Decongest airports using data

Waiting to board, to disembark, then for baggage. Since the pandemic, congestion at airports has angered many travelers. An Alberta company has found a gold mine in black boxes to tackle the problem.

“We created Flyht 20 years ago with the idea that black box data has value even if the plane doesn’t crash,” explains Kent Jacobs, CEO of the Calgary firm, in an interview. on the sidelines of a meeting with investors in Montreal in mid-May. “There is no reason to refrain from analyzing this data, whether in real time or after each flight. »

Flyht’s first systems downloaded data from the black box between two flights, to the ground. But in recent years, the SME has launched several in-flight analysis systems which download their conclusions by satellite. The cost of satellite communications means that sendings must be limited to analysis results, rather than raw data.

“One of our flagship products is the rotation management system (turn management system), says Mr. Jacobs. This is one of the most important issues for airlines, particularly for discount companies which minimize the time between each plane flight as much as possible. Reducing the turnaround time also makes it possible to optimize the crew and pilots’ duty time, so that as much of it as possible is spent in flight. »

Ground rotations are also at the heart of passenger satisfaction. “We’ve all experienced the frustrating moment when the plane arrives at the gate, but you have to stay in your seat because the team that connects the plane to the airport and opens the gates -cargo to take the suitcases has not yet arrived. »

The rotation management system concocted by Flyht sends in real time the necessary information on the level of the various tanks (fuel, water, waste water, various liquids) and the defects that must be decided whether or not to repair before taking off again.

“If the plane is early, we can notify the ground crew,” says Mr. Jacobs. When the plane lands, it can send another warning. And the same thing if it is late, it minimizes unnecessary waiting times for ground teams. »

The proper use of system data, however, depends on the coordination of many players, and not just the different airline teams. “There are the airport employees and the various subcontractors. If no one can act when the plane warns that it will be at the gate in 20 minutes, there are no results. The same goes for hardware failure warnings. There must be a clear procedure with operational and logistical consequences. »

5G

Flyht also has systems to improve the performance of aircraft from several manufacturers using black box data, notably used for the A-220. “We have just launched a 5G data transmission system when the plane is on the ground,” says Mr. Jacobs. This further reduces analysis costs. »

On older aircraft, black box data represents almost all analysis sources. But for newer planes, 80% of the data that can be used for system and performance improvement analyzes comes from sources other than the black box, Mr. Jacobs says. Flyht integrates all this data into its analysis and transmission systems.

Who are Flyht’s competitors?

“When we started the company, we were pretty stupid (stupid) so as not to realize that we were in direct competition with ACARS [système de communications opérationnelles et logistiques des avions], which is a giant present in 25,000 planes worldwide. ACARS has also launched data analytics products, but we are confident in our products and our agility. »

Launched in the 1970s, ACARS still uses radio waves, although some functionality has migrated to satellite communications.