Aviation Insider

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Why Airport Security Is So Important!

AirWhizzMay 21, 2018 No Comments

Why Airport Security Is So Important!

Aviation Insider

Airport security has evolved with time. Before 1960’s, airport security wasn’t a big issue and was not that strict.

But a series of high jacking and terrorist attacks that took place eventually changed the entire airline security industry. These incidents led to the creation of the modern airport security system.

We have often seen how people get angry and agitated during security checks. But it is a necessary measure which must be taken to avoid incidents that can cause you harm.

Here are the reasons why airport security is so Important!

1.PROTECTION AGAINST TERRORISTS

High jackings of various airplanes in the 1960s and 1970s led to the system of screening, ticketing and monitoring procedures, which were followed till 2001.

However, all this changed after the 9/11 incident. It was a wake-up call for authorities who had become complacent with airport security.

New security measures have been developed to stop more elaborate and intelligently planned actions by terrorists.

Things are different now. It is difficult to get through airport security even with a bottle of water. These tough security measures have helped airlines avoid potential terrorist threats.

2.FIGHT AGAINST NARCOTICS

Drugs trafficking went up very quickly once smugglers started using airplanes. Drug lords like Pablo Escobar and others made billions using the flying routes to transport drugs.

This had a negative effect on the aviation industry, affected the society and disrupted the economy countries where drug trafficking was prominent.

Even today we see reports of people coming up with new ways to traffic drugs on airplanes, but modern day airport security measures have helped to catch the people responsible.

3.PREVENT SMUGGLING

Apart from drugs, airport security has been trained to detect different products that are transported illegally across borders on airplanes.

People in the past have tried to carry things like gold, stolen antiques and in some cases, rare and exotic animals in carry-on bags, but airport security has been successful in stopping such practices.

4.CYBER-SECURITY

Airport security doesn’t only involve security checks before boarding a flight.

Hackers are coming up with new and sophisticated ways to attack aviation network computers, Air Traffic Control systems and gain unauthorised access to airport and airline databases.

With the aviation industry becoming heavily dependent on digital technology, cyber-security has become a serious and urgent concern.

Authorities and Airlines are investing heavily in cyber-security and have been able to tackle cyber threats which can cause heavy financial losses and disrupt the air transportation network.

5.PROTECTS PASSENGERS INSIDE AIRPORT

With mass shooting incidences on the rise, airport security keeps passengers protected inside the airport.

If there was no airport security, the airport would be left vulnerable to surprise attacks from terrorists and criminals.

Security measures taken at the airport, discourage criminals from committing such crimes. CISF (Central Industrial Security Force) is a paramilitary organization that looks after the airport security in India.

With the advancement in technology, airports are now taking the help of modern tools and machines to tackle potential threats to the flyers and make air travel safer. Here are a few examples of these modern machines!

1.A.I.T SCANNERS

Since its introduction in 2007, Advanced Imaging Technology(AIT) scanners have replaced manual checking at many airports.

These scanners help the security personnel detect any concealed (purposely or not) metal, plastics, ceramics, chemical materials and explosives with the help of 3-dimensional images created by the machine after scanning the passenger.

2.BIOMETRIC SYSTEM

The Biometric Boarding System has had a positive effect on an airport’s security all around the world.

Biometric scanners at airports help security identify the passenger and get their information which is present in the government’s database.

This helps the security personnel to determine whether the passenger is a potential threat or not.

3.MRI LUGGAGE SCANNERS

These scanners are similar to MRI scanners present at the hospital.

They help airport security detect liquids and prohibited items in checked-in luggage.

They are currently being used at airports around the world such as London’s Luton Airport and Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam.

4.CYBER-SECURITY SOLUTIONS

With airports adopting smart technology, aviation cyber-security solutions are being set up.

This software protects aviation networks, computers, and databases from cyber-attacks and unauthorised access.

Due to globalization, airlines are expanding their operations worldwide and are not limited to the country of origin. That is why advanced cyber-security solutions have become a prominent tool for maintaining security.

Airport security is important because it keeps the passenger at ease while flying. It assures that the airplane will make it to the destination safely and the person sitting beside has been deemed as a safe flyer.

If you want to know about your airline’s security policy and location of security checkpoints within the airport, look no further. Simply download the AirWhizz app and get all the information you need about airport security on your phone itself.

Have a safe journey and Fly Stress-Free!

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UDAN Boosts Connectivity In 25 Tier II & Tier III Cities Within 13 Months!

AirWhizzMay 21, 2018 No Comments

UDAN Boosts Connectivity In 25 Tier II & Tier III Cities Within 13 Months!

Aviation Insider

A few Months back Sikkim was the only state in the country to not have an airport. However, After 13 months there is finally India’s 100th airport in the Pakyong district which is about 35 Kilometres away from Gangtok, Sikkim. This has been made possible by government’s UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik) Scheme.

The UDAN Scheme, also known as Regional Connectivity Scheme(RCS), was implemented by the government in April 2017 to boost regional connectivity and make air travel affordable In India.

Before the scheme was implemented the country had 75 airports, however within 13 months, 25 new airports have been added to the network.

Here’s how the regional air connectivity has improved under the UDAN scheme –

  • The airports in Pathankot (which was not operational for 7 years) and Adampur district in Punjab have been made operational under the scheme.
  • The airstrips in Vijaynagar in Karnataka and Rourkela in Odisha, which were being used by corporates for business purposes, have now been opened for general public.
  • The Hubli Airport in Karnataka saw its first commercial flight at the start of this month.
  • Airports have opened up in districts like Kadapa (Andhra Pradesh), Kandla(Gujrat), Nanded(Maharashtra), Ozar (Nashik), Porbandar(Gujrat), Jalgaon(Maharashtra) and Mundra(Gujrat).
  • States like Pondicherry and Daman & Diu have also seen airports being opened up for the public.
  • Under RCS, the price of an air ticket for a one hour journey on a fixed-wing airplane is just Rs 2500.
  • Regional airlines such as Air Deccan and Air Odisha have also started on routes under The UDAN scheme.

According to Mr. Ajay Singh, SpiceJet’s MD & Chairman, the air traffic on regional routes has increased significantly. There is an occupancy of over 90% on SpiceJet flights on routes under the UDAN scheme.

Airlines in India served 11.7 crore passengers in 2017 and the industry saw a growth rate of 17.3%. This year on year growth has made India the fastest growing domestic aviation market in the world.

To cater to the high demand and improve air travel connectivity, it is important to build airports in districts other than metro cities, which has been made possible under the UDAN Scheme. RCS will also play a major part in making air travel more accessible and affordable for people in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities in the near future.

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Over 100 Passengers Lost Their Lives After Airplane Crash Near Havana Airport!

AirWhizzMay 19, 2018 No Comments

A Boeing 737 airplane which belonged to Cuba’s National Airline, Cubana De Aviacion, crashed on Friday morning near the Jose Martin International Airport in Havana, taking the lives of more than 110 people onboard.

Here are the details of the incident –

  • Cubana de Aviacion flight CU972 was to depart from Havana at 11 a.m. and reach Holguin at around 12:20 p.m.
  • Shortly after take-off, the plane crashed between the Jose Martin International Airport and Santiago de Las Vegas which is near Havana.
  • The Airplane had 114 people, including the crew, onboard when the unfortunate incident happened.
  • Almost all the passengers were Cuban except 5 passengers and the crew, who were all foreign nationals.
  • According to the reports, the aircraft started losing height shortly after take-off and crashed into the woodlands near the airport.
  • Only 4 passengers, all women, survived the crash, however, one woman lost her life shortly after reaching the hospital. The other 3 women were in critical condition but are out of danger for now.
  • The Cubana aircraft was leased from a Mexican airline, Aerolineas Damojh.
  • Authorities believe that the airplane crashed because it was an old aircraft. The Boeing 737 was built in 1979, making it around 39 years old.
  • It was first flown by the US airline, Piedmont, in 1979, and had flown for many other carriers over the years.

According to witnesses present in the area during the incident, they heard a huge explosion and saw a huge cloud of smoke go up.

Firefighters rushed to crash site to put out the fire. Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel visited the crash site as soon as the incident was reported. A large number of ambulances and medical workers were deployed immediately.

Cubana de Aviacion has been removing old airplanes from its fleet in recent months because of mechanical problems however they have been heavily criticized due to frequent flight delays and cancellations.

Cuba had a record of no airplane crashes for 18 years however over the past 3 years the island country has seen 4 fatal airplane accidents.

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10 Types Of People You Meet On An Airplane!

AirWhizzMay 18, 2018 No Comments

10 Types Of People You Meet On An Airplane!

Aviation Insider

We’ve all taken flights with crying babies in the background, noisy passengers, inquisitive but well-meaning old ladies and even that someone cute who comes and sits on the seat next to you.

Whether it’s the first time you’re flying or the hundredth, you’ve probably had seatmates who either make your flight feel like a breeze or just ruin it.

From honeymooners to serious business travellers, here’s a look at the kind of flyers who might sit with you on your next flight.

1.THE CHATTERBOX

If you are welcomed by warm smiles from your seatmate who is very eager to help you place your bag in the overhead bin, Congratulations!

You just found a person who loves to make friends when they fly.

Be ready to be bombarded with questions about your life and hear stories about their fun and exciting times. They mean no harm and are just being friendly.

The only problem is, if you were planning on getting some sleep on the flight or work on that presentation of yours, you can forget about it!

2.THE NERVOUS FLYER

This person will let out an uncomfortable sigh every time they feel a bump while flying.

They fumble with their seatbelts and have a nervous look on their face throughout the flight. Just pray that your flight does not hit turbulence.

These types of flyers may be nervous because they might be afraid of heights or may be flying for the first time.

But remember to cut them some slack! Be a good person and help them or at the least don’t be annoyed at their behaviour no matter how irrational it may seem. Think about your own fears and phobias and show them some understanding.

3.THE LOVEBIRDS

Whether it’s a newly married couple or just two teenagers in love! You’ve probably seen them on your flight at least once.

They spend their entire journey whispering into each other’s ears, cuddling up as if both their airplanes seats have merged and take selfies whenever they get a chance.

But this just might work in your favour. They will be so busy cosying up to each other that they will not care who is sitting beside them and you might get some alone time with some extra space in the row.

And after all there’s nothing wrong with two people expressing their love as long as they don’t do anything inappropriate. Give them their space and don’t be a cynic!

4.THE COMPLAINER

You saw this person giving the poor attendant an earful at the check-in counter about how the flight was delayed by 15 mins.

You hope that this person does not sit with you but alas! There they are, sitting all grumpy in the adjacent seat!

They will complain about how bland the food is, the lack of leg room and how other airlines are better than the one you and “they” are flying in.

The only thing you can do here is smile, plug in your earphones and put your music on max volume.

5.THE BUSINESS TRAVELLER

You will be amazed by how much a tray table on the flight can hold when you sit beside this person.

A laptop, two cell phones, cups of coffee and a huge pile of papers usually accompany this traveller.

Forget about talking, they are so caught up in that excel sheet that they don’t even have the time to look at who’s sitting beside them.

They basically want to be left alone to do their work, so you can go ahead and catch up on some sleep or do whatever else you like.

6.THE BACKPACKER

You can just look at this person and tell they’re off on an adventure.

They usually travel alone and are accompanied by their backpack and a lot of energy and excitement.

You will feel like talking to them, asking them where they have been with that rugged backpack and where they’re going. They may have a lot of interesting stories but that doesn’t mean they want to share them with a stranger on an airplane.

But, if they do answer those questions, get ready to hear about some amazing adventures.

7.THE FOODIE

A lot of people like to bring their own food on the flight because let’s face it, airplane food does taste bland!

The only problem with that is, some flyers tend to be inconsiderate and bring food that can make the whole cabin smell strongly.

You can just hope that they finish and pack up their food as soon as possible and wait for that lingering smell to go away.

8.THE TODDLER

Kids on a flight are a bit difficult, they may cry or run in the aisles or need frequent visits to the restrooms.

At some point, we all have been on an airplane with young children or babies on board.

They are usually accompanied by their tired looking parents who can’t take a wink during the whole journey and are constantly trying to get their kid to calm down.

And while it may be annoying, imagine what they’re going through. If it bothers you, carry noise-cancelling headphones, speak to the parents or guardian politely and request them to keep it down and make the most of it.

9.THE OBLIVIOUS TRAVELLER

This can be the worst type to end up with.

They have no regard for personal space and sit as if they are relaxing on their personal sofa.

They spread their legs while sitting and take up most of the armrest. The worst part of sitting beside this person, they will also use your shoulder as their pillow. Honestly, they may not even realise that their behaviour is offensive.

And while you would probably be more comfortable sitting in the overhead bin than sitting beside this flyer, you should request them politely to make space and if needed ask the cabin crew for assistance.

10 THE PERFECT PASSENGER

They are interesting to talk to, polite and make you wish the flight never lands.

People say that such passengers don’t exist but that’s not true. However, the chances of you sitting beside this flyer are pretty rare!

It’s your lucky day if this passenger sits beside you because they make the flight pleasant and before you know it you’ve made a friend.

If you encounter such a person sitting next to you, thank your stars and enjoy your flight.

So always be prepared for any type of passenger might encounter and always try and be polite when dealing with them. Also, which one are you?

Note: If you enjoyed this article and want to Fly Stress-Free, download the AirWhizz app and get Live Flight Updates, Airport Info, Discounts & Offers For Your Trip & Much More!

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Air India Might Have To Compensate USD $8.8 Million To Passengers On Delhi-Chicago Flight!

AirWhizzMay 18, 2018 No Comments

Air India Might Have To Compensate USD $8.8 Million To Passengers On Delhi-Chicago Flight!

Aviation Insider

Following an incident that happened on a Delhi-Chicago Flight on 9th May, Air India may have to pay its 323 passengers onboard a compensation of $8.8 million.

The flight was delayed due to Directorate General Of Civil Aviation’s (DGCA) order to restrict variations or changes in flight duty time limitation(FDTL) of the flight’s crew.

Here are the details of the incident that took place on 9th May 2018 –

  • Air India flight AI 127 was to depart from Delhi and reach Chicago in 16 hours.
  • The Flight was diverted to Milwaukee, due to bad weather conditions.
  • The duration of a flight from Milwaukee to Chicago is around 19 minutes.
  • The flight could have taken off after the weather cleared up, however, the flight crew was exhausted after travelling for 16 hours and waiting for 2 hours for the weather to settle down.
  • The crew was permitted to only one landing due to the DGCA’s decision to restrict variations in FDTL.
  • The Airline had no choice but to arrange for a new crew.
  • This change in crew caused the flight to be delayed by 6 hours at the Milwaukee airport. Passengers stayed onboard during this time.
  • Milwaukee airport itself was in distress due to diverted flights and did not have a gate available for the passengers to proceed to and get some rest.
  • Amongst the 323 passengers, there were 41 people in wheelchairs, 2 infants and an autistic kid onboard.
  • According to US guidelines, if passengers are onboard for more than four hours for international flights, the airline has to compensate travellers.
  • This delay affected passengers at the Chicago airport waiting for the Air India flight which was to travel back to Delhi.

In such cases, the airline has to pay $ 27,500 per passenger. If Air India is given the order to compensate for this delay, they will have to pay all the 323 passengers, which amounts to $ 8.8 Million.

Air India and The Federation Of Indian Airlines, represented by IndiGo, Jet Airways, SpiceJet and GoAir, submitted a plea on May 15th to reverse DGCA’s decision to not permit variations in the FDTL. The High court has asked the government and the DGCA for their take on the incident and what should be done to solve this situation.

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Iceland’s WOW Air Will Start The ‘Cheapest Flights’ From India To North America!

AirWhizzMay 17, 2018 No Comments

Iceland’s WOW Air Will Start The ‘Cheapest Flights’ From India To North America!

Aviation Insider

There is some good news for air travellers in India. Iceland’s low-cost airline, WOW Air, announced that it will start flying from Delhi to various cities in North America and Europe via Iceland’s capital Reykjavik.

Here are the details about the services being offered by WOW Air –

  • The airline will start its services from December 2018
  • The passenger will just have to pay Rs 13,499 to fly from Delhi International Airport to Keflavik airport located in Reykjavik.
  • From there the flights will take passengers to other North American and European destinations.
  • This fare is inclusive of all taxes. However, the passenger will have to pay for in-flight meals and check-in baggage.
  • The airline will be charging Rs 49,599 for its seats in the premium segment which is inclusive of all taxes.
  • The airline will be flying to 15 North American destinations which include Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Boston, Toronto and San Francisco.
  • Passengers will also be able to fly to destinations such as Paris, Iceland and London with the airline.
  • The airline will use wide-bodied Airbus A330 Neo’s to fly in India.
  • There will be 5 direct flights a week from India to Iceland and may offer daily services in the future.

The services by WOW Air will reduce the travel time from India to USA to just 20 hours which includes a 2-hour layover in Iceland.

Founder of WOW Air, Mr. Skuli Mogensen, is very excited about this opportunity to operate his airlines in India. According to him, this would be the shortest one-stop layover airline from India to North America.

On a daily basis, more than 20000 passengers travel from India to North America. This move will surely make the airline take advantage of the ever-increasing air passenger traffic in the country and will allow Indian travellers to fly to fly at a lesser cost to new international destinations in a shorter time.

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IndiGo Plans To Expand Its Operations To 24 New International Destinations!

AirWhizzMay 16, 2018 No Comments

IndiGo Plans To Expand Its Operations To 24 New International Destinations!

Aviation Insider

IndiGo Airlines is all set to increase its market-leading share of 39.5% by expanding its flight operations to 24 international destinations in the next 18 months.

Here are all the details of the expansion process –

  • The Airline will order wide-bodied aircraft at the Farnborough air show which will happen in July 2018.
  • The airline will start flying to 18 new destinations in the Middle East, China and Southeast Asia.
  • They will also start 6 long haul flights which will fly to airports in Germany, United Kingdom, France, Belgium and Switzerland.
  • Between October 2018 and March 2019, the airline will start flying to countries like Germany, Iran, Maldives, Afghanistan, France, Saudi Arabia, Thailand and United Kingdom
  • Between March 2019 and October 2019, IndiGo plans to start flight operations to Italy, Myanmar, Switzerland, Belgium and China.

This move is part of IndiGo’s second phase of expansion.

According to an interview conducted by Economic Times with IndiGo’s founder, Rahul Bhatia, expansion of flight operations and fleet size is the airline’s main priority. He also said that the airline is planning to further introduce medium and Long haul flights in the coming few years and increase its fleet size to 200 by the end of 2018.

Currently, the airline boasts of a fleet size of 163 aircraft which fly to 42 domestic and 8 international destinations which include Qatar, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nepal, Oman, Dubai and Sharjah.

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Mumbai Airport To Celebrate “Jaya He” Museum In A Week-Long Carnival!

AirWhizzMay 15, 2018 No Comments

Mumbai Airport To Celebrate “Jaya He” Museum In A Week-Long Carnival!

Aviation Insider

If you have travelled to the Terminal 2 of Mumbai airport, you must have come across the beautiful paintings and sculptures that are displayed at the ‘Jaya He’ Museum.

Coinciding with the International Museum Day which is celebrated on May 18, Mumbai International Airport Limited (MAIL) has announced that the Mumbai Airport will organise a week-long carnival to celebrate the Jaya He Museum.

Here are all the details of the event –

  • Passengers will get to interact with artists who are directly involved with designing the museum.
  • The theme of the event will be ‘paper’. Stalls will be set up across the airport which will display craftwork and sculptures made from paper.
  • Anil Nayak and Moreshwar Patil, the two artists who designed the artifacts for the museum, will be making live sketches of passengers as well.
  • Videos and photos of the passengers visiting the museum will be put on the website and displayed across social media.

The Jaya He museum spreads across 4 levels of the Terminal 2 Building at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport. The museum displays Indian culture through beautiful paintings, arts & crafts and sculptures.

The airport museum is promoted by MAIL through organised tours. It is a very popular tour and the airport gets a minimum of 10 bookings per day. The tour is organised keeping in mind the travel schedule of the passenger and the route of the tour is decided accordingly.

40 percent of the passengers who visit the Jaya He are foreign tourists and this number is increasing every year. The airport has hired interns from colleges who guide the passengers through the tour.

MAIL has recently tied up with the International Council of Museums (ICOM). This has been done to make the airport museum popular amongst other museums in the world.

If you want to know more about the Jaya He museum, look no further. Simply download the AirWhizz App and get all the information you need about the museum and other services available at the airport on the move.

Enjoy the beauty of Indian art and Fly Stress- Free!

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