The role of information technology (IT) in modern aviation falls neatly into two specific areas of interest. The first is aircraft and airport safety and aircraft communications and operations, while the second is the move to automate many aviation roles, especially in aircraft and passenger handling. Like many modern operations, both airport companies and airlines are also attracted to replacing costly back office staff with computers and IT, both to replace human capital and to easily allow round-the-clock operation – not forgetting the businesses’ imperative to manage costs more tightly and expand revenue opportunities.
Whether it is an airport, ANSP, airline, ground handler, civil aviation or government agency, or even a booking agent, all aviation IT clients will require application support and development, cyber security or consultations on project planning or implementation to benefit from what can be quite serious investments.
According to leading air transport IT specialist SITA, following three years of growth, spend on IT&T (information technology and telecommunication) dipped slightly to 4.41% in 2013, from 4.90% in 2012. Nevertheless, IT&T budgets continue to outpace growth in airports’ revenues. Between 2010 and 2013, global airport revenues increased 8.1% compared to a 10% increase in absolute IT&T budgets over the same period. That is backed up by airport CIOs, with 60% reporting more to invest in absolute terms in 2013, compared to 11% receiving a cut.
According to Tony Tyler, director general and CEO at the International Air Transport Association (IATA), modern aviation-related IT has a critical role to play in reducing costs and expanding revenue opportunities for managers. He points to the industry’s conversion to 100% e-ticketing in 2008 and the Simplifying the Business (StB) initiative which created the bar-coded boarding pass (BCBP). Fast Travel is the next StB step to provide travellers with self-service options throughout their journey. The six Fast Travel projects cover self-check-in; self-bag-tag; self-scanning of travel documents such as passports; flight rebooking; self-boarding and the ability to report a missing bag online.
Helsinki-Vantaa International Airport benefits from the use of the ALIS400 Hybrid code reading system from US-based manufacturer of sensors, safety systems, machine vision, encoders and automatic identification solutions SICK. The combination of barcode and radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology helps achieve read rates of 100%. This translates into no search and handling costs for lost or delayed baggage.
At 13 million passengers a year, Helsinki-Vantaa International Airport is the largest airport in Finland and the fourth-largest in northern Europe. Due to its geographical location, it serves many airlines as a hub for long-haul flights between Europe, North America and Asia. In 2009, state-owned airport operator Finavia Corporation extended the terminal facilities.
One focus was on smooth handling of transfer baggage that possibly may not be transferred in time or at all because of unreadable luggage labels. In order to evaluate the benefit of the hybrid technology, which is a combination of barcode and RFID, for the optimisation of transfer processes, Finavia decided to test the identification of transfer baggage from Hong Kong, which is tagged there exclusively with barcode RFID labels. The goal was reliable handling of the transfer baggage between the terminals and the new baggage logistics centre.
No-read figures nosedive
Finavia opted in favour of the ALIS400 Hybrid – the code-reading system with integrated barcode and RFID-reading technology. Developed completely by SICK, it was integrated by the Danish Crisplant Company. Within the tunnel, a homogeneous and consistent reading field is generated, shielded against any cross-interference from outside. It allows reliable identification and localisation of the RFID tag on the piece of luggage.
The barcode portal, the second component of the system, detects the luggage label in any position and orientation. When a piece of baggage from Hong Kong passes the tunnel, both the barcode and the RFID tags are being read. In the baggage handling facility in Helsinki, the ALIS400 Hybrid makes possible a 100% read rate for the transfer baggage from Hong Kong, with the number of non-identifiable baggage in a nosedive.
IT on the apron
Ground handlers are increasingly looking for ways to improve their operations without compromising on service. Paper and voice-based recording systems have always proved unreliable and inefficient in the planning and running of daily operations, says John Boult, director of Farnham, UK-based Damarel Systems International.
He says: “The future of better ground handling operations is about improved data capture and communication – and specifically automated and electronic communication.”
A comprehensive ground handling system will streamline all operational and business processes: everything from initial schedule preparation through daily operations and turnaround management, on-day allocations and SLA (service level agreement) monitoring to service recording and automated paperless billing.
Damarel is seeing increased application of its FiNDnet Ground Handling Suite – in both small regional airports and large international operations. A major user of the system, at over 50 sites internationally, reports that FiNDnet reduces leakage and loss of revenue; it connects multiple systems and information sources, consolidates data and provides real-time information to make informed decisions quickly.
Damarel has been a provider of software solutions to airports and ground handlers for over 25 years.
Robotics to the rescue
This year, Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam expects a transhipment volume of 70 million pieces of baggage. Karlsruhe-based Grenzebach Automation designed a handling system with loading robots, controlled by laser measurement systems from SICK, to handle this volume.
Installed on the conveyor belt and directly on the robot, measuring systems from SICK detect the volume data of the pieces of baggage that weigh up to 30kg, supplying the necessary information for automated loading of the baggage containers or carts and permitting corresponding relief of airport staff.
The data of the laser-based measuring systems are indispensable for the operation of the baggage-loading robots. On the conveyor belt, each piece of baggage is measured already by two LMS (laser measurement systems) from SICK, which involves detection of the position and orientation as well as length, width and height of the bags. Therefore, by the time the piece of baggage reaches the loading robot, that device is able to position itself in the best possible way for transferring the bag.
An additional measurement taken besides the baggage contours is the current loading status. To this end, an LMS installed directly on the robot arm is used. Based on the suitcase data and the current loading status, the software system developed by Grenzebach calculates the optimum position for depositing the piece of baggage and the robot’s corresponding sequence of movements.
Into the cloud
Damarel’s locally installed L-DCS and LodeStone Weight & Balance solution was such a success at Leipzig/Halle Airport that Germany’s Airport Services Group GmbH (ASG) was keen to maximise what it could gain from the system, says Boult. The result is a centralised system for hosting check-in and boarding operations at two further airports from Damarel’s established UK data centre.
Following a very smooth migration of all the Leipzig Airport data to the new facility, they were quickly joined by Dresden and Friedrichshafen. Use of Damarel’s private cloud meant ASG required no on-site hardware, with the system accessed across a standard Internet VPN (virtual private network). This reduces the IT spend, speeds up roll-out and also gives access to Damarel’s state-of-the-art Type B message and BRS/BHS (baggage reconciliation system/baggage handling system) connections. Fast, secure and easy to adopt, the new distribution model is ideal for airport operations needing an efficient, low-cost model for passenger handling activities.
“Using Damarel’s DCS (departure control system) suite for almost four years with a local server set up at LEJ, we made a big step forward with switching to the hosted version. For us L-DCS, Embark and LodeStone are the perfect tools for our daily airline customer handling. No other DCS is more focused on the requirements from a handling agent’s point of view. No other system is easier and faster to learn for the frontline agent, keeping training efforts low,” says Uwe Stange, deputy station and quality manager at ASG.
Mobile passengers
Air passenger numbers are growing strongly and 97% of them are carrying mobile devices to stay connected and keep them informed and entertained throughout their trip. The Airport IT Trends Survey 2014, produced by Airports Council International (ACI) and SITA, reveals many airports are rising to the challenge of meeting the expectations of this ‘connected traveller’. They identified a new focus on IT&T investments to improve the passenger experience including new self-service options such as bag-tag printing, self-boarding and self-bag-drop.
Airports must provide infrastructure and services that can deliver more convenience, control and a connected experience to passengers. SITA says that over the next three years more than 80% of airports plan a major investment or an evaluation project in either the self-service and/or mobile areas. Business intelligence initiatives, which will open the way for airports to provide contextual, real-time information and services to passengers and staff, are also a serious investment area with 41% of airports planning major projects.
Getting the most attention are cloud services with 71% of airports planning either a major programme or running a pilot project over the next three years. Geo-location technologies, such as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, which can be used to improve passenger flows and provide location-based services, are also high on the agenda. By 2017, 60% of airports plan to invest in a major or pilot Bluetooth programme and 52% in Wi-Fi. New technologies that have yet to get much widespread uptake include Near Field Communications (NFC) and digital tags for asset and baggage tracking. Two technologies predicted to make an impact within the airport environment are iBeacons and wearable technologies, such as smartwatches and Google Glass. Among the top 50 airports with the highest passenger numbers, the majority plan to run projects with iBeacons over the next three years, while 19% plan to look at wearable technologies.
Apps everywhere
By far the most common mobile service available is flight status notification, with 50% of airports offering the service. This will become industry wide by 2017 with a further 40% of airports planning to provide it by then. The availability of other services through mobile apps is relatively low in comparison, but over the next three years more than half of all airports are planning to introduce airport-focused notifications, including queue times, more personalised information, such as opt-in services and customer service initiatives, as well as retail services.
To help passengers anticipate waits at checkpoints, Fraport is now providing a new, unique service: the Frankfurt Airport app sends expected waiting times at passport and security checkpoints straight to a passenger’s smartphone in real time. This helps them to decide how early they need to leave home to avoid the stress of long lines at the airport. The information is also displayed on information kiosks around Frankfurt Airport.
“We’re making it a bit easier for passengers to find their way through the terminals to their planes,” says Dr Pierre Dominique Prümm, senior executive vice president at Fraport AG for airside and terminal management, corporate safety and security. “Now they can plan their time at the airport better and tell, for example, if they have enough leeway to do a little shopping.” The information is provided in German, English and Chinese.
The service with automatic display of waiting times has already demonstrated its value. For months, a sensor-equipped system has been measuring how much time elapses between when passengers arrive at checkpoints and when they emerge on the other side. The results are displayed on monitors in the terminals. It’s also possible to choose a checkpoint on an interactive map and display the fastest route for getting there.
The app is available for the operating systems iOS and Android. In the App-Store it can be downloaded as the Frankfurt Airport (FRA Airport) app, while it can be found under Frankfurt Airport 2.0 in the Google Play Store.
Aeroflot first for iPads
Aeroflot has become the first airline in the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) to digitise its crew by providing SITA’s CrewTablet to enhance in-flight service to passengers. Starting in the last quarter of 2014, Aeroflot will equip cabin crew with 500 iPad minis, with a further expansion to 1,200 tablets to follow.
Aeroflot’s CrewTablets enable its cabin crew to access passenger and operational data in-flight, improving onboard operations and enhancing service to passengers. In addition, with the use of digital forms and reports, CrewTablet helps Aeroflot reduce operational costs and back-office administrative tasks and generate fuel savings by decreasing the weight of traditional paper reports and manuals carried onboard.
Dave Bakker, SITA president, Europe, says: “Aeroflot is one of the innovators – and the first in Russia – to use SITA CrewTablet technology to become more efficient in-flight. Aeroflot selected CrewTablet because SITA has developed a robust, cutting-edge mobile solution fully integrated into its IT infrastructure. We are already working closely with Aeroflot to connect these tablets to an in-cabin wireless service to enable live communication while the plane is in the air. It’s all part of SITA’s wider e-Aircraft concept, which is set to revolutionise how an aircraft integrates with the airline’s ground operations.”
According to the air industry data portal Routehappy.com, Aeroflot holds seventh place in the ranking of airlines that provide Wi-Fi onboard aircraft, ahead of global peers such as Emirates, Qatar, Japan Airlines and Turkish Airlines. Wi-Fi service is available onboard 30 Aeroflot long-haul aircraft.
“Wi-Fi is one of the most sought-after innovative services passengers want to access on their flights and there has been significant investment by airlines since our last report,” Routehappy CEO Robert Albert told CNN. Largely due to the use of innovation and introduction of advanced IT technologies, Aeroflot managed to improve significantly the quality of service and to achieve wide international recognition. Aeroflot is an innovative company and considers IT to be a core issue for the quality of its product.
At the same time, Greek airline Ellinair has signed a seven-year agreement with SITA for the Horizon next-generation passenger services system to support the airline’s growth and evolution. The agreement includes core reservations services that will help the airline manage its reservations at airline and partner sales offices, as well as through global distribution systems (GDS), travel distributors and online consumer sites.
Ellinair, which recently transformed itself from a charter airline to a fully scheduled carrier, will also use SITA’s services to manage inventory, check-in and e-ticketing. In addition, SITA’s AirfarePrice will help the airline better manage large transaction volumes and price a wide variety of fare types to meet market needs all around the world.
Ioannis Mouzenidis, CEO of Ellinair, says: “As our customers increasingly use mobile phones, tablets and other devices, we need to be flexible so we can deploy our services via any channel and adapt to changing market needs. Horizon will provide this flexibility.”
In terms of aviation safety, in late 2014 a former scientific adviser to Bill Clinton called for the aviation industry to update black box technology so that crucial recorded information is stored in the cloud and available for remote access.
Oliver McGee, who was also Clinton’s deputy assistant transportation secretary, said using the Internet to gather and store flight information in real time would mean that key data would not be lost. McGee, currently professor of mechanical engineering at Howard University, told the Daily Telegraph that the aviation industry was falling behind.
“The black box data should not be lost in remote terrains or oceans, but rather should be secured and stored in the cloud. If we are able to transmit Beyonce from the Superbowl live to millions of people, we should be able to send this sort of data to the cloud,” he said.
Americas first for Jamaican airports
Passengers arriving at the airports in Kingston and Montego Bay in Jamaica can look forward to faster border clearance with the launch of new automated border control (ABC) kiosks. The Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA) of Jamaica will use sophisticated SITA biometric checks to process passengers quickly and securely, as passenger throughput at the borders is expected to increase.
Jamaica is the first country in the Americas to allow passengers arriving from any international location to use kiosks for self-service immigration border clearance. Other countries have experienced the benefits of biometric kiosks but have limited their use to select nationalities or those who have enrolled in trusted traveller programmes.
Jennifer McDonald, PICA’s CEO, said: “It is important that we welcome all our visitors to Jamaica in the best way we can and with SITA we had the confidence to offer this self-service to all passengers, and not just those who enrol in a trusted traveller programme. SITA’s kiosks use biometrics and work seamlessly with our existing border management systems to offer border processing for everyone.”
In total 15 kiosks are in operation, at the country’s two busiest airports – Norman Manley International airport, Kingston and Sangster International Airport, Montego Bay. Together these airports welcome close to three million passengers each year, of which approximately 1.7 million are international visitors to Jamaica.
In the UK, regional gateway Exeter International Airport serves a wide catchment area and is exhibiting strong passenger growth, year on year. Exeter took the strategic decision to implement CUTE (common use terminal equipment) to make full use of the limited number of check-in desks. By adopting Aura, Damarel’s low-cost CUTE solution for regional airports, Exeter ensured that every carrier could access its own DCS using common equipment, immediately freeing up desk space and increasing capacity.
Over time, as the size of the airport increased and new desks and gates were added, Aura proved its flexibility, cost-effectively scaling up to meet increased usage and demand. Aura was also able to meet the changing demands of the airport, seamlessly adding support for new devices, such as OCR (optical character recognition) equipment for APIS (advance passenger information system) capture, as the need arose.
With security now paramount, Exeter also adopted Damarel’s Vanguard system to provide rapid, effective screening of home-printed boarding cards at outbound control points.
As part of the overall solution Damarel provided Exeter with its L-DCS and LodeStone systems for check-in and boarding and for weight and balance.
“We are very pleased with the way Damarel have worked with the airport to provide solutions to the ongoing challenges of information provision. Their ingenuity is helping us meet the expectations of today’s travelling public,” says Cate Elshaw, passenger services manager, Exeter International Airport.
