Category: Airlines

Picture this: You’re standing in the middle of an airport terminal, surrounded by bustling crowds and the sound of announcements blaring over the intercom. Somewhere in the chaos, you hear that your flight has been delayed. Unfortunately, it’s a scene that’s all too familiar to many of our customers. But what if I told you there was a way to make this chaotic experience a little more seamless and enjoyable for your passengers?  With the power of AI technology, Synaptic Aviation is revolutionizing how we experience travel. In this blog post, we’ll explore how Synaptic Aviation can improve your airline customer experience.

5 Ways to Improve Airline Customer Experience with AI from Synaptic Aviation

Eliminate Avoidable Operational Disruptions

One of the most frustrating parts of air travel is the potential for disruptions. These can include long lines at security, delayed flights, and missed connections. With the help of Synaptic Aviation, airlines can use AI technology to identify potential disruptions before they occur and take proactive measures to prevent them.

One of the key ways that Synaptic Aviation achieves this is through automatic turn tracking. By consistently and automatically detecting turnaround activity, Synaptic Aviation provides timestamps that reveal areas of opportunity for improvement in real-time for day-to-day operations. This enables airlines to determine the root cause of disruptions and make necessary adjustments to improve service delivery and resolve issues.

In fact, this technology has been shown to improve on-time performance (OTP) by over 3%, which can result in savings of up to $35K per gate per year. In addition, with our automatic turn tracking, airlines can significantly reduce the likelihood of operational disruptions and improve the overall customer experience.

Faster Baggage Delivery

The waiting and uncertainty at the baggage carousel can be some of the most frustrating experiences for any traveler. The longer you wait, the more anxious you become about whether your luggage made it onto the plane with you. On the other hand, delays in loading baggage onto an airplane can affect departure times. With our AI technology, airlines can communicate actively and automatically about the baggage handling process and execute faster, more reliable baggage loading and unloading routines.

Fewer Baggage Damage Incidents 

In addition to lost luggage, damaged luggage can be a significant inconvenience for travelers. With Synaptic Aviation’s AI-powered system, airlines can detect potential issues with luggage handling before it becomes a problem for the customer. This means luggage is less likely to be damaged during handling, reducing the need for settling costly claims. The ability to provide immediate and relevant feedback to ramp crews translates into a change of behavior. With fewer baggage damage incidents, your passengers can travel with peace of mind knowing that their belongings are in good hands.

On-Time Departures 

For most travelers, a delayed or canceled flight can completely derail their travel plans. Whether it results in a missed connection or an unexpected layover, a delay or cancelation can cause stress and frustration, which can affect the likelihood that your passengers will use your airline in the future. Our AI technology can help airlines reduce the likelihood of delays and improve on-time performance using real-time information and predicted off-block times.

By using multiple data points and real-time performance data, our technology provides airlines with up-to-date information about departure times. This includes predicted departure times and timestamps released as events occur, allowing airlines to recover from disruptions or prevent avoidable delays.

With real-time information and predicted off-block times, airlines can better manage their resources and optimize operations to ensure timely departures. This improves the customer experience and can lead to significant cost savings and increased customer loyalty for airlines.

Information Insights That Produce Changed Ground Handling Behavior

Synaptic Aviation’s AI technology doesn’t just provide real-time information – it can also produce valuable insights that can significantly improve ground personnel skill and change unsafe or inefficient behavior. By tracking every aspect of the airline operation, from baggage handling to fueling and catering, our AI system can provide consistent and unbiased reports to help airlines identify potential areas for improvement and adjust the training curriculums to address operational needs. 

With our data-driven insights, airlines can change their ground-handling behavior to reduce disruptions and improve the customer experience. This can include providing quicker baggage delivery, reducing bag damages, and improving on-time departures. As a result, customers experience friction-free arrivals, which leads to a better overall customer experience.

Learn How Synaptic Aviation Can Help You Improve Customer Experience

Air travel doesn’t have to be a headache, nor should it be. With Synaptic Aviation’s AI technology, airlines and airports can improve the airline customer experience in various ways – from eliminating avoidable disruptions to improving baggage handling and reducing delays. Your passengers can travel with peace of mind knowing that your airline uses the latest technology to provide a better travel experience. Ready to put our artificial intelligence to the test? Request a demo today by visiting www.synapticaviation.com or call us at 844-505-4496.

Airport aprons are high-stakes, high-traffic areas where constant vigilance is required to protect passengers, crew, and airport workers. Due to the high volume of daily aircraft movements and ground support equipment operations, it is imperative to have real-time visibility into the whereabouts, movements, and actions of all objects and personnel on the apron. In 2023 alone, several incidents have highlighted this need:

• On January 3, a ramp agent was fatally injured after being ingested into an aircraft engine at Montgomery Regional Airport.
• On January 19, a JetBlue airplane struck a parked aircraft as it exited the gate at JFK International Airport.
• On February 3, a Boeing 787 being towed into an adjacent gate clipped the winglet of a United Airlines Boeing 757 at Newark Liberty International Airport.
• On February 10, five people were hurt after a shuttle bus struck an Airbus 321 on the taxiway at LAX.
• On March 6, two United Airlines aircraft clipped wings at Boston Logan International Airport.

The Synaptic Aviation system was designed specifically to prevent such incidents. Synaptic Aviation’s AI is revolutionizing the way in which ground service crews work by keeping every stakeholder informed about aircraft movements and ground support routines in real-time. This article will explain why real-time alerts from Synaptic Aviation AI are critical for safety on airport aprons.

Recent IATA Study Reveals the Need for Enhanced GSE and Other Damage Prevention Measures

The IATA recently released a study that emphasizes the need to transition to Enhanced Ground Support Equipment (GSE) to prevent the annual cost of ground damage from doubling to nearly $10 billion by 2035. The study found that:

• Motorized GSE striking the fuselage of the aircraft is the primary cause of aircraft ground damage.
• Widebody aircraft have a ten times higher ground damage rate than narrowbody aircraft.
• Belt-loaders, cargo-loaders, passenger stairs, and passenger boarding bridges are responsible for 40% of total incidents, making them the primary focus for transitioning to Enhanced GSE.
• Transitioning 75% of these equipment types to Enhanced GSE with anti-collision technology would reduce the current expected ground damage cost per turn rate by 42%.

In addition to transitioning to enhanced GSE, the aviation industry needs to improve the way they monitor the apron and alert all stakeholders of potential hazards.

How Synaptic Aviation’s AI Can Help Support Your GSE and Reduce Damage Incidents

Avoid Property Damage on Airport Aprons

Property damage is a major concern on airport aprons. Vehicles, aircraft, and ground support equipment are all at risk of collisions due to their constant motion and necessary contact. Significant property damage and expensive repairs are starting to emerge primarily due to three recent developments:

1. Newer aircraft are made primarily of composite materials instead of aluminum alloys; this makes for more invasive damage and expensive repairs with longer return to service cycles.
2. After COVID, the industry is experiencing higher turnover rates in ground personnel which makes the ramp fertile ground for mishaps.
3. The Ultra Low Cost Carrier (ULCC) phenomenon is putting pressure on the industry to lower costs and operate with higher efficiencies, which often translates to thin margins for ground service providers and fewer safety nets.   

Synaptic Aviation AI’s real-time alerts can help to reduce potential damages effectively by warning about imminent danger, changing people’s behavior from repeated alerts, and by highlighting trends that can lead to accidents. A quick example is our ability to interact with the ground crews via the A-VDGS (Advanced Visual Docking Guidance System) and use the information display to stop a docking if a high-risk situation is detected. Synaptic Aviation’s alerts are delivered swiftly, avoiding potential collisions, reducing the likelihood of costly property damages, and fostering a culture of compliance. 

Encourage Behavioral Change to Avoid Injury

Airport aprons pose a risk not only to aircraft but also to airport employees. Workers face risks of falling or being struck by moving objects due to the constant traffic of vehicles and equipment on the apron.

Synaptic Aviation AI’s real-time alerts can help promote staff behavior change, lessening the potential for injury on airport aprons. To help operators avoid potential dangers, the AI provides real-time data about where and how often vehicles and other pieces of equipment are being moved at the present time. The technology also allows for better training by providing stakeholders with a visual record of incidents so ground crew can learn from mistakes.

Synaptic Aviation’s goal with the technology is to also partner with ground service providers and help them to win by creating a culture of safety by providing tools with immediate feedback about risky situations and alerts that are relevant and timely. This has the potential to improve the morale of airport workers and foster a safer, more pleasant atmosphere in the workplace.

Help Your Bottom Line

Since our Synaptic Aviation AI elevates safety and decreases the likelihood of property damage and personal injury, it also helps airports increase their bottom line. Airports save time and money by increasing efficiency and optimizing operations, ultimately boosting their bottom line.

By providing real-time updates about the movements of aircraft, service vehicles and ground personnel, Synaptic Aviation’s AI can help to optimize ground servicing, providing a new level of operational awareness while helping stake holders to get a new understanding of what is impacting operational performance so that each team can focus on solving the “right” problem. 

Airports and airlines can increase their bottom line by reducing the likelihood of collisions and other incidents on the apron, which in turn reduces the need for expensive repairs and maintenance.

Get Clear Visuals for Better Accountability

Finally, Synaptic Aviation AI’s real-time alerts can boost airport apron accountability as well. Operators can be held more responsible for their actions when they have a clear picture of where their vehicles and equipment have been and where they are going.

The Synaptic Aviation system is a “Ground Data Recorder.” Its real-time alerts can also serve as a valuable record of apron activity, allowing operators to look back on the information and analyze it for improvement opportunities. Opportunities to optimize operations and increase efficiency can be found here, as can threats that need to be dealt with.

A culture of safety can be promoted on airport aprons with the help of real-time alerts from Synaptic Aviation AI. The health of employees, the standing of the airport, and the aviation industry as a whole can all benefit from this.

Conclusion

Synaptic Aviation AI’s real-time alerts are crucial to maintaining order on airport aprons. Its ability to track aircraft and other vehicles in real-time has the potential to reduce the likelihood of accidents, optimize operations, increase accountability, and spread a culture of safety and compliance.

Complex and ever-changing, airport aprons are home to a wide variety of vehicles, pieces of machinery, and people. Without adequate risk management, the movement of such entities can introduce potentially disastrous hazards. Synaptic Aviation AI’s real-time alerts are a powerful resource for mitigating these threats, empowering operators to make educated decisions and take preventative action.

Enhanced safety measures and individual responsibility will become increasingly important as the aviation industry develops and expands. With Synaptic Aviation’s technology, airports can boost safety, cut costs, and increase efficiency, all of which contribute to a long-term, financially rewarding aviation industry.
Get in touch with us today to find out more about Synaptic Aviation AI and how we can assist you in maintaining a safe environment on airport aprons and fostering a culture of safety in the aviation industry.

In today’s fast-changing business world, and with more ultra-low-cost carriers emerging in the market it is critical to be focused on opportunities to be efficient and manage costs. By improving turnaround time, airlines can gain an edge and outperform their competitors. But how do you achieve this goal if you don’t have accurate, timely data? Find out in this article why better data is essential for improved turnaround times and how Synaptic Aviation can help you get there!

Better Data Can Help You to Gain a New Understanding of Your Turnaround Performance and Help to Close the Gaps. 

You need better data if you’re trying to improve your airline’s turnaround time. That may seem like an obvious statement, but it’s often overlooked. Too often, organizations focus on improving processes and procedures without ensuring they have the data necessary to make informed decisions or be certain they are solving the right problem.

But having better data can help you improve your turnaround time in several ways:

Automatic Aircraft Turnaround Tracking

If you’re looking to improve your aircraft turnaround time, it’s crucial to have a system that can track and generate timestamps of ground service tasks automatically and precisely and trigger alerts when events deviate from the norm in real time.  

Synaptic Aviation offers a system with automatic aircraft turnaround tracking that allows consistent automatic detection of turnaround activity and determines the root cause of disruptions. Having immediate access to insightful operational data is an eye-opener and a game changer because often, the real cause of disruption is not as obvious, or it defies our learned logic. 

Real-Time Alert Information with Timestamps

Getting data in real-time is a game changer. With Synaptic Aviation’s AI technology, you can be sure that you will be alerted about most service failures as they happen so you can minimize the impact. With the ability to review timestamped data as it is occurring, you can also see when avoidable mistakes are happening or discover patterns that allow you to get a new understanding of the issues and prepare action plans to prevent reoccurrence in the future.

Having the right information with easy and immediate access allows personnel to make decisions based on the most current information available, leading to better and more effective decision-making, reflected in quick turnaround times and improved efficiency.

Vendor Performance Data

Having accurate and real-time vendor performance data is essential for making informed decisions during aircraft turnaround and providing feedback, especially when SLAs are not met consistently or when there are patterns that indicate that a business partner is struggling. 

The Synaptic Aviation system captures ground services with enhanced detail and is your one source of truth. In addition, vendor performance improvements and audit automation produce savings of up to $26K per gate per year + $15K per airport/per year on vendor audit automation.

Safety Data

Safety is a key factor that can get compromised when allotted turnaround times are reduced due to a lack of arrival readiness, putting pressure on ground crews that must rush to complete their tasks in less time and thus prone to cut corners. Improving arrival readiness by accurately identifying root causes is the first step to minimizing risky behaviors by crew members. Then the Ai also monitors for routine safety compliance to prevent personnel injuries and aircraft damage. Collecting safety data and alerting is only half the battle – you also need to ensure that your data is delivered swiftly. 

Synaptic Aviation system has PLB in safety envelope alerts (pre-post), pre-arrival FOD walk alerts, cone placement tracking, and exception reporting using electronic tracking. It has real-time reporting and alerts, which result in behavior change, reducing employee injuries and aircraft damage.

Video Database for Training and Review of Aircraft Turnaround Procedures

Aircraft turnaround time is a critical metric for the aviation industry and directly impacts an airline’s bottom line. To improve turnaround times, it is essential to have a good database of videos documenting past aircraft turnaround procedures. Think of this feature as your ground data recorder. 

Synaptic Aviation’s AI has a video database that can be used for training purposes so that new employees can learn from the mistakes of others and avoid making them themselves. It can also be used forensically, so that management can see where improvements need to be made.

So, if you want to improve your aircraft turnaround time, start by collecting better data to focus on solving the right problems. Only then will you be able to make the improvements necessary to achieve your goals.

Improve Your Turnaround Time with Technology from Synaptic Aviation

Your business’s success depends on your ability to meet aircraft turnaround goals. When it comes to turnaround time, every minute counts. We can help you improve your turnaround time with our cutting-edge artificial intelligence technology.
With Synaptic Aviation, you can be confident that your aircraft will be ready to take off on time every time. Contact us today to learn more about the system and how we can help you improve your turnaround time.

Air travel demand continues to grow at a rapid pace. This growth is increasing airport delays and the number of stressed ground services. How will ground support keep up with this growth?

Increasing Air Travel Demands

Several factors contribute to increasing air travel demands, such as population growth, economic development, and the rise of low-cost carriers. As more people are able to afford air travel, airlines are adding more flights and routes to meet this demand.

This growth in air travel is putting pressure on ground support services, which include everything from check-in and baggage handling to aircraft fueling and deicing. With more flights and passengers, airports and airlines struggle to keep up with the demand.

Growing Demand Projections for 2023

The airline sector is predicted to reach profitability in 2023. Airlines are expected to achieve a global net profit of $4.7 billion on $779 billion in revenue (0.6% net margin). 

This growth poses challenges for ground support equipment (GSE) providers, who must keep up with demand while meeting new safety and efficiency standards. The demands are greater as airlines strive to turn around aircraft more quickly and efficiently. In addition to traditional services like baggage handling and catering, GSE providers will need to offer increasingly sophisticated solutions.

Ground Support Obstacles in 2023

The number of air travelers is expected to grow significantly in the next few years, outpacing the growth of available airport infrastructure. This will create significant challenges for ground support providers, who will need to find ways to handle increased demand while still providing a safe and efficient service.

One of the biggest challenges will be managing aircraft congestion on the ground. With more aircraft movements, there will be an increased risk of collision and delays. Ground support providers will need to develop new procedures and technologies to help manage this congestion and keep flights moving smoothly.

Another obstacle will be handling the increasing number of passengers with diverse needs. Air travel is becoming increasingly accessible, which means that airports and airlines must be prepared to accommodate passengers with a wide range of disabilities and needs. This includes everything from those who require special assistance during their journey to those with emotional support animals.

Finally, ground support providers will need to find ways to deal with the increasing amount of baggage passengers bring. This luggage often needs to be stored securely and efficiently, which can be a challenge in itself.

With proper planning and preparation, however, airlines can overcome these obstacles and ground support providers can successfully meet future challenges.

How AI Can Improve Ground Support Efficiency During Worker Shortages

To accommodate this growth in air travel, airports and airlines should start investing in new technology and equipment to improve ground support operations. This includes AI technology which helps produce invoices for billable ground services with unparalleled precision. As a result, airlines can avoid customer disputes or nearly eliminate revenue losses for frequently overlooked occurrences such as aircraft re-departures, further GSE support, or a return to gate. Because most relevant operations are detailed tracked, the AI can handle invoicing for you.

This system has the potential to significantly improve efficiency during periods of high demand when there may be a shortage of available workers. By using AI to staff more efficiently, ground support can ensure that clients’ needs are met, even during times of high demand.

Also, with the assistance of AI, you may reduce jet engine and APU utilization, resulting in lower fuel consumption and, as a result, lower CO2 emissions.

Conclusion

As the demand for air travel continues to grow, it’s important that ground support can keep up with the increased demand. Fortunately, AI is available. By working with a reputable AI software company like Synaptic Aviation, you can ensure that your needs are met and that you get the best possible service.

Ready to put our artificial intelligence to the test? Allow Synaptic Aviation to show you how simple and successful it is to operate. Request a demo today by visiting www.synapticaviation.com or calling 844-505-4496.

Why airport apron efficiency is critical right now? Airport aprons must be able to accommodate arriving and departing aircraft without delay, not only to increase customer satisfaction but also to cut back on fuel costs and reduce CO2 emissions. When an aircraft arrives at an airport, it must be able to park at an available gate or stand swiftly. Once parked, the aircraft must be unloaded and reloaded with passengers and baggage. All of this must happen in a timely manner so that the aircraft can take off again without delaying other arriving or departing aircraft.

Apron management is responsible for ensuring that all activities on the apron are conducted in a safe and efficient manner.

Solutions for Improving Airport Apron Efficiency

1. Implement an apron management system: An apron management system can help optimize traffic flow and reduce congestion on the airport apron.

2. Increase ground services coordination: Improved coordination between ground services providers can help to keep aircraft moving and avoid delays on the apron.

3. Increase ramp capacity: Increasing the number of aircraft parked on the ramp at one time can help improve apron efficiency.

4. Improve lighting and signage: Better lighting and signage on the apron can help pilots to more easily find their way around and improve safety.

5. Implement new technologies: New technologies, such as AI technology from Synaptic Aviation, can assist airlines in avoiding delays by elevating the awareness of ground service providers and providing real-time alerts during turnaround.

Rising Fuel Costs Make Efficiency a Priority

The rise in jet fuel prices is a major challenge for airlines, as this cost typically accounts for 20% to 25% of total operational costs. The price of jet fuel increased by more than 70% in the first six months of 2022, marking one of the steepest increases since at least 2002 and putting unprecedented pressure on the airline industry’s cost management.

As airlines look to cut costs, airport apron efficiency is an area of great opportunity as airlines lack an effective and practical way of measuring excess use of engine time or APU time. Aircraft fuel is one of the largest operating expenses for airlines, and rising fuel costs have made efficiency a priority.

Apron operations account for a significant portion of an airport’s overall ground movements. Inefficiencies in apron operations can lead to longer delays, which can ultimately impact an airline’s bottom line.

Several tools contribute to apron efficiency, including AI. To improve efficiency, airports need to consider these tools and find ways to optimize operations carefully.

Improving Efficiency on the Ground Contributes to Reducing CO2 emissions.

Excess fuel burned produces CO2 emissions, so a system capable of tracking and alerting about opportunities to reduce engine and APU time while on the ground can automatically help airports and airlines to achieve sustainability goals without any major investments or changes in procedures. 

Reducing Delays Keeps Customers Happy

With the increased demand for air travel comes an increased need for efficiency at airports. Unfortunately, many airports are struggling to keep up with the demand, which can lead to delays. Delays not only cause passengers frustration but can also lead to lost business for airlines and other businesses that depend on air travel.

That’s why it’s so crucial for airports to focus on reducing delays. There are a number of ways to do this, such as investing in new technology, improving communication between airlines and ground crews, and increasing the number of staff members on the airport aprons. Implementing even a few of these changes can significantly reduce delays and keep customers happy.

How AI Technology from Synaptic Aviation Can Help

AI technology has the potential to revolutionize airport apron operations and improve efficiency in several key ways. Synaptic Aviation’s AI tool provides extensive visibility into the baggage loading process as well as insight into an inbound or outbound flight’s landing, taxiing, or docking status. This new clarity enables you to communicate effectively within your team and with customers, resulting in several new enhancements, such as lessening passenger wait time, managing to keep passengers informed, improving passenger comfort, and increasing on-time performance.

Overall, the use of AI technology from Synaptic Aviation has the potential to improve airport apron efficiency greatly. This is especially important in the current environment, where efficient operations are critical to keeping airports running smoothly.

Conclusion

Why airport apron efficiency is critical right now? The world’s airlines are flying fuller planes than ever, and they’re expected to fill even more seats in the coming years. That’s good news for travelers, but it also means that airport aprons must be able to handle the increased traffic while doing so responsibly. This article has explored why airport apron efficiency is critical right now and some of the ways that it can be improved. 

Artificial intelligence use in aviation is frequently overlooked in customer service, but a cutting-edge partner like Synaptic Aviation can assist you in easily implementing a technological solution.

Are you ready to put our AI to the test? Allow Synaptic Aviation to demonstrate how easy and effective it can be to implement. Request a demo at www.synapticaviation.com or call 844-505-4496 today.

Saving as much fuel on the ground as possible is a critical part of many sustainable airlines’ commitments to reduce carbon emissions over the next few decades. So, how do sustainable airlines save fuel on the ground? Let’s take a look at a few of the strategies airlines are using today.

The aviation industry has come a long way to reduce emissions and increase fuel efficiency. For example, did you know each new generation of aircraft has had a double-digit improvement in fuel efficiency, an increase of up to 20% more than the previous generation? As a result, modern aircraft emit 80% less CO2 per seat than the jets that were flying during the 1950s. But there is still work to be done.

New technologies have the potential to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from aviation, and solutions being implemented today promise far more benefits. Even small savings today add up to big savings in the long run.

Fuel efficiency is critical to the aviation industry’s future, not only for environmental reasons but also for financial ones. Fuel accounts for more than 30% of airline operating costs. For stakeholders who want to not only contribute to efforts to help the planet but also save money in the process, the following strategies are a great place to start.

Sustainable Airlines: Current Methods to Cut Fuel Consumption and CO2

The aviation industry is constantly looking for ways to reduce its carbon footprint. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) proposed various CO2 reduction measures, including aircraft-related advancements, alternative fuels, and others.

Some solutions are:

Using Biodegradable Materials

New materials may help airlines become more environmentally friendly. Companies and researchers are investigating lighter, thinner, and greener composites and coatings.

Many sustainable airlines also use biodegradable plastics instead of non-biodegradable plastics. This reduces waste and helps conserve resources. 

Using SAF

According to the ICAO, Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) does not necessarily require any changes to aircraft or airport infrastructure because it functions similarly to traditional jet fuel. 

SAF has numerous advantages, including lower fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. It also makes taxiing, idling, takeoff, and flying more environmentally friendly.

Using Electric Taxiing System

Modern jet engines are highly efficient in the air but are not designed for use on the ground. The Electric Green Taxiing System (EGTS) system is powered by electric motors installed in the main landing gears.

The system enables fully autonomous aircraft movement on the ground, notably eliminating the need for tug tractors for pushback and requiring only a few minutes of use of the main engines before takeoff and after landing (necessary for the main engine warm up and cool down). EGTS is specifically designed for short- and medium-haul aircraft, which spend a disproportionate amount of time taxiing in comparison to time in the air.

One Affordable Strategy Many Sustainable Airlines Overlook to Reduce Emissions on the Ground

All of the strategies above are excellent options for sustainable airlines looking to reduce their carbon footprint and increase fuel efficiency. However, many airlines may not be able to employ them today because of the massive investment required.

Think of it this way. Electric car companies, such as Tesla, are environmentally a step in the right direction compared to cars with combustion engines, but their cost is prohibitive for many consumers. In addition, the charging infrastructure across the world is still not where it needs to be if we want more people driving electric vehicles. It’s simply not convenient enough to drive demand. To make it more convenient, we need to see massive investments in infrastructure.

Now apply that logic to the aviation industry. Sustainable airlines have plans to invest in the technologies above, but the cost-savings and environmental benefits are still a long way off. Airlines need to think about actions they can take now to meet their commitments to sustainability.

United Airlines has set a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 100% by 2050. There’s a reason United has set 2050 as the timeline to meet this goal—it’s going to take a lot of time and a lot of money to implement. To quote Scott Kirby, CEO of United Airlines, the company plans to meet this goal “not with flashy, empty gestures, but by taking the harder, better path of actually reducing the emissions from flying.”

And it will be a hard path for many airlines.

Sustainable Airlines Use Artificial Intelligence

On the other hand, sustainable airlines can take advantage of technology that will start producing results almost immediately to help them meet their commitments. Artificial intelligence presents key data to all stakeholders involved to improve efficiency on the ground and in the air by suggesting actionable adjustments.

Through data analysis, AI can help cut fuel consumption on the ground, thus reducing a massive source of CO2 emissions. By spotting potential issues early, airlines can get their planes back in service faster and conserve resources overall.

How much can airlines save?

With the technology currently available from Synaptic Aviation, airlines can save up to $79K in fuel per gate per year. Our system has proven to eliminate 5,500 minutes of idle taxi-in time per year at each gate where it is implemented.

When we consider that every minute of idle time produces about 50Kgs of CO2*, it’s easy to see that this is much more than a cost-saving strategy—it actually has the potential to keep 275 tons of CO2 out of the atmosphere every year, for every gate! For comparison, a typical passenger vehicle produces about 4.6 tons of CO2 per year.

On top of all that, AI technology from Synaptic Aviation automatically tracks C02 savings to help you stay on top of your commitments year after year.

Sustainable Airlines Use Artificial Intelligence

How do sustainable airlines save fuel on the ground? Artificial Intelligence isn’t a magic bullet that will solve climate change, but we believe it is an important tool that sustainable airlines can use in conjunction with other strategies available today.

Interested in learning more about how your airline can reduce carbon emissions, save money on fuel, and provide a better, more streamlined experience for customers? Contact us today to schedule a demonstration of our AI technology to learn how you could start saving today for a more sustainable tomorrow.

*50Kgs of CO2 per minute for an Airbus A320 with 2 CFM engines running and the APU on.

Airline safety has been the industry’s major priority for the last century. Technology, training, and risk management have produced notable advancements, yet there is always an opportunity for improvement in aviation safety.

Let’s examine why airline safety is essential and how to create enhancements.

Airline Safety: How Safe Is It?

In terms of deaths per distance traveled, flying is the safest mode of transportation. The Civil Aviation Authority reports that the death rate per billion kilometers traveled by aviation is 0.003, compared to 0.27 by train and 2.50 by automobile.

Statistically, riding a bicycle or getting struck by lightning is more likely to result in death than aviation accidents. Estimates put the odds of dying in a plane disaster in the United States or Europe at 29 million to one.

Since the 1950s, fatal accidents have decreased every decade, a remarkable feat considering the exponential rise of air travel. Forty fatal accidents per one million airplane departures in the United States in 1959. Within a decade, this decreased to fewer than two per million exits and is now about 0.1 per million.

How to Improve Airline Safety?

Airline pilots are usually exposed to three types of risk: weather, aircraft suitability, and pilot capability. When a flight encounters one of these three risks before take-off, there are risk management solutions that can be impelented.

Weather

Weather is the largest risk factor to safely operating an aircraft. To manage weather risk, evaluating options is critical.

A preflight weather report is an important piece of data to analyze before taking off. A pilot can contact the Flight Service, check weather websites, or download a complete weather briefing, which can include graphics and organizes the results for you.

Even if you checked the preflight weather report, there are times when the weather changes dramatically during the flight. In that case, it is best advised to bypass the direct route to the destination to avoid terrible weather conditions. By doing so, passengers will not have to go through frightening turbulence during the flight.

Another way to avoid terrible weather conditions is to change altitude during the flight. Perhaps, the weather condition is covering a huge amount of territory that it is impossible to divert. For instance, a pilot can decide to fly at 10,000 feet above sea level instead of 4,000 feet to avoid windy conditions.

Aircraft suitability

The aircraft needs to be suited to face any sort of environment. The physical make and other attributes are essential to make air travel better.

Having more fuel than necessary is common sense, yet it can be taken for granted. A pilot needs to check the fuel gauge to estimate if it is enough to reach the destination.

Apart from verifying the fuel gauge, an aircraft that has top-notch cruising speed is an extremely essential feature to have. Reaching your destination quicker is obvious, yet it also means that aircraft can go through a terrible patch of weather much quicker. Additionally, it decreases the chance of a fuel stop if necessary.

An aircraft that can sustain high altitudes mitigates risk. At high altitudes, a pilot is given time to survey the territory for an emergency landing. Another advantage is that high altitude requires less fuel consumption which addresses the fuel risk mentioned above. More importantly, higher altitude proves a smoother ride for the passenger.

Pilot

The pilot’s capabilities and physical state to maneuver an airplane are critical to aircraft safety.

It is common that pilots fly multiple flights during the same day, yet it can be tiresome. Ensuring the well-being of a pilot is nothing short of important. Pilot errors such as falling asleep or not following protocol due to mental distress have happened in the past, which can cause problems.

Pilot well-being is critical for flight safety. Being prepared for scenarios such as a complicated departure, in-flight health emergency, or congested air traffic prior to landing at the airport, is crucial for a pilot to know how to manage.

Final words

There are many tasks to complete to ensure aircraft safety. It is the responsibility of both the pilot and airline company to adhere to protocols and laws that provide a safe flight to passengers. All and all, this article listed some tips to avoid common mistakes to deliver an enjoyable ride.

At Synaptic Aviation, we take airline safety very seriously. Our technology allows airline and airport crews to monitor the progress of aircraft unloading, boarding, and turnaround. Want to see how it works? Request a demo at synapticaviation.com or contact us at 844-505-4496.

Air travel difficulties are on the rise. Here are some of the primary causes to help you keep your customers happy.

1. Air traffic control issues

One of the most common reasons for flight delays is issues with air traffic control. Air traffic controllers have a challenging job, and even a tiny mistake can cause significant delays.

2. Weather

Bad weather is another major factor that can lead to flight delays and cancellations. Strong winds, thunderstorms, and even heavy snow can make it difficult or impossible for flights to take off and land safely.

3. Maintenance or mechanical problems

Sometimes, delays are caused by maintenance or mechanical problems with the plane itself. These issues can range from small things like a broken coffee maker to more serious problems like engine failure.

4. Runway congestion

If an airport has a lot of traffic, it can lead to delays as planes have to wait their turn to take off and land. This is especially common during busy travel times like holidays.

5. Late-arriving aircraft

If the plane that was supposed to take you to your destination is late arriving, it can cause a domino effect of delays for other flights. This is often out of the airline’s control, as it can be caused by things like weather or other delays at the plane’s original departure airport.

6. Crew availability

If there is a problem with the plane’s crew, it can cause delays. This could be anything from the staff not being able to arrive on time to one of the members becoming sick and needing to be replaced.

7. Air travel security issues

Security issues, such as long lines at security checkpoints, can also lead to flight delays. Sometimes lack of security personnel can cause problems, as well.

8. Passengers

Believe it or not, passengers can also cause delays. Things like passengers taking too long to board the plane or baggage issues can make it difficult to get a flight off on time.

9. Airport construction

Sometimes, airport construction can lead to delays, as it can cause things like congestion and closures of certain runways.

10. Airline policies

Lastly, airline policies can also contribute to flight delays. For example, if an airline has a policy of overbooking flights, it can cause problems when there are not enough seats for all of the passengers.

Conclusion: AI Can Help Air Travel Difficulties

As you can see, there are a variety of factors that can contribute to air travel delays and cancellations. Unfortunately, there is no one easy solution to fix the problem. However, understanding the causes can help you prepare for future delays and make the best of a difficult situation.

Looking to reduce your airline or airport’s delays and cancelations? AI can help you streamline your processes. Request a demo at synapticaviation.com or contact us at 844-505-4496.

While safety is a key part of airport ramp operations, the complexity of ground operations often results in accidents, many of which could have been prevented. According to the Flight Safety Foundation, 27,000 airport ramp accidents and incidents occur every year across the globe, or one per 1,000 departures. These incidents translate into about $10 billion in costs every year for airlines.

What causes airport ramp accidents?

Human error continues to be a major cause of preventable airport ramp accidents. Among the most common human-error-related safety issues that may lead to an accident are:

• Speeding
• Unsecured luggage
• Personnel movement in restricted areas
• Not following safety protocols

Why do airport ramp accidents occur?

Speeding

Despite speed limits that apply to all apron vehicles, many drivers travel too fast, which can increase the odds of an accident. Some vehicles that operate on the ground are heavy—too heavy to stop quickly if they are violating speed limits.

Airports and airlines can reduce speeding violations using various technologies that track how fast each vehicle travels on the apron. Synaptic Aviation’s AI technology can track unsafe driving habits on the apron, alert in real-time about it, and prevent it from reoccurring while allowing ground operations personnel to review and learn from mistakes.

Unsecured Luggage

Improperly loaded luggage can become unstable during transit. If a piece of luggage falls out of the cart transporting it to or from the aircraft, it becomes foreign object debris (FOD). If it is undetected or if personnel fail to retrieve it in a timely manner, it can cause accidents and injuries to others driving on the apron.

AI technology from Synaptic Aviation accurately detects pre-arrival FOD walks and alerts the relevant parties to help them keep the apron clear and safe.

Personnel in Restricted Areas

In a perfect world, ground support personnel would not enter into restricted areas, but it still happens quite often. For instance, if they are in a rush, they may drive GSEs near the jet engines or under the wings of an aircraft to cut down their time. Doing so not only increases the risk of damage to the aircraft and GSE but also could put ground support lives at risk.

Preventing movement within restricted areas can be difficult because it can happen fast. However, with AI technology that detects movement in predetermined restricted areas, ground support managers can show their crew when these mistakes happen to help them learn from them.

Not Following Safety Protocols

Complacency is often the root cause of many accidents on the apron. Unfortunately, excess confidence hunts experienced workers and new hires alike, and what seems to look like unnecessary or redundant but necessary tasks are ignored resulting in injuries and costly damages. Making safety stops before approaching the aircraft with a vehicle or following the correct driving patterns in the proximity of the engines can add unnecessary time or complexity to each task but those procedures were implemented for a reason. With the use of Ai technology on the ground, it is easy to detect risky behaviors and take steps to prevent them before they become habits.

Training personnel about the consequences of ignoring safety protocols can help mitigate future occurrences. It is critical for everyone working on the apron to promote a culture of safety and our AI technology helps to ensure that team members on the ground have the necessary tools to learn about the risks and the common mistakes in their environment. With a smart video database and notifications that are triggered in real-time, it is now possible to provide relevant feedback to put safety at the center of what they do.  

Synaptic Aviation for Better Safety Monitoring

Interested in learning how Synaptic Aviation can help you and your team stay safe on the apron? Request a demo at synapticaviation.com or contact us at 844-505-4496.