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FAA's Cirillo Previews RNAV/RNP Potential to Increase Capacity
Michael A. Cirillo, the FAA's vice president of system operations believes that RNAV (area navigation) coupled with RNP (required navigation performance) operational criteria can substantially increase the arrival capacity at many large U.S. airports, and that the agency will look into the possibility of third-party contractors to expedite the development of necessary procedures.

Sensis Delivers 750th Surveillance Sensor
Sensis Corporation says it has delivered its 750th surveillance sensor since fielding "the industry's first" multilateration surface-surveillance system at London's Heathrow in 2002.

FAA Proposing Change in Landing Stopping Distance Assessment
The FAA is proposing a change that would require all turbojet operators covered by Federal Air Regulations (FARs) Parts 91, 121, 125, and 135 to establish methods to ensure that their aircraft can safely land in conditions existing at the time of arrival.

SITA and Airbus Introducing New Data Security Service for A380 Suppliers
Airbus and SITA are introducing a new way for suppliers and airlines to issue and load software onto an A380 while ensuring the integrity of the data and authenticating the identity of the provider.

Global AirWorks Installs IFE Systems on B-757 and 767
Global AirWorks has received a STC (supplemental type certificate) for an IFE (inflight entertainment) retrofit installation for Avianca Airlines' six B-757s and six B-767s.

OuterLink to Demonstrate Flight Tracking for National Guard Helicopters
Digital Angel Corporation says its OuterLink subsidiary will demonstrate the capability of its satellite-based automatic flight following system (AFFS) to communicate with South Carolina's Army National Guard helicopter and ground vehicle fleets.

Turkey's MNG Airlines Signs for WSI WeatherAlert
Turkish cargo carrier MNG Airlines will receive graphical terminal weather information and alerting for all of its relevant airports from WSI (Weather Services International).

Boeing Completes Purchase of Carmen Systems
Boeing has completed its purchase of Carmen Systems, which will now become part of Jeppesen, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Boeing Commercial Aviation Services.

SITA Expands Global Indirect Channel Network into Greece
SITA is continuing to grow its network of resellers of airport IT (information technology) applications by partnering with Athens International Airport (AIA).

Wingman: Gulf of Mexico ADS-B Demonstrates How Need Creates Action
When Matt Zuccaro, the president of the Helicopter Association International (HAI) spoke about the forthcoming ADS-B (automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast) program in the Gulf of Mexico at the RTCA Symposium 2006, last month, he was demonstrating once again how a well-defined need - plus some incentives - can precipitate action.

Xiamen Airlines Selects Rockwell Collins Avionics for New B-737-800s
Xiamen Airlines selected a suite of Rockwell Collins' avionics for 15 new B-737-800s that might include five more the airline could receive as options.  Deliveries will begin next month.

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FAA's Cirillo Previews RNAV/RNP Potential to Increase Capacity

Michael A. Cirillo, the FAA's vice president of system operations believes that RNAV (area navigation) coupled with RNP (required navigation performance) operational criteria can substantially increase the arrival capacity at many large U.S. airports, and that the agency will look into the possibility of third-party contractors to expedite the development of necessary procedures.

Mr. Cirillo discussed the present and future status of RNAV (area navigation) and RNP (required navigation performance) at the RTCA's 2006 Symposium last month.

According to Mr. Cirillo, SAAAR (special aircrew and aircraft authorization required) operational criteria can be used for parallel approaches at 10 to 15 of the largest airports in the U.S., where they might increase arrival capacity by 60% over single runway operations in the same visibility conditions.  Similarly, SAAAR has the potential to increase arrival capacity by as much as 50% over single runway operations at 15 to 20 of the country's busiest airports, when converging runway operations can be maintained in low visibility.  (In this case, SAAAR can be used in special missed approach turning maneuvers to prevent a conflict with a converging runway if a go-around is required.)  And in analogous way, SAAAR profiles can be used at airports which are closely located and their instrument flight paths would otherwise conflict.  As many as 10 to 15 top U.S. airports might increase arrival and departure rates with these SAAAR procedures, Cirillo said.

Finally there are as many as 100 runway ends where SAAAR could reduce landing minimums to lower values than those allowed without RNP, Cirillo estimates.  Lower minimums are possible because of the greater accuracy of RNP can ensure adequate safety margins from nearby obstructions.

Possible Third-Party Procedure Development

In order to expedite the development of RNAV/RNP, Cirillo said the FAA is considering the possibility of allowing these procedures to be developed by third parties, and is evaluating the economic, legal and labor issues that are related to such an initiative. The agency is establishing a team co-lead by Jeff Williams of the Air Traffic Organization and John McGraw of its safety office (AVS) to look into this.  The first meeting was scheduled for June 1.  06-18-2006.  (Top)

Sensis Delivers 750th Surveillance Sensor

Sensis Corporation says it has delivered its 750th surveillance sensor since fielding "the industry's first" multilateration surface-surveillance system at London's Heathrow in 2002.

The Heathrow Sensis surveillance system was followed by the industry's first air-surveillance application at Innsbruck in 2004, and the first operational ADS-B (automatic dependent surveillance- broadcast) transceivers for a 1090 ES (extended squitter) datalink in Australia in 2004, and a UAT (universal access transceiver) datalink in Alaska in 2005.

According to Marc Viggiano, the president of Sensis Air Traffic Systems, these 750 sensors represent more than 43 projects around the world - over half of which are in Europe and Asia.  Sensis has a backlog of orders for 350 additional units to 25 on-going projects, Mr. Viggiano adds.

Currently, the company's multilateration system - which is equipped with ADS-B tracking ability - is operational at London Heathrow, Paris' Charles de Gaulle, Geneva, Vienna Airport, Zurich and Amsterdam's Schiphol.  The system is being deployed at Suvarnabhumi Airport (Bangkok), Paris Orly, Brussels and Frankfurt.  In addition, Sensis sensors are being installed as part of an A-SMGCS (advanced - surface monitoring and ground control system) at New Delhi's Indira Gandhi Airport and at 35 U.S. airports for the FAA's ASDE-X (airport surface detection equipment, model X) program.

For wide area surveillance, a Sensis' multilateration system is operational at Innsbruck and others are being deployed at the Patuxent River Naval Air Station in Maryland and the Twentynine Palms Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in California.

Sensis ADS-B UAT sensors are being used for air traffic control as part of the FAA's Capstone Program in Alaska, and general aviation pilots and flight schools are using Sensis UAT sensors in an advisory capacity as part of the FAA's Safe Flight 21 Program.  06-18-2006.  (Top)

FAA Proposing Change in Landing Stopping Distance Assessment

The FAA is proposing a change that would require all turbojet operators covered by Federal Air Regulations (FARs) Parts 91, 121, 125, and 135 to establish methods to ensure that their aircraft can safely land in conditions existing at the time of arrival.

The agency says it will issue OpSpec/MSpec C082, "Landing Performance Assessments after Dispatch," by June 30, 2006, that will require turbojet operators to have procedures in place no later than September 1, 2006, to ensure that a full stop landing, with at least a 15% safety margin beyond the actual landing distance, can be made on the runway to be used, in the conditions existing at the time of arrival.  The new procedures will need to go into effect no later than October 1, 2006.

This policy change came about largely because of the Southwest Airlines' B-737 runway overrun at Chicago Midway last December.

In most cases, nothing will change operationally for flight crews.  A specific calculation would have to be made by the crew only when conditions at the destination airport deteriorate while the flight is en route.

But when airport conditions do worsen, turbojet operators will be required to accomplish the landing distance assessment as close to the time of arrival as practicable, using the most up-to-date information available at that time.  If conditions change between the time that the assessment is made and the time of landing, the flight crew must consider whether it would be safer to continue the landing or reassess the landing distance.

Operators may require flight crews to perform this assessment, or may establish other procedures to conduct this assessment.

Challenges and Opportunities

The rule creates both challenges and opportunities.  Assessing runway stopping ability under changing environmental conditions has always been subjective and problematic, because of the almost infinitive number of variables involved.  And for pilots, having to make a landing calculation in a terminal area, when their workload is at its highest, might be difficult.

The FAA's discussion of the rule covers both of these points.

Opportunities might also be present, however, for innovators to use new technologies, such as datalink, electronic flight bag capabilities, and new dispatch analytical and information tools, to facilitate the pilot's need to make a new landing calculation at a demanding time.  06-19-2006.  (Top)

SITA and Airbus Introducing New Data Security Service for A380 Suppliers

Airbus and SITA are introducing a new way for suppliers and airlines to issue and load software onto an A380 while ensuring the integrity of the data and authenticating the identity of the provider.

The two companies believe that on a highly "computerized" airplane like the A380, there is a need to ensure software traceability that is at least equivalent to tracking systems for hardware.  The A380 has 1,400 individual software programs provided by more than 40 hardware and software suppliers.

Airbus and SITA say they have been working for more than two years to develop this service that complies with industry standards.  SITA will provide and manage the certification process for suppliers, including training, support, and the secure delivery of required digital certificates.

The digital certificate service is based on PKI (public key infrastructure), which follows strict and audited procedures, made available to A380 suppliers a few weeks ago.  06-16-2006.  (Top)

Global AirWorks Installs IFE Systems on B-757 and 767

Global AirWorks has received a STC (supplemental type certificate) for an IFE (inflight entertainment) retrofit installation for Avianca Airlines' six B-757s and six B-767s.

AirWorks says its digital audio/video server and LCD (liquid crystal display)-based IFE systems can replace older and heavier CRT (cathode ray tube) screens that are currently being used on many aircraft.  06-16-2006.  (Top)

OuterLink to Demonstrate Flight Tracking for National Guard Helicopters

Digital Angel Corporation says its OuterLink subsidiary will demonstrate the capability of its satellite-based automatic flight following system (AFFS) to communicate with South Carolina's Army National Guard helicopter and ground vehicle fleets.

A key component of the demonstration will be to show how OuterLink's secure AFFS wireless data communications system can seamlessly operate with existing communications equipment of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and other federal or state public safety agencies.

OuterLink already provides satellite communications to customers that include U.S. Customs & Border Protection, Gulf of Mexico helicopter operators, and more than 100 air ambulance operators.

Paul F. Newcomb, OuterLink's president said the Guard program will not only demonstrate the interoperability between OuterLink's satellite communications network and the existing National Guard and DHS terrestrial communications networks, but also will demonstrate the system's integration with OuterLink's aircraft vibration monitoring system (VMS) that provides in-flight reporting of aircraft vibration and other mechanical data.  OuterLink already has a similar project with the U.S. Navy, called HUMS, for aircraft health and usage monitoring.  06-19-2006.  (Top)

Turkey's MNG Airlines Signs for WSI WeatherAlert

Turkish cargo carrier MNG Airlines will receive graphical terminal weather information and alerting for all of its relevant airports from WSI (Weather Services International).

MNG Airlines will become WSI's first Turkish customer of its WeatherAlert decision support tool that delivers graphical depictions of terminal weather via the Internet to the airline's dispatcher desktops.  The information is presented with color-coded alert thresholds for wind, ceiling, visibility and runway visual range (RVR) that can be defined for each airport as desired.  WSI sees dynamically updated information as an ideal way for dispatchers to get early warnings of deteriorating conditions - as well as alerts about improvements - and to analyze trends.

Erhan Cetin, who manages MNG's dispatch functions for its fleet of eight A300-B4 and eight F-27 freighters, says, "We now utilize WSI WeatherAlert as a primary decision support tool allowing us to proactively anticipate weather related issues and minimize disruptions to our service."  06-18-2006.  (Top)

Boeing Completes Purchase of Carmen Systems

Boeing has completed its purchase of Carmen Systems, which will now become part of Jeppesen, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Boeing Commercial Aviation Services.

Jeppesen will integrate Carmen's portfolio of airline crew, fleet and logistics resource optimization applications into its own portfolio of airline offerings, according to Mark Van Tine, Jeppesen's president and chief operating officer.

Carmen Systems is headquartered in Gothenburg, Sweden, and has approximately 300 employees.  It also has significant operations in Australia and Canada.  06-16-2006.  (Top)

SITA Expands Global Indirect Channel Network into Greece

SITA is continuing to grow its network of resellers of airport IT (information technology) applications by partnering with Athens International Airport (AIA).

AIA becomes SITA's third partner since it first announced plans in February to set up "Indirect Channel" partners to provide applications such as its AirportConnect CUTE, AirportConnect Kiosk, BagManager and BagMessage to medium and small-sized airports.  SITA sees these aerodrome facilities, which handle five million passengers or less per year, as benefiting from being able to use the latest passenger and baggage management technology at more affordable prices.

AIA has established an IT and telecommunications business unit that will integrate and operate these services to customers in Greece and abroad.  SITA's products and services will be offered on an ASP (applications service provider)-basis which should reduce the airport's total cost of ownership.

SITA estimates there is a worldwide market of over 1,000 airports in this category with an estimated value of $2 billion over the next five years.  06-18-2006.  (Top)

Wingman: Gulf of Mexico ADS-B Demonstrates How Need Creates Action

When Matt Zuccaro, the president of the Helicopter Association International (HAI) spoke about the forthcoming ADS-B (automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast) program in the Gulf of Mexico at the RTCA Symposium 2006, last month, he was demonstrating once again how a well-defined need - plus some incentives - can precipitate action.

A recent MOA (memorandum of agreement) between the FAA and industry should lead to the installation of an operational ADS-B in the Gulf region.  Besides the FAA and the HAI, the May MOA included individual helicopter operators, platform operators and platform owners.

To appreciate the benefits of ADS-B in the Gulf of Mexico, Mr. Zuccaro told the RTCA audience, one must understand the operating environment that exists there.  Currently, there are about 650 helicopters that fly to more than 5,000 oil-drilling platforms as far as 250 miles from the coast, making about 7,500 trips per day.  Most of these operations are conducted between the surface and 5,000 feet, and are conducted in both visual and instrument conditions.

Yet, today, the majority of these aircraft can't communicate with, or be seen by air traffic control.  Nor do they have a normal infrastructure to provide weather information, or other generally expected services for similar operations conducted over land.

Because of this, on IFR (instrument flight rule) days helicopter flights there can be reduced by 95%, at a cost of several million dollars a day, due to lack of adequate communications, surveillance capability and real-time weather information.

So ADS-B and other modern services can enhance overall safety there by providing low-level communications, ATC surveillance and surveillance between aircraft, and better weather information, Mr. Zuccaro pointed out - all of which should not only increase safety, but add significant economic value as well.

It is instructive in a way to note that this ADS-B initiative in the Gulf of Mexico mirrors the success of the Capstone Program in Alaska in that each is addressing a well-recognized need for surveillance and pertinent flight information that wasn't being addressed by traditional surveillance and communications technologies.  The implementation of ADS-B in Alaska, and by flight training schools in Florida, Arizona, and North Dakota, show that when it is used to address specific operational needs and circumstances, it can be an attractive investment.  And the popularity of ADS-B in the U.S. Northeast corridor attests to its attractiveness to general aviation users.

AOPA has been a strong supporter of ADS-B, so long as it includes information about traffic and weather presented graphically - at an affordable price.  UPS, which has been a major player the FAA's Safe Flight 21 program, was an early ADS-B adopter and innovator, largely because it applies the technology to its specific needs.

Making the acquisition cost of new technology affordable is of course not always easy.  But when the need is great enough, novel financing arrangements have a way of being invented.  Capstone avionics were "free" for some users, and the helicopter industry is contributing "in-kind" investments of transportation and equipment sites in the Gulf program.  Eventually, however, the technology must pay its way onto aircraft, and real safety improvements and significant operational advantages can do that.

This doesn't mean that a widespread, universal transition to ADS-B from radar isn't a desirable or practical part of a comprehensive airspace modernization program.  Rather it highlights the natural inclination to address localized needs as soon as it becomes practical.  And these smaller steps contribute to a smarter progression in larger programs.  06-19-2006.  (Top)

Xiamen Airlines Selects Rockwell Collins Avionics for New B-737-800s

Xiamen Airlines selected a suite of Rockwell Collins' avionics for 15 new B-737-800s that might include five more the airline could receive as options.  Deliveries will begin next month.

The package includes Rockwell Collins' WXR-2100 MultiScan weather radar, the VOR-900 VHF omnidirectional range/marker beacon receiver, VHF-920 transceiver, ADF-900 automatic direction finder, DME-900 distance measuring equipment, CPL-920D coupling unit, DFA-901 direction finding antenna, TRE-920 directional antenna, GLU-920 GPS landing unit, LRA-900 low-range radio altimeter, TPR-901 transponder, TTR-921 TCAS II (traffic alert and collision avoidance system) HFS-900 high-frequency data radio and the PAU-700 passenger address unit.  06-18-2006.  (Top)

Airbus is testing A320 equipped with winglets and will begin testing a second winglet design on another A320 in July.  Both are research programs which are currently collecting data.  Customers such as JetBlue have indicated an interest in the technology as way to reduce fuel-burn.  06-19-2006.

The Diamond D-JET will make its public debut at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2006 on July 15 and 16.  The five-place personal jet is powered by a Williams FJ33 engine with FADEC (full-authority digital engine control), and equipped with a Garmin all glass flight deck and autopilot.  06-19-2006.  (Top)

The U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) released preliminary data showing that its reporting airlines carried 0.3% more domestic and international passengers and flew 4.1% fewer flights on their systems during the first three months of 2006 than they did during the same period in 2005.

Total System Results

Reporting airlines carried 176.1 million system passengers during the first quarter of 2006, up from the 175.5 million carried during the same period in 2005. The passengers were carried on 2.56 million flights, down 4.1 % from the 2.66 million flights operated in the first quarter of 2005.

U.S. airlines carried 66.4 million system passengers during March 2006, down from the 66.9 million carried during March 2005.  The passengers were carried on 905,000 flights, down 4.7 % from the 949,000 flights operated in March 2005.

Other total system comparisons from the first quarter of 2005 to the first quarter of 2006 and from March 2005 to March 2006 are as follows:

• RPMs (revenue passenger miles), a measure of the number of passengers and the distance flown, were up 1.5 % in the first quarter.  In March, RPMs were up 0.5 %.

• ASMs (available seat-miles), a measure of airline capacity using the number of seats and the distance flown, were down 1.3 % in the first quarter.  In March, ASMs were down 0.9%.

• Passenger load factor, passengers carried as a proportion of available seats, was up 2.1 load factor points to 76.7% in the first quarter.  In March, load factor was up 1.2 load factor points to 81.2 %.

• Flight stage length, the average non-stop distance flown per departure, was up 2.7% in the first quarter.  In March, flight stage length was up 3.4%.

• Passenger trip length, the average distance flown per passenger, was up 1.1% in the first quarter.  In March, passenger trip length was up 1.3%.

Domestic Results

U.S. airlines carried 155.1 million domestic passengers during the first quarter of 2006, up from the 154.8 million carried during the same period in 2005.  The passengers were carried on 2.34 million flights, down 4.5 % from the 2.45 million flights operated in the first quarter of 2005.

The airlines carried 58.5 million domestic passengers during March 2006, down from the 59.2 million carried during March 2005.  The passengers were carried on 828,000 flights, down 5.1 % from the 873,000 flights operated in March 2005.

The following are other domestic comparisons from the first quarter of 2005 to the first quarter of 2006 and from March 2005 to March 2006.  (Comparisons for March and the first quarter may have been affected by the Easter holiday, which was in March in 2005 but in April in 2006:)

• RPMs were up 1.2% in the first quarter.  March domestic RPMs were down 0.5 %.

• ASMs were down 2.6% in the first quarter.  March domestic ASMs were down 2.7%.

• Passenger load factor was up 2.9 load factor points to 76.8% in the first quarter.  March domestic load factor was up 1.8 load factor points to 81.4%.

• Flight stage length was up 2.2% in the first quarter.  March domestic flight stage length was up 2.5%.

• Passenger trip length was up 1.0% in the first quarter.  March domestic passenger trip length was up 0.7%.

International Results

U.S. airlines carried 21.0 million international passengers during the first quarter of 2006, up from the 20.8 million carried during the same period in 2005. The passengers were carried on 213,000 flights, up 0.6% from the 212,000 flights operated in the first quarter of 2005.

The airlines carried 7.86 million international passengers during March 2006, up from the 7.75 million carried during March 2005.  The passengers were carried on 76,079 flights, up 0.4 % from the 75,741 flights operated in March 2005.

The following are other international comparisons from the first quarter of 2005 to the first quarter of 2006 and from March 2005 to March 2006:

• RPMs were up 2.1% in the first quarter.  March international RPMs were up 3.1%.

• ASMs were up 2.3% in the first quarter.  March international ASMs were up 3.9%.

• Load factor was down 0.2 load factor points in the first quarter.  March international load factor was down 0.7 load factor points.

• Flight stage length was up 1.8% in the first quarter.  March international flight stage length was up 3.2%.

• Passenger trip length was up 0.8% in the first quarter.  March international passenger trip length was up 1.7%.

Additional data can be found at http://transtats.bts.gov.   Click on "Aviation;" then on "Air Carrier Statistics (Form 41 Traffic);" then click on "T-100 Market" for system numbers, "T-100 Domestic Market" for domestic numbers or "T-100 International Market" for international numbers.  06-19-2006.

According to a recent analysis by Eurocontrol, the market share of European low-cost carriers has increased in the last two months (April and May), and now totals 16.3% of all flights in Europe.  In the last 12 months low-cost carriers have added 2.4 percentage points to their market share through re-branding and organic growth.  In the United Kingdom, 32% of flights now operated by low-cost carriers.  In Poland and Spain 21% of all flights are by low-cost airlines.  

The number of low-cost airlines in Europe is now 50 – down by two since last year – operating out of 22 European states.  The number of flights operated by low-cost carriers has increased by 23% over the year to over 3,700 each day in the first 5 months of 2006 – and there are now 15 low-cost operators with more than 50 flights each day, compared to 13 only a year ago.  The full report is available at: www.eurocontrol.int/statfor.   06-19-2006.  (Top)

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