CASE STUDY AIR ASTANA
Air Astana Soars to New Heights with Digital Transformation: A Comprehensive EFB/EFF Implementation
Company
Air Astana, the national airline of Kazakhstan, was founded in 2002 and operates under two brands: Air Astana and FlyArystan. With a fleet of 43 aircraft, the airline serves 84 routes across 20 countries, transporting over 7 million passengers annually. Air Astana’s modern fleet primarily consists of Airbus and Embraer aircraft, with an average aircraft age of 4.7 years.
Challenge
Air Astana faced the challenge of implementing an Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) and Electronic Flight Folder (EFF) to digitize and optimize its operational processes. The main requirements included integrating existing software applications, standardizing templates for flight plans, and enabling data synchronization via USB sticks. Additionally, the solution needed to be compatible with various operating systems, including Windows, iOS, and Android, to provide greater flexibility for the flight crew. The airline also encountered significant challenges with its network infrastructure, particularly in its home bases where connectivity for synchronizing EFB updates was unreliable. Moreover, finding a solution for data management and distribution, as well as ensuring long-term hardware support, were critical concerns.
Solution
To address these challenges, Air Astana collaborated with Logipad to develop a comprehensive solution that met all their needs. The solution included the integration of existing software applications to allow seamless interaction with the EFB and EFF systems. Standardized flight plan templates were implemented to ensure consistent use across the airline. A secure and efficient method for data synchronization via USB sticks was also developed. Air Astana undertook a fleet retrofit, selecting Microsoft Surface Pro tablets as the central EFB devices. This allowed for uniform use across all aircraft types. Logipad also provided extensive training for flight crews, including both computer-based training and practical sessions, to ensure the smooth implementation of the new systems.
Results
As a result of these efforts, Air Astana achieved significant improvements in operational efficiency. The standardization of flight plan templates and the integration of software applications led to more streamlined processes. The flexibility provided by the use of Microsoft Surface Pro tablets and the support for various operating systems enabled the flight crew to work more effectively. The implementation of Logipad helped reduce hardware and software costs by optimizing existing infrastructure and minimizing future hardware investments. Additionally, improvements in data synchronization and network infrastructure led to more reliable and secure data transfers between aircraft and the headquarters. Through these initiatives, Air Astana not only enhanced the efficiency of its operations but also laid the groundwork for future digital developments. The airline continues to refine its hardware and software configurations as it evolves its long-term EFB strategy.
