Eurocopter Selects Ryan International's Traffic Advisory System
Eurocopter has selected Ryan International's traffic advisory system (TAS) and multi‑hazard display (MHD) as standard factory options for its EC‑135, EC‑145 and EC‑155 helicopters.

Eurocontrol Delays Operational Implementation of Mode-S
Eurocontrol has delayed the operational implementation of Mode-S service in its airspace because many operators and air navigation service providers (ANSPs) have experienced difficulties in meeting its initial deadlines.

London's Stansted Tower Controllers Using Electronic Flight Strips
Controllers at London's Stansted control tower are now using electronic flight strips which were developed for the U.K.'s National Air Traffic Services (NATS) by Nav Canada.

Lockheed Martin Team Competing to Provide Advanced Weather System
The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service has selected a Lockheed Martin team to compete in the next phase of its Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System (AWIPS), designed to create better weather-information products.

ARINC Installs First Datalink-Enabled Class II EFB
ARINC has received a supplemental type certification (STC) for its new electronic flight bag (EFB), installed on an ASTAR Air Cargo B-727, becoming the first EFB system to support ACARS datalink, and ARINC's first deployment of a Class II EFB by a commercial carrier.

Jeppesen Demonstrates Inflight Updating of Nav Database
Jeppesen say it has updated its worldwide navigation database using an airborne wireless Internet connection on a recent flight over the North Atlantic.

Boeing Business Jet Customers Offered Maintenance Tracking Service
Boeing Business Jets has selected Flightdocs as a factory authorized maintenance tracking service for BBJ operators, and will offer the product to all new customers upon aircraft delivery.

Emirates Getting EFBs for its B-777-300ERs; Largest Order So Far
Dubai-based Emirates has ordered 30 Boeing electronic flight bags for its new B777-300ER (extended range) airplanes, making the airline the largest customer for that Boeing-supplied system.

Europe Allowing ACAS II Exemptions until March 2006
Eurocontrol will allow some operators who have been unable to equip their aircraft with ACAS II to have another year, until March 2006, to meet that requirement.  (ACAS II is an airborne collision avoidance system like TCAS that adds a "resolution advisory" suggesting a vertical maneuver to avoid a collision.)

Smiths Detection Unveils New Detection System for Explosives and Narcotics
Smiths Detection is introducing a new portable desktop security system that can simultaneously detect microscopic amounts of more than forty types of narcotics and forty types of explosive substances.

Seattle Airport Upgrades Wi-Fi and Cellular Service Availability
The Port of Seattle is using Cingular Wireless to upgrade cellular voice and computer Wi-Fi coverage at Sea-Tac.  Upon completion, cellular voice service will be available throughout the airport, including the subway system and airport garage, and Wi-Fi service will be available everywhere except the subway and upper floors of the garage.

European Aviation Safety Agency and JAAs Validate Gulfstream G500
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA) Gulfstream Aerospace have each validated the Gulfstream G500 enabling it to be certified and registered within all JAA-participating European nations.

Check Out Additional Fleet Changes

Check Out Current Industry Trends

Check Out Up-Coming Industry Events

Eurocopter Selects Ryan International's Traffic Advisory System

Eurocopter has selected Ryan International's traffic advisory system (TAS) and multi‑hazard display (MHD) as standard factory options for its EC‑135, EC‑145 and EC‑155 helicopters.

Ryan's 9900BX TAS provides surveillance radar coverage above and below an equipped aircraft using Ryan's phase array top-and-bottom mounted antenna system, along with what Ryan calls its Audible Position Alert that announces the position, relative altitude and distance of threat aircraft.

Ryan's MHD provides a plan view of threat traffic in full color, and is available with an optional night vision goggle filter for operators requiring NVG display compatibility.  01-15-2005.  (Top)

Eurocontrol Delays Operational Implementation of Mode-S

Eurocontrol has delayed the operational implementation of Mode-S service in its airspace because many operators and air navigation service providers (ANSPs) have experienced difficulties in meeting its initial deadlines.

Effectively, Eurocontrol has postponed the previous March 31, 2005, date for introducing Mode S elementary surveillance (ELS), to align it with its Mode S enhanced surveillance (EHS) introduction on March 31, 2007. The new Mode-S transponder requirements will apply to all aircraft conducting IFR/GAT (general air traffic) flights in Eurocontrol's airspace.

Furthermore, Eurocontrol's revised rule will permit an operator, who achieves EHS transponder compliance for at least 90% of its fleet by the end of March 2007, to have an additional two years until the end of March 2009, to complete its remaining fleet transition.  Also, the revised requirement allows operators who are withdrawing aircraft from service by the end of December 2007, to forego having to retrofit the equipment.

Further details can be found on the news section page of Eurocontrol's Mode-S Website by clicking here.  01-15-2005.  (Top)

London's Stansted Tower Controllers Using Electronic Flight Strips

Controllers at London's Stansted control tower are now using electronic flight strips which were developed for the U.K.'s National Air Traffic Services (NATS) by Nav Canada.

The technology, known as IIDS/EXCDS (integrated information display system/extended computer display system) is the first of its kind in the U.K. and will be installed at London's Gatwick and Heathrow airports as well.

IIDS/EXCDS – or electronic flight progress system (EFPS) – as it is known in the U.K. – allows tower controllers to manage flight data online using touch-screen displays.  EFPS instantaneously shares flight information between workstations within the tower, and between the tower and terminal control, besides interfacing with flight planning and central flow control systems at Eurocontrol in Brussels.  It also electronically communicates with the BAA's (airport authority) stand (or gate) management system (SMS), the NATS' National Airspace System (NAS) and datalinks departure clearances to aircraft flight decks.

Source: Nav Canada

The system has been operational in Canada since 1998, and is now in control towers at Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, Vancouver and many others.  01-15-2005.  (Top)

Lockheed Martin Team Competing to Provide Advanced Weather System

The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service has selected a Lockheed Martin team to compete in the next phase of its Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System (AWIPS), designed to create better weather-information products.

AWIPS collects and processes meteorological data from radar sensors, weather satellites, and various models, and then disseminates it as integrated information, including graphics, for weather forecasting, tracking and reporting. There will also be interactive software to that can be used by meteorologists to get more timely and accurate weather-related information.

Lockheed Martin's team, which includes Honeywell Technical Solutions and other subcontractors, will now work with NOAA and NWS (National Weather Service), personnel to identify specific technical and functional requirements that will support a workable AWIPS.  01-14-2005.  (Top)

ARINC Installs First Datalink-Enabled Class II EFB

ARINC has received a supplemental type certification (STC) for its new electronic flight bag (EFB), installed on an ASTAR Air Cargo B-727, becoming the first EFB system to support ACARS datalink, and ARINC's first deployment of a Class II EFB by a commercial carrier.

ARINC says it will install its eFlightDeck system on ASTAR's entire cargo fleet this year, which includes 25 B-727s, as well as nine DC-8s, and six A300s.

Ron Hawkins, ARINC's vice president of aviation services, sees Class II EFB technology – meaning it can be used during all phases of flight when mounted in the aircraft – as being widely accepted.  In addition, Hawkins noted that, "Datalink capability delivered on a Class II EFB gives many carriers a low-cost path to ACARS datalink service."

ARINC's eFlightDeck platform is based on an open Windows architecture, which should allow an easy integration of additional airline-specific applications such as electronic flight manuals and charting, takeoff performance, weight and balance calculations, and weather services, ARINC believes.  It is designed to host functions such as video surveillance, automated security, a document library, and wireless data communications as well.

The display hardware for eFlightDeck, which uses a stylus-free touch-screen, comes from navAero, and the Wingspeed Corporation provides the VHF avionics module for its ACARS connectivity.  The ACARS user interface software, jointly developed by Wingspeed and ARINC, eliminates the need for a dedicated ACARS display.  01-17-2005.  (Top)

Jeppesen Demonstrates Inflight Updating of Nav Database

Jeppesen say it has updated its worldwide navigation database using an airborne wireless Internet connection on a recent flight over the North Atlantic.

Jeppesen sees the success of this large file transfer, using a Connexion by Boeing high-speed datalink, as validating the use of this technology to perform inflight updates of its JeppView navigation database, and an important milestone toward a network-centric, e-business infrastructure that improves efficiency in many aviation activities.  01-15-2005.  (Top)

Boeing Business Jet Customers Offered Maintenance Tracking Service

Boeing Business Jets has selected Flightdocs as a factory authorized maintenance tracking service for BBJ operators, and will offer the product to all new customers upon aircraft delivery.

Flightdocs' Maintenance Tracker helps a user manage maintenance data via the Internet with a secure access.  The system, which is powered by IBM e-Business technology, allows the user to create maintenance-due lists with manufacturers' task cards, build work packages, view logbooks on-line, make maintenance logbook entries, and manage ADs (airworthiness directives), SBs (service bulletins), and maintenance manual revisions automatically.  There are also tools for maintenance planning, and analyzing the reliability of aircraft components, among others.  01-15-2005.  (Top)

Emirates Getting EFBs for its B-777-300ERs; Largest Order So Far

Dubai-based Emirates has ordered 30 Boeing electronic flight bags for its new B777-300ER (extended range) airplanes, making the airline the largest customer for that Boeing-supplied system.

According to Boeing, Emirates also is becoming the largest customer for its wireless terminal technology, which creates a broadband connection for equipped airplanes to upload and download various data files, while on the ground, from touchdown to takeoff.  Boeing sees the combination of EFB, and what it calls Terminal Wireless, as a significant step toward an e-enabled air transport system.

Boeing B-777 EFB Control and Display

Source: Boeing

Europe Allowing ACAS II Exemptions until March 2006

Eurocontrol will allow some operators who have been unable to equip their aircraft with ACAS II to have another year, until March 2006, to meet that requirement.  (ACAS II is an airborne collision avoidance system like TCAS that adds a "resolution advisory" suggesting a vertical maneuver to avoid a collision.)

The mandate applies to private or commercial turbine airplanes with an MTOW (maximum takeoff weight) of more than 12,500 pounds or having more than 19 passenger seats.

According to Eurocontrol authorities, the exemptions are being made available because there are a number of aircraft operators who, for practical engineering, installation cost and scheduling considerations, are seeking to combine their installations of ACAS II with Mode-S transponder equipment, but have encountered problems in obtaining ACAS equipment with necessary STCs (supplemental type certificates) and SBs (service bulletins).  These are the same kind of problems that have delayed European plans to implement Mode-S elementary surveillance March 31 this year and Mode-S enhanced surveillance by March 31, 2007.  (See related story.)  01-15-2005.  (Top)

Smiths Detection Unveils New Detection System for Explosives and Narcotics

Smiths Detection is introducing a new portable desktop security system that can simultaneously detect microscopic amounts of more than forty types of narcotics and forty types of explosive substances.

The Ionscan 500DT uses two independently controlled ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) detectors that can identify sub-nanogram amounts of explosive and narcotic substances, from a single sample, in less than eight seconds.  One IMS is optimized for explosives and the other for narcotics, which according to Smiths, enables the system to analyze all target substances at the same time without compromising detection performance.

The system has a large color touch-screen display, built-in printer, 40GB internal hard drive, and proprietary software that reduces maintenance, Smiths says.  An advanced sampling wand eliminates the need for an operator to handle a sample swab after every operation, increasing the quality of sample analysis.  01-17-2005.  (Top)

Seattle Airport Upgrades Wi-Fi and Cellular Service Availability

The Port of Seattle is using Cingular Wireless to upgrade cellular voice and computer Wi-Fi coverage at Sea-Tac.  Upon completion, cellular voice service will be available throughout the airport, including the subway system and airport garage, and Wi-Fi service will be available everywhere except the subway and upper floors of the garage.

Previously, voice cellular was provided from towers located off the airport, and Wi-Fi service was limited to places where travelers would most likely use computers.  Now, Cingular has installed more than 18 miles of coaxial cable to the more than 200 antennas located throughout the airport to eliminate what had been dead spots.

Any standard Wi-Fi-enabled computer can access the system, according to Port authorities.  Existing Cingular Wi-Fi subscribers can use the system as they would normally, and non-Cingular users will be able to use a credit card for up to 24 hours of use for $9.95.  Other purchase plans are available as well.

Other voice cellular companies are allowed to "buy into" the system under Cingular's contract with the Port, which Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile have taken advantage of so far, and negotiations are underway with others.

The airport expects to gain about $550,000 in annual revenue from the systems, and can use the Wi-Fi portion for airport and tenant use at no cost.  01-15-2005.  (Top)

European Aviation Safety Agency and JAAs Validate Gulfstream G500

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA) Gulfstream Aerospace have each validated the Gulfstream G500 enabling it to be certified and registered within all JAA-participating European nations.

The EASA has already certified the G550, G450 and G200, and Gulfstream anticipates receiving EASA/JAA validation of its G350 business during this first quarter of 2005.   01-15-2005.  (Top)

Additional Fleet Changes

AeroMexico has leased two B-777-200ERs from ILFC.  01-15-2005.

Southwest retired its last B-737-200 aircraft from service.  01-15-2005.

Jazeera Airways has selected the CFM56-5B to power the four firm and four optional A320s it has on order.  01-15-2005.

Qantas regional operator QantasLink will acquire seven Bombardier Q400s that will be delivered in the second half of 2006. The carrier also took out options for an additional 10 of the type.  01-15-2005.

BCI 2004-8, a special-purpose company controlled by BCI Aircraft Leasing, has acquired the equity interest in one A319 on lease to US Airways from MarCap Holdings Corp.  01-15-2005.

Independence Air's parent, FLYi Inc., has agreed with GECAS to terminate leases on ten regional jets during the first quarter of 2005, starting in February.  Another ten regional jet leases might be terminated early under the agreement as well.  01-15-2005.

Eclipse Aviation resumed flight testing of its Eclipse 500 after a wait of nearly two years while new Pratt & Whitney Canada powerplants engines were developed.  The PW610F engines replaced the original Williams International EJ22 turbofans, which suffered development problems.  The delay has set back initial deliveries of the 500 from September 2003 to the spring of 2006, pending the aircraft’s certification in March 2006.  01-15-2005.

UPS ordered ten A380Fs with options on 10 more, but is cutting its order for A300Fs from 90 to 53, of which 40 have been delivered.  Deliveries of the A380Fs will start in 2009 and continue through 2012.  The 13 remaining A300Fs will be delivered by July 2006.  01-15-2005.  (Top)

Industry Trends

Eurocontrol managed 8,871,242 flights in 2004, up 4.8% on 2003 – the fastest annual growth rate for any year since 1999.  At the same time, the average air traffic flow management delay per flight was 1.7 minutes, with an average en route delay per flight of 0.9 minutes.  En route restrictions were the cause of only 12% of primary delay in 2004.  The air traffic service provider believes that traffic will likely grow by 3.8% in 2005.  01-17-2005.

The Airports Council International’s Airport Economics Survey for 2004 concludes that:

• The top 100 world airports had a steady decline in aggregate global operating margins over the last years, from 27.9% in 2001 to 19.3% in 2004 (data through mid-year).  Net profits fell from 14.5% to 6.8% in the same period.
• Despite the decline in earnings, airport operators spent over U.S.$ 31 billion in capital expenditure in 2004, the highest figure ever recorded. (And this figure excludes expenditure on new airports).
• Data for the first 10 months of 2004 shows passenger traffic up over 10 percent over the previous year.

The Survey, which includes annexes on trends in airport privatization authored by the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation and a compendium of airport cross-ownership compiled by Momberger Airport Information, is available from the ACI publications department by contacting cknopfel@aci.aero.  01-17-2005.

The Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation says airlines in Asia and the Middle East should have a further significant expansion in 2005 from their successful 2004.  01-17-2005.

BAA's UK airports handled 140.1 million passengers during the calendar year 2004, an increase of 6.9% on 2003.  2004 was the first time BAA's seven U.K. airports handled more than 140 million passengers during a calendar year.  December 2004 traffic increased to 10.5 million passengers, an increase of 4.6% from December 2003.  01-17-2005.

Finnair flew 1.4 billion RPKs in December, up 15.1% over the year-ago period.  Capacity rose 17.6% to 1.92 billion ASKs.  For the 12 months ended December 31, RPKs increased 20.2% to 15.6 billion, while ASKs increased 17.4% to 21.91 billion.

The U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported U.S. airlines carried 7.7% more domestic passengers and flew 4.1% more domestic flights during the first 10 months of 2004 than they did during the same period in 2003.

The airlines carried 527.5 million domestic passengers during the first 10 months of 2004, up from the 489.9 million carried between January and October 2003; passengers were carried on 8.3 million flights, up 4.1% from the 8.0 million flights operated in 2003.  Also when comparing first 10 months of 2003 to the first 10 months of 2004, domestic RPMs were up 10.5% and domestic ASMs were up 7.9%.

In October 2004, U.S. airlines carried 53.4 million domestic passengers, 6.0% more than in October 2003.  These passengers were carried on 807,788 flights, down 2.6% from the flights operated in October 2003.  In other month-to-month domestic comparisons from October 2003 to October 2004, RPMs were up 9.3%, and ASMs were up 5.2%.

Additional data can be found on the BTS website at www.transtats.bts.gov.   Click on "Aviation," then on "Air Carrier Statistics (Form 41 Traffic)," then click on "T-100 Domestic Market."  01-17-2005.

Airbus delivered 320 aircraft in 2004, exceeding early-2004 expectations that deliveries "at best" would total 305.  A320 family deliveries totaled 233 aircraft; A300-600Rs – all freighters – totaled 12; A330-200s totaled 25; and A330-300s and A340s of all types totaled 50.  Airbus expects to increase its 2005 production rates by about 10% over 2004.  01-17-2005.

Lufthansa flew 7.45 billion RPKs in December, up 8.5% over the year-ago period. Capacity climbed 7% to 10.56 billion ASKs.  For the 12 months ended December 31, RPKs increased 14.7% to 104.06 billion, while ASKs increased 13.4% to 140.65 billion.  01-15-2005.

SAS Group flew 2.21 billion RPKs in December, up 2% over the year-ago period. Capacity increased 7.6% to 3.86 billion ASKs.  For the 12 months ended December 31, RPKs increased 8% to 32.84 billion, while ASKs increased 7.6% to 51.53 billion.  01-15-2005.

Swiss International Air Lines flew 20.6 billion RPKs in December, a reduction of 15% from December 2003.  Its December ASKs decreased 17.9% 27.48 billion.  01-15-2005.

Gulf Air's RPKs increased 32.1% in 2004; its ASKs increased 26.1%.  01-15-2005.

Cathay Pacific's year-over-year December RPKs were up 15.4%.  For the full year, Cathay’s RPKs were up 33.9%.  01-15-2005.

SAS subsidiary Blue1 flew 731 million RPKs in 2004, an increase of 77.9% compared to last year.  ASKs increased 58.2% to 1.4 billion.  01-15-2005.

VLM Airlines carried 553,795 passengers in 2004, an increase of 28% compared to 2003.  01-15-2005.

Air France-KLM Group flew 13.94 billion RPKs in December, up 6.9% over the year-ago period.  Capacity climbed 5.6% to 17.94 billion ASKs.  For the 12 months ended December 31, RPKs increased 9.7% to 126.84 billion, while ASKs increased 8% to 160.76 billion.  01-15-2005.

America West flew 1.95 billion RPMs in December, up 8.3% over the year-ago period.  Capacity increased 7.3% to 2.58 billion ASMs.  For the 12 months ended December 31, RPMs increased 9.6% to 23.33 billion, while ASMs increased 8.1% to 30.15 billion.  01-15-2005.

JetBlue flew 1.45 billion RPMs in December, up 34.1% over the year-ago period. Capacity rose 34.4% to 1.76 billion ASMs. For the 12 months ended December 31, RPMs increased 36.5% to 15.73 billion, while ASMs increased 38.6% to 18.91 billion.  01-15-2005.

Alaska Air Group flew 1.41 billion RPMs in December, up 8.6% over the year-ago period.  Capacity increased 4.2% to 1.86 billion ASMs.  For the 12 months ended December 31, RPMs increased 11.5% to 16.23 billion, while ASMs increased 7.1% to 22.23 billion.  01-15-2005.

JAL Group reported a 2.3% rise in international traffic to 286,168 passengers for the December 25-January 6 holiday period.  01-15-2005.