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ARINC Incorporated: On 7th June, ARINC Incorporated announced it had been awarded the contract for a new passenger check-in system at George Best Belfast City Airport. ARINC, a portfolio company of the Carlyle Group, provides communications, engineering and integration solutions for commercial, defence and government customers worldwide and is headquartered in Annapolis, Maryland with regional headquarters in London and Singapore. The company has already started installation of its vMUSE Enterprise^TM hosted check-in solution, which reduces airport IT costs, power consumption, and space requirements while delivering the efficiency of a modern common-use passenger system. ARINC’s hosted check-in service replaces costly on-site servers and workstations as data can be delivered back to the airport desk in real time as a hosted service. It also provides security benefits as well as reducing capital and operational expenses.

AWAS: On 8th June Dublin based aircraft lessor, AWAS, announced that it had delivered an Airbus A320-214 passenger aircraft to Starflyer, a successful and growing Japanese airline. The aircraft, JA06MC, delivered on 6th June, is the first of three planned deliveries from AWAS to Starflyer through 2014. This delivery is the sixth aircraft in their fleet. Ray Sisson, President and CEO of AWAS said that they were “dedicated to supporting this important market and our new customer Starflyer with enhanced solutions and unmatched service.” He added “During the recent tsunami tragedy, AWAS reached-out to Starflyer as they were a leader in galvanizing support and response efforts.  Based upon their recommendation, AWAS immediately made a donation on behalf of our company and our people to the Japanese Red Cross.” Earlier, AWAS delivered Boeing 737-8EH, PR-GUG, to Gol Linhas Aéreas, the successful Brazilian-based low-cost airline. The aircraft was ferried Boeing Field - Punta Cana (Dominican Republic) - Tancredo Neves (Brazil) over 27th-28th May and is the first of five planned deliveries to GOL through early 2013.  In March of this year GOL and AWAS entered into a purchase and lease back agreement for 5 Boeing 737-800s that the carrier had previously ordered directly from the manufacturer. PR-GUG was delivered with the new Boeing Sky Interior includes larger stowage bins, new cove lighting and curving architecture that creates a more open cabin with sculpted sidewalls and window reveals. AWAS also delivered a Boeing 757-23APF freighter aircraft to Yakutia Airlines on 3rd May. Yakutia plans to utilize this aircraft, VQ-BOX, to expand its dedicated cargo fleet and capitalize on the increased strength of regional cargo volume. VQ-BOX was originally delivered to Challenge Air Cargo as N572CA on 24th September 1990 and served most recently with Arrow Air as N868AN. Finally AWAS has advertised for an Asset Management Director based in Dublin and a Procurement Manager based in either Dublin or Miami.

BAA Ltd: BAA Ltd., the Spanish-owned operator of six British airports has increased its profit forecast for Heathrow and Stansted airports in spite of lower passenger numbers at the two airports. It expects 86.9 million people to use the two London airports, down from the earlier forecast of 88 million, however higher spending by passengers on airport parking and in shops and restaurants has pushed the forecast for 2011 earnings before interest, tax and amortisation up by £4 million (€4.54 million) to £1.12 billion (€1.27 billion).

Bombardier Aerospace: New semi-automated jigs are being installed at Bombardier’s new wing facility in Belfast, Northern Ireland, to support assembly of the advanced composite wings for the all-new CSeries aircraft. The jigs, fixed machinery that are used to assemble the primary structural components of the composite wing torque box, are being installed in the second phase of a new, state-of-the-art 600,000 sq. ft. (55,742 m2) manufacturing and assembly facility. The first phase of the new factory, which will accommodate the fabrication of the composite components, was completed on schedule towards the end of 2010. Bombardier’s Belfast operation is responsible for the design, manufacture and integration of the advanced composite wings for the CS100 and CS300 jets, including all flight control surfaces and high-lift systems. The primary structural components of the wings will be produced using the unique Resin Transfer Infusion (RTI) process that has been developed by Bombardier Aerospace’s Belfast engineers. Meanwhile, all production equipment has been installed in the fabrication section of the new wing facility, which comprises a production area and low contamination ‘clean room’ area. Equipment installed includes a fabric cutter, a multiple-axis machine cell, pre-formers, an autoclave and non-destructive testing equipment. Production of the CSeries aircraft advanced composite wings is due to begin later this year. On 7th June, Bombardier Aerospace announced that an airline, which has requested to remain unidentified at this time, has placed a firm order for three CS100 aircraft and options on three more. Deliveries of the aircraft will start in 2014. This brings the number of firm orders for the CSeries family of aircraft to 103 including 41 CS100 and 62 CS300 aircraft, and raises the number of CSeries aircraft customers to five.

The Commission for Aviation Regulation (CAR): On 10th June, the CAR published its 2010 Annual Report and which is highly critical of the regulatory system that has led to an unusually high number of cases being taken against the aviation regulator in Ireland, particularly by Ryanair. The report notes that while the UK airport regulator has been challenged once in the court in 25 years, the Irish aviation regulator has been subject to eight judicial review challenges in the last 10 years, seven of which were taken by Ryanair.  The CAR has won seven of the eight cases taken against it.  The report also notes that "all full-time staff members are obliged to join the Commission's pension scheme. There was no change in the scheme's interim status in 2010, which has been awaiting the approval of the Department of Finance since 2002. An actuarial review of the pension liabilities shows a continuing deficit in the scheme of €116,174 at the end of 2010, up from €51,020 in 2009. The CAR expects to contribute €71,692 to the pension scheme in 2011". The CAR is proposing that the IAA's price cap (in real terms, i.e. before changes in CPI) for air traffic services at the three Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) airports will drop 28% in 2012 from this year's level and will subsequently fall 5% annually until 2015. It notes that the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) had not used revenue collected from airlines in previous years to fund investments to the amount expected (due to less traffic) but the authority's day-to-day spending had exceeded targets. The IAA will be able to levy additional charges on airlines such as Ryanair and Aer Lingus to fund a new control tower at Dublin airport if passenger numbers exceed expectations and it meets its efficiency targets.  The Commission said it expects IAA revenue in 2015 from this source to be broadly at the same level as in 2006/07 when airport movement traffic was last close to the level expected in 2015.  The CAR is also proposing to introduce quality of service penalties of up to 10% for delays and disruptions arising from criteria such as "industrial action (ATC)" or "ATC equipment" "ATC staffing" and "ATC capacity". The cap would be raised 20% if annual passenger numbers at Dublin exceed 23.5 million. to fund a new tower to permit the use of a parallel runway for which the criterion is the same.  It notes the DAA says four years are needed to provide the tower compared to 30 months for the runway. The basis of the caps is being changed from aircraft max take-off weight (MTOW) to Terminal Service Units in line with European air traffic service charges. A final Determination is due in October.

European Commission: After the last minute change of heart at the end of April to lift the ban on carrying more than 100 ml of liquids on board flights, the Commission published a paper by consultants Steer Davies Gleave on the impact of revisions to Regulation 95/93 on airport slots. Much of it has to do with transparency and enforcement, in effect fine tuning. Bigger issues like slot trading and leasing are secondary. It sees these as useful in improving use of slots by encouraging use of larger aircraft, particularly where they are currently banned. This is the major area of gain which is identified - bigger than all other options put together. It does not recommend withdrawal of grandfather rights - as benefits would be offset by the negative impact on airline schedules and consequent increases in airline operating costs. It would leave to the member State concerned whether to auction new slots. It would ease the definitions of new entrant airlines and make it easier for new entrants to achieve critical mass, the current arrangement having created a 'revolving door' experience more than supporting new competition. It identifies options to protect regional services by permitting governments to reserve capacity for them or allowing regional authorities to buy slots, but it notes this would be inherently restrictive of overall airport capacity. By regional, it seems to mean services which will not support aircraft of a reasonable size. Meanwhile the ban on liquids has been kicked to touch although it is still said to be aiming to lift the liquids ban entirely by April 2013. In opposing an early lifting of the ban the European airports association, ACI Europe, has said it supports the full lifting of the ban in principle, but adds that current liquids-scanning equipment is "unfit for purpose" and would be hugely disruptive for passengers. It urged European governments to work more closely together, and with the United States, on a common approach.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA): IATA unveiled the first mock-up of the Checkpoint of the Future, designed to enhance security while reducing queues and intrusive searches at airports, using intelligence-driven risk-based measures at the Association’s 67th Annual General Meeting (AGM) and World Air Transport Summit, in Singapore. The main concepts of the Checkpoint are (1) strengthened security by focusing resources where risk is greatest, (2) supporting this risk-based approach by integrating passenger

information into the checkpoint process, and (3) maximizing throughput for the vast majority of travellers who are deemed to be low risk with no compromise on security levels. The Checkpoint of the Future ends the one-size-fits-all concept for security. Passengers approaching the checkpoint will be directed to one of three lanes: ‘known traveller’, ‘normal’, and ‘enhanced security’. The determination will be based on a biometric identifier in the passport or other travel document that triggers the results of a risk assessment conducted by government before the passenger arrives at the airport. The three security lanes will have technology to check passengers according to risk. ‘Known travellers’ who have registered and completed background checks with government authorities will have expedited access. ‘Normal screening’ would be for the majority of travellers. And those passengers for whom less information is available, who are randomly selected or who are deemed to be an ‘Elevated risk’ would have an additional level of screening. Screening technology is being developed that will allow passengers to walk through the checkpoint without having to remove clothes or unpack their belongings. It is also envisioned that the security process could be combined with outbound customs and immigration procedures. IATA also announced changes in its leadership at the AGM. Peter Hartman, President and CEO of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, succeeds David Bronczek, CEO of FedEx Express, as Chairman of the IATA Board of Governors, following the completion of Bronczek’s one-year term. This appointment is effective immediately and is for one year. Tony Tyler, former Chief Executive of Cathay Pacific, was confirmed to succeed Giovanni Bisignani as IATA’s Director General and CEO. Tyler’s appointment is effective from 1st July 2011, at which point Bisignani will become Director General Emeritus. Finally, Jazeera Airways was inducted as a full airline-member during the meeting becoming the 238th airline-member of the global organization.

The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA): Traffic figures for May 2011 published on 11th June are subject to some distortion when compared to May 2010 because of the impact of the 2010 Icelandic volcanic ash crisis on the May 2010 figures. However, when adjustments are made to compensate for the volcanic ash, en route traffic movements for May 2011 (traffic transiting between Europe and North America and which do not land at Irish airports) show an increase of circa 5%. The numbers of commercial terminal flights at Dublin, Shannon and Cork were also affected by the 2010 volcanic ash crisis. However, analysis of the figures shows that traffic remained almost static showing an increase of less than 1%. The actual statistics show Overflights at 27,321 recorded a 17.7% increase while North Atlantic Communications (NAC) at 36,405 were up by almost 21%. Commercial terminal traffic figures were 14,330 at Dublin (+7.5%), Shannon 1,809 (+27.8%) and Cork 2,100 (-3.6%). Away from the figures, delegates at IMPACT trade union's conference on 26th May voted to reject as 'unnecessary and unworkable' Fine Gael proposals to limit the rights of Irish air traffic controllers (ATCs) to take industrial action. Air traffic controller Tristan Spillane, told delegates that in 30 years, only four hours had been lost to industrial action in Irish air traffic control. The ATC branch of the union was engaging with the IAA in 'meaningful' discussions to establish what he described as ‘a robust dispute resolution framework’. "This framework would eliminate any requirement for a 'no strike' clause'. It would recognise the willingness of both sides to address their problems quickly and efficiently" he said. The framework would replace a continuity service agreement which lapsed in 2008. IMPACT national secretary Matt Staunton added, "Disputes between management and staff at the Irish Aviation Authority have been well served by the state's industrial relations mechanisms. Major stoppages, such as the action by controllers in Europe, simply haven't occurred in Ireland".

Irish Coast Guard (IRCG): On 9th June the Director of the Irish Coast Guard, Chris Reynolds, and Vice Admiral Anne-Francois de Saint -Salvy, Prefecture for the Atlantic Region and the Director of the French Coast Guard, signed an agreement to further strengthen Irish and French co-operation for search and rescues services in the respective search and rescue regions. The agreement allows for the mutual cooperation and interoperability of aviation assets in the event of a major incident off Irelands south coast. Both Coast Guards can provide either long range medium load helicopters or fixed wing aircraft that can intervene directly in support of the responsible coordinating search and rescue authority. Similar support may be possible in the event of ship casualties within their respective Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) such as obtaining top cover for a long range helicopter mission to put a salvage team aboard a stricken vessel. In all these scenarios the Irish Air Corps will remain the Irish Coast Guards first call for fixed wing top cover from their CASA aircraft. At present, Ireland provides assistance to the French Coast Guard on average about 10-15 times per year. The Irish Coast Guard also has similar agreements in place with the UK and is currently in negotiation with Iceland. The Irish Coast Guard’s Waterford-based helicopter will participate in a search and rescue exercise in Brest, France in September this year.  The French Coast Guard will participate in a similar exercise in Ireland next year.

An efficiency review of the Irish Coast Guard is to be carried out by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, but it will not include the controversial €500m search-and-rescue contract awarded to CHC Ireland. The review will focus on the delivery of services by the Coast Guard and the Marine Survey Office.

Irish Travel Tax: In an interview with the Irish Times Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Leo Varadkar said he was getting a lukewarm response from airlines for the proposal to abolish the travel tax announced as part of the Government’s Jobs Initiative on 10th May. The air travel tax rate will be reduced to zero possibly from 1st July subject to an agreement being reached with the airlines to bring in additional passenger numbers. "Aer Lingus isn’t keen to launch new routes in the current economic climate, while Ryanair wants more concessions, namely cheaper airport passenger charges and the break-up of the DAA, which operates Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports" he noted. He also stated that he’d like to see a route re-open to the west coast of the United States, possibly by Aer Lingus.  “They’re looking at it. They’ve told me that there’s just 90 people a day go from Ireland to the west coast and that’s not enough for them”. The cost of abolishing the travel tax if implemented from 1st July would be €15 million in 2011, €90 million in 2012 and €105 million thereafter.

Lufthansa Technik: On 6th June, Lufthansa Technik announced that as part of an expansion of its cooperation with British airline group bmi it has signed two new agreements. The first sees bmi and Lufthansa Technik extend the base maintenance agreement for 41 aircraft; the second is a new partnership for line maintenance support at London Heathrow airport. More than 200 C-Checks, which will vary in scope and can be individually configured through a fixed price building block concept, will be performed during the next seven years. In addition, the parties have agreed on a "dedicated single line" concept, were the aircraft will be overhauled nose-to-tail in primary facilities within the Lufthansa Technik Group. The A320 fleet will be overhauled at Shannon Aerospace (SAL), the 737 aircraft at Lufthansa Technik Sofia (LTSF) and the A330 aircraft at Lufthansa Technik Malta (LTM) thus taking full advantage of efficiency gains.

RBS Aviation Capital: Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC has launched a fresh attempt to sell its aircraft leasing business, RBS Aviation Capital which is based in Dublin. The process, involving an auction to be managed by Goldman Sachs, commenced in 2009, but was put on hold in Apr-2010 due to the fallout from the global financial crisis. Analysts estimate that RBS Aviation Capital is worth between $6bn and $8bn, making it the largest single disposal by the bank since it was rescued with tens of billions of pounds of UK taxpayers' money in 2008. It is now 83% owned by the U.K. government. While the sale hasn't been ordered by either the U.K. government or the European Union, the decision to sell is part of the bank's broader attempt to unload non-core assets amid tougher regulation and solvency rules. RBS Aviation Capital was created through a 2001 acquisition of a small advisory firm and now has almost 250 aircraft in service and around 11 others in storage. The unit turned profitable in the past year and ICBC Leasing, a subsidiary of China's Industrial and Commercial Bank, is reportedly interested.

Sídheán Teo: Sídheán Teo which is involved in the design, manufacture and sale of fire engines has recently completed the first of a special range of airport appliances for Manchester Airport. Established in An Spideal, Galway in 2000 and formed from a management buy-out of the fire engine side of the business of IDT it has seen a steady increase in the demand for its products and services. It has also delivered its 100th Fire and Rescue Vehicle, a Volvo Class B fire tender. In a fortuitous coincidence this 100th vehicle was delivered to Galway County Council Fire Service.

WikiLeaks: Details published in the Irish Independent and the Belfast Telegraph of more than 1,900 US Embassy cables were made available by WikiLeaks and involved as the newspaper put it “no financial transaction or any monetary obligations on either side”. Just as well for there was not much new revealed. Some politicians will be slightly embarrassed by views quoted about coalition parties and divergences between public and private positions. On Shannon for example, the cables reveal several government ministers expressed reservations about claims from human rights groups that the airport was being used to transit controversial rendition missions. Nevertheless they never pushed the issue too hard or took any action that would threaten the economic benefits of the US military’s use of Shannon. Much of this has been known or suspected, but there is no smoking gun giving positive proof of any rendition flights. Other aviation related revelations include the lobbying of Aer Lingus to choose the Boeing 787 rather than the A350 and the secrecy surrounding negotiation of the full pre-clearance arrangements at Dublin and Shannon. The lobbying for Boeing was to be expected. Minister Martin Cullen said he personally favoured Boeing, but that he did not have the authority to get involved. Minister Cullen also told the US Ambassador that the government "was committed to do anything necessary to ensure that Aer Lingus and Ryanair remained separate entities.  Ryanair's then Director of Regulatory Affairs, Jim Callahan, is quoted as telling Embassy officials that the government resistance reflected an "emotional, politically driven" reluctance to lose control of the national carrier. Embassy officials also took soundings from Dermot Mannion, who said competition between the two carriers was in the best interest of Irish travellers. Why America were so interested is a mystery.

Simtech: MCC/JOC specialist Simtech continue to be busy with a number of students passing through their doors in recent weeks. Students from PTC and Bristol Aviation supplied the majority for the courses. During May, Simtech were involved in organising the ground operations in Moneygall for the visit of US President Barack Obama. They were in situ on Friday 20^th May for a dress rehearsal when two VH-60s and a CH-47 arrived for a visit and then again on 23^rd May when the President and his travelling party made the historic visit to Co. Offaly. Simtech were also assisted with the operations on the North Apron at Dublin Airport for the Aer Lingus 75^th Birthday Party on 28^th May