Tackling demands in Ground operations - Post Pandemic

 

                    It has been very challenging in overall ground operation departments during the last few months as air travel started to grow in numbers. We often find back-to-back flights on the allocation and restless roster patterns which gives us a terrible hard feeling that “enough is enough”. A scope of magnification through the other ground operation departments who are involved in live operation can find the same answer as they have the same opinion just as I mentioned earlier. Once again, the scope of magnification further increased, we can find there are other departments which indirectly involved in live operation can have the same answer because of their workload.

                   This phenomenon is similar across the entire aviation industry as of now and it has been addressed during the 33rd IATA Ground Handling Conference (IGHC). The main reason behind this issue is the skilled labor shortage across every department. You probably know that the aviation industry got rid of 4.8 million direct aviation labor forces during the last year. Although the governments, airlines, airports and labor supply agencies are encouraged re-joining formalities for those who got laid-off, the majority of them declined the offer due to contract disagreements.        

                   It will be very challenging over the coming months as the air travel seems to be increasing slightly higher than the forecast passenger loads. However, the latest Covid19 variant “Omicron” can have an impact on the demands of air travel whereas governments can urge their citizens and residents to have the booster vaccine as the best resolution.

                   Looking back at the main issue including me and my ground handing community around the world face, some might think that it is the right time to move on whereas the job opportunities are coming up post-pandemic. What I think is there can be redesigned agreements especially on the pay scale and other benefits. So the best option is to stick around until we pass through the last stretch of this long tunnel.

                   Moreover, The IATA’s Director of Ground Operations Monika Mejstrikova outlined three priority solutions for the ongoing labor shortage which is…

1.   Governments/ Airlines should include ground handlers in wage subsidy programs to retain skilled staff.

2.   Harmonize the training requirements to speed up training processes such as competency-based training, assessments and online training formats should be increased.

3.  A training passport should be developed that would mutually recognize skills across ground handlers, airlines and/or airports to increase the efficiency of staff utilization.

                   Finally, Ground Operation is a key component in overall aviation business. The amount of work pressure the ground operation employees are experiencing nowadays is inconceivable. All these individual efforts collectively benefit not only to the ground operation department, yet not only to the Airline or Airport Authority, it is a part of the process to recover the Aviation industry after a great fall. And it should not go unnoticed. 

Emirates Pavilion at Expo2020Dubai

             

               Here's a quick glimpse at the Emirates airlines pavilion at the world's greatest show EXPO 2020 Dubai. The setup for this ultra-modern building came up in March 2019 to showcase the importance of mobility to the world of future aviation. The 3300 square meter pavilion is 3 floors high and has been designed to reflect the dynamic lines of 26 aircraft Wings shape architectural fins that will lit by LED lighting effects every night. The airline is expected to welcome more than 56000 visitors each month.

               The Emirates Pavilion Designed to showcase the changing world of commercial aviation and bring awareness about the power of mobility under the themes of the future signs of flights, advancements in engine technologies, new aerospace materials that can boost efficiencies, cut fuel consumption and improving the passenger experience at airports. One of the highlighted features of this state-of-the-art building is, it’s designed to absorb natural daylight with the aim of reducing energy consumption. The second floor of the pavilion comprises an auditorium for speaker sessions and industry events while the 3rd floor will comprise a sky garden.

 

                Educational perspective, the visitors will be able to understand the basic principles of aviation, how engine advancements take place especially when it comes to electric engines and the Emirates airlines futuristic lab will explore innovative metallic and composite materials that are being used to develop a better flying experience by reducing weight, increase strength and improve fuel efficiency. Moreover, the visitors will also be able to experience the advancements made in terms of cabin interiors including intelligent interfaces and the technology behind smarter seats.

 

               The airport technology is another fact that has been showcased where you can get an idea about how the biometric end-to-end passenger experience work using eye recognition, face recognition, voice commands and brain analysis at none other than the EXPO2020 Dubai pavilion.

                EXPO2020 Dubai is an exhibition not to be missed and an opportunity that comes rarely in your lifetime. It's worth paying a visit in this history-making event in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. See you there.

  #Expo2020dubai #expodubai #emirates 

Through the dark hours - U A E Aviation

                        

                        2020 was not ordinary as we at any point thought. In fact, it went from terrible to more regrettable, for specific industries, especially Aviation industry. Every single person needed to confront their most noticeably terrible social experience from the individual to entrepreneurial level. Yet, there's one country faced all chances and proceeded to accomplish past assumption by being a guide to the entire world. Notwithstanding more than $3 billion dollars' income drop in the year 2020, the nation settled on boldest choice to recuperate at soonest stage. Allow me to depict how United Arab Emirates avionics improved their odds of winning back when the world is center around just one thing.

                       The incongruity of lay-offs hit the UAE air carriers at the beginning phase of the pandemic. The Smooth continuous resuming of cross boundaries under severe conditions lead the carriers of UAE to fuel their multi-million dollar airplanes back in operation.

                       When the recovery seems challenging over travel demands, The Etihad and Sharjah-based Air Arabia initiated with a minimal effort transporter Aircrabia Abudhabi in mid-July. Furthermore, in October, Hungarian-based Wizz air open its new center from Abudhabi named Wizzair Abudhabi. The emerge of two major airlines focused on traffic from middle eastern and eastern European markets was a well-recognized move towards quick gains. 

                       Then comes the historical agreement between Israel and UAE named Abraham Accords signed in September which led to start of traffic flow between two countries and beyond. In January 2021, UAE and Qatar conciliatory accommodate was another significant achievement by finishing the boycott between two nations which last for over two years. All methods of transportation have been re-established for business from that point.

                       Emirates Airlines presented its Premium economy class on its most recent fleet as another contestant to the arising traffic to bring back the significant experience to all customers. Not only that, the contactless travel experience from check-in counters to setting up on-board creates a safest travel experience for all outbound passengers.   

                        While the vaccine program took the country to the second-largest at one stage, the major airlines confirmed their front line staff had been fully vaccinated, being one of the first of its kind. The free travel insurance for all passengers traveling on major airlines was another important product to encourage commercial travelers.

                       The IATA Travel pass is one of the important products the world is hanging tight for… Emirates airlines and Etihad airways routes had endorsed to trial the IATA Travel pass being one of the first few airlines which set to roll out in March 2021.

                       In terms of vaccine distribution, UAE owns the largest vaccine distribution hubs at their major cities Dubai and Abu Dhabi ensuring the smooth distribution of the “must needed” vaccine to the vast community around the world.

                       Further beyond aviation, UAE has successfully launched its “Hope Probe” to Mars and bridge communication to date. How about powering the growth of the UAE? The country boasts the first-ever nuclear plant in the Arab world  

                       It is great the endeavors that UAE had taken to empower the aviation industry during the hardest time at any point had. The decision-making strategies & actions that UAE had taken during this unforeseen time teach us the best lesson “To be strong during the challenges and hold head high no matter how hard the hurdles.”  

Check out my Vlog on Aim High Club - Stronger through Crisis - https://youtu.be/JgZIOmSKuqc

Strategies Against Civil Aviation

 

Strategies Against Civil Aviation

Have you ever been asked any security questions before you checked in your luggage?

You know it is important to do the passenger baggage reconciliation, but you know why?

Do you scan your shoes separately at the security point?

Why can’t I carry my perfume and my gel tub on my hand carry?

 

Every process started as a result of something that happened in the past with the intention of mitigating the risk which can happen in the future. Let’s talk about strategies against civil aviation.

The history of aviation terrorism dates back to the 1930s, followed by the Peruvian revolution and the Cuban revolution, And the first-ever bomb attack inside an aircraft in 1970 (Swiss Air airliner bound from Tel Aviv to Zurich on 21 February 1970). And the first attack on an airport in 1970. (Munich airport bomb attack on 10 Feb 1970.)

The reason behind these attacks can be various but the most common ones are the political motives or personnel gains. However, committing a crime that damage the reputation of aviation leads to many countermeasures whereas we, as passengers must comply on these for our own safety and security.

Consider my first question -  Have you ever been asked any security questions before you checked in your luggage?

The reason behind this countermeasure happened in 1986, Annie Murphy case.

Annie Murphy was given a package from her fiancé name Nizar Hindawi contained explosives connected to timing device set to explode in mid-air about 39000 feet above the ground. However, the EL-AL intelligent agents questioned the passenger and assessed unexpectedly overweight luggage and found out the explosives which she had no clues about it at all.

Annie Murphy Case

Date – April 17, 1986

Airport – London Heathrow

Flight – El AL 016 / Boeing 747

Route – London to Tel-aviv

 

 In aviation, we call this unwitting accomplish. Asking these security questions (Security Questions on screen) came into effect and established in ICAO annex 17 after this incident.   

 

 

Next question is a bit of technical aspect - The reason behind the passenger baggage reconciliation. The passenger baggage reconciliation considered as a ground operation term to ensure no baggage goes on a flight without its owner.

The passenger baggage reconciliation formed as a standard practice in ICAO Annex 17 after 2 fatal incidents happened in 1980’s.  

1 – Air India 182 – Air India flight 182 crashed mid-air 31000 feet above the ground off the Atlantic Ocean as a result of an explosion from a bomb planted on board by a Canadian Sikh extremist killing all 329 passengers on board. Air India 182 incident was the deadliest aviation terrorism attack until September 11 attack in 2001.

Air India182

Date – June 23, 1985

Route – Montreal – London

TOB – 329 passenger and crew

Aircraft – Boeing 747-200

 

2 – PamAm103 – Panam103 also a similar incident to air India crash killed 249 passengers and crew on board and 11 residents in Lockerbie, Scotland where the plane hit the ground from above 30000 feet.

Two Libyan intelligent agents implant a bomb inside a tape recorder in a small Samsonite bag and left unattended onboard has caused the main reason for this disaster.

Pan Am103 or Lockerbie Bombing in 1988

Date – December 21,1988

Route – London – Newyork

TOB – 259 + 11 Residents in Lockerbie

Aircraft – Boeing 747-100

 

Third countermeasure – The reason behind you scan your shoes at the security point.

It’s because there’s one incident that happened in 2001 just after 9/11 call show bombing plot.

Richard raid who is a British national bound on a flight from Paris to Miami on American Airlines flight 63 carrying 197 passengers and crew. The alerted passengers and crew managed to thwart his plan when he attempt to detonate explosives hidden in his shoes. This failed attack led to revise the security measures in the United States and soon it became a recommended norm across many countries around the world.

Shoe Bombing Plot

Date – December 22, 2001

Flight Number – AA63

Route – Paris – Miami

Aircraft – Boeing 767-300

 

Liquid bomb plot

The trans-Atlantic aircraft plot was a terrorist plan to detonate liquid explosives disguised as soft drinks carried on board on different airlines from the UK to United States and Canada. The UK’s largest surveillance operation was successfully stopped the fatal disaster and saved thousands of lives. This failed plan changed the nature of air travel not only in the UK but also in many different countries with the restrictions in place with the amount of liquids, aerosols and gels an individual passenger can carry onboard.

 

Liquid bomb plot

Date – August 09, 2006

Place – London

When we talk about the strategies against civil aviation, we can’t forget the deadliest disaster which happened on September 11, 2001. 19 men squad armed with box knives boarded on 4 different flights, hit the world’s tallest twin tower back then and the intelligent capital of the country killing nearly 3000 lives which impact the whole socio-economic infrastructure not only United States but the whole world.  But there are so many findings that helped aviation security to move forward to mitigate the risk of terror tactically and technologically. 

 

Finally, it is always unclear where the focus drives of terrorists in line with the latest improvements in technology and human creativity. Strategies against civil aviation vlog is out on my YouTube channel AIM HIGH CLUB - https://youtu.be/rqpcXW5xLw0. The vlog and the article is solely for the purpose of education.