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First Airbus a380 embarks on its final journey
The first ever A380 to enter scheduled service, and also the first ever to be retired, now as a new edition of especially rare Aviationtags.
Micro Nav awarded new installation at AirNav Indonesia
AirNav Indonesia selected Micro Nav to provide a new approach and radar simulator in Jakarta.
Leave at the top
The president and CEO of Flughafen München (FMG), Dr Michael Kerkloh, has experienced a long and successful career in aviation; under his watch, Munich Airport has been bestowed with the title of ‘Best in Europe’ 12 times. As he prepares to step down from the role he has held since 2002, he talks to Grace Allen about his successes at Munich, the changes he has witnessed and his expectations for the future of the industry.
Food for thought
Airport food and beverage (F&B) is a monumental business and there is plenty of room for waste. However, as airport operations continue to expand and passengers become increasingly environmentally aware, bosses are turning towards greener policies. Andrea Valentino talks to Jeremy Webb, aviation environmental programme manager at the Port of Seattle, and Ben Crowley, head of F&B at Heathrow, about how airports are making their F&B operations more sustainable – and how passengers have a crucial role to play too.
Worker drones
Stories of disruption caused by illicit drone activity have appeared regularly over recent months. However, despite the technical challenges their presence causes, legitimate drones have much to offer airport operations. Philip Hall, chair of the IEEE-USA Committee on Transportation and Aerospace Policy and CEO of RelmaTech, explains their benefits and how to coordinate drone activity with air traffic management.
Eye on efficiency
The implementation of satellite communication promises to have a significant impact across air traffic management systems, allowing for increased accuracy, security and efficiency. The European Space Agency (ESA)’s Iris Data Link Service (DLS) satellite system is now in its final stages of development. Andrew Barnett asks Paolo Burzigotti, acting Iris project manager at the ESA, about the technology.
Electric starter
Electric vehicles are emerging for a wide variety of airport operations, providing green credentials as well as efficiency. Grace Allen discusses strategies for their introduction and potential speedbumps along the way with Dave Lees, CEO of Bristol Airport, and Patrick Lammerding, deputy executive director of planning and development at Hollywood Burbank Airport.
Here to help
The most recent report by the UK Civil Aviation Authority shows that, while accessibility at airports remains a challenge for those with mobility issues or disabilities, provisions are rapidly improving. Nowhere is that more evident than Edinburgh, which has climbed from the bottom of the rankings to the top. Tim Gunn discusses the turnaround with Edinburgh Airport’s chief executive officer, Gordon Dewar.
Blue sky thinking
Our skies are set to become busier as passenger numbers continue to grow, and sophisticated and connected systems are required to keep everything flowing smoothly. Grace Allen talks to Melissa Matthews, acting manager of the FAA’s System Wide Information Management (SWIM) programme, on how to implement joined-up thinking across aviation, and the benefits the programme offers for airports and their users.