Life Flight Network HAS received recognition for earning two distinguished safety accreditations. LFN is the first air medical operator in the world to receive the HAI Accreditation Program of Safety (HAI-APS) designation for helicopter air ambulance operations. Simultaneously, LFN received International Standard for Business Aircraft Operators (IS-BAO) accreditation from the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC).

HAI-APS is a voluntary program to assist helicopter operators reduce accident and incident rates by helping to ensure the program’s safety culture is where it should be. HAI, the trade association for the international helicopter community, developed HAI-APS to help participating businesses “fly to a higher standard” of safety and professionalism. To become an HAI-APS accredited operator, programs need to demonstrate their operations are in compliance with internationally accepted standards of safety and professionalism for helicopter operations.

IBAC is an international, non-governmental association which represents, promotes, and protects the interests of business aviation in international policy and regulatory forums. IBAC introduced the IS-BAO program after recognizing the need for the business aviation community to take a lead role in fostering harmonization of operating procedures and requirements. IS-BAO’s fundamental purpose is to foster standardized, safe, and highly professional aircraft operations.

“We owe it to our employees, our patients, and to the communities we serve to conduct air ambulance operations as safely as possible,” stated Michael Griffiths, Chief Executive Officer of LFN. Griffiths adds, “Becoming the first air ambulance operator in the world to achieve dual HAI-APS and IS-BAO accreditations is further demonstration of our commitment to operating medically configured helicopters in the safest manner possible.”

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced it is expanding its activities to prevent payment fraud in the air travel industry. Payment fraud costs the industry an estimated $858 million annually, approximately $639 million of which is borne by airlines and the remainder by other participants in the travel value chain, including travel agents. IATA is cooperating with Ypsilon Net AG to make IATA Argus Fraud Manager (IATA Argus) available to airlines and travel agents.

While some airlines already use a range of systems to reduce fraud activity in their direct sales, IATA Argus offers a unique, fully-integrated and automated payment fraud detection and management solution for both travel agents and airlines.

“IATA is committed to helping the industry fight fraud. Our partnership with Ypsilon Net AG brings a modern fraud prevention solution that meets the needs of both airlines and travel agents to reduce fraud and increase the confidence in generating new sales via all available distribution channels,” said Aleks Popovich, IATA’s Senior Vice President Financial and Distribution Services.

By accessing information available in global distribution systems, IATA Argus is able to detect suspect transactions from as early as the booking request stage, and flag them or even cancel them as appropriate. It can notify the agent or airline of a suspicious booking, and automatically take action to void, suspend or cancel a ticket.

“You cannot segregate fraud occurring on airline direct channels from fraud generated through travel agency or online travel agency channels. IATA Argus combines ease of implementation and cost efficiency in a system that protects all channels effectively and provides full automation,” said Hans-Joachim Klenz, CEO of Ypsilon Net AG.

IATA Argus can also integrate systems including, but not limited to, IATA Perseuss and Ethocaand uses the provided information to enhance fraud scoring.

Welcome to the most recent International Private Medical Insurance Magazine exclusive air ambulance medical transportation round table business forum. In this exclusive debate we talk about the international medical transportation sector of the business. With a focus on fleet capabilities, on-board technology, medication and payor-provider relations the round table takes a closer look at the global providers assisting iPMI insurers and insureds.

Exclusive C-Suite executive commentary from FAI, Jet Executive, MedcareProfessional and Tyrol.

Data for global air freight markets showing a slowdown in growth for air cargo demand in June. Air freight volumes measured in freight tonne kilometers (FTK) rose just 1.2% compared to a year ago. This is consistent with falling trade activity and weaker than expected global growth.

Regional performance varied widely. Asia-Pacific, North American and Latin American carriers reported year-on-year declines (-0.3%, -3.3%, and -1.6% respectively) while European carriers reported that markets were flat. This was offset by the strong performance of Middle Eastern (+15.3%) and African (+6.7%) carriers to keep growth in positive territory.

The general trend of a weaker 2015 compared to 2014 can be seen in the half-year data. Air freight markets expanded by 5.8% in 2014; however year-to-date growth for 2015 stands at 3.5%.

“The half-year report for air cargo is not encouraging. With growth of just 1.2% over June last year, markets are basically stagnating. Some carriers are doing better than others at picking up the business that is out there. But overall it has been a disappointing first half of 2015, especially considering the strong finish to 2014. The remainder of the year holds mixed signals. The general expectation is for an acceleration of economic growth, but business confidence and export orders look weak. Air cargo and the global economy will all benefit if governments can successfully focus on stabilizing growth and stimulating trade by removing barriers,” said Tony Tyler, IATA’s Director General and CEO.

Regional analysis in detail

Asia-Pacific carriers saw a fall in FTKs of 0.3% in June compared to June 2014, and capacity expanded 4.0%. The region has experienced a notable slowdown in imports and exports over recent months, and latest data shows emerging Asia trade activity down 8%. Growth for the year-to-date was 5.4%. In addition to generally weak trade growth, the region is the most exposed to the China market where government policies are more focused on stimulating domestic markets.

European carriers reported flat demand in June (0.0%), compared to a year ago and capacity rose 2.2%. Improvements in Eurozone business confidence have not led to increased air freight demand, and consumer confidence has been hit by the Greek crisis. Growth for the year-to-date was -0.6%. 

North American airlines experienced a decline of 3.3% year-on-year and capacity grew 2.8%. The positive impact of a modal shift to air as a result of the West Coast ports strike has faded and economic performance, despite some improvement in the second quarter, is subdued. Growth for the first six months of the year was -0.4%.

Middle Eastern carriers saw the strongest growth with demand expanding by 15.3%, and capacity rose 19.2%. Airlines in the region have pursued a successful hub strategy connecting both long- and short-haul markets. Although some major economies in the region have seen slowdowns in non-oil sectors, economic growth remains generally robust, which is also helping to sustain demand for air freight. Growth for the year-to-date is running at 14%.

Latin American airlines reported a fall in demand of 1.6% year-on-year, and capacity expanded 3.7%. Regional trade activity has grown in the first half of 2015, despite continuing weakness in Brazil and Argentina. Unfortunately this has not translated into stronger demand for air freight. Growth for the year-to-date was -6.9%.

African carriers experienced growth in demand of 6.7%, and capacity rose by the same amount. The Nigerian and South African economies have underperformed for much of the year so far, however regional trade has held up. Demand growth for the first six months was 4.8%.

THIS WEEK AIRMED BECAME THE FIRST EVER EUROPEAN AIR AMBULANCE OPERATOR TO SUCCESSFULLY APPLY FOR AND GAIN CAMTS (COMMISSION ON ACCREDITATION OF MEDICAL TRANSPORT SYSTEMS) ACCREDITATION.

“This is a huge achievement” says David Quayle, Chief Flight Nurse of AirMed who led the accreditation process. “We are one of only two operators situated outside North America who have received this accreditation and on top of that we are one of only 4 operators worldwide who have achieved dual accreditation from both CAMTS and EURAMI (European Aeromedical Institute)”.

AirMed decided to prepare and apply for CAMTS in 2013. This decision was driven mainly by the U.S. insurance and assistance market which more readily recognises CAMTS accreditation standards. “Following discussions with prospective new U.S based clients, it became clear that there was a growing need that their air ambulance providers had to not only have accreditation, but specifically CAMTS accreditation. We therefore took the decision to start the application process.”Explains Jane Topliss, Director of Business Development.

“One of the major difficulties that we had to face when going through this process is the fact that the CAMTS standards are derived from the U.S. healthcare and aviation regulatory system. Despite the feeling that the UK is closely aligned with the U.S., when it comes to both of these complex areas we are actually more closely aligned with continental Europe” confirms Mr Quayle. “We had to adapt the criteria of each aspect of the CAMTS standards to our UK system in a way that still demonstrated clear compliance”.

CAMTS standards and auditing procedures are extremely rigorous with two auditors examining all of the required documentary evidence and speaking directly to many members of the team over the course of at least two days – they really do leave no stones unturned. Clients and patients can be assured that Air Ambulance companies which comply really do work to the very highest worldwide standards.

The comprehensive application and auditing process of CAMTS looks at every aspect of a company’s operation including aircraft maintenance, flight and ground operations, training across the organisation and, of course, patient management and clinical governance. Our Safety Management System is an example of this and an area where AirMed excelled. Unlike the U.S. it has been a legal requirement from an aviation operations perspective in Europe to have a Safety Management System in place for several years. AirMed’s companywide system is extremely advanced and well established and it is upon this risk management system that all company decisions are made; for example, the implementation of multi-crew operations across the entire fleet of aircraft in 2014.

“We are absolutely delighted to have achieved this accreditation. The team work extremely hard every day to ensure that a high quality service is provided to our clients and most importantly to our patients. To be able to have this great teamwork recognised is the perfect tribute to their dedication” concludes Ms Topliss.

Northwest MedStar received an Airbus H135 (formerly EC135) helicopter adding to their expansive fleet of twenty-one critical care transportation units serving a multi-state territory.

"This is an additional, long-term investment in Northwest MedStar's critical care operations," said Nancy Vorhees, Chief Administrative Office for Inland Northwest Health Services, Northwest MedStar's parent company. "For decades our critical care teams have worked with health care professionals to provide life-saving services, and that commitment will continue for years to come."

The Airbus H135 helicopter includes the next generation of avionics and enhanced situational awareness for pilots. Northwest MedStar purchased the helicopter and had it modified for air medical services.  The aircraft, based in Spokane, provides services throughout the Inland Northwest.

Northwest MedStar's fleet is comprised of eight helicopters, five airplanes (fixed wings) and eight critical care ground units located at six base locations including Missoula, Mont., Spokane, Moses Lake, Brewster, Tri-Cities and Palouse region.

Data for global air freight markets showing a sharp increase in year-on-year air freight volumes. Growth measured by freight tonne kilometers (FTK) was up 11.7% in February, compared to February 2014. Capacity grew 7.4%.

Much of the impressive February result is due to the timing of the Lunar New Year activities. Air freight is given a strong boost in the weeks leading up to the holiday, which last year fell in January. In addition, air freight volumes were enhanced by the consequences of congestion at US West Coast ports.

These factors showed up most in the Asia-Pacific results, with carriers in that region recording a rise in volumes of 20.8% year-on-year. Japanese carriers, in particular, benefited from the modal shift owing to congested sea ports in the US.

“A combination of factors made February the strongest month in a very long time for air freight. Nobody expects growth to continue at this pace. As we look forward, however, there is room for optimism. Business confidence improved slightly and trade continues to grow. The year is shaping up in line with a growth expectation of 4-5%,” said Tony Tyler, IATA’s Director General and CEO.

Regional analysis in detail

Asia-Pacific carriers saw FTKs grow 20.8% responding to strong demand ahead of the Lunar New Year. There is also evidence that significant automotive exports from Japan to the US shifted from sea to air. In general Japanese trade is enjoying a positive growth spurt, but emerging Asia and Chinese trade activity appears to be easing slightly. Capacity grew 12.7%.   

European airlines reported a 1.1% rise in FTKs. The European economy remains in the doldrums, and the effects of the Russian sanctions and the region’s recession continue to dampen demand. There is some sign of improvement in manufacturing output, which could lead to stronger air cargo growth in the months to come. Capacity grew 2.4%.    

North American carriers grew 8.7% year-on-year. The region’s airlines also benefitted from the congestion at US West Coast ports. The fundamentals of the US economy show employment, consumer and business confidence all improving, which should underpin volume growth even after the ports issue is resolved. Capacity grew 0.7%.     

Middle Eastern carriers expanded FTKs by 17.6%. The region’s carriers continue to benefit from their strong geographic base, and have further gained by expanding their networks and encouraging freight to transit through their hubs. Capacity grew 19.2%.    

Latin American airlines’ air freight volumes sharply declined by 9.6% in February. Although regional trade activity has increased in recent months, this has not offset the struggles of the Brazilian and Argentinian economies. Capacity grew 1.9%. 

African airlines reported 8.3% growth in FTKs in February. In Africa, the regional trade growth has counterbalanced the weakness in the Nigerian and South African economies. Capacity grew 3.8%.     

The bottom line

“The prospect of strengthening air freight growth in 2015 gives an added incentive to the air cargo industry to invest in new procedures and facilities. At the World Cargo Symposium in Shanghai, held in March, the discussions centered on improving the customer experience. Shippers are demanding better and more specialized services. The industry is responding with initiatives including accelerating the implementation of paperless processes, benchmarking cool-chain facilities, and tackling the challenge of illegal lithium battery shipments,” said Tyler.

Air ambulance services are sophisticated and advanced medical services provided in a mobile environment. These services have become an essential component of the modern healthcare system. The medical critical care transport saves lives as it is an effective way to shift or carry critical patients to healthcare facilities. The air ambulance transport services are used in war-torn regions, during natural disasters, outburst of epidemics and road accidents.

Global Air Ambulance market to grow at a CAGR of 9.57 percent over the period 2014-2019.

Full-year air cargo data for 2014 shows 4.5% demand growth compared to 2013 measured by freight tonne kilometers (FTKs). That is a significant acceleration from the 1.4% recorded in 2013 over 2012. Air cargo market expansion gathered momentum as 2014 progressed. The year finished on a positive note, with growth in December accelerating to 4.9%, compared to December 2013. The vast majority of the growth in 2014, however, was in the Asia-Pacific and Middle East regions, which respectively contributed 46% and 29% of the expansion in FTKs. Growth was recorded in all other regions, but was particularly weak in Latin America.

“After several years of stagnation, the air cargo business is growing again. This is largely being driven by the uptick in world trade over the second half of 2014. Recent concerns over the health of the global economy and a corresponding fall in business confidence have not yet impacted air cargo. But it is a downside risk that will need to be watched carefully as we move through 2015,” said Tony Tyler, IATA’s Director General and CEO.

Performance varied widely by region with the most significant growth being recorded by airlines in Asia-Pacific and the Middle East. All regions, with the exception of Latin America, reported a strengthening of demand in December.

Asia-Pacific carriers grew 5.9% in December compared to December 2013, and 5.4% for 2014 as a whole. Volumes have benefitted from increasing import demand in addition to continuing manufacturing strength.

Japanese and Chinese markets were particularly important contributors. Overall in 2014, capacity expanded 5.7% leading to a slight fall in load factor to 55.4%, although this remains the strongest load factor of any region.

North American airlines reported demand growth of 2.8% in December and 2.4% for 2014 as a whole. After a slow, weather-affected start to the year, growth accelerated, driven by import and export demand. Carriers in the region cut back capacity in 2014 by 0.5%, helping to underpin the load factor (35.3%).

European airlines saw FTKs expand 2.3% in December, and by 2.0% in 2014 overall. The Eurozone remains weak and close to recession, with the effects of Russian sanctions also having an impact. Load factors also fell in 2014 as capacity expanded 3.0%.

Middle Eastern carriers enjoyed the strongest growth of any region, expanding 11.3% in December and 11.0% for the year as a whole. Airlines in the region have extended their networks and grown capacity by 11.1% to make the Middle East a hub for freight traffic. In fact they have been responsible for over 37% of the total increase in global freight capacity in 2014.

Latin American airlines reported FTKs falling 4.5% in December. This was the only region to report a decline. The picture for 2014 as a whole was growth of 0.1%.

Latin American volumes have been affected by economic slowdown across the region, particularly in Brazil and Argentina. Capacity grew by 0.3% in 2014. African carriers expanded FTKs by 12.2% in December and 6.7% for the year as a whole. Although major economies Nigeria and South Africa underperformed during parts of 2014, regional trade activity held-up, supporting demand for air transport of goods. Capacity rose just 0.9% for the year as a whole, helping to strengthen the load factor.

Cargo innovation in Shanghai

“Despite the improving growth trend, big challenges remain. Yields declined for the third straight year in 2014, with no immediate prospect of improvement. Cargo revenues remained basically unchanged at $62 billion, some $5 billion below their 2011 peak. To move forward, the industry is focusing on providing a stronger value proposition to meet evolving customer needs. That’s what is driving efforts such as cutting shipping times, ensuring high-quality handling of temperature-sensitive goods, or benchmarking quality to improve customer transparency. It’s all about delivering value as a supply chain with a strong vision of the future,” said Tyler.

This focus on value is delivering change. For example, in 2014 electronic air waybill penetration reached 22% and airlines are targeting 45% penetration by the end of 2015. An initiative to encourage further industry innovations will take center stage at the World Cargo Symposium in Shanghai on March 10-12 with the launch of the Air Cargo Innovation Awards.

“If you have a stake in air cargo, the World Cargo Symposium is the place to be in March as we lay the foundations to energize the sector, recapture market share and grow revenues,” said Tyler.

Star Navigation Systems Group Ltd. is very pleased to announce that Transport Canada has granted it a final Supplemental Type Certificate ("STC") with respect to the installation of its STAR-A.D.S. ™ system on a Learjet 45 aircraft operated by Skyservice Business Aviation Inc. (Skyservice").

STC's are required when changes (such as the installation of the STAR-A.D.S. ™ system) are made to an aircraft. This full STC again results from the hard work of Star's recently formed internal STC Group. Viraf S. Kapadia, Chairman and CEO of Star said, "The granting of this operational STC is further validation of our strategic operational plan. By developing our own internal resources instead of relying on external suppliers, we save time, significantly lower our costs and expand our ability to service our customers in the most efficient way possible. We look forward to serving our first North American customer, Skyservice. In the near future, we hope to be able to enhance the service currently offered by the STAR-A.D.S.™ system by providing real time monitoring and reporting of critical medical information of patients in air ambulances while in flight. (see Press Release December 2, 2014). We are excited about the possibilities that we can bring to air ambulance operations, The granting of this certificate can assist us in the penetration of the General Aviation and VIP jets market."