Air France innovates in terms of in-flight weather risk management

• New feature: Air France acquires a new 4D weather app

Air France is the first airline in the world to provide its 3,700 pilots with a weather analysis solution on their connected iPad for their flight preparations.

The eWAS app (Enhanced Weather Awareness System), developed by the Spanish company GTD offers a dynamic and interactive display of highly innovative forecasting models. Up to the time the doors of the aircraft close and all over the world, pilots will be informed in real time and with high accuracy of any meteorological risks they may face during the flight.

In this way, Air France is further improving its operations by setting up a concerted flight preparation strategy, in relation to weather conditions, involving all the Company’s operational decision makers (pilots, Operations Control Centre, etc.).

“By significantly improving its pilot’s knowledge of the weather conditions, Air France will offer its passengers safer and more comfortable flights, thanks to an improved anticipation of possible turbulence,” said Frédéric Gagey, Air France Chairman and CEO.

Air France aims to deploy eWAS in operational conditions for all its pilots early 2017, following a regulatory validation, training and approval phase which began in August 2016.

About GTD

GTD is a high-end technology firm that specializes in creating software for complex projects. Their team has over 30 years of experience, during which they have worked with over 1,500 high end projects. GTD has been working in the field of weather awareness applications for over a decade on projects for both commercial and business aviation needs.

Their engineers have used their expertise to create eWAS, a new meteorological risk prevention system for flights that will allow the aviation industry to improve the flight experience for passengers and streamline the cabin operations based on years of research and development.

About Air France

Air France, a global airline of French inspiration, with high standards and a caring attitude, turns the flight into a moment of real pleasure on all its daily operations in France, Europe and worldwide.

Air France-KLM is the leading Group in terms of international traffic on departure from Europe. In 2016, it offers its customers access to a network covering 320 destinations in 114 countries thanks to its four brands Air France, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Transavia and HOP! Air France. With a fleet of 534 aircraft in operation and 89.8 million passengers carried in 2015, Air France-KLM operates up to 2,200 daily flights, mainly from its hubs at Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam-Schiphol.

Its Flying Blue frequent flyer programme is one of the leaders in Europe with over 27 million members.

Air France-KLM and its partners Delta Air Lines and Alitalia operate the biggest trans-Atlantic joint-venture with 270 daily flights.

The Group also offers cargo transport and aeronautical maintenance solutions.