Canadian ULCC Flair Airlines is installing Flyht Aerospace’s latest-generation wireless quick access recorder (QAR) on its Boeing 737 MAX fleet and will use two of the company’s operations optimization products to reduce turn times and fuel consumption.
Flair will use Flyht’s ClearPort software to monitor aircraft turns and spotlight opportunities for improvement, both in ensuring ground crews are ready to service aircraft and helping optimize above- and below-wing service processes. It also helps manage auxiliary power unit fuel burn.
The Edmonton-based carrier also will tap FuelSense, which tracks fuel burn on a flight-by-flight basis and provides guidance on how to reduce fuel burn and emissions. The software focuses on eight recognized fuel-savings strategies, including single-engine taxi and reduced-flap takeoffs and landings, and suggests ways to incorporate them into safe operations.
All of it will interface with the aircraft via Flyht’s Automated Flight Information Reporting System (AFIRS) Edge wireless QAR.
“[Flyht’s] AFIRS Edge suite of products support our greenhouse gas emissions tracking and aggressive reductions targets,” Flair President and CEO Stephen Jones said.
Flair operates a fleet of 17 737-8s and two 737-800s, Aviation Week Network’s Fleet Discovery database shows. The airline has one 737-8 on order via lessor SMBC Aviation Capital, which is slated to be delivered in summer 2023.
The airline recently accelerated introduction of three 737-8s to offset capacity lost when lessor Airborne Capital seized four aircraft over a lease-payment dispute that is now in court.
The Flair-Flyht agreement, valued at $3.6 million over five years, is the first that puts the AFIRS edge on a 737 MAX. The 5G-enabled Edge transfers data off aircraft post-flight via cellular networks. It also serves as an aircraft interface device that links aircraft with third-party software products and is Iridium Certus capable.
“This order is a significant milestone for Flyht as we have now formally begun to commercialize our innovative 5G-enabled AFIRS Edge solution,” Flyht President and interim CEO Kent Jacobs said. “We look forward to supporting Flair Airlines as they seek to take full advantage of the power of our real-time data solutions to support their decision-making.”
