What does the connected aviation ecosystem really mean?
The connected lingo is everywhere! From a connected home ecosystem – where lights, temperature and alarm systems are controlled from your phone – to a connected health ecosystem – where your weight, meals and workout results are all analyzed using a single application.
Built on the same premise is the connected aviation ecosystem – where passenger experiences, aircraft, airport operations and air traffic management are all connected together. And when we break this down a bit further, we can see more clearly how these connections all play a role in improving the passenger experience, sustainability, operational efficiency and more.
Connected aviation ecosystem
The connected aviation ecosystem envisions an aviation industry where all participants, including airlines, airports, air traffic management, support services, and even passengers, are seamlessly interconnected, enhancing air travel and optimizing airport operations.
At its core, the connected aviation ecosystem comprises numerous components and is driven by billions of data points flowing through aircraft, ground operations, and airports. Connectivity and access to data and analytics are key to making flights more efficient and reliable, breaking down silos for improved airport, airline, and airspace optimization.
Within the connected aviation ecosystem, airlines, airports, air traffic management, support services and passengers are seamlessly linked together to optimize airport operations and enhance the air travel experience.
Aviation runs on data, from the inner workings of an airport and the surrounding airspace to the information exchanged between the flight deck and the airline operations center. Collins Aerospace assists customers in building a better aviation ecosystem by providing the comprehensive ability to predict, analyze, and optimize. Opportunities to maximize reliability and reduce costs emerge when customers can connect, interpret, and enable decisions from information flowing across aircraft, airlines, and airspace.
Through the connected aviation ecosystem, airlines, airports, crews, and passengers can enjoy a seamless journey from the airport onto the plane and throughout the flight. By automating data generated from onboard hardware, air-to-ground connectivity, and all ground and airborne applications, airlines can harness new information to enhance flying and real-time decision-making.
Connected aircraft
The connected aircraft sends and receives data to and from its systems and components so that data can be shared for analytical purposes. Today, intelligent aircraft across commercial and business aviation generate significantly more performance data than their predecessors, which can translate to improved data sharing across an airline’s entire operational footprint, including the flight deck, network operations, airports and gate usage. Many of the benefits directly impact crew and aircraft scheduling, flight optimization and planning, equipment and gate tracking, and more.
Data coming off the aircraft can include anything from component performance to required part maintenance, which means more proactive repairs and upkeep. For pilots and aircraft operators, the ability to understand and seamlessly integrate into their tools and workflows can improve operations by saving time and fuel. The connected aircraft has become a cornerstone for airline sustainability and performance capabilities.
A connected aircraft sends and receives data to and from its systems and components so that data can be shared for analytical purposes.
The value of the connected aircraft comes from both nose-to-tail hardware solutions in addition to turnkey connectivity solutions. FlightAware’s Foresight brings flight tracking and analysis of hundreds of thousands of flights in the air, en route and on the ground using machine learning models. When that flow of digital data is seamlessly united across the aircraft, airline and ground applications, it results in more real-time information getting to the right sources at the right time. For ground crews, knowing exactly when an aircraft will land for improved gate arrivals and turnaround times is essential. And for passengers, it means an improved flying experience.
Collins provides an extensive package of solutions that can further the connected aircraft, including onboard hardware, air-to-ground connectivity, as well as ground and airborne applications.
Connected airport
The connected aviation ecosystem extends beyond airlines and airplanes to include airports, which are rich with data. This data is generated by passengers with unique itineraries, checkpoints, and baggage to process, by aircraft as they arrive, taxi, and depart on runways, and from airport operations and support functions such as logistics, resource planning, air traffic control, and security.
Collins is instrumental in helping connected airports securely capture, organize, and aggregate this data into meaningful streams of information, enhancing a dynamic aviation ecosystem. Through this data, Collins aims to make air travel more reliable and seamless for passengers and more efficient for airport and airline stakeholders.
A connected airport can securely capture, organize and aggregate data from flight arrivals/departures, logistics, air traffic control for more meaningful streams of information to ensure a more dynamic aviation ecosystem.
For passengers, data can streamline the curb-to-curb experience, including check-in, bag-drop, security screening, and boarding. Collins' SelfPass™ facial recognition solution supports these areas, eliminating the need for boarding passes and passports, thereby enhancing the passenger experience significantly.
For airlines, data can be leveraged to accelerate aircraft turnarounds, improve maintenance diagnostics, ensure flight path optimization, and enhance air traffic management systems. Collectively, these enhancements reimagine the airport of the future, providing more real-time flight information to passengers and airlines alike.
At Tokyo’s Haneda Airport, the installation of 17 SelfPass biometrically automated self-boarding gates has transformed boarding processes. For an A350 with over 300 passengers, SelfPass-enabled boarding is completed in as little as 23 minutes.
Air Traffic Management
Aircraft take-off, landing, and the airspace in between are integral components of the connected aviation ecosystem. The volume of air traffic from commercial and business aviation continues to rise. Additionally, with the introduction of autonomous vehicles, satellite launches, drones, and more, Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs) globally face the challenge of not only expanding airspace capacity to manage congestion but also maintaining a shared network among these stakeholders.
With Air Traffic Flow Management, connected systems help aircraft take off, land and move safely and seamlessly through airspace.
Collins Aerospace is exploring Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM) and intelligent digital communications to connect everything in the sky with ground systems, shaping the future of air travel. With ATFM, air traffic controllers have access to comprehensive aircraft position and location data, providing a precise view of air traffic at any given moment. When controllers can digitally sequence aircraft arrivals and departures or manage airspace during a space launch, passengers will notice improvements in taxi times and flight durations.
In the aviation industry, data is omnipresent. Helping airlines and airports harness data through connected aircraft and airports is crucial for enhancing operational efficiency, delivering a more reliable and enjoyable passenger experience, and fostering a more sustainable aerospace future. Times like these demand creative, innovative solutions, and Collins' full-stack of digital solutions is enabling unprecedented connectivity within the aviation ecosystem.
