Ghana Aviation - The Birth of a World Class Airline is Eminent

The Future of Ghana Aviation - Take Pride in the Developement

THE PAST, PRESENT and THE FUTURE OF AVIATION IN GHANA

• The failure of Ghana Airways, later compounded by the collapse of Ghana International Airlines (GIA) was a serious blow to the Ghanaian psyche. One would read comments on the Ghana Web and various blogs that Ghanaians were simply not capable of operating an airline. It should be shown to the rest of the world that Ghanaians are ready, willing and able to prove themselves in the airline industry, just as they have done in so many other areas in today's modern world. The day will soon come again, when Ghanaian pilots, crew, management and staff will carry their heads proudly in cities around the world, where the Ghana flag will appear once again.

• Some basic rationale in support of this claim:

Ø  It is not acceptable that some 30 foreign airlines serve Kotoka International Airport, reaping the benefits from operating some of the most lucrative routes in the world's air transportation system, while Ghana - the host country - does not operate a single international flight.

Ø  It is not acceptable that Ghana has no operating carrier offering service for passengers or cargo to/from the neighbouring countries up and down the coast of West Africa.

Ø   It is not acceptable that the many capable staffs who had invested their lives in aviation carriers, are still without work and prospects in the industry. Ghana can offer trained and educated youth and personnel to fill any position in the airline industry.

v  Over the last ten years that have passed since the three West African carriers have ceased operations, there have been several important developments in the region that support the development and growth of a West African airline:

Ø  Ghana has further developed a peaceful and stable democracy, becoming the favourite West African destination for business and tourism alike. 

Ø  The Ghanaian Diaspora abroad, whether in the UK, the United States or elsewhere has grown by leaps and bound. Ghanaians abroad have made a name for themselves as respected and successful citizens, who have the means to travel "home" regularly.
West Africa, as a region is now peaceful. Conflicts in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Ivory Coast have ended. This opens new opportunities for robust growth of trade and commerce throughout the area. 

Ø  Ghana has joined the club of oil exporting nations. An international airline is an integral part of the infrastructure that a modern Ghana needs to develop and have one. 

Ø  Ghana is in the process of advancing its export industries, - agriculture in particular. Roads have been built and the railways are being extended, to bring people and cargo to major centres. Ghana needs its own airline to make export markets accessible.

Ø  Ghana already offers education to students on all levels. The country needs job opportunities for graduating students that an international airline does provide

THE FUTURE OF AVIATION IN GHANA

Get involved in  the Development

This article is written by and Ingo Blondal a West Africa aviation and tourism expert - former resident of Accra and Joe Klatsi (Aviation expert and Aerospace Engineer). Further articles on this subject matter are to follow. His writings represent the views of a group of individuals, located in West Africa and the United States who wish to see a new African airline rise from the ashes. It is an ambitious, but realistic and worthwhile goal.

Many Ghanaians yearn for a new national airline to be born. Ghana has been without an airline for too long. Ghanaians used to have the option to patronize their own airline or to avail themselves of services offered by the many foreign companies. Today the Ghanaian option does not exist, while the UK offers flights by two British airlines and Delta Airlines from the United States flies to/from Accra twice a-day. Many West Africans who live in the US do still have to travel via Europe to reach their West African destinations. Imagine the thousands who have endured long waits at European airports, squandering time and money. All they want is to make it home in a comfortable and affordable manner.
Like this the West African has no choices. The Sierra Leonian cannot travel home for Christmas, as there are no seats - not even via Europe. If a seat can be found the cost is heavy. The same applies to many other Africans, who must accept the cost and the inconvenience - or stay home.

“ It is time for Ghana to accept the challenge. With diligence and hard work this ambitious project will be brought to fruition. We are convinced that thousands of Ghanaians are prepared to support our efforts in the spirit of national pride and unity”.

Runway Incursion - A Typical Scenario When Instructions Are Not Heard Or Understood



Runway Incursions - A Typical Scenario at Busy Airports

Description
A Runway Incursion is defined as “Any occurrence at an aerodrome involving the incorrect presence of an aircraft vehicle or person on the protected area of a surface designated for the landing and take off of aircraft”. (ICAO Doc 4444 - PANS-ATM)
It should be noted that this 'incorrect presence' may be a consequence of a failure of a pilot to comply with a valid ATC clearance or their compliance with an inappropriate ATC clearance.

Effects

An increased risk of serious collision for aircraft on the ground. When collisions occur off the runway, the aircraft and/or vehicles involved are usually travelling relatively slowly: in contrast, when a collision occurs on the runway, at least one of the aircraft involved will often be travelling at considerable speed which increases the risk of significant aircraft damage and the severity of the consequences therefrom, including serious or fatal injury.

Most Common Types

• Departing aircraft runway entry contrary to ATC clearance
• Aircraft runway crossing after landing contrary to ATC clearance
• Issued ATC taxi clearance in conflict with another ATC clearance
• ATC runway occupancy clearance in error or misjudged
• Towed aircraft runway crossing contrary to ATC clearance

Typical Scenarios

• ATCO-induced situation. With Low Visibility Procedures in force because of fog, a controller gives a clearance to an aircraft without subsequently checking for a correct read-back from the flight crew who have misunderstood the instructions. Without checking the location of the first aircraft, which has entered the active runway contrary to clearance and at an intermediate point, the controller clears a second aircraft for a full-length take-off. 
• Flight Crew-induced situation. An aircraft lands at an unfamiliar airport and the flight crew becomes disorientated as they exit the runway. Despite this, they acknowledge taxi instructions and without being confident of their position or the taxi route given, continue taxing and inadvertently enter an active runway.
• Driver-related situation. Procedures at an airport allow the driver of a contractor's vehicle to operate airside without an escort (or the prior receipt of appropriate training and formal approval dependent upon satisfactory completion thereof). A driver of such a vehicle enters an active runway without first obtaining ATC clearance.

Contributory Factors

• Weather. Low visibility may increase the chance of flight crew becoming disorientated and unsure of their position whilst taxying. Low visibility is also likely to restrict a controller’s ability to identify and follow aircraft visually so that cross-checking a reported aircraft position with its actual location may become impossible unless Surface Movement Radar is available.
• Aerodrome design. If, as a consequence of aerodrome design, aircraft have to cross active runways to move between their take off or landing runway and their parking position, the likelihood of runway incursions is increased. This risk may be reduced if the LRST identifies the Runway Hotspots thereby created and effective risk mitigation is developed and applied. Operation with intersecting active runways is also likely to require careful consideration to ensure that the inherently increased risk of conflict is adequately managed.
• Multiple Simultaneous Line-ups. Use of Multiple Line-ups for a series of aircraft departures from the same runway from different entry positions may increase the potential for runway collision.
• Conditional Clearances If conditional clearances are used, the risk consequent upon any error in their issue or actions may be increased because of errors in aircraft identification by adjacent aircraft. The chances of such errors are increased if aircraft livery does not readily correspond to the RTF callsign being used; this is sometimes the result of airline alliance livery policies or the ad hoc operational substitution of leased-in aircraft.
• Simultaneous Use of Intersecting Runways. Unless ATM SOPs are carefully formulated and rigorously applied, use of intersecting runways can significantly raise the risk of both runway incursions and Loss of Separation between aircraft near the ground and aircraft on the ground. At some airports where intersecting runways are used, especially in the USA, Land and Hold Short Operations are part of normal procedures. These are considered by some non-US aircraft operators to introduce an unacceptable level of additional risk; consequently, their flight crews are instructed to decline offers of such clearances.
• Late Issue of or late changes to Departure Clearances. This may lead to a temporary lapse in flight crew situational awareness if an attempt is then be made to set up or modify the FMS for departure whilst it is taxiing.
• Phraseology Use of Non-Standard Phraseology or non-adherence to Standard Phraseology can lead to clearance confusion and misunderstanding between flight crew and controllers. In particular the standard expression "Taxi into position and hold" used in the USA in place of the ICAO Phrase "Line up and wait" is worthy of note.
• Concurrent Use of More than One Language for ATC communications. At some international airports, locally-based users are permitted to communicate in the local language whereas foreign aircraft do so in English. Depending on the nature of the local language and the language skills of the visiting flight crew, this may have the effect of significantly reducing their awareness of the relative position of other traffic.
• English Language Competence Despite the introduction by ICAO of a system of validating competence in Aviation English, instances of pilots whose native language is not English misunderstanding taxi clearances still occur.
• Workload.
  • Pilot Workload. Shortly after landing, flight crew have to orientate themselves quickly in respect of their actual position in relation to taxiways and the airport layout. After clearing the landing runway, they also have to reconfigure aircraft systems in accordance with the After Landing Checks and may receive detailed taxi instructions from ATC. Similar levels of workload may occur prior to departure while the flight crew are concurrently carrying out tasks including configuring the aircraft systems ready for take-off, briefing crew and passengers, receiving amended departure clearance instructions from ATC, checking unfamiliar departure procedures, etc. Under these circumstances of high workload, a temporary loss of situational awareness or communications confusion are more likely to occur.
  • Controller Workload.. Controllers handling multiple aircraft movements and handovers have relatively little time available for monitoring individual aircraft to confirm that they are taxiing in accordance with their clearances.
• Distraction. This is the immediate cause of many incursions, although the context in which it occurs is often of more direct relevance to effective risk mitigation

Defences

Available defences relate to both the occurrence of runway incursions and the danger thereby created. The role of Safety Nets as a last line of defence against error is increasingly valuable at busy airports with complex movement areas. Not in any order of significance these defences include:

• Maintenance of situation awareness by flight crew and others using the manoeuvring area, specifically in respect of their own location in relation to active runways, and that of other aircraft and vehicles relative to active runways.
• Maintenance of situation awareness by TWR(TOWER) and GND(GROUND) ATCOs (Air Traffic Control Officers) in respect of aircraft and vehicle disposition and movements near to active runways
• Flight Crew use of the TCAS (Traffic Collision Avoidance System) display to provide situational awareness of other aircraft both in the air and on the ground.
• Effective flight crew use of appropriate features of RAAS if installed
• Where installed, effective procedures for the use of Enhanced Vision Systems (EVS) for improved awareness of runway occupancy
• Use of ICAO Standard Phraseology at all times to minimise any risk of clearance confusion.
• Presence of ICAO standard Runway Markings and Taxiway Surface Markings and Signs
• Presence of ICAO standard Runway Lighting and Taxiway Lighting including the installation of Runway Status Lights (RWSL) and Runway Holding Point Lighting.
• Controllers working traffic where the flight crew are not native speakers of English should pay particular attention to their speech clarity, use only standard phraseology and make a particular effort to closely monitor readbacks of taxi clearances.

Source : SKYbrary

Aviation Word Of The Day - Empennage

 The empennage is the aft-most section of a conventional aircraft consisting of three primary parts. The empennage of an aircraft is also known as the tail section. These three parts are known as horizontal stabilizer, vertical stabilizer and rudder. These 3 parts are responsible for controlling the aircraft in 3 axes.  They are also termed as primary control surfaces.

Different kinds of empennage

These control devices are hinged or movable surfaces through which the attitude of an aircraft is controlled during takeoff, flight, and landing.
Primary Control Surfaces
 The primary flight control surfaces on a fixed-wing aircraft include: ailerons, elevators, and the rudder. The ailerons are attached to the trailing edge of both wings and when moved, rotate the aircraft around the longitudinal axis. The elevator is attached to the trailing edge of the horizontal stabilizer. When it is moved, it alters aircraft pitch, which is the attitude about the horizontal or lateral axis. The rudder is hinged to the trailing edge of the vertical stabilizer. When the rudder changes position, the aircraft rotates about the vertical axis (yaw).

Aviation Word of the Day - Fallback Carousel

Fallback Carousel

Hi Friends, Aviation word of the Day - Fallback Carousel. Can you think of this word being taught to you while doing your Aviation courses?
It was a word I came across during ORAT ( Operation Readiness and Transfer ) after the Terminal at Indira Gandhi International Airport was built in New Delhi. I was intrigued with the many upgrades that were incorporated during the build up.
The busiest and the biggest Airport in India.

As you may know that many Upgrades and break through Innovations are happening in the Aviation industry.

It is important that I share the Importance and Fucnstions of the Fallback Carousel. As you know that airport has become so much convienet for Travellers by Air. Today you can check-in at an airport at your own convienence and around the clock (24hrs). In this case a passenger checks-in early, drops off his baggage at the airport, goes into a meeting and comes back to the airport at D-60Mins for the flight. In this case his baggage is handled / Sorted by the BHS (Baggage Handling System) through the various Bar Code scanners the BHS is fitted with. The Bag is then sorted / held on an isolated Sorter / Carousel but not released till the flight is assigned to a baggage carousel. Once the carousel is assigned the bag is automatically picked up and sent to the assigned carousel. As most you might own Iphones nowadays which has the Icloud application. Such is the Innovation you find at an Airport. The Fallback Carousel is used for Early check-in, late Check-in, Tag Less, Un Tag, Open, No Read and Transfer baggage.
     

   Source - IGI Airport

                        

Apron or Ramp - The Most Intriguing Place to work On for a New Entrant in an Airport

Aircraft Turnaround - A very well Orchestrated, Planned and Time bound activity And very interesting

As a child my I wanted to be a fighter pilot if not then a doctor. But it was not to be as the saying goes " Destiny is Etched ". It is very rare where you get to do the what you chose to do. For me it was way back in December,1994 after I was recruited at Jet Airways that a certain part of dream was realised and since it has always been a very intriguing and fascinating journey.

The aviation industry especially the Airline has always been a dream place for a young new entrant to start his/her career. As it has been for me over the years since the year 1994. Having joined the Airline absolutely with no education on the subject Aviation, it was like Latin and Greek to me in the beginning. Have come across many an individual and have asked why he/she wants to join the airline, the response is, it is very " Glamorous ". The word glamour is associated with an airline is because the very moment you enter into an airport you see Smartly groomed and Coloured Attired of the Airline. The grooming of the airline agents are such that they are No Less than Glamorous models. You are taught every procedure and process of work before you are allowed to handle specific work allocations. 

The Apron in other words the Ramp the procedure and process of work is very demanding but very satisfying. Every activity that happens during the Turnaround of an Aircraft there's a lot planning that goes into it. From the moment you are allocated as a Ramp agent or Turnaround Coordinator. First you acquire the information of the Arrival & Turnaround flight details such as Flt No, A/c Registration No, Name of the Captain, ETA / ETD, Incoming Passenger, Baggage, Cargo and P.O. Mail, Special loads, Passengers with special needs, MAAS, Wheel Chair (WCHR) passengers etc. Once all details are available you have to prioritise your activity. You then brief the respective departments/agencies about the plan of action.

This needs to be done before you come on the Ramp. On the ramp, as a Ramp agent you are to check every equipment for it serviceability/Un-serviceability. At no point there should be any equipment that is Not Ramp Worthy. All these checks are carried out at least 60Mins prior to the landing of the Aircraft. You also have to ensure all equipment's are positioned before the arrival of the aircraft. The positioning of Catering high lifts, Water cart, Toilet cart, The LDL's/UDL's (Lower Deck loader), Tow Truck & Tow bar, Electric Baggage Tractors, Fire Extinguisher bottle, Wheel Chairs, Baggage Loader, Passenger Step Ladders, Passenger Coaches, Baggage Trolleys, Outbound Cargo / Baggage and the Manpower to handle the Turnaround of an aircraft.

Every activity that happens in and around needs a lot of communication and coordination, without which the purpose to Turnaround an Aircraft is defeated. Every work process inside the aircraft and on Ramp is done as per the clock, It is also known as Precision Time Schedule (PTS). To have a perfect Turnaround an immense amount Briefing, Coordination, Communication, Calculation and Meticulous planning is involved. But I would never rule out the factor of Alertness and Time Management, on the ramp if you are Not Alert you will loose sight and control of the situation. This could lead to an accident, injury, delay, grounding of an aircraft due to negligence. Safety and Security is of the utmost Priority for the Red Cap (Supervisor) while he orchestrates the activity in and around the aircraft.  It is one such activity that needs proper coordination, communication and planning and decisions need to be made in split seconds.

The most satisfying feeling you get when an aircraft depart or rather pushed back on the dot (STD - Schedule Time of Departure) or Before the Schedule Time. 

Abbreviations:

a)   LDL - Lower Deck Loader
b)   UDL - Upper Deck Loader
c)   PTS - Precision Time Schedule
d)   BFL - Baggage Freight Loader
e)   TC - Toilet Cart
f)   WC - Water Cart
g)  ToC - Turnaround Coordinator
h)  EBT - Electric Baggage Tractor
i)   PBT - Push Back Tractor
j)   WCH - Wheel Chair
k)  PSL - Passenger Step Ladder
l)   PC - Passenger Coach
m) BT - Baggage Trolley
n)  ETA - Estimated Time of Arrival
o)  STA - Schedule Time of Arrival
p)  ETD - Estimated Time of Departure
q)  STD - Schedule Time of Departure.

          

Step-by-Step First Time Traveler Guide - Why and What really happens at Airport Check-In ?

• Airport Check-in - Why do we need a Check-in service and what happens during the process.

Check-in Counters at an Airport Terminal

• The very word Airport and Aeroplane rings a bell in the minds of a first time traveller. He is apprehensive of all the facts including all he has to do at an airport before he gets on to the Aircraft and finally to his destination. There is a saying that goes as " The First impression is the Last impression". As rightly said it is indeed True. The very process starts when a Flight Ticket is bought of Airline, preferably that of airline whose name is taken in high esteem for its overall customer service. It is important for a first time traveller to read through the rules and regulation on the Ticket, besides it is also important that he looks up the airlines website and go through the many need to know information that is mentioned therein.

• At the airport on the check-in you will get to see a smartly dressed check-in staff, he /she will greet you with a smile. He/She then takes you ticket but before the check-in process is initiated there will be a few questions asked. It is important to Listen and understand the questions. As a passenger you need to know your entitlements. You need to be very observant of the activities that the check-in agent. The ticket is checked for details such as Name of passenger, Flt No, Sector of travel, Class of travel and the Fare calculated. Once this formality is done you are check-in and your baggage is added to your name. The bags are then tagged, during the tagging of the bags you need to ensure that the right baggage is being tagged. At the end of this the check-in agent hands over the boarding pass with your baggage tags pasted to it. The bags are then released to the BMA (Baggage Make-up Area). The bags are then reconciled and transported to be loaded into the aircraft. He/she then circles the certain elements on the boarding pass, they are the Boarding time, Seat no and the Gate No. You are briefed about the carriage of permissible and non permissible articles in your hand baggage. In the event of a First time traveller you are guided to the passenger boarding area by a CSA (Customer Service Agent). While you are being escorted there are many instructions given and that needs to be understood well. It is at this place you observe many a behavioral activity of the airline staff while you wait for the boarding of the flight.             

  

Aviation Word Of The Day - Ramp

The ramp of an airport can also be refered to as apron or in some very rare cases;aerobridge area.

The ramp is the part of the airside area intended for

•Loading and offloading passengers and cargo

•Refuelling the aircraft

•Servicing and maintenance of aircraft

•Parking of the aircraft

The ramp side has also been divided into bays Which could be alloted to aircrafts carrying out specific types of flight. For instance,parking bays for international,domestic,passenger or freight carriers.

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Aviation Word Of The Day - Carousel

A Carousel is a rotating platform from where all outgoing and passengers arriving can access their baggage.

A  carousel can be found at the arrivals hall area in the passenger terminal.Bags are conveyed by the carousel through the scanner to the baggage makeup area where the bags are loaded into containers then onward into the lower deck of the aircraft.

Baggage flow on the carousel should be timely.If it's too slow,passengers will be kept waiting for the arrival of their bags which will  cause delays.Conversely, if its too fast,the bags will pile up and passengers will have a hard time tracing their bags.

Aviation Word Of The Day - Callsign

A callsign in aviation refers to a series of words and letters used to identify an aircraft,airline or station.It is a unique  designation or code used to enhance radio communication between the pilot and Air Traffic Control for instance.

Callsigns could be Alphanumeric-  that is a combination of alphabet and numerals or either of the two.

Callsigns are distinctive based on each airline's preference and are recognized internationally.Callsigns act the same way as the registration number of an aircraft.

Examples of airline callsigns are 

British Airways - Speedbird

China Airlines - Dynasty

Aero Benin - Aeroben

Atlantic Airlines - Blackjack,etc.

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Aviation Word Of The Day - Hub

Airline hubs are certain airports used as gateways to multiple destinations. It is usually a particular airport that an airline uses as a transfer point to get passengers to their intended destination. The hub becomes the airline's transfer point which in most cases, is the city where the airline is headquartered. That's how it works. All travellers going from point A to B would have to go through the airline's gateway which would now become A-B-C.In other words,from point A to C via point B(the hub). For instance,a passenger going to the United States on an Emirates flight will definately have to go through Dubai airport before finally connecting onwards to the destination airport in the United States.
 While there's no universal rule regarding the number of hubs an airline can have,some airlines have single connecting hubs,and others have multiple hubs. Examples of hubs include Frankfurt for Lufthansa Airline, Dubai for Emirates,London's Heathrow for British airways and the list is endless.
 Basically,each and every passenger would have to travel from his destination through the corresponding airline's hub before finally reaching his/her destination except the condition where the passenger's destination happens to be the hub. In this case,the passenger's journey ends at the hub. It only makes sense that someone travelling to Dubai with Emirates Airline stops there.This type of  flight is termed "direct flight" or "point to point".Examples are ACC - LOS, DXB-DEN, AMM - CAI,and so on.

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