by Joy Finnegan | Mar 9, 2023 | MRO IT
OASES, a provider of aviation maintenance software, announced today that it has secured three major customer wins, Alis Cargo, Trans Nusa, and European Air Charter, during the first quarter of 2023. All three airlines have chosen OASES software for their maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) operations.
AlisCargo, a cargo airline based in Italy will use OASES to manage maintenance and engineering activities across their fleet of aircraft that include Boeing 767 and 777 freighters.
TransNusa Aviation, a regional airline based in Indonesia, will implement OASES to manage maintenance operations for its’ fleet of Airbus 320 and COMAC ARJ21 aircraft. OASES will be the first maintenance software provider to implement COMAC ARJ21 aircraft.
European Air Charter, a Bulgarian-based private charter operates ten Airbus 320 and seven McDonnell Douglas MD82 Aircrafts and will use OASES to manage maintenance activities.
OASES was selected due to its’ comprehensive features, ability to provide real-time visibility into maintenance operations, as well as being able to support multiple aircraft types and configurations.
“We are delighted to welcome AlisCargo, TransNusa Aviation, and European Air Charter to the OASES family,” said Paul Lynch, managing director of OASES. “Our software is designed to support the complex MRO needs of airlines of all sizes and types, and we are confident that our solutions will help these airlines improve their operational efficiency and enhance their overall performance.”
OASES software is a fully integrated MRO system that includes a wide range of features and capabilities, including maintenance planning, engineering, materials management, production, and quality control. The system is designed to support all aspects of aircraft maintenance, from routine checks and inspections to major overhauls and repairs.
by Joy Finnegan | Mar 9, 2023 | Avionics, Connectivity
The Italian flag carrier will be the first full service airline in Europe to join the ground-breaking program by Inmarsat and European Space Agency (ESA)
Digitally-connected flights to and from Italy will be available from this summer, as ITA Airways rolls out the European Space Agency (ESA) and Inmarsat’s ground-breaking Iris data link technology to the cockpits of its full aircraft fleet, contributing to airspace modernization in Europe.
ITA Airways will be the first full service carrier in Europe to join Iris. The program enables aircraft to fly more fuel-efficient routes by providing digital satellite communications to complement VHF data link, which is nearing a capacity crunch in congested airspace. Without fast and reliable data links between aircraft and the ground, air traffic managers cannot unlock the 8-10% reduction in CO2 emissions identified by EUROCONTROL from improved Air Traffic Management (ATM). Iris will allow ATM players to better anticipate and collaborate to maximize airspace use, reducing the impact of disruptions for passengers while reducing emissions.
The Italian national carrier will equip its full fleet of new Airbus A320neo and A330neo aircraft deliveries with Inmarsat’s SwiftBroadband-Safety (SB-S), the award-winning platform flying on more than 230 aircraft globally, which powers Iris. Its aircraft will also play a significant role in Iris demonstration flights, which will take place across European airspace supported by 14 Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs) during 2023.
This news comes as five more airlines have now equipped aircraft with Inmarsat SB-S, after Airbus’ Light Cockpit Satcom (LCS) terminal became available to order in December 2022. Current SB-S users include Virgin Atlantic, Jet2, and Transavia Airlines, in addition to ITA Airways and easyJet.
Across the seven European airlines, 72 aircraft deliveries with Airbus LCS installed are anticipated during 2023-2024. Iris-capable Inmarsat terminals across many more of Europe’s commercial airlines will further support the Single European Sky ATM Research (SESAR) masterplan.
“ITA Airways was born to guarantee Italy quality connectivity with a strong focus on the environmental impact through an important investment made in a homogeneous and technologically advanced fleet, which in 2026 will be made up of 80% of new generation aircrafts becoming the greenest fleet in Europe. We are proud to join the Iris programme, which is fully in line with our growth strategy as it reflects two of the core pillars of ITA Airways: sustainability and innovation,” said Alessio Leone, head of Camo operations, at ITA Airways. “ITA Airways is the first full service carrier in Europe with a new fleet fully equipped with this cutting-edge technology by Inmarsat Aviation, delivering operational and environmental benefits.”
Joel Klooster, Inmarsat Aviation’s senior vice president of aircraft operations and Safety, said “We are delighted to welcome ITA Airways as the second airline to join Iris, coming only months after easyJet was announced as the first airline. This shows the impressive momentum that continues to build around the program as it heads towards commercial service introduction in Europe this year, followed by a full global rollout. Iris will mark a transformational step-change in air traffic management, delivering operational and environment benefits for airlines and the aviation industry as a whole, while also enhancing the flight experience for passengers.”
Javier Benedicto, acting director of telecommunications and integrated applications at ESA, added: “We are proud to support the space-enabled digitalisation of Europe’s skies, which will help to make aviation greener. ESA developed the Iris system in partnership with Inmarsat and we welcome ITA Airways as the first full service carrier and the second airline to sign up to use it. Investing in space improves life on Earth.”
by Joy Finnegan | Mar 8, 2023 | Avionics, Innovation
Rolls-Royce has launched F130 engine testing at the company’s outdoor test facility at the NASA Stennis Space Center in Mississippi, U.S. Rolls-Royce F130 engines were selected by the United States Air Force to replace the existing powerplants in the B-52 fleet, with over 600 new engine deliveries expected. This milestone test program is the first time F130 engines have been tested in the dual-pod engine configuration of the B-52 aircraft. Each B-52 aircraft has eight engines in four pods.
The engine testing will focus on crosswind aerodynamic flow as well as confirming the successful operation of the engine’s digital controls system. Early results from the testing have been very positive with additional test data to be analyzed over the next several months.
Rolls-Royce says it is collaborating very closely with the Air Force and Boeing, which is managing the overall engine integration and B-52 aircraft modernization program. The new engines will extend the life of the B-52 aircraft for 30 years. F130 engines are so durable they are expected to remain on wing for the remainder of the aircraft life.
“We are excited to begin this milestone testing program, the first step for what will be decades of successful engine operation for the United States Air Force B-52 fleet,” said Candice Bineyard, director, programs – defence. “Rolls-Royce continues to work very closely with the Air Force and Boeing to ensure the engine testing and integration process run smoothly. This will result in higher fuel efficiency, reduced air refueling requirements, and significantly lower maintenance costs for the B-52 fleet. We look forward to sharing test results with the Air Force and Boeing as the test plan progresses at the NASA Stennis Space Center.”
F130 engines will be manufactured, assembled and tested at Rolls-Royce facilities in Indianapolis, the company’s largest production facility in the U.S. Rolls-Royce has invested $1 Billion in recent years to completely modernize manufacturing and testing facilities in Indiana, as well as for advanced technology.
F130 engines were selected for the B-52 by the Air Force in September 2021 following a competitive selection process. The F130 is derived from the Rolls-Royce BR family of commercial engines, with over 30 million hours of operation and a high reliability rate. It’s a proven, dependable engine with a fuel-efficient design.
by Joy Finnegan | Mar 8, 2023 | BUZZ
Model-based AI company Aerogility is building on its ambitious growth plans with the appointment of Matthew Tootle as Senior Business Analyst.
Tootle brings significant defense experience to the role, having spent more than 16 years at British security and aerospace company BAE Systems, working his way up from an apprentice through to manufacturing, procurement and support engineering roles. His last role at BAE Systems was a program engineering manager, where he was responsible for the integration and delivery of the support engineering products for a Middle East customer.
As Aerogility expands its worldwide customer base, particularly across the USA, Tootle will be tasked with business development and project delivery, working alongside the product team and customers to identify opportunities to enhance the Aerogility model further.
“Matthew has a wealth of international experience that will be of real benefit to us at Aerogility,” said Gary Vickers, CEO, Aerogility. “He has an extensive track record when it comes to building relationships with clients, understanding complex problems and working to find solutions. We’re looking forward to his support as we expand on our efforts to help clients take strategic decisions confidently by harnessing the power of AI.”
Tootle says: “Aerogility’s digital twin capabilities are as exciting as the plans for the business, which is why it was clear to me that it was the perfect place to take my next step. My initial project will see me work across the UK and USA markets, delivering the team’s innovative model-based AI solution to enable customers to better operate, sustain and optimize platforms, services and infrastructure.”
by Joy Finnegan | Mar 8, 2023 | Avionics, Connectivity
Serbia and Montenegro Air Traffic Services, SMATSA LLC, has selected SITA as its primary datalink service provider to comply with a key European Union (EU) mandate that will modernize its air traffic control communications.
SITA is only one of two providers that can provide compliant datalink services in the EU. Uniquely, SITAcan also offer its services via the new pan-European network service (NewPENS), an upgraded telecommunications network used by many Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs) today. SITA is the primary provider of datalink services to 24 EU Member States and a shared provider for a further EU country.
Under the Single European Sky regulatory framework, ANSPs in the EU must deploy Controller–Pilot Datalink Communications (CPDLC) on a modern Aeronautical Telecommunication Network (ATN). SITA was an active participant in the strategic initiatives supporting this move to the CPDLC mandate in Europe. CPDLC is a more reliable digital-based form of communication to complement conventional voice communications.
SITA’s ATN, combined with its multi-frequency VHF Digital Link Mode 2 (VDLm2) solution, will enable SMATSA to deploy CPDLC for all routine air traffic control communications, such as clearances, in the upper airspace. The shift to more text-based messages will help the ANSP increase the efficiency, capacity, and performance of air traffic management as air traffic demand grows.
The digital capability allows for messages to be sent concurrently, and a pre-defined message featurefor receiving/requesting clearances and reporting information. It will enable SMATSA’s air traffic controllers to handle multiple requests and reduce errors caused by misunderstandings between pilots and controllers with voice communications. With improved, increased, and near real-time communication, controllers will have more time to identify aircraft conflicts and offer more optimal routings for aircraft.
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