Says Airline Fuel Expenses May Be Reduced 3-5 Percent
Airlines employing technologies developed by AeroMechanical
Services, Ltd. are reducing fuel consumption by up to three to five
percent through the application of AeroMechanical's proprietary
hardware, software and management expertise known as Total Fuel
Management Information (TFMI). In addition to cost savings, users
of AeroMechanical's TFMI are lowering carbon emissions and
greenhouse gases generated by the aviation industry.
Richard Hayden, President of AeroMechanical, described the new
TFMI initiative: "AeroMechanical's end-to-end afirs UpTime data
capture and information delivery system provides operators and
OEM's with a wealth of information that can lead to better
operational and maintenance practices. Our strategy is to unlock
all the benefits inherent in this information by developing
high-value-added applications that respond to the critical issues
facing our customers.
"None today is more critical than reducing fuel expenses. Fuel
consumption cost savings go straight to the bottom line, and there
are numerous opportunities to make safe but effective changes in
operation procedures and maintenance planning to cut fuel
consumption, as well as greenhouse gases that are a direct
byproduct of the fuel burned.
"Under TFMI, AeroMechanical is introducing a consulting service,
on a fee-for-service basis, as a complement to our patented
products and information services, that will assist airlines in
identifying opportunities to reduce fuel consumption, develop
implementation roadmaps, and follow up with quantitative
measurement of the degree of success of the initiatives to assist
in full optimization. We have engaged recognized and accomplished
industry experts to provide this service, and expect that if our
TFMI program is widely adopted, savings could be measured in
hundreds of millions of dollars and tons of greenhouse gases
avoided."
AeroMechanical's initial product to be rolled out for launch
customers under the TFMI initiative is branded as FIRST (Fuel
Initiative Reporting System Tracker), which defines specific
procedural changes, acquires and processes data associated with
these procedures, and automatically analyzes and reports results in
a form useful to managing the airline operation.
Two Canadian airlines that have deployed afirs UpTime are the
first to report the impressive results achieved through the
application of TFMI to their operations.
Canadian North Airlines is experiencing reductions in fuel
consumption that are anticipated to save the airline approximately
5% in fuel costs, amounting to roughly $250,000 per aircraft
annually.
"At a time when fuel prices play such an important part in our
profitability, Canadian North is very pleased to work with
AeroMechanical Services," said Tracy Medve, the airline's
President. "Canadian North Airlines is not only targeting a five
per cent savings in fuel as a result of this program, we also hope
to achieve significant reductions in greenhouse gases - both of
which are extremely important to us as an operator flying in
Canada's northern territories."
Skyservice Airlines, based in Toronto, an early adopter of afirs
UpTime, also reports similar reductions in fuel consumption rates
through use of information from afirs UpTime and an advanced flight
management system.
Skyservice Airline President and CEO Rob Giguere said, "In order
to make effective and informed decisions, Skyservice requires
accurate and timely fuel utilization data. AeroMechanical's Total
Fuel Management Information system is the first and only suite of
products we have seen that provides the comprehensive level of
detail we need."
AeroMechanical's recently restructured management team and new
advisors were selected to link the capabilities of the company to
the needs of the aviation community in today's environment of
costly fuel and needed attention on emissions.
Matthew Bradley, recently promoted to Vice President of
Operations, will lead the TFMI initiative and will be responsible
for the rollout and continuous improvement of the fuel management
information products. Prior to joining AeroMechanical, Mr. Bradley
worked at Skyservice Airlines, where he oversaw implementation and
deployment of afirs UpTime and advanced flight management
systems.
Bradley said, "I applied AeroMechanical's products and services
to the real world of airline operations, and I was so impressed
that now I am delighted to be part of the company."
Senior Aviation Consultant Captain Marcel Martineau spent many
years developing fuel optimization procedures for Air Canada and
has worked with dozens of other airlines around the world to
maximize their efficiencies in fuel utilization and greenhouse gas
reductions.
Martineau stated, "I am convinced that problems in accessing
real, accurate and timely data make it difficult for airlines to
manage a very expensive resource - fuel. The products of
AeroMechanical Services, in addition to providing invaluable
communication and operational control information, form the first
system I have seen anywhere that can meet the challenge of
providing essential and timely fuel management information."
Jack Olcott, former President of the National Business Aviation
Association and now a Board Member of the AeroMechanical Services,
observed that "AeroMechanical's ability to provide instantaneous
capture and transmission of an aircraft's condition, including its
location, its airworthiness and its crew status, is a resource that
is aligned with emerging trends in aircraft management, fuel
efficiency, emissions and security."
Founded in 1998, AeroMechanical Services, Ltd. is one of the
world's leading providers of real-time data communications for the
aerospace industry. Based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, the Company
also has service locations in the United States, China and
Switzerland serving clients from over ten countries.