High-speed baggage handling system installed at Delhi Airport T1

The Delhi international airport has been installing an integrated cart system (ICS) at its Terminal-1 for baggage handling that has high speed, high capacity and more reliability, DIAL said on Friday, January 7.

"The radio frequency identification (RFID) enabled ICS ensures error-less sorting of baggage," Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) said in a statement. The new hi-tech system will operate at a speed of 2.1 metres per second and sort up to 6,000 bags per hour, it mentioned.

The radio frequency identification (RFID) enabled ICS ensures error-less sorting of baggage.

"The existing conveyor system i.e., traditional belt system operates at a speed of 0.5 metres per second," it noted. Each baggage stays completely within the confines of its carrier tray (cart) throughout the transportation process - from check-in islands to baggage make-up area, the DIAL said.

This significantly reduces the risk of loss and damage to baggage and disruption to the system, due to the strap or other baggage related causes, it added.

"The highly automated and complex system of ICS also enhances passengers' experience by ensuring that the right baggage reaches the right flight seamlessly and safely soon after a passenger hands over its baggage," it mentioned.

A few days ago, DIAL had finished the refurbishing work on the 09/27 runway at the IGI airport as well as handed over the facility to ATC for commercial operations in December. It will now help in reducing the runway operations time. The newly rehabilitated runway complies with the Category I Instrument Landing System.

This assists pilots during an aircraft’s landing in low visibility conditions. The rehabilitation work of IGI Airport’s runway 09/27 (first runway) was undertaken by Delhi International Airport Limited as part of the Phase 3A expansion project of the Delhi Airport.

A total of 125 passengers on a Milan-Amritsar charter flight were found to be Covid-positive when tested on arrival, government officials said on Thursday, January 6.

According to Airport Director V K Seth, there were a total of 179 passengers on the charter flight that landed at the Amritsar airport around 11.30 AM on Thursday, January 6.

Since Italy is one of the "at-risk" countries according to the Union Health Ministry, all eligible passengers - 160, in this case, were tested for COVID-19 and 125 of them were found to be positive, they mentioned.

Out of a total of 179 passengers, 19 were children or infants so they were exempt from on-arrival RT-PCR testing, they said.

The charter flight YU-661 between Milan in Italy and Amritsar in Punjab was operated by Portuguese company EuroAtlantic Airways, they mentioned.

The Amritsar airport authorities stated on Twitter said that they have taken all necessary actions to stop the spread of COVID-19.

"In today's flight all 125 pax tested positive, are being attended by state health officials. Rest 35 pax tested negative have been advised self-monitoring and would be under supervision," the airport noted.

125 passengers on a chartered flight from Italy to Amritsar tested positive for Covid-19. (Image Courtesy - Getty Images)

After the test reports came in, a number of the passengers were not satisfied with the results and created a hue and cry at the terminal building. Purported video clips circulating on social media showed some passengers arguing with the authorities.

The passengers who tested positive for COVID-19 were reluctant for admission in the isolation ward of any of the city hospitals and were pressing upon the authorities to let them go.

Officials from the health department tried to convince them to get admission in the isolation ward in any of the hospitals they desired in Amritsar.

District Assistant Civil Surgeon Dr. Amarjit Singh said all the positive patients will be shifted to isolation wards in hospitals. When asked about the allegations of the passengers, he said, “We tested all the passengers and there were many who tested negative. There is no conspiracy.”

According to the international arrival guidelines specified by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, passengers from at-risk countries are required to submit their samples for a “self-paid” Covid-19 test at the point of arrival. Italy is among “countries in Europe including The United Kingdom”, besides 11 other countries, from where travellers flying to India will have to mandatorily test for Covid.

In what can be termed as a futuristic model of a reusable hypersonic aircraft, Boeing unveiled a model and an artist's rendering of the concept delta-wing jet at the AIAA SciTech aerospace forum this week. 

Representative | ArtStation

Acting as a spiritual successor to the Mach 3 SR-71 Blackbird, the hypersonic concept by Boeing could, theoretically, fly at five times the speed of sound, owing to a "waverider" configuration that would see the aircraft use its own shock waves produced during flight to increase lift and reduce drag. 

Boeing X-51A Waverider | Wikipedia

Boeing has internally named the aircraft "Valkyrie II", though Boeing has yet to reveal any substantial official information, and the aircraft is very much in the concept stage.According to Aviation Week

Reportedly, the design is an evolution of concepts that were first displayed 4 years ago, with potential applications in military and commercial operations, including a space launch mothership.

Valkyrie II is an evolution of Boeing's 2018 concept, called Valkyrie, for a hypersonic commercial aircraft that could travel between London and New York in just two hours. The hypersonic concept draws comparisons to Lockheed Martin's own SR-72 project- which would be the literal successor to its SR-71 Blackbird.

SR-71 Blackbird | The National Interest

Lockheed Martin and Boeing's designs utilize a combined-cycle engine to reach speeds of Mach 3 before switching to a dual ramjet to accelerate to hypersonic speeds. Typically, Ramjets and Scramjets do not work optimally, at lower speeds and hence a  "combined cycle" concept is being studied to put into practical application. The concept would combine traditional jet turbines with ramjets or scramjets to produce highly complex viable TBCC (turbine-based combine cycle) engine arrangements, which is highly touted to be the next big leap in technology when it comes to designing viable reusable hypersonic aircraft that can take off and land using existing runway infrastructure.

It is a refined, more realistic Mach 5 reusable air-breathing design targeting military and space launch roles. Mach 5 is the accepted threshold for hypersonic speedAviation Week's Norris said on Twitter

https://twitter.com/AvWeekGuy/status/1478491208452227072?s=20

Guy Norris | @AvWeekGuy | Twitter

Boeing's interest in such designs for various applications in commercial and military operations isn't new as the last time the company toyed with a similar idea was for a supersonic design back in 1958- The Boeing B2707 touted to be the future of supersonic travel. Unfortunately, due to several obvious reasons- economics majorly and bad marketing, the project never saw the light of the day.

The annual AIAA SciTech Forum and Exposition, which commenced on the 3rd, ends today, in San Diego, California.

SOURCE(s)

COVER: WIRED

Three cabin crew personnel and a pilot failed the breath analyser test between Christmas and January 1. The four individuals belonged to different airlines. Directorate General of Civil Aviation sources stated that all the incidents were reported from the Delhi airport.

One cabin crew member failed the breath analyser detection test on Christmas, another failed the next day and the third on January 1, according to India Today Television. The pilot failed the breath analyser test on December 29 at the Delhi airport.

The civil aviation regulator revised its guidelines on breath analyser tests for the flight crew on December 20.

Three cabin crew personnel and a pilot failed the breath analyser test between Christmas and January 1.

The DGCA asked airlines to make their doctors, paramedics or emergency medical technicians conduct breath analyser tests for the crew. The regulator also asked them to conduct post-flight breath analyser tests on aircraft upon arrival.

The regulator in its order stated that low alcohol blood levels also disturb sensor-motor, visual and cortical reaction. “Consumption of alcohol results in significant deterioration of psychomotor performance and decreases the amount of mental capacity available to deal with many essential tasks involved in the conduct of the safe flight,” it had stated.

In the revised Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR), the regulator mandated all scheduled airlines, operating flights originating in India to conduct tests to detect alcohol levels in the blood for all flight crew.

All the incidents were reported from the Delhi airport.

During the pandemic, authorities have been striking a balance between the need to test crew members and the risk of catching the novel coronavirus while doing so. The percentage of crew members tested has varied based on the Covid situation.

In late March 2020, aviation personnel, including pilots and cabin crew, were temporarily exempted from BA tests in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic for some time.

From Friday, January 7 fully vaccinated travellers coming to England will no longer have to take a test before they travel. And from Sunday, January 9 rather than taking a PCR test on day two of arrival, they can take a cheaper lateral flow.

The rules for self-isolating on arrival will also change. The shake-up was confirmed by Boris Johnson earlier, following calls from travel firms who said the measures were not effective now that Omicron was spreading widely.

The Omicron variant has created headaches for travellers and airlines alike. Some airlines have slashed their January schedules as a result. However, it seems as though travelling to the UK is set to get a whole lot easier as Omicron-related travel restrictions are relaxed.

Pre-departure Covid testing facility (Image Courtesy - Reuters)

Under the current rules in force until Friday, all fully-vaccinated travellers over the age of 12 must show proof of a negative test lateral flow or PCR test taken in the two days before coming to the UK. Fully vaccinated people must also pay for a PCR test within two days of arrival and self-isolate while waiting for the result.

People who aren't fully vaccinated must currently take PCR tests on both days two and day eight after arriving, and self-isolate for 10 days.

But under the new rules:

From 04:00 GMT on Friday, January 7, people who are fully vaccinated and those aged under-18 will no longer need to take a test two days before travelling to England from countries outside the UK and the Common Travel Area. On arrival, they will have to take a PCR test but they will no longer have to self-isolate while awaiting the resultFrom 04:00 GMT on Sunday, January 9, they will only have to take a lateral flow test instead of a PCR test on day two. But this test must be bought from a private test provider - free NHS tests are not allowedUnvaccinated passengers will need to continue to take a pre-departure test, PCR tests on day two and day eight, and self-isolate for 10 days

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the pre-departure test "discourages many from travelling for fear of being trapped overseas and incurring significant extra expense".

The Omicron variant has created headaches for travellers and airlines alike. (Image courtesy - CNN)

The announcement comes after airlines said passenger testing was making no real impact, with data last week suggesting one in 25 people in England had the virus. They also said compulsory testing had held back the sector's recovery.

“Good news for travellers from India to the UK - lightening of testing requirements including scrapping pre-departure test requirement,” British High Commissioner to India Alex Ellis Tweeted Thursday, January 6.

https://twitter.com/10DowningStreet/status/1478815272891039757

The official Twitter handle of UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Thursday, January 6: “From 4 am January 7, fully vaccinated adults and under 18s don’t need to take a pre-departure test before entering England. From 4 am, January 9, fully vaccinated adults and children over 5 must take a post-arrival lateral flow test. A PCR is only required if they test positive.”

“From January 11 in England, people who receive a positive lateral flow test for Covid-19 won’t be required to take a confirmatory PCR test. They should continue to self-isolate,” it added.

The Lufthansa Group has announced the resumption of Swiss International Airlines operations to Mumbai from international destinations starting from January 10 under the Air Bubble agreement.

In a statement, the Lufthansa Group said that it is resuming Lufthansa flights between Delhi and Munich from January 18, 2022. Lufthansa has also increased Lufthansa frequencies to Frankfurt from India until January 31, 2022. 

Lufthansa resumes flights from India to Switzerland and Germany

As per the announcement, Swiss International Airline has scheduled LX154, from Zurich, Switzerland to Mumbai, India every Monday and Wednesday starting 10 January 2022 and the return flight LX155 from Mumbai to Zurich will be operated on every Wednesday and Friday effective from 12 January 2022.

Flight NoDepartureDep. TimeArrivalArr. TimeFreq.Start DateLX154Zurich20:20Mumbai09:05 +1Mon, Wed10th Jan 22LX155Mumbai01:30Zurich06:20Wed, Fri12th Jan 22

The announcement about the flights came after India and Switzerland signed an air bubble pact earlier this month. The agreement permits both countries to operate a specific number of flights in the wake of Covid-19 curbs across the world.

Lufthansa has also announced its flights between India and Germany. As per the updates, the airline will connect Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru with Munich and Frankfurt with special flights operated under air bubble arrangements.

Flights to India:

Flight No.DepartureDep. TimeArrivalArr. TimeDays of Dep.LH762Munich12:15Delhi00:10 +1Tue, Thu (18th- 31st Jan)LH762Munich16:25Delhi04:20 +1Sun (23rd- 31st Jan)LH760Frankfurt13:15Delhi01:30 +1Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri, SatLH756Frankfurt12:10Mumbai01:00 +1Wed, Fri, Sun (01st-16th Jan)LH756Frankfurt12:10Mumbai01:00 +1Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat, Sun (17-31 Jan)LH754Frankfurt12:50Bengaluru01:55 +1Tue, Fri

The airline said that the air tickets can be purchased via Travel Portals or swiss.com/Lufthansa.com. Moreover, the air passengers need to ensure that they strictly observe the passenger eligibility criteria for these flights at the time of booking.

Flights from India:

Flight No.DepartureDep. TimeArrivalArr. TimeDays of Dep.LX155Mumbai01:30Zurich06:20Wed, Fri (12th-31st Jan)LH763Delhi01:50Munich05:45Wed, Fri (19th-31st Jan)LH763Delhi06:00Munich09:55Mon (24th-31st Jan)LH761Delhi03:35Frankfurt07:45Tue, Thu, Fri, Sat, SunLH757Mumbai02:55Frankfurt07:50Mon, Thu, Sat (1st-15th Jan)LH757Mumbai02:55Frankfurt07:50Mon, Tue, Thu, Sat, Sun (17-31st Jan)LH755Bengaluru03:35Frankfurt09:00Mon, Fri

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had on December 1 decided not to resume scheduled international flights from December 15, less than a week after announcing that it would restart the services. However, this suspension won’t apply to international all-cargo operations and flights specifically approved by DGCA.

Notably, the scheduled international passenger services have been suspended in India since March 23, 2020, due to the coronavirus pandemic. But special international flights have been operating under the Vande Bharat Mission since May 2020 and under bilateral “air bubble” arrangements with selected countries since July 2020.

The announcement about the flights came after India and Switzerland signed an air bubble pact earlier this month.

So far, India has formed air bubble pacts with around 32 countries including Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Bhutan, Ethiopia, Canada, Iraq, Japan, Kenya, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Mauritius, Maldives, Nepal, Nigeria, Oman, Qatar, Rwanda, Russia, Seychelles, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Tanzania, Ukraine, Sri Lanka, United Kingdom (UK), United Arab Emirates (UAE), Uzbekistan and the United States of America (USA).

Under an air bubble pact between two countries, special international flights can be operated by their airlines between their territories.

Lufthansa, Germany’s leading airline, also holds Europe’s Leading Airline position for 2020 and has previously been a leading airline for the 27-nation-bloc for six constructive years (2011 to 2016).

Moreover, Lufthansa has been a leading air company in Europe 11 times, leaving behind Swiss-based airlines (Swiss International airlines with five first positions and Swiss Air with five constructive leading spots from1997 to 2001). In addition, British Airways, which is the EU’s leading airline for 2021, holds three top spots. Honourable mentions are Turkish Airways and KLM, with the latter’s leading position being in 2010.