All articles by Ross Davies
Ross Davies
Flight tracking: how postponed ADS-B compliance will affect air traffic in Europe
Squeezed by the coronavirus pandemic, European aircraft operators have been granted a deadline extension on ADS-B compliance. While the new transition period has been widely welcomed, the new surveillance technology will need to be up and running by the time air traffic returns to normal.
Will blockchain boost air cargo efficiency after Covid-19?
Amid a global pandemic, there has arguably never been a better time to make the movement of air cargo more efficient and easier to monitor. Switching to blockchain could help make this achievable, creating crucial cost savings for stakeholders in the bargain.
Frangible structures: minimum impact for maximum safety
With most plane accidents occurring on the runway, frangible airside structures – designed to break into fragments, rather than bend on impact – can be used to limit collision damage. Pertti Kainu of Exel Composites, a supplier of such structures, explains why they are so important for flight safety.
Black swan events: how airports can draw hope from previous disasters
Having shuttered airports across the world, coronavirus is the biggest crisis ever to hit the sector, but hubs have had to contend with black swan events before, including terrorist attacks and 2010’s volcanic eruption in Iceland. Lessons were drawn from each of these emergencies.
Carmageddon: the impact of ridesharing apps on airport congestion
The explosion in popularity of ridesharing apps such as Uber and Lyft in recent years has led to increased gridlock at some of the world’s biggest airports. Fortunately, there are options for hubs looking to use the trend to their advantage.
Real-time runway monitoring: ICAO’s new global reporting standard
Later this year, airport operators will be required to assess and report runway conditions using a new methodology developed by the International Civil Aviation Organisation. Here is a look at what compliance might mean for hubs, as well as some of the challenges around implementation.
Black Sea blacklists: the impact of US sanctions on aviation in Russia and Cuba
Since first introduced in 2014 in response to the Ukraine crisis, US sanctions have targeted Russian airports and airlines, particularly in the Crimea. Elsewhere, newly imposed restrictions on air travel to Cuba by the Trump administration could spell fresh trouble.
Could smaller airports benefit from electric aviation?
Recent developments in electric aircraft have lent fresh hope that the aviation industry can cut its carbon footprint. Smaller airports could facilitate the accommodation of battery-powered, short-haul flights in the future, but they might have a wait on their hands.
Innovative infrastructure: how technology is changing airport construction
From component tracking systems to building information modelling, airports are increasingly turning to new technologies to facilitate the construction of major projects. Here is a look at five case studies.
Do North American airports have a problem with customer satisfaction?
A new study has found that customer satisfaction has stalled across many North American airports, with excessive construction delays the main gripe. As passenger numbers continue to increase, hubs can’t afford to let such disquiet continue.