a mix of freighter and belly capacity.
BOC Aviation adds AirBridgeCargo as partner
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he aircraft lessor BOC Aviation has purchased two Boeing 747-8 freighters with the aim to lease them to Russia’s AirBridgeCargo, which is a subsidiary company of Volga-Dnepr Group. The aggregate current list price of one aircraft, as reported by BOC Aviation, is nearly $758.2 million.
In a statement about the new move, Steven Townend, Chief Commercial Officer (Europe, Americas and Africa) for BOC Aviation, said: “We are pleased to add a strong new partner, AirBridgeCargo Airlines, to our customer base as it expands its services within the cargo sector.
The B747-8F is a technologically advanced aircraft and is one of the most capable long-haul freighter aircraft. This transaction further diversifies our portfolio as we continue to grow our fleet through accretive investment.” The carrier currently operates a fleet of 16 aircraft, 9 of which are B747-8Fs. The General Director of AirBridgeCargo Sergey Lazarev, said: “We appreciate BOC Aviation’s trust and support in the development of our B747-8F fleet. We strongly believe in the capabilities of this state-of-the-art aircraft and the benefits that it brings to people all over the world.”
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Technology
Boeing tests CST-100 Starliner parachute system
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oeing has launched a parachute system of its crew capsule at Spaceport America‘s purpose-built commercial spaceport in New Mexico to verify the inflation characteristics and landing system performance of the platform during touchdown.
In collaboration with teams from Boeing and White Sands Missile Range, a giant helium-filled balloon lifted off from Spaceport America in New Mexico, carrying a flight-sized boilerplate Starliner spacecraft up to about 40,000 feet where it floated across the San Andres Mountains for
a parachute landing on the other side. The goal was for the spacecraft to reach the same velocity it would experience during a return from space and for the parachutes to deploy as planned.
closer to launching astronauts on an American vehicle and bringing them home safely,” said Mark Biesack, spacecraft systems lead for the agency’s Commercial Crew Program.
“Completion of this test campaign will bring Boeing and NASA one step
“This parachute test, as well as the subsequent tests in Boeing’s qualification test campaign, provides valuable data because the test article has the same mass, outer mold line, and centre of gravity as the flight vehicle,” said Biesack. “The highfidelity data they receive from these tests will anchor predicted models of realistic parachute deployment.” The Starliner was designed to accommodate seven passengers or a mix of crew and cargo. For future NASA missions to the ISS, it could carry up to four crew members and scientific research material.
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Technology
Advanced cybersecurity services
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ew service by Airbus and SITA allows immediate detection and remedial action for air transport industry. Airbus and SITA have launched new Security Operations Center Services customized for the specific needs of the air transport industry. This new incident detection services will provide airlines, airports and other air transport industry stakeholders with information about unusual cyber activity that may impact their businesses. These services have been developed to specifically meet an ever-increasing demand for cybersecurity in this industry, fast becoming one of its top priorities. Highlighting the importance of proactive cybersecurity, SITA’s Airline IT Trends Survey 2016 shows that 91 per cent of airlines plan to invest in cybersecurity programs over the next three years. By joining forces, SITA and Airbus can provide the most advanced cybersecurity solution for the air transport
industry. Almost every airline and airport in the world is a customer of SITA and it delivers solutions for the world’s most extensive communications network. Airbus works with companies, critical national infrastructures, governments and defense organizations to detect, analyze and counter increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks. Together they will use their expertise
to detect cyber activity relevant to airlines and airports. When requested, the joint Security Operations Center Services will provide appropriate containment and remedial action ensuring that a company’s digital assets are safe from attack. The joint Airbus and SITA Security Operations Center Service is the first of a new portfolio of cybersecurity products and services being developed by SITA.
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