SpiceTech creates a digital library of documents for pilots to use in cockpit

Coming up with yet another in-house innovation, SpiceTech, the technology subsidiary of SpiceJet, has developed a digital, smart document library called Pilot Docs for storing all manuals used by pilots in the cockpit. Pilot Docs has been approved by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for use on SpiceJet’s Boeing 737 fleet.

Pilot Docs is already being used on the B737 fleet on a trial basis along with a similar product from a foreign provider. With DGCA approval, the airline will fully transition to Pilot Docs resulting in substantial savings for SpiceJet.

SpiceJet will be the first Indian airline to have an indigenously-built digital library in use in its fleet helping it move a step closer to its goal of paperless operations. Pilot Docs eliminates the need to carry a large number of paper manuals on the aircraft contributing to the airline’s overall sustainability initiative, enhancing safety through easy and immediate access to relevant information in any situation, eliminating compliance errors and augmenting operational efficiency. Furthermore, it is a remarkable achievement for the airline to save cost on a service that was earlier outsourced at a hefty annual fee.

Pilot Docs is feature-rich. It can auto-sync all manuals available on the pilot iPad. Any future manual updates or addendums are automatically downloaded and made available to the pilots immediately. It allows fast keyword search across all content thus enabling pilots to find relevant content quickly in all situations. Besides, it also allows pilots to add highlights and annotations to the content. Pilot Docs tail specific filtering allows quick access to relevant manuals. Pilots can easily send feedback directly to the manual owner.

SpiceTech has also indigenously developed an electronic flight folder that provides pilots with all the documents required for the flight briefing in an easily accessible form on their tablets. This includes the briefing sheet, computerized flight plan, weather forecast, weather, wind charts, notices related to operations including notes regarding any technical defects and several other documents. Together, with Pilot Docs, this replaces the 8-14 Kg flight bag which the pilots used to carry earlier before the digitalization.

Recently, SpiceTech also developed an international award-winning cabin crew app, called SG Docs which won the ‘APEX Newcomer of the year award’ in December 2021. The mobile app for Cabin Crew digitally hosts all cabin documents and manuals, cabin announcements, current cabin defects and various digitized operational forms. It is designed to function seamlessly in offline mode.

“Pilot Docs is yet another revolutionary step from SpiceJet’s technology arm, SpiceTech, to eliminate the airline’s dependency on foreign providers for services like digital document library. SpiceTech’s Pilot Docs makes the airline entirely self-reliant, promotes paperless flight operations and leads to cost savings to a significant extent. SpiceTech’s vision is to be the recognized world leader in aviation technology with innovative product offerings that it can make available to SpiceJet and other airlines around the world. SpiceTech is continuously innovating to enhance customer delight and improve operational efficiency with exclusive product offerings.”Ashish Vikram, Chief Technology & Innovation Officer, SpiceJet 

With the help of these products, SpiceJet has eliminated the use of large amounts of paper inside its aircraft while enhancing operational efficiency, increasing compliance and improving safety.

Some of the other Made in India innovations of SpiceTech include SpiceScreen, a first-of-its-kind, light-in-weight, wireless entertainment system that enables seamless delivery of content onto the personal devices of the passengers through a Wi-Fi network. SpiceJet’s 24×7 automated customer service agent, Ms Pepper’s WhatsApp based check-in is another such offering through which SpiceJet enhances customer experience and convenience.

Lufthansa plans to cut 33,000 flights from its winter schedule due to the spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant and related travel restrictions, CEO Carsten Spohr told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung newspaper.

"From mid-January to February, we see a sharp downturn in bookings," he told the newspaper on Thursday, December 23 adding that 33,000 flights were equivalent to about 10% of the flight plan.

In particular, Lufthansa was feeling the absence of passengers from Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Belgium, which are being hit particularly hard by the pandemic, said Spohr.

He said that the German airline would have cut even more flights in January due to weak demand if it didn't have to comply with European Union regulations on slot usage.

Airlines are already starting to see traffic fall as Europe imposes new travel restrictions. In the last few days, travellers from the UK, Demark, Norway, and the Netherlands have been subjected to stricter testing or quarantines.

"We have to operate 18,000 additional, unnecessary flights in the winter just to secure our take-off and landing rights.While climate-friendly exemptions have been found in almost every other part of the world during the pandemic, the EU does not allow it in the same way.This harms the climate and is exactly the opposite of what the EU Commission wants to achieve with its 'Fit for 55' plan."Carsten Spohr, CEO, Lufthansa

In July, the EU set a new requirement that airlines must reach 50% slot utilization to prevent them from losing their spaces at airports. While these rules had been waived between 2020 and summer 2021, they came back into effect this winter. Now, fears about ghost flights may just be coming true.

In addition to being economically unfeasible, running extra flights is a huge environmental burden. With the industry trying to cut its emissions significantly in the next decade, the EU slot rule may be forcing carriers to do the exact opposite.

GMR Infrastructure on Thursday, December 23 said it has received approval from the National Company Law Tribunal for the restructuring plan involving the demerger of the non-airport business.

GMR Infrastructure had unveiled the rejig plan on August 27, 2020, to simplify the corporate holding structure and to attract sector-specific global investors.

"The Hon'ble National Company Law Tribunal, Mumbai Bench, has sanctioned the composite scheme of arrangement amongst GMR Power Infra Limited (GPIL), GMR Infrastructure Limited (GIL) and GMR Power and Urban Infra Limited (GPUIL) and their respective shareholders under Sections 230 to 232 of the Companies Act, 2013.Separate listing of both the airport and non-airport businesses will also help in simplifying the corporate holding structure. The vertical split demerger will go a long way in facilitating a deeper understanding of the airport business independently as compared to other business verticals within the group."GMR Infrastructure

The sanction was pronounced by the tribunal on December 22, 2021.

On August 27, 2020, the board of GMR Infrastructure together with other group companies -- GPIL and GPUIL -- had decided on a composite scheme of the arrangement including the demerger of the non-airport business of GMR Infrastructure.

Currently, the GMR Group operates the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi and Hyderabad's Rajiv Gandhi International Airport. It also operates the Cebu airport in the Philippines.

Its energy business has a diversified portfolio of around 4,995 MW generation capacity.

GMR had filed a composite scheme of amalgamation and demerger among GMR Power Infra and GMR Power and Urban Infra with the NCLT in March this year.

Back in the 1960s, a gravel kit was something that was offered by Boeing on its early variants of the 737 series. The kit comprised several modifications that would allow aircraft to safely fly in and out of airports with gravel, dirt or grass strips. Reportedly, the 737s were making over 2000 movements a year from unpaved runways, particularly in 1969.

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Some Boeing 727s were also fitted with specific gravel kits on the nose wheel, while the rest were fitted with devices in the form of smaller deflectors than those used on the 737, used on all wheels, to deflect FOD away to prevent the rear-mounted engines from ingesting FOD from a runway.

Although no longer available now, Canadian North, one of the last operators of the 737-200 with unpaved strip kits are phasing out their last two of the type by 2022.

What is a gravel kit and what are its components?

A 737 gravel-kit | Source

Technically, a gravel kit is a modification on an aircraft to avoid Foreign Object Debris (FOD) damage or ingestion while operating on unpaved surfaces. They generally come as an add-on feature on aircraft to prevent the nose gear from spraying FOD into the engine and onto the underside of the fuselage or wings, and methods of preventing each engine from ingesting FOD from the ground directly in front of it.

Regardless of the surface on which to be operated, certain guidelines are to be followed. As a part of its service to assess the suitability of potential strips, Boeing mandated that The surface had to be smooth with no bumps higher than 3 inches in 100ft; good drainage with no standing water or ruts; and the surface material had to be at least 6 inches thick with no areas of the deep loose gravel. Additionally, if the surface wasn't hard enough,  it could still be used by reducing tyre pressure down to a minimum of 40psi per chart.

The protective equipment included:

The " Nose-gear gravel deflector"- the most prominent and perhaps one which stands out from the rest, is used to keep the gravel off the underbelly and from flying into the engines. This unit is made of corrosion-resistant steel and has a sheet metal leading edge which acts as an aerofoil to give it aerodynamic stability. Smaller deflectors on the oversized main gear to prevent damage to the flaps.Protective metal shields over hydraulic tubing and brake cables on the main gear strut.Protective metal shields over speed brake cables.Glass fibre reinforced underside of the inboard flaps.Metal edge band on elephant ear faring.Abrasion resistant Teflon based paint on wing and fuselage under-surfaces.Strengthened under-fuselage aerials.Retractable anti-collision light.Vortex dissipators fitted to the engine nacelles.Screens in the wheel well to protect components against damage.

Vortex generation | Representative | Picyrl

Why is it phased out now?

With the advent of technology, we have come a long way from unpaved, dirt runways to the highly maintained, paved runways today. According to rates back in the days, maintenance costs of the gravel kit amounted to about $15 per landing. Products manufactured are directly proportional to the demands in the market and if the demands are slump, it just isn't worth producing. Boeing apparently realised it and hence came to the conclusion that it wasn't economical to produce these kits for the upcoming models as most of the airliners today operate on paved runways.

That being said, these kits are still featured on aircraft operating in rough terrain and unpaved surface, for instance, Northern Canada. The 737s operating in and out of this region still make use of these protective gravel kits.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJOi-P9FPHY

SimpleFlying | Youtube

Source(s)

Cover : min.news

Ahead of its summer launch in 2022, Rakesh Jhunjhunwala-backed Akasa Air has started the hiring process for cabin crew, maintenance staff, airport managers and other staff.

The new private airliner has also started the hiring process for senior security, security executive positions, Cabin Crews, Senior Cabin Crews in-flight managers, duty managers and customer service executives.

Earlier on December 22, the low-cost airline unveiled its brand identity with a ‘Rising A’ logo and tagline, It’s Your Sky. Its tagline "It’s Your Sky" is the brand’s promise to embrace everyone and to create an inclusive environment for all Indians regardless of their socio-economic or cultural backgrounds, Akasa Air said in a statement.

The airline also showcased its new brand colours - Sunrise Orange and Passionate Purple.

"With India’s youngest and greenest fleet, the Akasa Air brand is built upon a clear promise to deliver a warm, reliable, and affordable travel experience," the airline said in a press release.

"We wanted our logo to be simple, easy-to-recall and connect with our brand ethos. The Rising A seamlessly connects aviation & ascension and exudes warmth, dependability, freedom, and motion. We believe that the sky embraces everyone and is no longer the limit," Belson Coutinho, CoFounder and Chief Marketing & Experience Officer, Akasa Air

The carrier plans to offer commercial flights starting in the summer of 2022 to support the growing demand across Indian aviation.

Akasa should start operations in the financial year 2022-23 and Jet Airways 2.0 is likely to start in the second quarter of the year (July-September), reckons Kapil Kaul, chief executive, India subcontinent, Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation.

“Translating our purpose to serve every traveller with an innovative yet simple alternative required a modern and confident symbol. The Akasa Air brand identity encapsulates the collective spirit of flying and the individual pursuit of dreams for each of us.It is our promise to all, regardless of backgrounds or beliefs, that it’s your sky, your dreams, your passions, and your personal journey, and Akasa Air is honoured to be a part of it."Vinay Dube, Founder, MD and CEO, Akasa Air

Akasa claims it will be 'the most dependable airline in India, offering warm & efficient customer service, reliable operations, and affordable fares.'

According to reports, Akasa, which has ordered 72 MAX aircraft, will require at least 288 cabin crew members although the number is likely to be more because the airline will also need to provide backup in case one crew member is indisposed. To be sure, the airline will not require so many at one go because the aircraft will be delivered in phases; Akasa is yet to announce how many aircraft it plans to start operations with and how many it plans to induct annually.

Akasa Air is looking to get its air operator's permit (AOP) and take to the Indian skies by as early as April. The airline, founded by Jet Airways' former chief executive Vinay Dube, has also placed an order for 72 Boeing 737 Max planes. It subsequently ordered CFM engines to power the aircraft.

Among other details, Akasa Air unveiled its leadership team with Vinay Dube being the airline's founder, managing director and chief executive officer. Belson Coutinho will be the airline's chief marketing and experience officer, Ankur Goel will serve as its chief financial officer and Praveen B Iyer will fill the role of a chief commercial officer. Aditya Ghosh, IndiGo Airline's former president, is Akasa's co-founder.

The outlook for Indian Oil’s (IOC) aviation business is positive with growth in flights, the upcoming launch of new airlines in 2022 and recovery of jet fuel dues from Air India.

“Airline operators have cleared all dues pending with IOC and are now within agreed terms,” the country’s largest fuel retailer said in a statement. “Air India has also paid around 80% of its pending dues to oil marketing companies. IOC has received INR 2,281 crore from Air India. The balance settlement is under process for which modalities have been initiated because of the handing over process of Air India.”

Air India has been making daily payments for its fuel uplift but its past dues had been pending for years. In 2019, oil marketing companies had briefly snapped supplies to the airline at six airports. They had restored fuel supply after the airline agreed to pay INR 100 crore every month to clear the backlog.

Air India cleared 80% of its fuel dues earlier this month upon receiving fund infusion from the government, it is learnt.

IOC said current aviation turbine fuel (ATF) volume has reached 80% of the pre-Covid time. “With increasing air traffic, an increasing fleet in India, the opening of new airports and anticipated entry of upcoming operator Akasa and the revival of Jet Airways, the outlook for aviation business seems to be positive and optimistic,” it said.

According to IOC, recovery of ATF volumes between April to November was 57% of pre-Covid level and is expected to reach pre-Covid levels once international airlines resume normal operations.

Scheduled international passenger flights have been suspended till January 31 because of the global spread of the Omicron variant of Covid-19. While the civil aviation ministry had given its nod to resume scheduled flights from December 15, the decision was put on hold following a review by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Scheduled international flights have been suspended since March 23, 2020, when the lockdown was imposed to rein in the spread of the contagion. While initially only repatriation flights were permitted, India began signing air transport bubble agreements from July 2020 with various countries to resume international flights.

On Sunday, December 26, 611 international flights were operated to and from India, which is around 50% of the approved flights in the winter schedule of 2019.

Karnataka government has cut VAT on ATF to 18% and the revised rate will come into effect from January 1.

Earlier, Tripura Cabinet has decided to reduce the share of Value-Added Tax (VAT) levied on Aviation Turbine Fuel from 16% to 1% expecting better air traffic at Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport Agartala soon after it gets the international airport status.

The Madhya Pradesh government has also decided to reduce the Value Added Tax (VAT) on aviation turbine fuel (ATF) to 4% at Bhopal and Indore airports, a move it hopes will bring down airfares.

(With Inputs from Business Standard)