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Food workers play a crucial role in ensuring food safety. Implementing a novel sanitation technology requires providing workers with the tools and knowledge to feel comfortable using it. This study focuses on potential challenges in the adoption of superheated steam as surface sanitizer equipment for food processing industries. Superheated steam has emerged as a promising tool for dry sanitation. Because it works at temperatures ranging from 125°C to >300°C, evaluating worker safety hazards associated with its use is paramount. A trial with 24 participants was conducted. Participants received an inperson synchronous training presentation, operated a pilot unit, and provided feedback via survey. Results showed that 46% of participants considered the time and accuracy to operate the equipment as the biggest limitation, followed by its weight (42%). Almost half (42%) of the participants changed their perception of the technology after training. Active learning strategies used in this study could improve operational outcomes and knowledge transfer related to superheated steam technology and use because 83% of participants felt confident in explaining the technology to others. Our findings offer a perspective about the interconnected factors that influence the adoption of a technology that, if operated by trained personnel, could improve sanitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This article explores the role of the westerly jet stream in shaping the climate of Central Asia, specifically focusing on the hydroclimate of the region throughout the Holocene. By analyzing speleothem proxy records, the study reveals a decline in precipitation in Western Central Asia compared to Eastern Central Asia, creating a hydroclimatic barrier between the two regions. The findings contribute to our understanding of the long-term relationship between regional hydroclimates and the westerly jet stream. The article also mentions the potential impact of global warming on the jet stream and the hydrological cycle. [Extracted from the article]

The combination of new airframes with electric and hybrid-electric propulsion is a potential solution to decarbonize aviation. In this context, recent studies have proven that the box-wing airframe, if integrated on a hybrid-electric aircraft belonging to the regional category, can provide significant reductions in fuel consumption. In light of these promising results, this paper aims to present a broader comparison between the box-wing aircraft and the conventional tube-and-wing aircraft, in the context of regional hybrid-electric air transport. An economic analysis is assessed, and the effects deriving from the box-wing introduction, in terms of direct operating costs, are quantitatively evaluated by applying cost models that consider the integration of hybrid-electric propulsion. In parallel, a comparative analysis of greenhouse emissions is proposed, considering both flight- and production-related emissions. The environmental, economic, and operating improvements that the introduction of the box-wing configuration may provide in the context of future regional hybrid-electric aviation are critically detailed. In this regard, the proposed results show that a box-wing hybrid-electric aircraft can reduce cost and emission without affecting compliance with current airport aprons. Finally, a general summary is presented, providing a solution that represents a practical, incremental, and technological step in the path of commercial aviation decarbonization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the aviation industry's efforts to reduce CO2 emissions by replacing kerosene-based fuels with greener power sources. Topics include the development of hydrogen-electric and battery-powered aircraft, the challenges posed by energy density limitations, and the exploration of hybrid approaches for larger aircraft.

Hybrid-Electric Propulsion (HEP) could be part of the solution to decrease emissions associated with regional commercial aviation. This study presents results for the aircraft level fuel reduction potential of a regional turboprop concept with an HEP architecture and Entry-Into-Service (EIS) in 2035+. The configuration specifically tackles the elaborated challenges of introducing an additional electrical energy source to the configuration by employing a twofold electrical assistance to a turboshaft engine in combination with an innovative thermal management concept. Relevant components and disciplines were modeled and incorporated into an integrated aircraft design environment. The behavior and interaction of the HEP architecture with the aircraft was thoroughly investigated. A best-performing configuration was derived and compared with a conventional reference configuration following a State-of-the-Art (SoA) reference aircraft approach. For a typical mission with 200 nmi range, a block fuel reduction of 9.6% was found. However, the assumed battery performance characteristics limited the reduction potential and led to a fuel burn increase for the 600 nmi design mission. Furthermore, sourcing the non-propulsive subsystems directly from the on-board battery was detrimental. The innovative Thermal Management System (TMS) located in the propeller slipstream showed a synergistic effect with the investigated configuration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maintaining the laminar flow on surfaces through active control is a significantly promising technique for reducing fuel burn and alleviating environmental concerns in commercial aviation. However, there is a lack of systematic parameter studies for the hybrid laminar flow control (HLFC) together with natural laminar flow (NLF). To address this need, we optimize the infinite swept wings with different sweep angles and at various conditions, including different Mach numbers, Reynolds numbers, and lift coefficients. The Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) solver coupled with the linear stability theory is applied for the laminar-turbulent transition prediction, and the traditional optimization method based on evolutionary algorithms is applied for laminar flow wing optimization. The optimization results found that HLFC is required when the NLF fails at a larger sweep angle (35°) and Reynolds number (20 × 10 6 ). The lower pressure peak with boundary-layer suction is found to delay the transition of the regional aviation condition. Besides, the pressure distribution of HLFC is similar to NLF results at the lower Reynolds number (10 × 10 6 ) or sweep angle (25°), i.e., a gentle negative pressure gradient near the leading edge and a small favorable pressure gradient behind it. Clarifying the characteristics of laminar flow wings will advance the application of the laminar flow technique within its field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the short-run impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the number of domestic overnight stays at the regional level in the summer season 2020. Official data for 65 regions in four countries are used for the analysis (Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany and Switzerland). Dynamic panel data models are employed to estimate a tourism demand equation (real GDP and price fluctuations) augmented by average temperatures. Estimation results reveal that domestic overnight stays evolve unevenly in the first summer after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The short-run effects show that the number of domestic overnight stays in densely populated regions decreases by 27% in July as well as in August 2020, in comparison with the same months in previous years, ceteris paribus. To the contrary, there is a surge of 27 and 10%, respectively, for sparsely populated areas in the same months. JEL: Z3, R11 and R12. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With increasing capabilities of electric motors and energy storage, aircraft designs for electrified commuter and regional aircraft become more relevant than ever. Design concepts are often derived and optimised according to existing, conventional reference aircraft; however, their characteristics differ and the underlying trade-offs are divergent. This work aims to derive and describe major external requirements for the design of proposed commuter and regional aircraft system. Therefore, a travel time benefit analysis was conducted that considered the European NUTS-3 regions, as well as the concentration of population. Total travel times for individual road, high-speed rail, commuter air services, and traditional airline services were compared. Travel time calculations were based mostly on third-party road and railway APIs, whereas airline services were based on air traffic management data. The data show a concentration of potential commuter connections on distances between 200 and 950 km. The majority of these connections are currently operated on airline flights, which involve extraordinarily long first/last mile transportation. The majority of regions are already well covered with airfields offering sufficient runway length; however, air traffic capacities and apron space could become major bottlenecks when considering a possible shift from airline to decentral commuter air services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The geographical circumstances, such as mountains and ocean, and specific aviation operations, especially sightseeing, make the state of Hawaii stand out in aviation. These conditions support a regional approach to aviation accident analysis. METHODS: Accident reports of aviation accidents collected from the online National Transportation Safety Board database were used to study a 10-yr time period between 2008 and 2017. RESULTS: There was a significantly higher proportion of fatal accidents during night, dawn, and dusk (6 out of 13) than during daytime (13 out of 74). In addition, a significantly higher proportion of accidents occurred in diminished light conditions among fixed wing airplanes (11 out of 48) as opposed to other aircraft (2 out of 39), and among twin-engine aircraft (6 out of 12) as opposed to single-engine aircraft (7 out of 74). Out of seven weight-shift control aviation accidents, four were reported to be fatal; the latter all took place during instruction. DISCUSSION: Light conditions are the main environmental concern in Hawaiian aviation that particularly affect twin-engine fixed wing aircraft and warrant specific attention in advanced training exercises. Helicopter operations have not exhibited a diminished safety record since the 1990s, showing a lasting effect of a previous safety intervention. A relatively high number of fatal weight-shift control aircraft accidents requires further research in other parts of the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of smart devices is driving the growth of modern systems markets, resulting in more technological cities, cars, houses, and airplanes. Therefore, it is important to understand which smart technologies can support or even fulfill stakeholder needs and consequently enhance airplane operation and increase product competitiveness for airlines. This paper is the second of two-part series and has as its main objective the study of smart technologies that can be implemented on cabins of regional airplanes, from 60 to 120 seats, to comply with the needs and requirements pre-established on the first part of this series of articles. The integration of those technologies results in a "Smart Cabin" architecture which its purpose is to enhances the passenger experience by granting a new level of cabin comfort, customization, and connectivity that allows the reduction of airplane time on ground because of the real-time monitoring of airplane cabin components that enables the prediction of maintenance procedures; creates new profits and revenues opportunities for services, provides a more sustainable airplane operation and derived services, and creates new business opportunities for all companies that integrate regional aviation ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New technologies are increasingly being implemented in people's daily lives and with the growth of smart devices around the globe, the users' needs and demands have changed in favor of more technological cities, cars, houses, and airplanes. Therefore, it is important to define the stakeholder's needs and requirements to understand which technologies, smart or not, can be implemented on the cabin to support or even fulfill stakeholder needs. Consequently, those technologies enhance airplane operation and increase product competitiveness for airlines. This paper is the first of a two-part series where design thinking tools are applied to establish high-level requirements based on the concept of a "Smart Cabin" for regional airplanes from 60 to 120 seats. To achieve this goal, a series of methods such as stakeholders' studies, personas creation and user journey methods are used. The Smart Cabin concept aims to enhance the passenger experience by granting a new level of cabin comfort, customization and connectivity that allows the reduction of airplane time on ground because of the real-time monitoring of airplane cabin components that enables the prediction of maintenance procedures, creates new profits and revenues opportunities for services, provides a more sustainable airplane operation and derived services, and creates new business opportunities for all companies that integrate regional aviation ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accelerating technological transitions (TT) from carbon-based aviation to Electric Regional Aviation (ERA) is contingent on increased awareness and innovative ideas. Finding innovations to Accelerate the Implementation of Electric Regional Aviation (FAIR) aims to facilitate TT to electric aviation in the Kvarken-Nordland region of Finland, Sweden, and Norway. This paper reviewed 13 reports used in the FAIR project. These reports suggest that TT will provide many socioeconomic and environmental benefits. These include increased connectivity to new areas with zero operational carbon footprints, reduced cost, and travel time. However, most of the investigations in the FAIR reports focused on economic and technical aspects. Studies suggest that TT is also contingent on human factors such as public engagement and participation. Therefore, this paper notes that it is imperative to increase the knowledge of ERA among young people in higher educational institutions in the region, particularly given that they constitute an integral part of the aviation market. In addition, although the three universities participating in the FAIR project have energy-related studies, which are essential in advancing knowledge on TT, they lack aviation-specific courses. This paper proposes that, in their next agenda, regional actors could advocate for the introduction of a multidisciplinary aviation-centred course into the university curriculum. The idea is that such inclusion not only will increase the knowledge of ERA and the chances for accelerated innovative ideas in the implementation process but could also motivate and spur increased engagement in climate actions among young people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are crucial for guiding employees towards organizational goals and providing stakeholders with insights into goal achievement. Developing effective KPIs is particularly challenging for startups due to dynamic environments and limited resources, often requiring extensive domain expertise.This study proposes an effective KPI development process using the Environment-Based Design (EBD) methodology. The approach systematically converts an organization's mission statement into KPIs through three steps: generating questions and answers, identifying a performance network, and extracting KPIs. It employs tools like the Recursive Objective Model (ROM) and structured question-asking techniques to aid knowledge acquisition and performance network integration.The methodology was validated using Flybe's case, Europe's largest regional airline. Two graduate student designers with no aviation experience developed KPIs that were comparable to those in Flybe's 2018 Annual Report, while also addressing additional operational aspects like route attractiveness.The EBD guided approach reduces reliance on prior domain knowledge, making KPI development accessible to non-experts and enhancing repeatability for experts. Although the study is limited to the airline industry and English-speaking countries, it demonstrates the potential for broader application. Future research should explore the approach in diverse organizational contexts and cultural settings to further validate its effectiveness and adaptability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To enhance the accuracy of performance analysis of regional airline network, this study applies complex network theory and Density-Based Spatial Clustering of Applications with Noise (DBSCAN) algorithm to investigate the topology of regional airline network, constructs node importance index system, and clusters 161 airport nodes of regional airline network. Besides, entropy power method and approximating ideal solution method (TOPSIS) is applied to comprehensively evaluate the importance of airport nodes and complete the classification of nodes and identification of key points; adopt network efficiency, maximum connectivity subgraph and network connectivity as vulnerability measurement indexes, and observe the changes of vulnerability indexes of key nodes under deliberate attacks and 137 nodes under random attacks. The results demonstrate that the decreasing trend of the maximum connectivity subgraph indicator is slower and the decreasing trend of the network efficiency and connectivity indicators is faster when the critical nodes of the regional airline network are deliberately attacked. Besides, the decreasing trend of the network efficiency indicator is faster and the decreasing trend of the maximum connectivity subgraph indicator is slower when the nodes of four different categories are randomly attacked. Finally, it is proposed to identify and focus on protecting critical nodes in order to better improve the security level of regional airline system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relevance of the study is related to the increasingly important role of air transport in recent years. The need for training in civil aviation has been identified as an integral and key component in improving the performance of civil aviation and its services. Today, the transport industry occupies an important position in the economy of any country since the development of transport has a competitive impact on the economy. Air transportation in the Republic of Kazakhstan significantly affects the state of the national economy and occupies a certain share in the structure of GDP. In recent years, the development of the state with its geographical location and low population density requires an increase in air transport facilities. Consequently, population movements and the burden of economic development, along with the establishment of relations between regions, are becoming an increasingly necessary service every year. The purpose of the study is to investigate the issues of training specialists in civil aviation by analysing the current situation in the aviation industry in Kazakhstan. The development of small and regional aviation is one of the main tasks of the civil aviation industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan to enable the population of remote settlements to access large centres of macrostructures, solve urgent and emergency situations, and perform agricultural and chemical activities. In this regard, appropriate measures are being taken to make local airports capable of accommodating aircraft from 10 to 50 tonnes. The economic status of state aviation, the growth of consumer markets and the growth rate of changes in international requirements of ISO, IACO, IATO have revealed systemic problems in civil aviation, among which the quality training for the civil aviation specialists is an important one. The practical significance is the transformation and adjustment of current trends and modernisations into educational standards, followed by the formation of a competence model in air transport training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we provide a novel application of synthetic control methods by offering two major modifications to the existing methodological framework. We provide the first complete ex-post evaluation of the causal impact of carbon pricing on aviation supply, expressed in terms of airline output (i.e., number of seats supplied at the airline-route level). We investigated the policy change in the European Union Emission Trading System (EU ETS), the first large greenhouse gas emissions trading scheme in the world. We distinguish between low-cost, regional and full service airlines, short and medium/long-haul routes, routes towards (or from) hub airports versus non-hub airports, monopolistic versus non-monopolistic routes. The analysis shows that the EU ETS does not have a substantial impact on the average aircraft size, while it has caused a reduction of total airline seat capacity and flight frequency, with the percentage of airline seat capacity reduction reaching above 20% at its peak. The overall effect of the policy has a remarkable impact on low-cost and regional airlines, short-haul routes, spoke–spoke markets and monopolistic routes. Our results are the first empirical confirmation to the theoretical prediction in the aviation literature that emission charges will reduce flight frequency and increase load factors while having no effect on aircraft size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents the results of a prospective cost analysis of future regional aviation solutions, specifically focusing on hybrid-electric regional aircraft for 50 passengers. The study spans three time horizons (short term, medium term, long term) and employs a validated workflow to estimate costs for various solutions, including conventional, hybrid-electric, and hydrogen-based architectures. A specialized cost model is introduced to assess the electric components of the powertrain, emphasizing maintenance expenses and energy costs. Despite the environmental promise of hybrid and electric solutions, the results reveal significantly higher direct operating costs (up to 69.8%) compared to conventional options. The study highlights the importance of targeted policies to incentivize sustainable alternatives, suggesting potential solutions such as discouraging kerosene-based aircraft and promoting sustainable aviation fuel. These insights provide valuable guidance for industry stakeholders navigating the path toward a more sustainable and economically viable aviation future. • Hybrid-electric aircraft cost analysis: time horizons, energy sources. • Validated workflow for estimating operating costs in aircraft preliminary design. • Higher direct operating costs for Hybrid-electric configuration (up to 69.8%). • Sustainable fuel advantage: Aviation fuel vs. kerosene • Ticket price increase for hybrid-electric aircraft (up to 36%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the need for training and re-certification of crew for the pandemic-related new normal and for a more sustainable cruise tourism industry. Design/methodology/approach: A qualitative method was adopted for this study using a case study research design. The target group was technical and hospitality workers. The semi-structured interview guide was administered through Google Forms, and eight respondents were selected using a purposive sampling technique. Findings: The study revealed that job losses have occurred among Caribbean nationals, and this is influencing lifestyle practices and family spending power. Further, many workers experienced confinement onboard because of the pandemic, which gave rise to mental health issues. Given this, re-certification and training of technical and hospitality staff in mental wellness is viewed as important in the context of the pandemic-related new normal. Practical implications: This study points to relevant training to deal with the pandemic now and in the future. The article has some implications for maritime training institutions that may need to reassess their curriculum to meet future challenges. Social implications: Stakeholders of crew shipping companies, agencies and businesses can gain a greater appreciation of the safety measures needed to protect passengers as well as crew. Originality/value: The study provides a review of the experiences of cruise tourism staff during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies how firms restructure their relational contracts in the face of permanent shocks to the value of their relationships. In the context of the U.S. airline industry, we argue that major carriers enter self-enforcing agreements with their outsourced regional partners because a key aspect of airline operations—the exchange of landing slots under adverse weather—is formally noncontractible. We show empirically that major and regional airlines did not terminate their relational contracts after the 2008 crisis but rather, restructured the scope of such contracts in a way that restored their credibility. In particular, we show that a major airline was less likely to continue outsourcing a route to a regional partner after the 2008 crisis the lower the present discounted value of their preexisting relationship and hence, the larger the negative effect of the crisis on the relational contract's "self-enforcing range." This paper was accepted by Joshua Gans, business strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thisstudyaims to identify key phenomena and regularities in the business models of regional airlines in the context of a decreasing number of players in this market despite the development of regional airport infrastructure. Since previous studies have focused on the analysis of supra-regional aviation, this paper focuses on specific elements of regional airline business models and the identification of key elements that are crucial for particular conditions on the aviation market. Thiswork contributes to development of aviation management and specifically to the construction of business models, but can also be useful for practical implementations in small- or middle-size airlines. Thisresearch is qualitative in nature, based mostly on interviews with managers of regional airline companies. This approach has some limitations in the context of representativeness due to its retrospective nature and the potential bias of the respondents; therefore, it requires further verification. However, this studyallowed us to establish recommendations for practitioners in the area of key business model elements for thesekinds of carriers and further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]