Data Analysis: the Future of Airport Efficiency

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In our modern age, data is collected everywhere – from customer satisfaction reports to records of a website’s clicks per day – and airports are no exception. Just as with any other business, an airport’s success depends on its ability to use data analysis as a tool to innovate and keep in stride with the needs of customers.

Airports already have feedback at their fingertips in the form of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). Records of KPIs include information such as the numbers of on-time departures, numbers of runway incursions, and the revenue per enplaned passenger. Unfortunately, many airports do not use KPIs to their highest potential.

The shear volume of data that airports hold can make useful analysis challenging. Efforts to manually analyze data through spreadsheets and other basic programs are slow and ineffective. Monthly data reports are simply not consistent enough to allow an airport to recognize patterns.

Data analysis must be preformed on a regular basis, in order to provide airports with enough accurate information to show trends. Taking advantage of KPIs through effective data analysis can prove to be enlightening, as airports gain the ability to identify problem zones or inefficiencies that may not be evident at first glance.

However, most airports do not have personnel on hand to analyze daily data inputs. Nonetheless, the task of arranging, monitoring, and analyzing data can be made efficient and simple, even without hiring data-analyzers – a switch to software can be the solution!

Data analysis software has the capacity to adapt to an airport’s individual needs, show trends, locate problem areas, and discover inefficiencies in the airport’s functions. Most importantly, software streamlines the data analysis, making the information easily accessible and usable by the airport; a spreadsheet of numbers and dates becomes a map pinpointing a problematic segment of the runway. A virtual Dashboard displays an airport’s data in a centralized and intuitive manner with maps, graphs, and charts. In other words, airports can observe, react, and fix problems faster, leading to increasing revenues and decreasing costs.

And the best news? Increased insight into the running of an airport allows for an all-around increase in efficiency, resulting in increased satisfaction for employers, employees, and customers alike.

Increasing Airport Security Through Software – Security Management Software

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It is incredible to believe security remains an issue while traveling with today’s safety requirements for airline passengers. From full body scanners to restriction of liquids and possibly the prevention of laptop use during flights, passengers are put through rigorous tests to ensure they are safe to fly. Yet what if major threats are actually entering elsewhere than security checkpoints? This is what happened on April 20th, 2014 when San Jose transient, Yahya Abdi, jumped a perimeter fence onto the tarmac and climbed into the wheel well embarking on a journey across the Pacific to Hawaii.

Thankfully Abdi was found alive on the tarmac but this presents a larger issue: how secure are our airports? Since Abdi, there have been 10 reported “stowaways” aboard flights internationally. One teenager breached the perimeter at JFK but was caught taking a selfie before he could enter a plane. Additionally, the Chicago Tribune reports that “intruders breach U.S. airport fences about every 10 days” since 2012. “Five intruders brought knives and one a loaded gun.” Airports such as JFK and San Jose International both exceed FAA safety regulations and the TSA provides additional regulations regarding the security of secured areas, however, breaches occur. Given the current political tide it is not ill-conceived to believe that security regulations may become stricter with the inclusion of perimeter and gate security reporting. Regardless of the regulations airports should proactively utilize intelligent security software to enhance the safety of their customers, employees, and tenants.

Security management software is available today to automate and facilitate the inspecting and reporting of airport gates, perimeters and other vulnerable assets. Software can be customized for individual gates and perimeters. Furthermore, today’s user friendly software will facilitate the jobs of inspectors and administrators resulting in increased productivity and job satisfaction. The use of software for security reporting can be done from airside locations to landside locations by an inspector in the field on his tablet or smartphone. Submissions into a centralized system may alert necessary personnel of security incidences in real-time while also allowing airports to digitize and archive all inspections and incident report forms. Lastly, security management software will allow tracking of security breaches and detection of vulnerabilities to prevent further occurrences through the use of heat maps and trend analysis allowing authorities to pinpoint problem areas and address security issues.

It is clear that airports should be actively using innovative security software solutions for their airport needs. Those who take action promptly will be benefitted through favorable standing with the FAA, higher productivity, and most importantly—safer customers, employees, and tenants.

Runway Lighting: How’s the Maintenance?

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Lights are easily one of the most important fixtures present on a runway. Runway lights guide pilots during the takeoff and landing procedures, and for this reason, airports have to keep their runway lights up to standard. After a few instances where poorly maintained runway lights damaged aircraft, the FAA tightened its requirements for the maintenance of all airport visual aid facilities in Part 139 certificated airports.

The current version of Advisory Circular, (AC) 150/5340-26, Maintenance of Airport Visual Aid Facilities, outlines all changes that the FAA made in its policies. The FAA requires airports to establish a program to keep careful records of the maintenance of runway lights. One specific change in FAA policy was to emphasize the importance of checking the bolts of in-pavement lights. This special consideration comes from an instance where an in-pavement light came loose, and damaged an airplane during take off. Now, the FAA requires airport personnel to check the torque of the bolts regularly, and completely replace all bolts that are not up to standard. Considering the sheer volume of requirements, it is not surprising that the FAA suggests a program “tailored to suit each airport’s particular needs”. Such a program can be created with the help of software.

According to the FAA, a maintenance record of runway lighting should “provide a service history of each piece of equipment, ensure regular maintenance […], and provide a data base for statistical analysis of lighting system performance.” The task of keeping track of “each piece of equipment” of a runway light system is challenging, while keeping all the information in an organized and understandable format can be just plain cumbersome. Software can simplify the task by providing one convenient place to input data, as well as the tools necessary to track the continual maintenance of any given piece of equipment. It can also aid in generating reports on the bolt torque records, when required internally or by the FAA. With a simple switch to software, airports can make the maintenance of their runway lighting systems efficient and reliable.

To view Maintenance of Airport Visual Aid Facilities: 150/5340-26C

The New Snow and Ice Control Plan (SICP)

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Snow and ice are two of the most serious contaminants for airport runways. Airports have strict processes for how they assess the safety of their runways when these contaminants are present. However, their carefully planned processes will need to change soon.

In the latest news from the FAA, all Part 139 certified airports must revise their Snow and Ice Control Plan (SICP). This change in FAA policy affects airports that conduct snow operations. The deadline for the SICP revisions is here. The FAA requested all submissions by September 1, 2016. The revised SICPs are expected to be put in effect October 1, 2016.

AC 150/5200-30D, released by the FAA on July 29, 2016, explains the proposed changes that airport operators will have to make in their SICP. Luckily for airports, many of the proposed changes are not major. The biggest change is the addition of RCAM.

RCAM, or Runway Condition Assessment Matrix, is, “the method by which an airport operator reports a runway surface assessment when contaminants are present.” RCAM is designed to be a simpler method of reporting runway conditions. For example, the assessment of the slipperiness of the runway are no longer reported in Mu measurements. In RCAM, the observed contaminants on the runway are assigned numeric values, called Runway Condition Codes (RwyCC). These codes are then reported to pilots.

With the winter snowfall coming up soon and the deadline for new SICP implementation having passed, Part 139 certified airports will have to adjust quickly to meet the new guidelines.

One option available to airports for the management of these new requirements is the use of software. With software, the data reported by airport operators will be intuitively managed to meet the new requirements. Additionally, software can include the capability to analyze and provide insight into past trends. Furthermore, airports can keep their carefully planned processes of assessment. Software can intelligently replicate each airport’s specific process. Airports can find software that operates in this manner beneficial, especially in light of these new regulatory requirements.

To view AC 150/5200-30D:

http://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Advisory_Circular/150-5200-30D.pdf

 

The Optimum Option for Airport Lease Management

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At many airports, unused property and buildings can often be leased and incorporated into the airport with parking lots, car rental agencies, concession stands, and private hangars. These leases are one of the most reliable and consistent sources of revenue for airports. However, keeping track of all the details of each lease is often the biggest challenge. Every aspect of each lease is subject to change, so it is crucial for airports to keep careful and updated records.

Some airports keep their lease records manually, on paper or with Word and Excel spreadsheets. In fact, smaller airports may have only one staff member to manage all of the airport’s leases. The massive amounts of paperwork make keeping all lease information accurate and up to date very difficult and time consuming. When records fall behind, leases expire, tenants leave and properties remain empty.  Empty properties still have to be maintained, and  when they don’t bring in revenue, airports lose money.

Automating the process of lease management is a great option to help airports stay on top of their leases. By switching over to lease management software, airports can gain greater insight into the conditions of their lease properties at every step of the leasing process.

In a digital, cloud-based format, all lease information becomes easily accessible and adjustable by airport staff from any device. Issues regarding the conditions of any given lease can be viewed and resolved instantly, with lease information at the airport’s fingertips at all times. Airport operators and leaseholders can be notified automatically notified in advance of expiring leases or insurance policies. Any expiring leases can be updated and renewed, and newly available airport properties can be easily tracked and leased to new tenants. The quick turnaround of leases, results in a steady or even growing revenue stream for the airport.

In short, software that can track an airport’s leases is highly convenient. It eliminates the ineffective process of going through stacks of paperwork and replaces it with just a few clicks on an intuitive software.

SMS – The Time is Now

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The aviation industry was buzzing this week with the news of the released guidelines for SMS implementation from the FAA. This Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (SNPRM) provided clarifications, guidelines, and a timeline to what will be coming soon in SMS implementation.

The FAA has proposed that an SMS be “developed, implemented, maintained, and adhered to” at all certificated small, medium, and large hub airports, all airports with a port of entry or international designation, and airports with over 100,000 total annual operations. According to the FAA, this accounts for 268 airports operating in the United States, covering over 98% of all U.S. passenger enplanements.

It is no secret that the FAA has been planning to implement SMS requirements for some time. In fact, the first proposed rulemaking on SMS was released in October 2010. Since then, many adjustments have been made and several pilot programs have been conducted. These efforts and studies, along with industry feedback, have led the FAA to their current proposal. Many airports – including Cat X airports such as Denver International – have already implemented an SMS program to stay ahead of these forthcoming regulations.

But what exactly will an SMS need to accomplish for an airport? In short, an SMS should operate as “a management system for integrating safety activities into normal day-to-day business practices.” The four components of SMS; safety policy, safety risk management, safety assurance, and safety promotion must be addressed and integrated throughout the airport’s organization by an SMS program. In turn, this will allow airport personnel to identify and mitigate hazards and risks before they cause incidents or accidents, and plan everyday operations in a manner that enhances safety.

For airport executives, the time to act on this news is now. The FAA making significant strides toward implementing this SMS requirement. It is imperative that airport executives begin to look into these requirements and begin planning how their airports will comply with them.

To view the referenced SNPRM, click here.

Streamlining through Software: Wildlife Management

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For many airports, the management of wildlife is a difficult process to tame. Wildlife is often unpredictable and can cause unexpected issues. The act of reporting wildlife activity, hazards, and strikes can be time-consuming and require a great deal of paperwork. Keeping these forms organized and up to date with FAA requirements and inspections can also be costly. To modernize and improve their approach to Wildlife Management, airports should aim to utilize software to automate their Wildlife Management process.

There are numerous benefits of automating the process of Wildlife Management. An intuitive software solution that can fully automate the area of Wildlife Management will have a positive effect on an airport’s operations. A solution created and implemented with this purpose in mind will increase efficiency, eliminate manual paper processes, and intelligently analyze wildlife data. The use of these abilities also strengthens the compliance of the Wildlife Management team of any airport.

Increasing efficiency in the area of Wildlife Management is the clearest benefit of a software solution. A solution that has the capability for a staff member to log wildlife activity and strikes from any device while on the airfield is key for this improvement. This process enables a digital wildlife report to be filled out and uploaded upon completion, allowing authorized staff members to view the report immediately and take necessary action. This level of communication and accountability increases transparency and staff awareness. The ability to archive and access these reports is also crucial. This feature allows relevant staff members and inspectors to easily review these reports at any time. These features bring about a major increase in efficiency for the entire Wildlife Management process at an airport.

The digital reports built into Wildlife Management software also allow for the elimination of the current manual paperwork. A software solution that can convert all existing forms used for Wildlife Management to digital forms helps smooth the transition into a digital environment. It is important to that the digital forms are a representation of the existing forms — a software solution for Wildlife Management should replicate the existing forms of the airport, rather than forcing it to change. A solution that can achieve this will eliminate the paperwork that comes with Wildlife Management while keeping the current Wildlife Management processes of the airport intact.

An innovative software solution that seeks to automate an airport’s Wildlife Management processes must add value in the area of tracking and analyzing wildlife data. With digital forms, an airport manager or inspector is easily able to view reports at any time. Including analytics brings the added benefit of showing patterns and insights that go beyond the reports. With this data, airport staff are able to make more informed decisions regarding their approach to Wildlife Management and even utilize this data in updating their Wildlife Hazard Management Plan.

Combined, these factors create a strong case for the utilization of Wildlife Management software. It is clear that through the use of innovative, intuitive software, Wildlife Management is a beast that can be managed.

Streamlining through Software: Airfield Self-Inspection

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Aviation technology has developed considerably to meet the unique needs of the aviation industry. A variety of software solutions that automate the well-known Part 139 requirements have come to the forefront. Airports should take advantage of the opportunity to be innovative in their approach to Part 139 requirements by using these types of software. They should pay particular attention to systems that can automate their Part 139 airfield self-inspections.

This opportunity begs the question – what should a great Part 139 airfield self-inspection software solution accomplish for an airport? Airports should expect nothing less than an intuitive system that can fully automate their daily and supplemental inspections. A proper airfield self-inspection system should dramatically increase efficiency, eliminate manual paper processes, and, in turn, increase safety.

Efficiency gains in airport operations are common through the use of software. Take daily inspections as an example: Unsatisfactory conditions and work orders can be generated, documented, and addressed far more rapidly with a software driven process rather than a paper process. Real-time communication between the inspector and their supervisors ensures compliance and follow through. This streamlined contact allows airport personnel to be immediately aware of the condition of the airfield and facilitates the process between inspectors and maintenance or operations staff.

The elimination of the paper process may be the most visible change that airfield self-inspection software brings. By converting all forms and records to a digital format that can be accessed on all devices, the paperwork for daily inspections becomes unnecessary. This is a key feature to utilize for an annual FAA inspection or for generating reports for staff meetings. Organizing and accessing this information will no longer require staff to search through file cabinets to find records. Eliminating paperwork from this process is cost effective and saves a great deal of time.

Airports increase the safety of their operations with these gains in efficiency and organization. Airport managers can find value in more than just automating their inspection process and tracking the relevant data. Analyzing this data with software can allow airport managers to make more informed decisions regarding the maintenance and operations of their airport. This can give them the ability to proactively adjust processes as needed to avoid difficult recurring issues. Software driven approaches to airfield inspections not only save time and money, they can effectively increase safety at the airport.

Airfield self-inspection is a critical component of Part 139 requirements. It is clear that utilizing an innovative, clearly defined, and intuitive software solution for airfield self-inspection can greatly benefit an airport in a number of ways.

Utilizing Software to Streamline Airport Lease Management

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One vital aspect of airport administration is the management of an airport’s leases. Airport managers know that leases bring in essential revenue to the airport and provide continued services to the various stakeholders of an airport. However, leases may be a source of frustration and complications for some airport directors. The massive amount of paperwork that is required to track the necessary information about the tenants can grow to be unmanageable and time-consuming. This issue can occur at airports of all sizes, from General Aviation to Category X.

The solution to this type of problem can be found in lease management systems that ease this pain point with intuitive software. A lease management system that automates this work can significantly decrease the amount of time airport staff spend managing and tracking leases. From sending automatic alerts about expiring insurances and leases and sharing information in real time between airport stakeholders, to generating custom reports and more, lease management systems have significant positive impact in streamlining airport operations.

Airports find themselves in a unique situation. They have specific needs when it comes to lease management due to the variety of spaces and properties they rent to tenants, along with the revenue sharing agreements that are often in place. Airports vary in their size and processes, with every airport managing leases in a different way. Due to these factors, an airport should search for a lease management system that is specific to the needs of airports and customizable to the airport that is looking to procure it.

Some current lease management systems view the aviation industry with a ‘one size fits all’ approach. These systems provide airports with off the shelf solutions used in other industries and hope that it matches the process of airports. An aviation-specific system can immediately fulfill the unique needs of airports and include key features and tools that airports need in a lease management system.

An effective lease management system for an airport should have the ability to be customized. With each and every airport being different in their operations, it is worthwhile for airports to seek out a company that is willing to customize a lease management system to fit their needs. Customization allows an airport’s specific needs to be addressed and built into the system, producing a product that seamlessly fits into their operations in a way that is easy for staff to understand.

The benefits of lease management systems at airports are clear. By procuring a system that is both aviation-specific and customizable, airports can be highly successful in tracking and managing their leases, making a once time-consuming process much more streamlined and efficient.

Staying ahead of the Regulatory Curve with SMS

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Nearly everyone working in the aviation industry is aware of the FAA’s promotion of Safety Management Systems. These new systems provide a way to improve one of the most major concerns of airports – safety.

Better known by their acronym SMS, these systems provide a systemic approach to managing all sides of safety at an airport. The FAA has done pilot projects to test and measure the effectiveness and implementation of SMS. With this in mind, the FAA seems ready to make SMS a regulatory requirement for Part 139 airports in the near future to further improve safety.

However, this does not mean that airports should delay exploring SMS options or procuring a system of their own until the FAA releases their guidelines. There are many benefits to being ahead of the regulatory curve.

Airports of all sizes — including Category X airports like Denver International — have already seen the value of implementing SMS systems. By using an SMS to proactively detect and address safety concerns, these airports have sought to increase the efficiency of their safety personnel and improve their safety operations.

The market has readily responded to these developments in aviation. SMS has become a widespread and well-known product. With so many options available, airport administrators must be selective about the type of SMS they choose. Three key factors must always be at the forefront of every airport manager’s mind when selecting a system: specificity to airports, availability of data analytics, and the ability to customize.

Having an SMS that is specific to airports is crucial to the airport’s successful implementation and use of the SMS. A system taken from another industry for use in the aviation industry will not perform or even fit the needs of airports as well as one that is clearly designed for aviation. Therefore, airports must look for an SMS that has been designed and built with airports in mind as the primary users.

The presence of onboard data analytics within an SMS is a valuable feature for airports of all sizes. A great SMS will present clear and easily understandable analytics, displaying important data through everything from heat maps and bar graphs to pie charts and line graphs. Overall, the analytics should allow airport staff to quickly see the most pressing trends in regards to safety incidents and reports in order to allow the staff to react and improve areas that may need attention.

The capacity for customization is also a key component to consider when procuring an SMS. Those in the aviation industry know that every airport is different and has different needs. A specific SMS that may work for one airport may not meet the needs or match the processes of another airport. The ability for an airport manager to have an SMS customized to their airport becomes vital. Airport management can ensure that the company they are procuring from will be delivering a system that specifically fits their needs and matches their processes. This similarity enables a smooth transition process for the airport staff to an SMS. It also means the airport will not need to change their processes to fit an SMS — these systems should be adaptable to fit the airport, not the other way around.

With action from the FAA, many airports may be looking to procure a system within a short period of time. By procuring an SMS in the near future, airports can stay ahead of the regulatory curve and ensure they receive a robust, customizable SMS that fits their needs and noticeably improves safety at their airport.