Inflight Wi-Fi used to be reserved for first- and business-class passengers in full service carriers. The luxury then spread to economy class, too. And now, even budget airlines offer inflight Wi-Fi. It’s an amazing thing, being able to browse travel destinations, scroll through social media and even – if the bandwidth permits – stream movies, all while in the air! Here’s the rundown of how inflight Wi-Fi works: The Mechanics Source Inflight Wi-Fi is transmitted via two systems: either via ground-based towers, or satellites. First off, let’s talk about the ground-based operating system. Ground-based, also known as air-to-ground (ATG)...
Heroes of the Sky: Aircraft Maintenance Engineers
In our article, The True Unsung Heroes Behind Every Flight You Take, we highlighted that aircraft maintenance engineers (AMEs) are some of the most underrated aviation professionals. Often times, non-aviation folk assume that pilots are the only ‘heroes of the sky’. While they are indeed due a lot of credit, aircraft maintenance engineers, too, deserve to be acknowledged as heroes of the sky. The stellar on-ground work of AMEs is what keeps aircraft in the sky; they work tirelessly so that aircraft are kept safely operational. The heroic deeds of AMEs have changed the landscape of aviation – beginning with...
Heroes of the Sky: Women in Aircraft Maintenance
When it comes to women in aviation, the name Amelia Earhart often comes to mind. As the first female aviator to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean – and not to mention, made popular by pop culture – Earhart was and still is an inspiration to women all over the world. Source Earhart was a woman of sheer courage, ambition, and determination. Her feats have inspired many to follow in her footsteps. However, it is often forgotten that there were other women in aviation before Earhart. Aida de Acosta, the first woman to pilot a motorized aircraft (1903), Emma Lilian...
Outsourcing Engineering & Maintenance – Is ASEAN Ready?
As you may have seen here, and here, the ASEAN region is indeed growing rapidly. With this growth, it is inevitable that many aviation services are now being outsourced. As operators approach their capacity, services such as aircraft maintenance are likely to be contracted out to third-party providers. Outsourcing Around The World Source Take the U.S as an example – approximately 24% of heavy maintenance is outsourced to companies outside the country. According to a report compiled by the Transport Workers Union, U.S carriers spend roughly US$ 2 billion on aircraft maintenance work in South America, China, and Europe. At...
How Airlines Changed ASEAN Forever
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region has one of the fastest growth rates in aviation, with intra-ASEAN travel being the highest contributing factor. But the journey leading up to today’s success was not an easy one. From an economic crisis to forced restructuring, the ASEAN aviation industry remained robust, transcending borders to achieve the common goal of a flourishing aviation industry. Find out more: a snapshot of the aviation industry in each ASEAN member country can be found here! Today, the region’s aviation industry is basking in success, made possible through the airline sector. By 2036, ASEAN air...
What It Takes To Be A World-Class Airport
SKYTRAX – World’s Best Airport (7 times) Wanderlust – Top Worldwide Airport (16 times) DestinAsian – Best Airport In The World (13 times) Business Traveller Germany Awards – Best Airport Worldwide (25 times) Business Traveller Asia-Pacific Awards – Best Airport in the World (26 times) … and these are just a few of the 590 awards bestowed upon this airport. You get the idea; this airport is top in the world. And it is none other than Changi Airport, Singapore! Source Changi Airport’s operations span across 4 terminals, built on a 13-square-kilometre site. Since Singapore is a small island without...
Aviation In ASEAN: Part 2
This article is a continuation. Read the first part here! Myanmar Source The Republic of the Union of Myanmar is a resource-rich country, bordered by India, Bangladesh, Laos and China. The country is abundant in jade, gems, oil and other mineral resources. While ethnic and political unrest have placed the country in one of the world’s longest-running civil wars, recent times see economic improvements and improved foreign relations. In terms of aviation, the Burmese industry is facing sluggish growth. In 2011, improvements in the national political situation triggered a boom in foreign investment. However, the anticipated increase in passenger...
Aviation In ASEAN: Part 1
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is comprised of 10 member countries: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. The purpose of this inter-governmental organisation is to promote regional cooperation, and facilitate integration. One key factor of integration is the unification of the ASEAN aviation industry. This goal is reflected in the ASEAN Open Sky Agreement, also known as the ASEAN Single Aviation Market (ASEAN-SAM). While this move is likely to be beneficial for ASEAN member states, some experts argue otherwise – find out more about the implications and benefits of Open Sky here! To...
ASEAN Open Skies: Benefits & Implications for Aviation Businesses
The Push For Greater Economic Integration Source The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is an inter-governmental organisation created to promote regional cooperation and integration between the 10 member states (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam). With the rise of economic powers in this region, it comes as no surprise that air travel is increasingly important between the 10 nations. For an overview of the aviation industry in each ASEAN member state, click here. As a result, the vision of the ASEAN Open Skies Agreement (also known as the ASEAN Single Aviation Market,...
Top 3 Rising Issues In Aviation Supply Chain Management
Supply chain management is the administration of a system in which organizations, their assets, and the information they hold, flow between suppliers and customers. For example, in aircraft maintenance, an aspect of supply chain management is ensuring that parts are available to carry out planned and unplanned maintenance activities. Source With rising demand in the aviation industry, the pressure on supply chain management is building up. Businesses who fail at managing their supply chain may be adversely impacted by the growth of the industry. Below are three common issues that are becoming increasingly apparent in aviation supply chain management, in...