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Tag: Airbus

  • Emirates advances fleet availability with investment in Airbus Skywise S.FP+ and Core X3 digital predictive maintenance solution

    Emirates advances fleet availability with investment in Airbus Skywise S.FP+ and Core X3 digital predictive maintenance solution

    – Airline will leverage platform’s real-time data capabilities on all its Airbus A380s and A350s for better levels of efficiency

    As part of its commitment to operational excellence and safety through strategic fleet management, Emirates has signed an agreement with Airbus for the implementation of its Skywise Fleet Performance+ (S.FP+) advanced predictive maintenance and fleet health monitoring solution and Core X3 analytics platform. The agreement was signed by Ahmed Safa, Head of Emirates Engineering and Laurent Negre, Vice President, Customer Services Airbus Africa and Middle East.

    The adoption of Airbus’s cutting-edge S.FP+ solution is set to further improve aircraft dispatch reliability while enabling strategic data-driven decision-making for Emirates’ fleet of commercial Airbus A380 and A350 aircraft. Using the platform’s advanced capabilities, Emirates Engineering teams will be able to monitor real-time aircraft performance and health data, identify potential issues inflight, and determine maintenance actions during turnarounds.

    Ahmed Safa, Head of Emirates Engineering said: “As a highly efficient, customer-centric operation, Emirates is always looking at ways to leverage leading-edge technologies that improve operational reliability and punctuality, minimise unscheduled downtime and ensure our fleet operates at the highest standards, ultimately elevating the customer experience. Adopting Airbus’s Skywise Fleet Performance+ is a step forward to support our Airbus fleet, harnessing the latest advancements, and transforming traditional maintenance activities into streamlined, precision led processes that optimise our time in the skies.” 

    Laurent Negre, Vice President Customer Services Africa and Middle East at Airbus said: “We are proud to strengthen our collaboration with Emirates through the implementation of Skywise Fleet Performance+ and Core X3. These solutions will enhance fleet performance and reliability, reduce downtime, and support operational efficiency passengers will benefit from, too.”

    Skywise Fleet Performance Plus features automated pre-departure monitoring of cabin temperatures, operations, and key systems, powered by advanced analytics.

    The platform also integrates Aircraft Condition Monitoring System (ACMS) data for critical aircraft monitoring, delivers predictive diagnostics with real-time alerts and solutions, and provides comprehensive status insights for Emirates’ Airbus A380 and A350 fleets. The integration of the Core X3 analytics platform will help Emirates Engineering to manage vast amounts of data, connecting different systems for single source, up-to-the-minute insights through an enhanced user interface that can be intuitively used by multiple teams.

    Emirates Engineering has long used aviation analytics and operational insights to maximize fleet availability while driving cost and network efficiencies. The airline is currently employing advanced digital technologies to accelerate improvements in maintenance operations, in addition to next generation prognostic and predictive maintenance. Work is in progress to deploy drone assisted aircraft inspections. Emirates Engineering is also exploring avenues to use virtual and augmented reality for maintenance tasks.

  • Feature: Transforming Cross River State into Nigeria’s Economic Powerhouse to Boost National Development

    Feature: Transforming Cross River State into Nigeria’s Economic Powerhouse to Boost National Development

    by Ayo Akinfe

    For Nigeria to work, we need to get the country’s 36 states functioning. Let us kickstart this process by looking at the economic potential of Cross River State

    [1] Cross River is Nigeria’s second-largest cocoa-producing state, with an annual crop of about 80,000 tonnes. It also has the advantage of bordering Cameroon which has an annual crop of 180,000 tonnes. Calabar should be a major chocolate processing centre with the likes of Mars, Cadbury and Nestle all owning processing plants there

    [2] Calabar port used to be the major centre for the export of slaves along the West African Coast. If it is taken over by the Cross River State government, it can dredged and made Africa’s busiest deep sea port, with an annual capacity of about 3m twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) containers. Lagos is currently Africa’s biggest port with a capacity of about 1.4m TEU

    [3] Calabar is Nigeria’s gateway to East and Central Africa. It’s airport should be a major international transit point like the Cairo and Johannesburg airports from where all airlines offer flights to places like Nairobi, Libreville, Luanda, Dar es Salam, Bangui, Malabo, Kinshasa, etc

    [4] Given its location bang in the centre of Africa, Calabar should also be a major aircraft maintenance repair and overhaul (MRO) centre. Airlines from all over the continent should bring their planes their for servicing

    [5] Once an MRO centre is up and running, Cross River State should begin wooing the likes of Embraer, Boeing, Bombardier, Airbus, etc to set up manufacturing plants in Calabar

    [6] There is no reason why we should not have the world’s largest shipyard at Ikot-Nakanda. We should attract all the largest shipbuilders and they should be manufacturing speedboats, Panamax carriers, passenger cruise liners, submarines, aircraft carriers, destroyers, etc there

    [7] The only city in Cross River State with a motorable road to Cameroon is Ikom. This is simply disgraceful. We should have Calabar-Yaoundé, Calabar-Douala, Calabar-Libreville, Calabar-Luanda, Calabar-Brazzaville and Calabar-Kinshasa highways, which should all be major trade arteries. Tolls on these roads alone should fetch a minimum of $1bn annually

    [8] Do you know that Cross River State is home to all sorts of rare wildlife, including silverback gorillas? A wildlife sanctuary should be built in somewhere like Sankwala. This facility should rival Kruge National Park

    [9] Cross River State has a landmass of 20,156 km2, most of it virgin farmland. It has one of the largest tropical rainforest areas in Nigeria, so can grow a variety of crops. Cities like Calabar, Obudu, Biakpa, Ikom and Ikot-Nakanda should all be major food processing centres

    [10] No law in Nigeria prevents the Cross River State government from building and running a coastal Calabar to Lagos railway line. Just imagine how much this would generate in income annually

  • Airbus releases its latest study identifying key unserved routes to boost air travel in Africa

    Airbus releases its latest study identifying key unserved routes to boost air travel in Africa

    Global aerospace and aviation leader, Airbus, has released an analysis detailing several key unserved African routes which could provide greater connectivity for travellers, drive economic growth in local economies, and provide a significant boost in revenue for airlines. The company also highlighted data on Africa from its latest Global Market Forecast (GMF). 

    Several of the top unserved routes identified in the analysis are concentrated in cities such as Lagos, Cape Town, Nairobi, Dakar, and Douala. Airbus also touched on strategic recommendations to capitalise on the opportunities of a more connected continent as well as Airbus’ capabilities to help realise this potential. 

    “Despite significant traffic between certain city-pairs, some identified routes still lack regularly scheduled non-stop flights. Factors such as restrictive bilateral air service agreements, economic variables, and challenges with capacity, frequency and operating cost efficiency contribute to these routes remaining unserved,” said Geert Lemaire, Market Intelligence and Consulting Director, Airbus. “With our capacity to make analyses about route and network development potential in-house, Airbus remains committed to partnering with airlines across Africa to identify optimised fleet solutions inline with network development requirements that further stimulate the continent’s air transport industry growth and improve connectivity for travellers.” 

    The forecast, meanwhile, predicts a 4.1% growth overall in air traffic over the next 20 years, resulting in an anticipated need for 1 180 new aircraft by 2043. Meanwhile, the continued growth of the aviation sector in Africa is expected to result in 3.3% real GDP growth on the continent, well above the 2.6% global average. This growth is ratified by data from Airbus’ Global Services Forecast, which estimates that Africa will need to introduce 15 000 more pilots, 20 000 technicians and 24 000 cabin crew to meet the surge in air travel demand. 

    To learn more about the untapped opportunities in Africa’s aviation sector, we invite you to read Airbus’ latest analysis on unserved routes here. 

  • Emirates, IATA and Airbus launch an enhanced A350 type rating conversion course for pilots

    Emirates, IATA and Airbus launch an enhanced A350 type rating conversion course for pilots

    Emirates, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and Airbus have joined forces to deliver an enhanced Competency-Based Training and Assessment (CBTA) programme for the A350 type rating, as the airline prepares for the delivery of 65 A350s from mid-2024. An initial cohort of 256 pilots will be trained as part of the new course at Emirates’ Training college in Dubai starting from July 2024.  

    The advanced pilot training programme uses the CBTA training methodology that combines IATA’s principles and documentation with Emirates’ operational expertise and resources, and Airbus’ CBTA training experience on the A350 that spans over 10 years.

    Driven by pilot competency and behaviour, the A350 CBTA programme utilises the proven CBTA training philosophy that  allows instructors to assess the pilots training and seek immediate improvements in their performance. The programme will run in two phases and will include 20 days of simulator training and evaluation in 15 separate sessions.

    “With this programme, Emirates’ pilots receive in-house competency-based training with highly qualified instructors, equipping them with world-class capabilities to support the airline’s global operations. The tailored CBTA programme for the A350 supports the integration of the new aircraft to be inducted into our fleet, with 1,000 pilots set to complete the A350 type rating course. This latest initiative is part of Emirates’ commitment to deliver the highest standards of service and comfort while supporting our operational growth and expansion,” said Capt. Bader Al Marzooqi, Emirates’ Senior Vice President, Flight Training.

    “Combining the expertise of Emirates, Airbus and IATA to design and deliver A350 type rating training is a unique opportunity. Our joint aim is to fully utilize the benefits of CBTA to qualify the pilots on the A350 in the most efficient and effective way possible. And by doing it together all three organizations will also gain valuable experience that can strengthen their other training activities,” said Nick Careen, IATA’s Senior Vice President for Operations, Safety and Security.

    “The A350 is a state-of-the-art aircraft, which requires equally advanced training solutions. Our partnership with IATA and Emirates ensures that Emirates’ pilots receive the most comprehensive and effective training, supporting the smooth entry-into-service of the A350 worldwide,” said  Capt Stéphan Labrucherie, Airbus Head of Flight Training Worldwide.

    The A350 type rating programme is one of the ways Emirates is prepping the entry of its new A350 into service. Along with pilot training, other parts of the airline are also working on preparing for the debut of A350 operations including Service Delivery and Engineering teams, among other departments.

    CBTA and IATA

    Gaining the benefits and efficiencies of CBTA training is a longstanding industry objective. For flight crew, IATA is supporting this with its CBTA Guide for Flight Crew Training, which is fully aligned with ICAO CBTA standards and includes specific libraries for Airlines/Operators and Training Organizations.

    IATA also focuses on CBTA training in support of the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations. The IATA CBTA Center supports organizations across the aviation industry, including operators, Civil Aviation Authorities, and training organizations, in developing the capabilities and resources for dangerous goods training programs. It also offers CBTA training specialized for various airline functions from ground handlers, to passenger agents, load planning, crew and others.

  • AfDB teams up with airplane manufacturers Airbus, ATR to boost African commercial aviation

    AfDB teams up with airplane manufacturers Airbus, ATR to boost African commercial aviation

    The African Development Bank has held workshops with aircraft manufacturers, Airbus and ATR to explore ways of strengthening access to finance for African airlines.

    The sessions, held on 14 and 15 June, will support the Bank’s efforts to develop and adapt financing instruments to the continent’s aviation needs, boosting its air transport market.

    The workshops featured discussion of bank financing instruments, including guarantee products, the bank’s approach to credit risk assessments and the outlook for Africa’s aircraft market. The bank is studying the feasibility of setting up an aircraft leasing platform. Operating leases account for more than 45% of operational fleets worldwide.

    Representatives of the bank and the manufacturing firms also discussed sources of financing that included export credit agencies, multilateral development banks, non-payment insured financing and sovereign support.

    Air travel on the continent has been hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. Before its onset, African aviation represented a roughly 3% share of the global market, although the continent has 17% of the world’s population. 

    Owing to a difficult operating environment that includes constrained access to credit, only a few African airlines are profitable. As a result, air transport remains unaffordable for the average African. High operating costs, coupled with low passenger traffic, drive fare hikes as carriers try to increase their profitability. In recent years, airfares for intra-Africa flights are observed to be 2-3 times higher than in other regions of the world.

    Further, in spite of efforts by governments, public institutions and private stakeholders, a large share of air traffic flows through a few airports, particularly those of Cairo, Johannesburg, Casablanca, and Addis Ababa. This leaves many other routes un- and under-served.

    Still, Africa’s economies are expected to rebound to growth from the pandemic. Economic recovery is projected to lead to the delivery of 1,230 wide and single aisle new aircraft and 230 turboprop planes through 2040. A recent study undertaken by the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) suggests that implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area will lead to a 28% increase in intra-African freight demand through 2030. That projected growth will require 250 additional aircraft, which will need to be financed.

    A key takeaway from the workshops is that the Bank needs to further assess potential interventions into the aviation markets pending completion of the feasibility study for a leasing platform by the end of 2023.