Partnership with the UAE’s Civil Aviation regulator accelerates paperless operations
Etihad Airways is the country’s first airline to implement electronic technical logs (eTech logs) for airline operations. The approval from the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) for implementation on Etihad’s freighter fleet accelerates the journey towards paperless airline operations which is a key initiative for Etihad Airways and the GCAA.
The implementation on Etihad’s Boeing 777 freighter fleet follows three months of trials in partnership with the GCAA, where eTech logs replaced paper logbooks currently used by flight crew and engineers to document all flight and maintenance information.
Although modern aircraft are technologically advanced, most airlines continue to use paper-based logbooks. By replacing paper documentation, eTech logs provide real-time data capture that can be shared with multiple stakeholders, from the air to the ground – increasing operational efficiency, reducing delays and costs.
“The digitalisation of our technical logs will go a long way towards enhancing the operational efficiency and airworthiness of our fleet and this is a monumental step forward for aviation in the UAE,” remarked Paul Kear, SVP-Technical, Etihad Airways.
“This initiative supports the GCAA’s vision for paperless operations and we thank Etihad Airways for their pioneering efforts,” Saif Al Suwaidi, Director General, GCAA.
“We see eTech logs as a ‘disruptive technology’ in the aviation industry bringing significant benefits to airlines and the entire industry,” noted Steve Russell, CEO, Conduce, the technology provider for the eTech logs.
