Basic civil aviation categories  Single-aircraft fleet – only one or two

 Scheduled airlines - offer regularly timed flights over aircraft types are utilized to cut down
prescribed routes and published timetables. The repair costs and manpower training
majority of passenger flights are on scheduled costs.
airlines. Others:
Major categories: major and national carriers,  Air cargo carriers – are a special form of an airline
regional carriers, and commuter carriers. business model.
 Network carriers – have their own
In the US, FAA airline's categorization is based on cargo fleet. Ship cargo in their
revenue it generates as follows: freighters as well as in the cargo
 Major airlines (trunk airlines or fullservice compartments of their passenger
carriers) - focus on long-distance or long- fleet. Airfreight-only carriers (FedEx &
haul routes. “More than $1 billion in DHL).
revenue annually”
 Shuttle airlines – caters mainly to business travelers
 Regional airlines - provide air service
seeking movement between two major city centers.
between smaller cities and also connect
Similar to conventional bus service offering a
these small communities with major
reasonable airfare with no reservation. High
airports.
frequency and easily remembered times are typical
 Large regionals - annual gross revenues
attributes of a shuttle.
between $10 million and $99.9 million.
 Medium regionals - annual gross Types of Flight Services
revenue less than $10 million.
 Direct Flight - passenger gets on one aircraft from
 Small regional airlines - don't have a set
journey origin and with or without stopping any
revenue definition but are usually
other points, lands to its journey destination with or
referred to as "commuter airlines" and
without changing plane using single ticket coupon.
they are non-certificated (no aircraft
 Non-Stop Flight - flight which operates between a
operators’ certificate or AOC). Airlines
board point and an off point in a single leg without
use aircraft seating less than 60
any intermediate landings.
passengers. Commuters operate shuttle
 Connecting Flight (Connection flight) - flight which
services between smaller airports that
operates between a board point and an off point in a
cannot support the major airlines and
single leg without any intermediate landings.
equipment.
 On-line connection - a connection with
Airline Business Model a change of aircraft and flight number
 Chartered or supplemental airlines – fly routes and within the same airline.
schedules that are not flown by the scheduled  Interline or Off-line connection - a
airlines. Provide additional or supplemental service connection with a change of aircraft and
to the major airlines. flight number between two different
 Full-Service Carriers (FSC) - are scheduled airlines and airlines.
developed by national flag carriers, have the
following basic characteristics. Utilizes the ‘hub and Airline Management and Organizational Structure
spoke’ connection. Management is the process of achieving an organization’s
Members of Alliances and other partnerships. Fares goals through the coordinated performance of five specific
are inclusive of in-flight services and other amenities. functions: planning, staffing, organizing, directing, and
Use GDS. Sales channels are extensive including controlling.
usage of intermediaries. Advance in support of its  Levels of Management:
network revenue maximization (production  Top management – considered to be
differentiation, pricing, and yield management the policy-making group responsible for
system) the overall direction of the company.
 Low-Cost Carrier (LCC) or no-frills – cater passengers Highest level (Executives, Senior/major
wanting cheap airfares with little demand for inflight executives, Chief operating officer,
services. Simplified business model compared to full- President, Executive vice-president,
service carriers. Senior vice-president).
  Middle management – responsible for flight plan accounting for aircraft type, forecast
the execution and interpretation of weather conditions, and other constraints and
policies throughout the organization. limitations; the flight plan details is printed out and
Heads of department (Vice-president, are examined by the incoming cockpit crew.
Directors, Superintendents). 3. Pre-flight; cockpit crews: an exterior walk around
 Operating management – directly examination, cockpit setup and system checks; cabin
responsible for the final execution of crews: the in-flight inspections, galley preparation.
policies by employees under its “communication between the cockpit and cabin crew
supervision. Supervisory level or members is critical to the safety efficiency of the
lowerlevel management (manager or flight.”
general supervisor). 4. Pre-departure; boarding passengers, closing aircraft
door, completing the baggage and cargo loading,
 Functions of Management performing the “just prior to pushback” portion of
 Planning – airline company policy, the checklist, arming the escape slide mechanism of
procedures, rules, and regulations; the entry doors.
goals. 5. Gate departure; removing the wheel chocks and
 Organizing – creation of a formal releasing the parking brake, starting engine, receive a
structure of authority, division of work conformation of ramp clear, begin taxi-out.
and flow of authority and responsibility. 6. Taxi-out; calculating finalized take-off performance
Identifying different tasks and activities data, resetting the stabilizer trim and set take-off
needed to reach the company goals, references speeds through the bugs on the airspeed
assigning to the personnel, and indicators, making a departure PA announcement to
delegating necessary authority to carry inform the FA that the take-off is imminent.
out these tasks. 7. Take-off; issuing a “position and hold” clearance to an
aircraft in preparation for final take-off clearance,
 Staffing – putting people to work in the
making final checks of the wind/weather and the
position of the organization structure
presence of runway contamination. (ATC - tower)
and keeping it manned.
8. Terminal area departure; the aircraft is accelerated to
 Directing – assigning and instructing
maximum low altitude climb speed, after the
subordinates on what to do.
immediate airport traffic area is cleared, the FA
Communicating the orders. Key
typically commence their in-flight service duties
elements are supervision, motivation,
during climb-out. Below 10,000 ft.
leadership, and communication.
9. Climb; checking the FMS and/or performance charts,
 Controlling – measuring and correcting
resetting the altimeter, passenger related activities
of activities of subordinates to ensure
during the climb include beginning the meal and/or
that events conform to plans.
beverage service, delivering any marketing PA
announcements and activating any entertainment
Flight Crew Activities During a Typical Flight systems.
1. Flight crew sign-in; briefing session with the chief 10. Cruise; maintaining a time/fuel log in order to
purser – crew members are required to sign in at the compare planned time and fuel burn performance,
airport flight operations office (nominally) 1h. prior FIR (Flight Information Region)
to the departure of the first leg. Crews normally 11. Descent; beginning the approach and landing
arrive earlier in order to accommodate flight preparations, transmitting an “in range” message
planning publication/flight manual updating, or other (near to touch down) to the destination airport
administrative responsibilities. Once introductions station, setting up the navigation equipment for the
between crew members are complete, the flight crew expected arrival procedure, starting cc activities for
begins the planning tasks. In situations where the descending.
time available before departure is minimal, the first 12. Terminal area arrival; generally beginning when the
officer may proceed to the aircraft to begin the pre- aircraft descends below 10,000ft. about 30-40miles
flight duties there, while the captain completes the from the destination airport, being issued additional
requisite paperwork in the flight operations office. real-time landing information or instructions.
2. Operations/Planning; selecting the best routing (min. 13. Final approach; if the runway is in sight and clear of
time/fuel, best ride conditions, etc.); generating a obstruction at the decision point, the cockpit crew
 continues the descent until initiating the landing the logistics of the military due to its strict adherence
“flare” maneuver. to time elements and distribution systems.
14. Landing & Roll-out; using a combination of reverse  PRODUCTION: The production of food trays and non-
thrust, ground spoilers and wheel braking to food items are based on forecasted numbers of
decelerate to taxi speed and vacate the runway after passengers
touching down on the runway.  THE SYSTEM: At the heart of the flight catering
15. Taxi-in; pilots use taxiway diagrams of the destination system is the flight production unit, which is part
airport to assist in the execution of taxi clearances, warehouse, part food manufacturing plant, part
once breaks are parked, agent moves the jet bridge kitchen, and part assembly belt.
into position at the entry door, or in the case of  THE HEART of the flight catering system is the
airstair, it is positioned under exit doors. production unit.
16. Parking; verifying the disarming of the doors with the  FOOD ITEMS TO PREPARE: Flight catering starts with
FA and opening the designated exit doors, unloading an understanding of the number of passengers and
and processing the baggage and freight (setting the their needs; such information is available from both
parking brake and opening a cabin door trigger the market research and actual passenger behavior. On
“IN” event). the basis of this, airlines, sometimes in consultation
17. Post-flight; cockpit crews: accomplish any required with caterers and suppliers, develop their product
debriefing reports; FA: make liquor and duty-free and service specifications. Such specifications
deposit; if the aircraft is to be “turned around” for determine exactly what food, drink and equipment
use in a subsequent leg, maintenance personnel will items are to be carried on each route for each class
attempt to meet the flight upon gate arrival. of passenger.
 PRODUCTION BASIS: Flight catering production relies
Operating Flow In-flight Catering on the needs and number of passengers. This
“One of the most complex operational systems in the world” information is gathered from market research and
passenger behavior.
 CATERING INDUSTRY UNLIKE ANY OTHER: Some of
 TRANPORTATION – LOGISTICS: Food trolleys are
the facts referred to later in this text provide an
transported with high loader trucks to be rolled on
insight into this operational complexity. For instance,
and off the aircraft.
a large-scale flight catering production unit may
employ over 800 staff to produce as many as 25,000
meals per day during peak periods. A large KEYS
international airline company may have hundreds of There are three major stakeholders in the aviation industry
takeoffs and landings every day from just their main and the most prominent group is Airlines.
hub. These facts and others like them make flight Chief Operating Officer TM
catering unlike any other sector of the catering Chief Pilot OM
industry. Director of Sales – Asia Pacific MM
 FOOD PREPARATION RESEMBLANCE: While the way Cargo Sales Manager OM
food is served on trays to airline passengers bears Senior VP Engineering TM
some resemblance to service styles in restaurants or Reservations Manager – Manila OM
cafeterias, the way food is prepared and cooked
Chief Executive Officer TM
increasingly resembles a food manufacturing plant
Chief Purser OM
rather than a catering kitchen. The way food and
The CEO of Kenya Air issued new goals which is to set the
equipment is stored resembles a freight warehouse,
company’s focus on business travelers for the following year.
and the way meals and equipment are transported
Planning
and supplied has a close affinity to military-style
The Senior VP of Qatar Air has given recommendations
logistics and distribution systems.
regarding last year’s budget to improve expenditures.
 FORECAST: In response to forecasts of passenger
numbers on any given flight, the production unit Controlling
follows a series of complex steps to produce trayed Some new entrant airlines and low-cost carriers ‘do away’ or
meals and non-food items ready for transportation to remove from the new corporate organizational structure to
the aircraft. bring down administrative expenses. MM
 LOGISTIC: The logistics or how the meals and Cabin crew begin passenger-related activities during the take-
required equipment are transported are compared to off. FALSE (during the climb phase)
Cockpit crew send an “in range” message and transmit to the
destination stations. DESCENT
Wheel chocks be removed. GATE DEPARTURE
Ground crew position the jet bridge in preparation for
disembarkation. TAXI-IN
The usual number of cockpit crew members for short-haul
commercial flights 2 members (captain and 1st officer) 3-4h.
Part of the job of an airline staff is to listen attentively, smile
and make straight eye contact.
Flight catering can be compared to a manufacturing plant flow.
TRUE
The logistics or how the meals and required equipment are
transported are compared to the logistics of the military due
to its strict adherence to time elements and DISTRIBUTION
systems.
The production of food trays and non-food items are based on
forecasted numbers of PASSENGERS.
Which unit is the heart of the flight catering system?
PRODUCTION UNIT
Flight catering production relies on the needs and number of
passengers. This information is gathered from market research
and PASSENGER BEHAVIOR.
What enabled food trolleys to be transported and rolled on
and off the aircraft? HIGH LOADER TRUCKS
Which aircraft type model has the largest capacity?
A380-800
Which airbus aircraft is at par with the B737, same single aisle
and similar size and range capability? A320
As part of aircraft characteristic, the aircraft distance without
stop is also called RANGE.
When an aircraft type is of almost similar range capability it is
treated as competing aircraft type. Give a competing aircraft
type of B787. A350
Fuselage is which part of the aircraft? BODY
The oldest aircraft manufacturer in the world. BOEING