July 17, 2017 - No. 057 In This Issue China Southern Airlines General Aviation Ltd. chooses Ramco Is wide-body becoming the future of air travel in India? Fast 5: Supporting the A350 Heathrow Airport Introduces AR Technology Virtual fencing at Delhi airport raises 50 fake alarms every day Delta Air Lines Chooses Lansing Community College's Aviation Maintenance Technology Program as one of Best In Nation Locatory.com Expands In Asia With HNA Link Up SpaceX's planned refurbishment facility briefly catches fire at Cape Canaveral China Southern Airlines General Aviation Ltd. chooses Ramco Zhuhai, China / Chennai, India - July 14, 2017 - Ramco Systems, leading provider of Aviation & Maintenance software on Cloud and Mobile today announced an order win from China Southern Airlines General Aviation Ltd. (CSAGA), the 2nd largest offshore helicopter operator in China for integrating its organization-wide maintenance and engineering operations. The Zhuhai-based company, which operates Asia's largest fleet of Sikorsky helicopters will implement Ramco Aviation Maintenance & Engineering Suite 5.8, enabling its staff across China to automate and manage fleet data in real time. With functions for aircraft and component tracking, quality and regulatory compliance, offline maintenance, and supply chain management, bundled with advanced reporting and analytics capabilities, Ramco's mobile friendly solution offers an end to end maintenance engineering system tightly integrated with HR & Finance modules aimed at significantly reducing paperwork and human error. Rong Weiguo, Chief Executive Officer, China Southern Airlines General Aviation Ltd., said, "To tap into the booming general aviation market, we needed to infuse a robust technology backbone that can bring greater visibility and help streamline operations. We chose Ramco as our technology partner due to their deep expertise in aviation management, long history of supporting leading global heli-operators and thrust on bringing innovative technology to aviation industry. We are confident that Ramco's fully integrated suite will give us considerable business advantages as we seek to establish leadership in China's general aviation market." Virender Aggarwal, CEO, Ramco Systems, said, "China's helicopter industry is gearing up to become a global power. While cutting-edge technologies have enabled China to develop advanced helicopters, the industry is now exploring next-gen technologies to automate its maintenance and engineering functions. Our partnership with CSAGA opens a new market for Ramco Aviation as we expand our horizons into China, a market which holds significant promise for our growth in the future." Ramco Aviation Suite V5.8 is a powerful enterprise application that covers the entire spectrum of maintenance operations both for the civil and the military helicopters-from maintenance planning to line, hangar, shop and engine maintenance, reliability and engineering, and technical records. From emergency medical services to aerial fertiliser spraying, Ramco Aviation suite's new-age user interface and unmatched performance is helping organizations streamline their functions and address key pain areas with ease. Designed to be accessible on cloud and mobile, Ramco Aviation Software continues to add technological innovations with 'Anywhere Apps', redefining the power of Mobility, to significantly reduce transaction time both during AOG conditions and critical aircraft turnarounds. The software helps aviation companies ensure zero tolerance to error, with higher safety standards. Ramco is changing the paradigm of enterprise software with ZERO UI powered by cool new features such as Chatbots, Mail bots, HUBs and Cognitive solutions. With 75+ Aviation leaders onboard, Ramco is the solution of choice for several large airlines and top heli-operators and multiple MROs in the world. About China Southern Airlines General Aviation Ltd. (CSAGA): China Southern Airlines General Aviation Ltd, originally known as Zhuhai Helicopter Company, founded in May 1980, is the only wholly-owned general aviation subsidiary of China Southern Airlines Co. Ltd. and is the backbone of general aviation companies in China. With a hardship of more than 3 and a half decades, CSAGA has become China's Class-A general aviation enterprise and has vaulted to China's second largest flight operator in offshore oil & gas exploitation industry, as well as in onshore businesses in various areas, such as powerline patrol, forest protection, SAR, charter flights, managing helicopters for third parties and photographing, etc. Currently, CSAGA owns the CAAC-145 maintenance certification, CAAC-91&135 operator certification, and CAAC-147 training qualification, and operates 24 aircrafts, including Sikorsky S92A helicopters, Sikorsky S76 series helicopters, Bell 407 helicopters and Lineage-1000 aircraft. CSAGA operates in 11 operation bases for offshore and onshore flight from north to south of China, and the offshore operation area covers the Bohai Sea, the Yellow Sea, the East China Sea, the South China Sea, Beibu Gulf and Yinggehai. About Ramco Systems: Ramco is a fast growing enterprise software player disrupting the market with its multi-tenanted cloud and mobile-based enterprise software in the area of HCM and Global Payroll, ERP and M&E MRO for Aviation. Part of the USD 1 billion Ramco Group, Ramco Systems focuses on Innovation and Culture to differentiate itself in the marketplace. On Innovation front, Ramco has been focusing on moving towards Cognitive and Robotic ERP with features such as Chatbots - which allows users to complete transaction using natural conversations; Mail Bot - transact through email based requests; HUB It - a one screen does it all concept built to address all activities of a user; Thumb It - mobility where the system presents users with option to choose rather than type values and Prompt It - a cognitive ability which will let the system complete the transaction and prompts the user for approval. With 1600+ employees spread across 22 offices, globally, Ramco follows a flat and open culture where employees are encouraged to share knowledge and grow. No Hierarchies, Cabin-less Offices, Respect work and not titles, among others are what makes the team say, Thank God it's Monday! Positioned as Niche Vendor in Gartner Magic Quadrant for Cloud Financials; Winner of Frost & Sullivan Asia Pacific Award for Best Talent Management Solution; Recognized as a 'Highly Recommended' Payroll Software Supplier of the Year 2017 by Global Payroll Association; Positioned as 'Achiever' in Everest Group's Multi-country Payroll Platform Assessment; Winner of ISG Award for Innovation; Winner of HR Vendors of the Year Award 2016; Chosen as Preferred Next-Gen MRO IT Vendor by ARSA https://www.realwire.com/releases/China-Southern-Airlines-General-Aviation-Ltd-chooses-Ramco Back to Top Is wide-body becoming the future of air travel in India? India will continue to see a meteoric rise in air passenger volumes. As the country's economy continues to grow, Indians will continue to be increasingly mobile, internationally and domestically. The growth of Indian aerospace activities is further spurred on by a favourable policy regime and the launch of National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP 2016) which focusses on the critical pillars of 'affordability' and 'connectivity'. Initiatives like UDAN, which focusses on improving regional connectivity, allows airlines to expand their routes and evaluate their growth ambitions. Airbus and Boeing have forecasted a demand for over 2,400 new aircraft valued at $480 billion over the next 20 years, indicating that airlines operating in India are planning an aggressive expansion in the coming few years. A strong business case for wide-body aircraft Domestic air travel alone presents a plethora of opportunities. The Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation estimates that India's domestic traffic is expected to cross 100 million passengers in 2017, implying that routes that are not considered high-volume now, will soon become so. Global airlines are already looking at India with fresh perspectives and are moving quickly to tap into opportunities in the sector through joint ventures, such as Vistara and AirAsia India, or expanding domestic routes through code sharing with local airlines. This is also demonstrated by the FDI inflows in air transport (including freight) in 2015-16, which stood at $3.39 billion. In fact, Vistara is expected to place a major order of up to 100 aircraft comprising 50 narrow-body aircraft and 50 wide-body aircraft. Indian carriers are also changing their business models and examining medium to long-haul flights on wide-body planes. The ability to carry higher passenger volumes with wide-body aircraft will allow players to easily connect the increasing number of regional aviation networks and hubs. For instance, SpiceJet and other low cost domestic carriers are looking at having a hub and spoke model where their turboprops and single aisle planes get traffic into their metro hubs from where their wide body planes offer connectivity to destinations that are eight to nine hours away. The upward trend of domestic mobility, better regional connectivity and better investment environment presents a viable business case for wide-bodies to be deployed on high-volume domestic routes. Cognisant of this opportunity, carriers such as Air India and Jet Airways have both deployed wide bodies on domestic routes, operating 16 and 8 daily flights respectively, to cope with higher traffic and slot constraints at some airports. Wide-body aircraft present a number of strong advantages on high-volume domestic routes: * Wide-bodies on domestic routes prove to be a high-yield option for airlines, providing carriers more revenue per available seat mile; * Wide-bodies provide a significant advantage at airports with restricted infrastructure usage, enabling airlines to carry more passengers to airports with limited slots; * A competitive environment demands that operating costs be kept low. Low operating costs bring down ticket costs, attracting more passengers; * Improved fuel-efficiency not only reduces costs for airlines, and thus passengers, but it also contributes significantly to reducing the aerospace industry's environmental footprint; and * Deployment of wide-body operating model will free up a substantial chunk of narrow-body fleets which can be used successfully on newly opened regional routes. In addition, wide-body aircraft offer airlines the opportunity to offer better customer experience through better value-added services and more deck space for airlines to implement in-cabin features-something that is becoming a deciding factor in passengers' airline choices. While wide-body aircraft represent opportunities, a few roadblocks will need to be overcome. Increased airport infrastructure (such as parking bays, fuelling services etc.) and MRO (Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul) capabilities will need to be upgraded and brought up to speed, including the creation of a skilled workforce. Increased collaboration between airlines, airport authorities and the government can lead to big strides in overcoming these hurdles. Fleets of the future: The technology advantage Aircraft design and technology has progressed over the years. Today's wide-body engines are much more environment friendly, with reliable engines that are fuel-efficient, cleaner and quieter. For example, the latest Rolls-Royce engine, the Trent 7000 which powers the Airbus A330neo, is not only 6dB quieter than the Trent 700, which powers the Airbus A330, it also features a 10 percent specific fuel consumption improvement. Increased reliability of engines has also resulted in twin-jets being certified for longer durations of ETOPS operations. This was a privilege enjoyed by only tri-jets or four-engine aircraft such as the Boeing 747. Additionally the use of composite materials for wide-body airframes has increased across the industry. These techniques reduce weight, increase corrosion resistance and resistance to fatigue related damages, lowering maintenance costs. These developments in aircraft design and engine reliability make a compelling case for the viability of wide-body aircraft, especially so for Indian carriers. These trends make it evident that the aviation sector will grow steadily in the coming years. Airlines could reap the benefits from the opportunities presented by the sector's growth by aggressively and innovatively planning the induction of wide-bodies into their fleet. http://www.forbesindia.com/blog/technology/is-wide-body-becoming-the-future-of-air-travel-in- india/ Back to Top Fast 5: Supporting the A350 Lufthansa took its first Airbus A350 XWB in February, although Lufthansa Technik has been preparing its technical support for several years. Given LHT's cooperation with OEMs including Airbus, Rolls-Royce and Honeywell, is LHT's support for this aircraft different than for other aircraft it services? Lufthansa Technik always has worked closely with engine and component OEMs as well as with airframers, from design phase to entry into service and finally aftermarket services. Our A350 customers will certainly experience the high standard that all our customers are used to. However, the mentioned cooperations put Lufthansa Technik and our customers in an even better situation. Lufthansa Technik builds in-house repair capability more rapidly, which significantly shortens the overall turn time and contributes to Lufthansa Technik's unique technical expertise on the A350. Together with the OEMs, we jointly strive to improve the products--especially in terms of reliability- -and consequently decrease the MRO cost for our customers. Does LHT consider itself a center of excellence for this aircraft? Absolutely. We have been preparing for this platform for many years and are proud to be able to offer such an integrated MRO product. We are already supporting several commercial A350 operators with a broad service portfolio. Will Lufthansa Technik pursue such broad, all-encompassing, services for other new aircraft? If so, which? Yes, we are generally striving to offer a complete product portfolio for all main aircraft platforms, including aircraft engineering, line and base maintenance, engine and APU MRO, as well as component MRO and asset management, plus surrounding products like final inspection and digital offerings. When did LHT start providing in-house capability for the complete line of Honeywell components on the A350? Did the agreement originally start with the auxiliary power unit (APU)? The agreement covered all of Honeywell products including the APU from day one. The APU certification already was provided in 2015. Lufthansa Technik has held in-house capability for the majority of Honeywell line replaceable units since Jan. 1, 2017, and completed the full Honeywell spectrum by March. Thus, Lufthansa Technik offers full in-house capability for all Honeywell A350 content. Lufthansa Technik is the only authorized repair station for these components worldwide and acts as the authorized OEM warranty adjudicator for Honeywell products on behalf of the manufacturer. Even though the first re-certification events date back as far as February 2016, the first repair and warranty handled by Lufthansa Technik events date January 2017. Lufthansa Technik will repair of Honeywell products for Honeywell, pperators, independent MRO and distributors who hold agreements with operators. What trends are you seeing in component management and repair for this aircraft? Much like in the entire aviation industry, we experienced a large consolidation of the component aftermarket. The amount of nose-to-tail service providers is very limited. At the same time, we see a trend towards nose-to-tail spares pooling arrangements. Very few operators decide to procure their own spare parts without backing of larger component pool. http://www.mro-network.com/maintenance-repair-overhaul/fast-5-supporting-a350 Back to Top Heathrow Airport Introduces AR Technology Two other UK airports have already embraced augmented reality (AR) technology, with Gatwick using AR to help passengers navigate the complex layout of the airport, while London City Airport is installing AR tech to help air traffic controllers with the vital job of keeping planes safe. Now the UK's biggest airport is also introducing AR technology, this one aimed at children. Heathrow Airport is one of the busiest in the world, and can be a bewildering experience for children, some of whom may never have visited an airport before. Heathrow have been working with a company called Ads Reality to create an AR app aimed at children that can entertain and distract them while the process of checking in and waiting for a flight goes on. The technology has an additional benefit for Heathrow staff in that it also tracks footfall through the five terminals. The AR app is titled Around the World with Mr. Adventure and uses smartphone cameras to scan 'digital badges' that have been hidden throughout the terminal buildings. When one of the badges is found, an animation featuring one of the world famous Mr Men and Little Miss characters will appear. "This is a fun and interactive experience that we're rolling out with Heathrow and a chance for the airport to drive engagement and fun for passengers," said Richard Corps, MD & co-founder of Ads Reality. "We're delighted that Heathrow sees the benefits of augmented reality to the customers they serve, and it's a great example of a large company looking at innovative technology to drive an exciting customer experience." Heathrow will also be using the technology to track how many markers are triggered, to gather data on which terminal has the most interactions, in order to check on passenger footfall and use the data to improve the customer experience for people using the airport. https://www.vrfocus.com/2017/07/heathrow-airport-introduces-ar-technology/ Back to Top Virtual fencing at Delhi airport raises 50 fake alarms every day. So much for high-tech security A high-tech security measure installed at Delhi airport to keep an eye on intruder, and reduce the manual security force is yet to show its effectiveness. According to senior official, virtual fencing which is also known as Perimeter Intrusion Detection System (PIDS) installed at the boundaries of Indira Gandhi International (IGI) has been raising false alarm forcing a dedicated team to manually check the breach. A senior civil aviation ministry official told Mail Today that optimum utilisation of high tech security function could not be done so far and it is yet to yield positive results. Security agencies have raised the concern at several occasions but the system could not be fixed. Due to high number of fake alarms raised by it, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), which is responsible for airport security is yet to take the complete control of the system. CISF has asked to fix the gaps before However, it is the Quick Response Team (QRT) of CISF which has to physically verify each time PIDS flags intruder alert. But on maximum occasions they have to return empty handed. 50 FAKE ALARMS PER DAY A source said that the system was so sensitive that it used to raise almost over 50 fake alarms a day and each time a dedicated team was sent to verify it. "A proper security protocol is followed each time. This waste huge amount of resource," the officer said. But the benefit of the technology cannot be denied as in past it has detected intruders. PIDS system had last year caught a man who had scaled the wall of Delhi airport and informed the CISF. The system also keeps security forces on their toes. However, one of the salient features of the technology was to reduce manual checking and provide seamless accurate security which could not be fixed so far. PIDS was implemented after a Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) mandate in 2007, which made it compulsory for all airports across the country to install the system. So far, only GMR-run airports including Hyderabad and Delhi have installed the system. CISF MONITORING SYSTEM The Rs 35-crore project was to be implemented before the 2010 Commonwealth Games. The multilayer security system with around 200 CCTV cameras to capture even the slightest movement near the boundary wall of one of the country's most sensitive airports has radars, more than 35 watchtowers and a patrolling track along the 25-km perimeter wall of the airport. Highlighting the loophole, another senior official said, "The alarm used to go off even if a leaf touched the fence or it was crossed by a small bird. The sensitivity of the system has been reduced and other technological changes were made to make it more productive." The airport operator, however, claims that, "initially, some technical issues were detected in the system, which was duly addressed by a team of technical experts. At present CISF is operating and monitoring the system, DIAL is maintaining the serviceability issues of PIDS to support the force." Recently a discussion was made to install a new sensor based security system which can detect unwanted miscreants trying to break through the four walls. This could run to support existing PIDS as it is not 100 per cent reliable. http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/delhi-airport-virtual-fencing-perimeter-intrusion-detection- system/1/1003674.html Back to Top Delta Air Lines Chooses Lansing Community College's Aviation Maintenance Technology Program as one of Best in Nation LANSING, Mich., July 13, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Lansing Community College (LCC) has been selected as one of 43 Aircraft Maintenance schools to partner with Delta Air Lines. LCC was selected from 177 Aviation Maintenance Programs across the United States and is the only community college in Michigan to offer this program. Over 100 criteria were used in Delta's selection process including equipment and facilities, level of hands-on-training, and quality of teaching. This new partnership establishes Delta as a resource for continuous improvement and will broaden access for LCC graduates to become the next generation of aviation maintenance professionals. "By providing students from these top-notch schools real-world training and direct support from Delta, we have a unique opportunity to generate awareness and interest in a very promising and enriching aviation career," said Joe McDermott, Delta's managing director of Cabin Maintenance, Training and Support Services. "This partnership is a great opportunity for our students and their careers," said LCC President, Dr. Brent Knight. "As our program continues to evolve, Delta will play a role in shaping our training to anticipate and meet the needs of the industry. To have a partner as well-renowned globally as Delta Air Lines is very powerful for our students and our community." LCC's program is one of the most affordable in the nation. Graduates who attain FAA licensure as Aircraft and Powerplant Mechanics can earn a starting salary of up to $50,000. "This is a significant achievement for our students, faculty and program," said Mark Bathurst, director of LCC's Aviation Program. "We are pleased Delta recognized the opportunities offered to our students and anticipate a highly productive relationship with them for years to come." LCC's two-year Aviation Technology program prepares students to earn three FAA approved certificates, allowing them to enter a career in aviation as experts in aircraft maintenance and repair. Students can choose from morning or evening class sessions and train on contemporary aircraft including jets and helicopters. "We are proud to have Lansing Community College's Aviation Maintenance Technology program and its state of the art facility at Mason Jewett airport as part of the capital region's airport system," said Wayne G. Sieloff, AIA, AAE, president and CEO of the Capital Region Airport Authority. "The program exemplifies excellence and fulfills a vital role for the future of the air travel industry. LCC's partnership with Delta Air Lines will yield immense benefits for the students, Lansing's aviation community, and our region." LCC's Aviation Technology program operates at the Mason Jewett Airfield. To learn more about the program, visit lcc.edu/aviation. For questions, or to receive more information, please call (517) 483-1406. About Lansing Community College Lansing Community College is Michigan's third largest community college and is ranked as the best Community College in Michigan this year by www.schools.com. With nearly 15,000 students attending each year, LCC offers general education for those interested in transferring to a university, career and workforce development, continuing education and personal enrichment. To meet the professional development and training needs of regional employees, the college offers customized classes and short-term certifications. The University Center at LCC offers students the opportunity to earn bachelor's and master's degrees from six partner universities on the downtown LCC campus. For more information, visit lcc.edu. About Delta Air Lines Delta Air Lines serves more than 180 million customers each year. In 2017, Delta was named to Fortune's top 50 Most Admired Companies in addition to being named the most admired airline for the sixth time in seven years. Additionally, Delta has ranked No.1 in the Business Travel News Annual Airline survey for an unprecedented six consecutive years. With an industry-leading global network, Delta and the Delta Connection carriers offer service to 335 destinations in 62 countries on six continents. Headquartered in Atlanta, Delta employs more than 80,000 employees worldwide and operates a mainline fleet of more than 800 aircraft. The airline is a founding member of the SkyTeam global alliance and participates in the industry's leading transatlantic joint venture with Air France-KLM and Alitalia as well as a joint venture with Virgin Atlantic. Including its worldwide alliance partners, Delta offers customers more than 15,000 daily flights, with key hubs and markets including Amsterdam, Atlanta,Boston, Detroit, Los Angeles, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York-JFK and LaGuardia, London-Heathrow, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Salt Lake City, Seattle and Tokyo-Narita. Delta has invested billions of dollars in airport facilities, global products and services, and technology to enhance the customer experience in the air and on the ground. Additional information is available on the Delta News Hub, as well as delta.com, Twitter @DeltaNewsHub, Google.com/+Delta, and Facebook.com/delta. http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/delta-air-lines-chooses-lansing-community-colleges- aviation-maintenance-technology-program-as-one-of-best-in-nation-300487979.html Back to Top Locatory.com Expands In Asia With HNA Link Up Aircraft spare parts and repair capabilities marketplace Locatory.com is further expanding its presence in Asia by signing a contract with HNA Technic, the MRO unit of the HNA Group. The Asian company will conduct its spare parts trade on behalf of more than 20 airlines using Locatory.com. HNA will be listing in excess of 20,000 commercial aircraft parts on the marketplace as well as purchasing spare parts through the system for airlines it represents including Hainan Airlines, Tianjin Airlines, Beijing Capital Airlines, Lucky Airlines and others. More than 300 aircraft will be supported via purchases and trading activities on Locatory.com. http://www.mro-network.com/maintenance-repair-overhaul/locatorycom-expands-asia-hna-link Back to Top SpaceX's planned refurbishment facility briefly catches fire at Cape Canaveral Per several sources, a small fire at a planned SpaceX refurbishment facility in Cape Canaveral was put out Sunday evening. Located inside Port Canaveral, the building suffered a minor amount of water damage and a moderate amount of damage to the roof, where the fire began. The cause of the fire is thus far unclear. More importantly, no injuries were caused by the fire and the building was said by SpaceX employees to have been empty of any valuable hardware. Used as a facility for Astrotech Corporation's SpaceHab module, which was launched more than 20 times aboard the Space Shuttle, the building was leased by SpaceX approximately a year ago. In addition to the actual SpaceHab facility, the lease included a total of four acres of land expected to be utilized for SpaceX's program of reusability. Earlier this year, SpaceX Senior Director of Launch Operations Ricky Lim discussed the company's excitement over the new facility at a March meeting of the Canaveral Port Authority. Once a second hangar is constructed on the parcel of land, the lease will provide SpaceX with an additional 100,000 square feet of facilities that can be used for Falcon 9 first stage refurbishment and storage. Musk has in the past slyly joked about SpaceX effectively running out of space for the recovered boosters, due to the sheer speed at which the company began to successfully and routinely recover them. Possibly the most intriguing tidbit about the facility from Lim was the implication that its existence would allow SpaceX to undertake all necessary testing and refurbishment of recovered boosters in Florida. This means SpaceX would no longer be required to transport recovered cores from Cape Canaveral to McGregor, Texas, which has so far been the primary method used for testing and refurbishment. It seems highly implausible that SpaceX would ever be able to secure a permit for routine hot-fire testing at a facility literally within the bounds of an active port, and this implies that SpaceX's refurbishment procedures will soon pivot away from intensive static fire testing of every recovered booster. There is no current public timeline for the development of the refurbishment facility, but it is certainly a breath of relief to hear that the small fire that occurred earlier this night was extremely minor and is highly unlikely to impact whatever that construction schedule may be. SpaceX is preparing to begin launches of the rapid reuse-oriented Block 5 of their Falcon 9 in late 2017, and could conduct as many as 12 more launches this year, beginning in mid-August. It is likely that these new facilities are aiming to become operational at the same time as Block 5, as SpaceX's extremely busy 2017 and 2018 launch manifests will find the company with a considerable fleet of recovered Falcon 9s. https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-leased-refurbishment-facility-fire-cape-canaveral/ Curt Lewis