Air France equips pilots with iPads for communication

Europe’s mega carrier, Air France, has replaced the airline’s 4,100 pilots with iPads. The workers were before now using  their laptops, outside the cockpit.
Boeing 777 pilots started receiving these iPads back in June 2012, and the roll-out shall be completed during summer 2013.
With the iPad, pilots have access to an electronic version of all their personal aircraft documentation, of which they previously had a paper version at their home. They will be able to download the manuals of their choice anywhere in the world and be automatically informed of their updates. Pilots will also be able to access airport maps.
These dedicated applications will be available for download at the “Pilot Store” specially developed by Air France.
According to the airline, the use of iPad will facilitate communication processes by giving pilots the ability to electronically draft and dispatch regular reports, such as the Air Safety Report, Captain’s Report and Security Report, at the end of the flight.
“We are always looking for new ways to enhance the safety and performance of our flights” declared Eric
Schramm, Air France Executive Vice President of Flight Operations and Boeing 777 captain.
“Equipping our pilots with iPads will simplify access to critical information and also strengthen vital communication channels within the company”, he added.
Pilots will also be able to access the Air France intranet website for specific services and to send and receive emails.

THE Director General, Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET, Dr Anthony Anuforom has charged workers of the agency to provide services that are profitable, which would sustain the present tempo of achievement recorded by the agency in the past few years.
According to him, “While we may have achieved some success, it is also quite apparent that we need to do more with a lot of speed and decisive precision, not only to address areas of our operations where we have clearly underperformed or underperforming, but also to ensure that we are able to sustain and improve on the areas of success that have already been achieved.”
He spoke at a three-day business retreat with the agency’s State Meteorological Inspectors (SMIs) and Chief Meteorological Technicians (CMTs) at the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) Training Institute in Karu, Abuja, recently as part of efforts to reposition the agency for enhanced service deliver.
According to a statement by the Head Public Affairs, Mrs Eva Azinge Esq, Anuforom stressed the need for improved corporate performance as articulated in the corporate strategic plan, which should be internalized and adopted by the entire work force of the agency.
It noted that the major objective of the meeting was to create a forum for staff of the agency, across board to contribute practical ideas and thoughts that will galvanize the needed momentum to ensure that NIMET does not only rapidly transform into a performance-driven organisation, but that other public institutions of government in Nigeria will crave to model themselves after the agency.
The participants however pledged their total commitment to achieve improved service delivery and professionalism, even as they emphasized the need to increasingly adapt and benchmark best practices and to improve revenue generation and self sustenance of the agency in accordance with the transformation agenda of the present administration in Nigeria.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has renewed the tenure of Anuforom for a second time of five years to steer the affairs of the agency.This was made known by the NIMET boss at a town hall meeting at the Lagos meteorological operational headquarters in Oshodi .
The NIMET boss said, “It is fit, proper and respectful that you hear it from me that my appointment as DG, NIMET expired in June this year and in accordance with relevant laws and procedure, the federal government has graciously approved that I continue for another term as DG of NIMET”.
He noted that his reappointment would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of everybody, urging all staff to keep up the good work to sustain and surpass the momentum of progress, which characterized his first tenure as DG/CEO of NIMET.
According to Anuforom, the new government policy on aviation called for a paradigm shift and anchored on self sustenance of government agencies adding that NIMET was expected to boost its internally generated revenue and depend less on the federal government to fund its operations.

The carrier is also working towards the implementation of Electronic Flight Bags in the cockpit for its pilots, which will lead to greater convenience and efficiency while reducing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.