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.

The Significance of Social Media and Sharing

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Social Media applications (apps) have taken the world by storm, working their way into many aspects of modern life. People take their phones everywhere with them and document their life – travel experiences especially – so airports should ensure it’s easy for passengers to share enjoyable travel experiences.

Many websites now have buttons to share links straight to the user’s social media account, and some companies advertise their products directly through a company page. But now there’s an even better way for airports to utilize social media.

Snapchat recently released sponsored filters by General Electric. These filters only appear when at a certain location, and 50 major airports across the U.S. have special filters for users to utilize. When at JFK, for example, a user can choose to take a “snap” with an overlay of the name of the airport and their flight plans, sharing the experience with their friends and family through this filter.

This is an interesting application of a social media app working hand-in-hand with a company to advertise in a new and novel way, but this can be just the first step into bringing more life to your airport and a better experience to passengers.

Combining an airport’s mobile app with up-to-date social media accounts is the first step to encouraging an ongoing correspondence with your passengers. It gives the ability to have a direct line of communication, especially with frequent fliers who may have valuable feedback for the airport and its operations on the passenger-interaction side. This will remove the need to have expensive surveys done when you can have direct conversations with your customers.

The next step to enhancing the passenger experience is improving the airport’s mobile app. As an example: You could allow passengers to check in for flights on their phones, wave their phone over a machine to scan their boarding pass, use the airport’s mobile app to navigate to their terminal or stores of choice, and then let them easily document the entire experience through social media.

Making the experience as seamless as possible will encourage them to speak positively about your airport, and if they can easily access their accounts and then address the airport’s social media accounts to share the good times – then their friends, family, and followers will pay attention and, hopefully, use your airport as well.

There are certainly a number of benefits that would come from creating a silky smooth experience like above aside from the word-of-mouth advertising you would receive and improved passenger experience for travelers.

Data can be collected from social media, allowing you to generate analytics with the proper systems to see what passengers are saying and thinking about your airport directly. When they are encouraged to post their experiences, it’s more data to read and learn trends from. This gathered data could present you with improvements to be made, or simply let you know what you’re doing right at your airport. A close connection with your passengers is tantamount to positive growth.

Properly utilizing social media alongside a comprehensive airport mobile app can lead to many improvements – not only for improving the relationship with your passengers but how you interact with all passenger on your operations side. It’s time to jump into the heart of the storm, and not let trends pass your airport by.

The Importance of a Mobile Solution

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Both mobile applications and responsive websites are important in this growing age of smartphones and tablets. To keep up with this explosive expansion of technology, airports must make sure all travelers can grab the information they need to fly onwards.

Mobile applications and responsive websites are two sides of the same coin. Mobile apps are downloaded on for use on phones and tablets while a responsive website is a website that works and displays great across all devices.

The number of global mobile users passed desktop users in 2014 and the popularity of these devices continues to expand, according to a study done by Morgan Stanley Research. 51% of time spent with digital media by adults is through a mobile device, according to a study done by eMarketer this year. Only 42% is done through desktop devices in comparison, and 7% through other devices.

The direction you’ll want to take with your airport will depend on many factors, and it’s best to consider the pros and cons for each possibility before going forward.

Apps can do quite a few things that responsive websites cannot. You have access to a wider array of functions and styles, as well as complete control of all its aspects. Apps can be made in any number of programming languages, allowing a much greater range of possibilities compared to a website’s HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. There’s only a limited number of things that can be done with a website effectively. The possibilities for an app are almost limitless but are dependent upon creativity and needs.

Mobile apps can serve the user personally, and are able to keep useful information without logging in and out constantly. Passengers could scan their parking location and store it in the app – making sure they know where to go on their return. This personalized experience and other functions can be very useful for frequent fliers that have their local airport’s app downloaded.

These features, however, come at the price of needing to go through lengthy update processes, licensing applications, and development time – along with the fact that not everybody may want to download something.

89% of time spent with digital media is within an application rather than browsing the web. Even though this hefty statistic includes all apps (games, social media, etc.), it shows that people are certainly willing to download apps, but it must be for a good reason to the individual.

Responsive websites are becoming popular – and for good reason. If a whole website is planned around looking good on all devices, then a consistent brand image can be put forward.

Ofcom Research discovered that desktop PCs are falling in popularity – with a much larger percentage of people owning laptops, smartphones, tablets, game consoles, and even portable gaming devices beating out desktop computers. This means people are purchasing a wide variety of devices that can access the Internet, and a website must be prepared for that.

Responsive websites are built with mobile devices in mind first, and then expanding to the desktop and other views. They stretch and add content as the screen size grows, allowing you to customize what will be on which devices depending on screen size and orientation.

Though a website may not be able to have all the functionality an app may have, the versatility, consistency, and lack of download push it to the forefront of what may be preferred. If someone is just looking for information rather than interaction, a website is easier to sort through and deal with.

But with all this information, a choice is still left. Do you choose one? Both? You have to decide based on the needs of your airport and passengers.

Ideally both should be had to ensure you reach all the right audiences, much like having a parking structure close to the airport for people in a hurry and a long-term lot far away for cost-conscious passengers. An app caters to frequent fliers while a responsive website will cater to your leisure travelers and people passing through the airport. Reaching for both a responsive website and mobile apps can allow you to push your brand image into the forefront of users minds.

Just be careful to ensure the app and website aren’t exact copies. Let the responsive website be what it would be, and mold the mobile app into something with extended functionality and uses that travelers would want, but cannot be put easily into a website.

Regardless of the direction an airport takes, a mobile solution is increasingly important. 80% of Internet users own a smartphone, and it’s a statistic that will not stop growing as smart technology become more popular and affordable.

To land in and keep up with the growing world of smartphones, airports must look at their decisions with technology and stay connected with passengers. There are pros and cons to going with mobile apps, responsive websites, or both – but there is no doubt a choice must be made in order to not fall behind.

Digitization delivers delicious data

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The world is becoming increasingly digitized, and technology growing exponentially more efficient – these factors ensure that collecting and analyzing data has never been easier or as comprehensive. We all now live in an era driven by data.

Anybody can now access vast amounts of resources alongside the data that comes from it. Airports especially need to learn what information to collect, and when and where to apply the data-driven trends. Those who don’t take advantage of these modern means will be left far behind others who use data-driven strategies to make key decisions.

The traveler demographic is rapidly growing and is projected to reach 7 billion passengers per year by 2020, according to the Airports Council International. This means more and more data can be collected and utilized to improve your airport. Future trends can be predicted, efficiency and security increased, and productivity improved.

Given this flood of new and rapidly growing information, a trusted technology partner to provide the requisite expertise or the in-house staff with the proper skill-sets to analyze and collect this data will be a must. Without the ability to truly analyze and utilize this data, it will be meaningless.

Not only do you need people in place to be able to analyze the information – there must be actual systems in place and you need to know what you want to get out of it. Given the depth and breadth of airport operations – from landside, terminal, and airside – it is important to know how well every aspect is performing. Data analysis can significantly aid the airport in achieving this goal. 

Data gathered from daily Part 139 inspections could be utilized to see trends on the airfield and perform proactive maintenance to avoid disruptions. Passenger flow information can be examined by detail by separating it by the time of day and day of the week. It can then be viewed from the lens of underlying factors such as seasonal upticks and weather conditions. The information gathered not only can be used for airport staffing but can also be utilized to help concessionaires and parking appropriately prepare for upswings or low periods.

At our local airport, we have experienced food concessionaires closing without taking into account the scores of possibly hungry passengers waiting for delayed flights in the concourse – making it a missed opportunity. Timely information to the concessionaires can help improve their bottom line, the airport’s revenue share, and the overall experience of passengers traveling through the airport. Another common view is when the line from the parking lot snakes through rows waiting to pay at the few manned parking lot kiosks. Closing the loop on flight arrivals, parking lot capacity, and iterating the patterns when the aforementioned scenario occurs can help avoid this from becoming a repetitive occurrence.

If there is a measurable output, it can be dissected and analyzed to help improve your airport operations, better the lives of your employees and passengers, and work with the community to achieve newer and higher goals. With this massive growth of information, airports must to move with the times and wield data as a way to pave the path to a new, informative era.

The Case for Automation and Digitization

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The world is becoming increasingly digitized, moving away from physical stockpiles of information in favor of compact, environmentally friendly, and easily accessible data. Binders and cabinets with documents in silos, spread across an airport can now be accessed easily in one place from any device – off or on the airport.

The time is ripe for airports to consider the benefits of transitioning to an automated system. Inaction can cost an airport more than the price of an automated system, even if the upfront cost seems higher. This concept is important for any business or government entity but especially applies to the complex operations at airports. If airport operations are unable to access critical data in real time, on top of the obvious losses are hidden losses. Even when operations appear to be working as intended, there are always explicit and implicit costs that should be considered.

Airports track explicit costs – which are easily quantified – like the upfront cost of a FIDS system. The hidden or implicit costs are usually more difficult to track but are still an expense nonetheless. Implicit costs are the time that could have been spent elsewhere, potential hours lost, possibilities missed, and dangerous situations left unchecked.

Digitization and automation of timely manual processes are the keys to eliminating an immediate source of implicit losses through real-time interactions. Filing paperwork takes a lot of time and searching through the documents can be even more time consuming. Not having access to these documents when decisions need to be made can further complicate the process by duplication of efforts, such as multiple work orders filed for the same discrepancy. Bringing these to an online system makes all aspects of operations easier, organized, and cost effective – and environmentally friendly as well.

Digitizing information makes it significantly easier to access and organize critical information as well. Airfield inspections can be done from a smartphone out on the tarmac; maintenance can be aware of an airside work order as soon as operations inspector notes the discrepancy; and management efforts can be recorded from the site and read in the office simultaneously. Efficiency is reached when multiple people can access the same records on the same portal, from various devices and locations in the airport.

While digitization helps reduce time and resources by streamlining records, automation helps reduce duplication of efforts. At many airports, the lack of real-time access to relevant data causes airport staff to re-issue a work order or attend to a matter that was already addressed in a prior shift. Automation also aids in communication within and between airport departments. Automated emails have replaced calls to other departments to notify them of an issue, such as a work order. This is not only a time-saving tool but also a valuable communication medium. It keeps all relevant parties constantly on top of critical issues at the airport.

Processes currently done manually will become much more efficient and cost-effective when automated, and allow staff to focus on critical issues affecting the airport. Different airports will have different needs and budgets – but for any airport considering a system to automate their processes, the cost of inaction may very well far exceed the upfront cost of procuring a system.

The Importance of a Website

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Websites are growing greatly in importance all around the world – and with the growth of smartphones and other web-accessible devices, it is critical for airports to make sure their online presence soars to the top.

Nearly two-thirds of American adults and a staggering 85% of young adults own a smartphone now, according to a study released in April 2015 by the Pew Research Center. This number is rapidly increasing, and it covers all demographics. People young and old, across all genders, races, and financial situations own smartphones. Any remaining divides between demographics is rapidly diminishing, leaving smartphones in the massive majority.

Having established the prevalence of smartphone ownership in the United States, it is important to see how these mobile devices are utilized. According to the Pew Research Center, 97% of smartphone owners 18-29 years old, and 90% of users 30-49 years old use their phone to browse the Internet. This is a massive amount of people browsing on their phone, demonstrating the importance of having a responsive website for every airport.

With the prevalence of mobile devices taking off, it is increasingly important to ensure that your website is designed to be viewed on a variety of devices. If people can’t use their device to browse a website and find what they need, it’ll cause frustration. This frustration can keep people from returning to your airport’s website – and worse yet, to vent this frustration on social media. A website needs to be a medium to connect with passengers and make them feel good about guiding their travel through your airport, as the web is now where first impressions are often made.

To establish positive rapport with travellers and enhance the credibility of your airport’s brand, the website cannot just be responsive and usable across multiple devices – it has to be visually pleasing, easy to browse, and directed at the demographic you want to connect with. Making it viewable across all devices will mean nothing if it isn’t laid out in a way people can quickly and easily find the information they want.

A website in the modern day is the ultimate way an airport can proudly display their brand and ideals, and where most people will see it. It is a powerful marketing tool that needs to be effectively utilized, and proper optimization will greatly increase the airport’s visibility, bring new passengers, and keep frequent fliers coming back.

Airports need to take to the times and have a well-designed, optimized, and responsive website to ensure they can soar to new heights.

The Internet of Things spreads to Airports

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Technology is rapidly spreading across the world. As it improves, devices begin to spin a complex web of communication that is continually growing more complicated and integrated with other technologies – a resource that is yet to be fully utilized by airports, but could be used to great success in many fields of operations, from easing management stress to improving the passenger experience.

This concept, called the Internet of Things (IoT), is an interconnected network of physical electronics which all communicate with each other. This data is shared and spread across devices to enable the applications and technology to better serve the user. For example, a Wi-Fi-enabled thermostat or garage opener can send data to and work with your computer, phone and even smart watch.

This concept is beginning to take form in airports as well, especially as technologies advance. Passengers and employees can use wearable technology in the form of Google Glass and the Apple Watch alike to ease travel and operations. Passengers can wave their smart device over a terminal instead of carrying a ticket and waiting in line; Google Glass can guide employees and staff through other devices towards problem areas or to help passengers, and much more.

The use of these technologies is only the tip of the iceberg that is the Internet of Things. In order to create a future of integration and growth of communicating electronics, more freedom to grow needs to be given and safety of the devices needs to be ensured. This is especially important to consider its use of at airports, as the proper application of technology can heighten safety and greatly improve the travel experience.

Advancement in biometric security could release the need for even passengers to have devices or papers. Cutting edge surveillance coupled with devices could detect threats and inform staff before employees and passengers can even notice. iBeacons placed around the airport can guide travellers to their destination, to deals at stores or airport events across the property; or it can guide staff to problem areas, passengers in need of direction, or to the proper locations in the event of an emergency.

Safety is a concern if the Internet of Things is not properly applied and secured. With so many disparate devices sending data back and forth, we need to ensure that the information is protected. Similarly with Uber and Lyft, regulations need to be put in place to ensure passenger safety on top of the convenience the applications grant. But that is only one step towards a brighter future. As long as these technologies are properly secured and implemented, airports will be able to use them to great success.

It is time to discard old business models and join the web of ever-improving technology, ensuring that airports can continually improve operations and the passenger experience.

Software as a Service taking Airports to the Cloud

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The world works at blinding speeds with advancements in technology, and airports aren’t slowing down either. Software and applications of today should be delivered and work at the same speeds, ensuring the aviation industry can keep pace.

Software has been sold with a license and up-front cost and has been received as either a physical copy or digital download. Software as a Service (SaaS) is a new model in business that is growing in popularity compared to the traditional methods.

It is a change in the way the software is sold, maintained and accessed. The software is licensed and delivered on a subscription basis and is centrally hosted by the SaaS provider. It is also known as the “Cloud” model because there is no need to physically or indirectly distribute the service, and it can be accessed instantly.

There are a number of characteristics that generally make up Software as a Service. The software is highly customizable, configurable and is often updated more frequently than traditional software. Updates are implemented and released by the SaaS provider, as needed with minimal disruption to the end-users.

Airports need services they can count on to ensure operations run smoothly, and airport personnel need to be able to share real-time information. Software as a Service encourages this through interfaces that operate over wide area networks, allowing for employees and staff to always have access to what is needed with real-time information.

Software as a Service also allows airports the flexibility to get only the software components they need and scale as their needs evolve and grow. Specialized hardware doesn’t need to be bought and installed to run the software – the software is maintained without intervention and delivered over the Internet. This means adding more capabilities is often a breeze.

Support, backups, and maintenance are taken care of by the provider, relieving the airport staff of maintaining, supporting and updating the infrastructure. These inherent traits of SaaS make it a suitable solution for airports, given the complexity of airport operations and the cost cutting that is making internal IT resources scarce.

Software as a Service is the answer for keeping pace with technology, especially in the Aviation Industry. It is time for airports to harness its full potential and take off to the Cloud.