Page 30 - World Airnews September 2020 Edition

CARGO FUEL

WORLD'S LARGEST CARGO END-TO-END TOUCHLESS

PLANE REFUELLING PROCESS

n Antonov cargo plane carrying hell Aviation has introduced end-to-
AUS military Oshkosh trucks land- Send digital integrati on with airline
ed at Israel’s Ben-Gurion airport recently. customers through the Shell SkyPad - a
The trucks will be fitted with Iron Dome tablet that connects pilots and apron oper-

systems purchased by the US army before ators with cloud-based computer systems.
they leave Israel again. The development marks the next step in

The unit for International Transport of the Shell Aviation’s ambitions for a fully digi-

directorate of production and procurement tised refuelling operation, harnessing tech-

in Israel’s ministry of defence was involved nology to maximise efficiency and accuracy
in bringing the Antonov plane to Israel, the across all aspects of the process.

ministry said. The new functionality of Shell SkyPad data

The Antonov AN-225 is the largest aircraft exchange enables compatibility with a wide

ever produced with over 30 wheels, six en- range of airlines’ own digital platforms, al-

gines and a wingspan of 290ft. The aircraft lowing integration with airline systems that

has a range of 15,400 km when unloaded The Antonov An-225 Mriya cargo plane carrying US military adhere to IATA fuel data standards.

and 4,500 when fully loaded. Oshkosh trucks landed at the Ben-Gurion Airport near Alongside this, Shell SkyPad has been operators, this latest innovation will help to pilot to take-off, the exchange between

The Russian-made cargo plane first Tel Aviv. Photo credit Tomer Neuberg/Flash90. enhanced with a new real-time communi- deliver smoother and safer operations for our Shell SkyPad and an airline’s own system

landed at Bangor international airport after cations tool. This enables instant contact airline customers, using digital technologies means that potential issues during critical

to maximise efficiency and accuracy across

flying from Ukraine. off-the-shelf from Rafael that included 12 tures the American-made patriot missile between the apron operator, the pilot and the refuelling process,” said Thomas de Boer, moments of the refuelling process can be

On its flight to Israel, it was expected launchers, two sensors, two battlement system. The radars are from ELTA system a the back offices, allowing them to elec- head of operations at Shell Aviation. predicted and averted.

to make refuelling stops in Scotland and management centres and 240 interceptors. subsidiary of Israel Aerospace Industries. tronically track, update and exchange fuel Shell SkyPad, developed in collaboration The transmission of progress milestones

France. Washington wanted to have them deliv- It carries 10kgs of explosives and can figures throughout the refuelling process. with software applications specialist SAP, is throughout the entire process delivers flexi-

The ministry of defence and the US de- ered by 2020. intercept an incoming projectile from four From an airline perspective, Shell under- already benefitting many of Shell’s airline cus- bility, transparency and reliability. The airline

partment of defence signed an agreement While the United States has its THAAD to 70 km away. It is able to calculate when stands that the currency of refuelling is tomers across its global refuelling network. knows instantly when fuelling has begun and
finished and receives a notification of the fi-

to purchase two Iron Dome batteries for anti-ballistic missile defence system and where rockets will land. seconds. Airlines integrating Shell SkyPad International operator Lufthansa is the nal fuel volume right after uplift is completed.

short-term needs for an indirect fire pro- designed to intercept and destroy short, Reports have surfaced that the US army data exchange can save up to 13 minutes

tection capability of the United States army medium, and intermediate-range ballistic saw an urgent need for an interim solution during the refuelling process, which can first customer to integrate Shell SkyPad In addition, the pilot does not need to leave
data exchange into their systems.
the cockpit to speak to the fueller in person.

in August 2019. missiles in their terminal phase, the Ameri- to fill the gap in its defences, especially minimise delays in turnaround time and

They will be used to defend US troops can military does not have any short-range in Europe, until a permanent solution to associated costs. Kai Liedtke, head of fuel purchasing Having Shell SkyPad technology distribut-

against a range of ballistic and aerial air defence solutions. the problem is put in place to best protect Shell SkyPad data exchange can also deliver Lufthansa Group said, “Shell SkyPad data ed around the world enables Shell Aviation

to instantly connect to airlines’ systems at

exchange, a solution jointly developed be-

threats. It was reported in February 2018 The system is built by Israel’s Rafael Ad- ground manoeuvring troops against an fuel savings by optimising refuelling through tween Shell, SAP and Lufthansa, is another any of the participating airports based on a

that the US army had asked congress for vanced Defence Systems, Israel Aerospace increasingly wide range of aerial threats, improved data accuracy by up to 90%. This important step into fully digitalising and single integration. This means Shell Aviation

(US) $373 million to buy the two batteries Industries, and Raytheon, which manufac- including short-range projectiles. Q offers the potential to unlock significant

financial savings across an airline’s fleet by automating the apron. The established can offer a simple, paperless solution to its

avoiding expenditure on unnecessary fuel. real-time communication makes the fuelling customers, which has added safety benefits

TRAINING “With the global aviation industry facing process significantly safer, faster and more during this time when social distancing is

its most significant challenge in history as efficient. We strongly believe in the innova- paramount to contain Covid-19, with no

it starts to recover from the impact of the tive approach of Shell SkyPad data exchange additional admin required per location.
and are convinced that this will make a sig-

In addition, Shell SkyPad is safe to be
SPANISH PILOT TRAINING CENTRE Covid-19 pandemic, we’re not content with nificant difference on the e-fuelling market.” used anywhere on the apron, anywhere

being simply ‘another supplier’. Minimising

in the world: from the smallest airports to
The real-time communication offered
delays in aircraft turnaround times and errors

in data transmission are two aspects that by Shell SkyPad data exchange means that some of the world’s largest, where multiple
analysis, we have decided to move forward FFS type for the company – a Boeing 737 contribute towards profitability. By improving aircraft do not need to be on stand as long. refuelling trucks and data sources need to

with BAA Training expansion, adjusting it MAX 8, manufactured by L3Harris Tech- communications between pilots and apron From the initial fuel order from the be captured. Q

AA Training, an independent to the actual and future airline needs. Our nologies. With the upcoming re-certifi-

Baviati on training centre, is ex- main goal is to support our customers with cation of this Boeing commercial aircraft
panding into Spain and have established the right equipment and cost-saving solu- programme, the demand for 737 MAX
pilots’ training is expected to grow.

tions that will secure them with currently
a 5300m² training centre near Barcelona much needed flexibility and availability for

In addition the training provider will

- El Prat Josep Tarradellas Airport. The required pilot training,” said Egle Vaitkevi- be able to offer solutions on fixed-base Earlier in the week this CASA

facility will be home to a Boeing 737 NG, ciute, CEO of BAA Training. flight training devices FTD -2 and this C295 on delivery to Kenyan DAC

Aviation made a fuel stop at
Airbus A320ceo/neo and Boeing 737 Spain was chosen for its convenient allow the company to offer training that LMML. This is the second aircraft

MAX 8 full flight simulator. geographical location. Situated just 10 requires FNPT II, deliver Multi-Crew of the type to join the fleet of the

BAA Training opened a new training minutes drive from the El Prat airport; Co-operation training, etc. East African carrier. The airline

centre in China in June and is glad to an- the second largest and busiest airport in The brand new Airbus A320ceo/neo operates a number of relief flights

nounce the opening of the Spanish train- Spain, the training centre is at the per- and Boeing 737 NG FFSs are bound to be for a wide range of NGOs as well
ing centre set for quarter one in 2021. fect place for airlines and independent ready for training next year and the new as for EU agencies. It is very active

“Considering the fragility of the future aviation professionals. type, Boeing 737 MAX 8, is expected to in the Eastern Congo and South
prospects and following rigorous market The centre will also welcome a new start operations next year. Q Sudan. Photo by Andre Abela.

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