UAE-based carrier Etihad Airways became the first carrier in the emirates to implement electronic technical logs (eTech logs) for airline operations, media reports said. The carrier ran a trial period of three months in partnership with the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and moved an inch closer to paperless operations.
Paul Kear, senior vice president technical at Etihad Airways told the media, “Etihad Airways is proud to have partnered with the GCAA to be the first airline in the UAE to use electronic technical logs in airline’s fleet. This initiative supports Etihad’s innovation and sustainability goals, which are core values for the airline, Abu Dhabi, and the UAE. The digitalisation of Etihad’s technical logs will go a long way towards enhancing the operational efficiency and airworthiness of its fleet and this is a monumental step forward for aviation in the UAE.”
The implementation of eTech logs will help Etihad provide real-time data capture that can be shared with multiple stakeholders, from the air to the ground. It will also help the carrier increase operational efficiency and at the same time reduce delays and save costs.
HE Saif Al Suwaidi, director general of the GCAA told the media, “The GCAA have approved Etihad to implement electronic technical logs for their Boeing 777 freighters. This is a historic achievement not just for Etihad but for the aviation industry in the UAE. This initiative supports the GCAA’s vision for paperless operations and we thank Etihad Airways for their pioneering efforts.”
Etihad Airways recorded losses of around $758 million during the first six months of the year due to the coronavirus pandemic. It carried around 3.5 million passengers during the first half of this year compared to 8.2 percent a year ago.