World’s leading specialist in air transport communications and information technology SITA would provide its aircraft communications and flight tracking technology to domestic carriers AirAsia India and Air Costa.
Under the tie-up, announced here today, the deployment of the two technologies would help these airlines track flights in real time throughout their entire route network and streamline operations.
“Aviation industry in India has indeed witnessed a transformation over the last decade and SITA is focused on improving air navigation efficiency and safety by delivering real-time flight tracking to enable airlines to meet the industry requirements,” SITA vice president for India and sub-continent Maneesh Jaikrishna said in a release.
Aircraft tracking is a mandatory requirement for all domestic carriers.
Besides, the two airlines would also deploy SITA’s other solutions such as AIRCOM Server Online and AIRCOM Datalink Services, which interface with the airlines’ operations, crew management flight planning and maintenance software.
With real-time weather data going directly to the pilots and live messaging between the flight crew and the airline operational control, flights are more efficient and turnaround times are reduced, the release said.
“The Indian aviation market is estimated to grow by 10 per cent every year for the next ten years and this obviously gives us significant potential for growth. To make the most of the opportunity, we need to be highly efficient in operations where technology will help us to achieve it. SITA OnAir provides us with ubiquitous coverage and the right tools to make sure we optimize our operations,” Air Costa chief executive K N Babu said.
SITA OnAir solution enable airlines to personalize the passenger experience, streamline cabin and cockpit operations, and optimize maintenance procedures.
“SITA OnAir has a very strong presence in India, making it the obvious choice for our aircraft communications requirements. Much of this data transfer over the SITA OnAir network is automated, including the maintenance information. Reducing human input makes the processes more streamlined and therefore more efficient. In turn, that helps us improve our performance while keeping costs down,” AirAsia India chief executive Mittu Chandilya said.
The flightTracker uses existing air traffic control data, along with airlines’ flight plans, to provide real-time aircraft position monitoring.
The flightTracker is a low-cost solution that meets and exceeds industry demands, without requiring the installation of additional airborne equipment. It generates automatic alerts when an aircraft goes outside pre-determined parameters, giving flight controllers full information at all times.
“Our aim is always to provide technology that helps airlines be more efficient and safer. We are meeting with Indian airlines along with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation to discuss how best our technology can continue helping them, particularly when it comes to flight tracking,” said Katrina Korzenowski, SITA OnAir’s Director of Aircraft Services for Asia Pacific region.
