ATR obtains EASA certification for developments on ATR-600 avionics suite

ATR has announced that it has obtained certification for the very latest innovations developed for the avionics of the ATR 42-600s and ATR 72-600s from the European Aviation Safety Agency.

The new certification concerns the LPV (Localizer Performance with Vertical guidance), RNP-AR 0.3 (Required Navigation Performance with Authorization Required) and V-NAV (Vertical Navigation) approach functionalities coupled to the autopilot. These new improvements will allow the latest generation ATRs to follow more accurate and even more secure approach trajectories thanks to satellite navigation, without requiring ground-based navigation facilities. These new features, which significantly reduce the pilot’s workload, are integrated into a new version of the ATR -600 avionics, the "Standard 2" version. 

"LPV" is a feature allowing approach procedures based on GPS information augmented by geostationary satellites, which allows the aircraft to be guided on vertical and horizontal axes, without the need of support from a ground station. This new feature is particularly useful for airports not equipped with an ILS (Instrumental Landing System), notably certain regional airports which are small or which have little infrastructure. High precision LPV approaches can achieve minimums of up to 200 feet, thus permitting landings with greatly reduced visibility. 

"RNP-AR 0.3" allows aircraft to follow trajectories with greater accuracy, thus with better anticipation of potential obstacles when approaching difficult to access airfields. The fundamental contribution of RNP-AR compared to conventional RNAV (GPS) approaches is that they are subject to increased monitoring of aircraft performance combined with onboard navigation alerts. By taking into account these safety constraints, these approaches also permit reduced minimums compared to conventional RNAV approaches. In addition to these advantages, this new feature is also used in the management of traffic at heavily congested airports or for anti-noise procedures. 

"VNAV", coupled to the autopilot, provides vertical guidance managed by the aircraft's navigation calculator (FMS). Based on the calculations of the FMS, the autopilot controls the aircraft to follow a specified vertical profile. This more accurately defines descent and approach trajectories, providing better safety in relation to the possible presence of obstacles. VNAV significantly reduces the workload of pilots approaching airports; this functionality is essential for RNP-AR operations. 

Carmine Orsi, ATR’s senior vice-president engineering, said: “This will allow ATR -600s to be even more efficient, more economic and more versatile. We are pleased to offer our operators the very latest innovations in terms of navigational aids and thus facilitate their day-to-day operations, while further increasing aviation safety and helping reduce congestion at certain airports.”

Satcom Direct introduces data center solutions provider TerraCom Direct

Satcom Direct has expanded its capabilities by launching a new data center solutions provider, TerraCom Direct.

“Information security is a huge issue for businesses and individuals. Our new data center is the key to safeguarding connectivity and communications streams, and better securing the missions of our customers. Satcom Direct and TerraCom Direct customers can have enterprise level security for air, land and sea,” said Jim Jensen, CEO and Founder of Satcom Direct.

The facility not only hosts and protects clients’ critical business technology systems and information, it secures Satcom Direct aviation, maritime and terrestrial-based services. Whether data traffic is generated in the air, on the ground, or on the water, TerraCom Direct is constantly monitoring in an effort to detect and report potentially malicious activity to customers.  

TerraCom Direct creates highly-secure solutions designed to meet client specifications and corporate security requirements. All security policies are in accordance with SSAE 16 and FISMA recommendations and the operation is SSAE 16 SOC 1 type 2 compliant. TerraCom Direct was built to accommodate a wide array of network requirements – whether hosting, power, cooling, or security, all can be scaled to meet changing demands. 

“The key advantage we have over other data solution providers is flexibility. We offer a wide range of connectivity options, so whether the client simply needs rack space, a private network, or full migration to the cloud, we have the expertise and the capabilities. With our highly-redundant infrastructure and 24/7 support, we do everything possible to ensure 100 percent uptime and uninterrupted service,” said Rich Pilock, president of TerraCom Direct

Jeppesen introduces Electronic Flight Folder

Jeppesen has recently introduced a new Electronic Flight Folder service to enhance flight-planning operations for airlines.

The new Electronic Flight Folder service increases situational awareness in flight for pilots and improves ground-to-air communication and integration of digital flight plan information. 

“The Electronic Flight Folder solution works seamlessly for airlines that use Jeppesen’s flight planning systems to enhance operational efficiency,” said Tim Huegel, director, Jeppesen Aviation Portfolio Management. “The Jeppesen and Boeing Electronic Flight Folder tools work together on the ground and in the air to improve integration of critical flight planning data across a mixed aircraft fleet and works with multiple EFB configurations to suit unique airline operations.”uf

EgyptAir selects Sabre for airline transformation project

EgyptAir has signed an agreement with global technology company Sabre to help develop and implement a transformation programme for EgyptAir Airlines and Express.

The government-owned Star Alliance carrier is embarking on a comprehensive transformation strategy to increase revenues, improve efficiencies and explore new revenue streams by June 2016.  

Captain Sameh El-Hefny, the chairman and CEO of EgyptAir Holding said: "This agreement is a part of EgyptAir’s transformation plan, dedicated to transforming the business, financial and operational structure of both EgyptAir Airlines and Express. Our goal is to increase revenues and return the airline to profitability by the end of the fiscal year 2015 / 2016, putting us in line with our global counterparts.” 

The transformation strategy will address a wide range of EgyptAir’s important areas including reviewing  and developing a plan to improve the company's financial performance; revenue management; network, fleet and crew planning; alliance partnerships, and fuel and maintenance strategies. 

“This is a comprehensive project to review the company's current situation and recommend changes and solutions across almost every part of our business. Sabre is recognized as the best in the airline technology industry. They know our business, our region, the challenges and opportunities we face, and they have a superior track record of helping airlines globally achieve sustained growth and profitability. Sabre will play a critical role in our five-year transformation strategy,” said El-Hefny. 

Alessandro Ciancimino, vice president, Sabre Airline Solutions, said: "We are pleased EgyptAir selected us from a number of global companies that specialise in consultancy and transformation projects. EgyptAir is Africa’s largest carrier and one of the continent’s most globally-recognized brands, playing a critical role in connecting commerce and tourism across five continents.  We believe it has great potential for growth and success, and that’s where our focus with the airline will be.”

San Marino Aircraft Registry's ratification to Cape Town Convention

As part of the San Marino Aircraft Registry's commitment to the aviation industry, the Registry has announced the San Marino Republic's Ratification to the Cape Town convention.

The Cape Town Convention is one of the most important and innovative international conventions to have been concluded in the field of transitional commercial law and has already secured nearly 50 ratification.
 
The Convention is intended to give parties involved in such transactions greater confidence and predictability, principally through the establishment of a uniform set of rules guiding the constitution, protection, prioritization, and enforcement of certain rights in aircraft and aircraft engines. It alters the rules governing aircraft sales, leases and financing on a jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction basis by establishing a new international framework and providing for the creation of an International Registry ("The International Registry") to be supervised by the International Civil Aviation Organization ("ICAO").
 
David Colindres ,president of the San Marino Aircraft Registry said: "This ratification is very important as it gives value added and confidence to banks and leasing companies. The Registration of interest in an asset such as an aircraft is considered to be best practice for owners, creditors, debtors, lessors, lessees, agents and others in protecting their financial interest in such an asset."

NCAA suspends Discovery and warns other domestic carriers over safety

Nigeria's Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has issued warning letters to a number of its domestic airlines following an audit which revealed severe breaches of safety regulations.

 It also suspended the operating licence of Discovery Airways
"In pursuit of our oversight responsibilities as stipulated by law, the NCAA has lately carried out a review of the operations of some domestic airlines," said Sam Adurogboye, spokesperson for the agency.
Discovery Airways began flight operations last year. The NCAA has repeatedly raised fresh fears over the safety of some airlines still plying domestic routes noting that some of the airlines were defaulting in meeting staff basic salary demands, a trend Adurogboye said could weaken staff morale and commitment as well as result in safety compromise.
"The moment an airline cannot meet its financial obligations, it is believed that the staff morale will be down and this can impact negatively on safety and security of its operations," said the NCAA.

Proflight champions young Zambian pilots

Twenty-year-old Kalenga is a First Officer flying with captains across the airline's network, having been hired as part of the company's commitment to support Zambian youth and nurture new local talent.

Kalenga joins an elite team of 36 pilots flying for Proflight on routes from Lusaka to Livingstone, Mfuwe, Lower Zambezi, Ndola, Solwezi and Kasama, as well as Chipata, Mansa and Lilongwe in Malawi.
He joined the airline in September last year, having been given the job on August 26 – his 20th birthday.

Born in Kitwe, the second of three children, his father is an engineer and his mother a nurse. Having studied at Nkana Trust Primary School and Mpelembe Secondary School, Kalenga went straight to the 43 Air School after graduating from grade 12 in 2012.

In one year and three months he graduated with his commercial pilot’s licence, having flown 200 hours and been rated to fly Caravan aircraft.
Since joining Proflight he has now notched-up almost 500 hours of flying time and flown to more than ten destinations on over 100 flights.

It was Kalenga’s parents who encouraged and supported their son’s dream of a career in aviation. He had originally planned to become an engineer, but after hearing that there was a mistaken belief that Zambians could not become pilots, he decided to prove people wrong.

He recalls his first day as a commercial pilot: “I was nervous; I didn’t even have the full uniform. I was flying to Kasama and had to be up at 4hrs.”
But the satisfaction of the job soon came through: “There are tons of thrills, from something as simple as seeing a passenger happy, to the thrill of flying.”
Kalenga draws his inspiration from the colleagues he is working with at Proflight, and in particular is guided by Capt. Vivian Sikazwe, who at 64 is the airline’s oldest commercial pilot.

Fellow pilot, Capt. Josh Mwambazi praised Kalenga’s commitment and explained that Proflight is one of the few airlines in the world where pilots have the opportunity to progress from flying Caravans to twin-engine aircraft in the space of two to three years, and take advantage of the airline’s investment in world-class training for its staff.

Kalenga’s CV was one of almost 300 received by Proflight every month, but his attendance at a good quality flight school, along with having the required number of flying hours, tipped the balance in his favour, along with the fact that Proflight actively seeks to recruit Zambian nationals to its team.
Kalenga’s dreams do not stop with flying Caravan aircraft, however, and he has his sights set on the airlines’ lager planes, before one day graduating to fly the world’s largest passenger plane – the Airbus A380.