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Airports Integrate Systems Software to Improve Efficiency and Passenger SatisfactionAirports all over the world are investing in the latest software solutions to reinforce their commitments to improving efficiency and passenger satisfaction. In today’s airport environment, greater efficiency is being achieved via systems integration and this is an area that can benefit the airport in many ways, from the back office to the terminal front line.

At this year’s Airport IT & Security 2018 conference in Amsterdam, held next month at Schiphol Airport’s Hilton, attendees will be invited and welcomed to the seminar – Keeping Pace with the Challenges of Security and Operational Efficiency.

The seminar will focus on the importance of drawing together disparate, new technologies and systems, integrating them to deliver greater situational awareness, enhanced analytics and ultimately increased efficiency.

What airport systems are integrable?

Within the airport environment every system and operational solution should be integrable. Only when systems can communicate with each other can a truly seamless airport operational environment be created.

For example, when access to airport and airline systems can be launched from any workstation, the operational environment becomes much smoother in its approach to check-in, loading and flight control, or when airport messaging happens in a secure, integrated environment, greater security is achieved, and reporting is made simpler.

In a world where security, efficiency and passenger experience is paramount, it is clear to see how systems integration can benefit airports of all sizes.

About the conference

Visitors to the exhibition and conference will have an opportunity to discover how airports can begin to work more closely with airlines and third-party providers in terms of messaging and real-time information-sharing. Connecting government agencies, customs and security providers, emergency services and local authorities delivers more flexibility and offers a transparent, yet seamlessly secure environment via automated, real-time messaging.

Rockwell Collins' Bag Drop technology in action | Business Aviation NewsA two-phase project at Dublin Airport has seen a dramatic reduction in passenger check-in times with the introduction of Rockwell Collins’ ARINC vMUSE, self-service kiosks and the latest bag drop solutions.

Frances O’Brien, VP PMO at DAA (Dublin Airport Authority), spearheaded a campaign to streamline airport operations to address the challenges she recognised within the airport. Speaking about the implementation of CUPPS by Rockwell Collins in 2015/16, she said, ‘We worked with Rockwell Collins to implement systems that enable our airlines to share workstations, helping us make the best use of our current resources. As we embarked on this new initiative, our existing relationship plus Rockwell Collins’ extensive industry expertise made them the right partner for us.’

The first phase of the project began in December 2015, with the introduction of 19 Common-Use workstations. This quickly expanded to 64 units through spring 2016 with no issues, described by O’Brien as ‘a painless process.’

The self-service bag drop stations now number 20 in Ryanair’s hub, Terminal 1, and 16 in the Aer Lingus check-in area in Terminal 2. Jim Rogers, the Aer Lingus bag tag and drop off project manager said, ‘Some of our guests have told us that this technology is a key differentiator on whether they would fly with Aer Lingus again. Our fleet size is increasing by about 10 percent this year, and this type of technology allows us to increase throughput without capital expenditure on building and facilities.’

Australia Ramps Up Border Control | Automated Border ProtectionIt has been announced that a major project to install automated border control e-gates in 8 airports across Australia has been completed.

A total of 83 e-gates have been installed since the project began last year, and already more than 10 million travellers have successfully passed through.

The Australian government committed to the project to ensure border control processes were not only efficient, streamlining Advance Passenger Information processing and reducing the time taken to process passengers, but also enhanced border protection at the country’s international checkpoints.

Peter Dutton, the Australian Minister for Immigration and Border Protection said, ‘This milestone delivers on the Australian Government’s commitment towards streamlined border control processes and enhanced border protection capability at our international airports. [This technology is] critical to improving our ability to accurately confirm the identity of travellers.’

Miami International Airport to Upgrade Baggage Handling Systems | Business Aviation BlogMiami International Airport has plans in place to begin an upgrade of its baggage handling systems, replacing a part of its security screening system and automated sortation.

The upgrades will also include modifications to baggage conveyancing, electrical and power distribution systems. The TSA is backing the project with a grant to Miami-Dade County of $101 million to support plans to build a 60,000ft2 extension to the current Central Terminal BHS, which will include a security corridor between Terminals G and H.

As advancing technology continues to offer opportunities for increased efficiency and security, airports around the world are looking to these next-generation baggage handling systems to deliver enhanced passenger experience, whilst making sure than capacity for expansion and adaptability remains at the forefront of all planning.

Ground delays are an expensive issue for both airlines and airports, and as passenger numbers continue to increase, operators must ensure that improvements work to significantly improve operational efficiency and security.

Miami-Dade County look forward to the project, which is hoped will create more than 600 local jobs for both direct and indirect employees.

The ILA Berlin Air Show saw Rockwell Collins’ latest training systems last week, as the company featured its Common Architecture Avionic System (CAAS) and Cockpit and Joint Secure Air Combat Training System (JSAS).

CAAS reduces crew workload with integrated multiple communications, weapons and mission sensor subsystems and navigation, focussing on increased safety and operational awareness.

JSAS delivers the first certified, four-level Multi Independent Levels of Security (MILS) training equipment for both ground-based and airborne applications.

In addition, Rockwell Collins featured its Flight Mission Computer FMC-4000 radios and TELDIX space wheel.

Scrutiny of Global Flight Tracking Standards | Business Aviation NewsSince the disappearance of Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370 in March 2014, the aviation industry has held global flight tracking standards under close scrutiny, led by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

ICAO want to have global flight tracking standardised, with positioning reporting at 15-minute intervals under normal flight conditions, and reporting every minute for aircraft under ‘distress’ conditions. The body authorised by the UN, overseers of aviation safety in this respect, has asked that these conditions be mandatory by the end of 2018.

ICAO is working with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to ensure, through simulations, that the proposed tracking standard is possible in what they deem to be ‘real-world conditions’.

The technology is already in place to determine safe and reliable flight tracking on a global scale. Providers of flight tracking systems and aircraft communications, such as Rockwell Collins’ ARINC AviNet, rely on a robust system architecture, and multiple data sources, to deliver accurate aircraft positioning via Inmarsat satellite communications.

cabin-services-worldwideIt has been announced that Pentastar Aviation and Chicago Jet Group have formed a strategic alliance for the provision of CPDLC FANS 1/A STC for Gulfstream business aircraft.

Controller-Pilot Data Link Communications (CPDLC) will give access to designated airspace that will reduce flight time and fuel burn, and has been introduced to enhance efficiency for flight deck communications as air traffic continues to increase year-on-year.

FANS technology delivers flight tracking and text messaging capabilities to flight decks to enable clear and concise aircraft communications across the world.

Providers of CPDLC support aircraft operators as they move towards a single directive for air traffic communications.

Business Aviation News | Air France Flight Gets Fighter Jet EscortCityJet flight AF1558 received an RAF fighter jet escort last week following a failed communications system over the UK.

The Air France aircraft reportedly went off-course during its flight bound for Newcastle, losing part of its communications system over an area of Yorkshire.

The Royal Air Force launched a quick scramble of two Typhoon fighter planes to identify the aircraft that was unresponsive.

Once communications were re-established, the Air France flight landed safely. Although Air France confirmed the incident in a later Tweet, the cause of the radio silence has not yet been confirmed.

Business Aviation Blog | Cybersecurity on Aircraft – New GuidelinesLast month, the US Senate introduced the Cybersecurity Standards for Aircraft to Improve Resilience Act (Cyber AIR Act). This move requires the FAA to introduce guidelines for the aviation industry in addition to the requirement of airlines to report any and every instance of cyber-attack to the government.

In a technologically-advancing age, cybersecurity in the aviation industry is becoming increasingly necessary, with potentially disastrous consequences on the table for failure to keep information management systems secure. Millions of pieces of mission-critical data, and personal passenger information is exchanged between agencies, government bodies and aviation businesses every day, and access to it is strictly regulated.

Providers of cybersecurity solutions for key infrastructure in airports and secure facilities all over the world deliver a wide range of products and technology to ensure industry standards are met and integration remains fully managed.

Business Aviation News | EU Held Back by Regional Airport InfrastructureEBAA CEO, Fabio Gamba spoke out last week at a media event in Brussels, about the ‘lack of political will’ being at the root of the business aviation sector’s ability to make more use of regional airports in Europe.

With additional use of existing technology, business aviators would gain additional options in adverse weather conditions with restricted visibility – a system that is already deployed in the U.S.

Gamba criticised the policy-making officials in the EU for what he refers to as an ‘over-focus on the role of hub airports’, and urges them to ‘display greater political will’ for the promotion of the use of technology in regional airports, which will, in turn, lead to greater support.