by Joy Finnegan | Dec 7, 2021 | Flight Ops IT, Innovation
SITA, the technology provider for the air transport industry, has developed a proven blockchain-based solution enabling the verification of an electronic personnel license (EPL) without network connectivity. Allowing offline verification in an efficient and privacy-preserving way, SITA’s contribution supports the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) adoption of an industry-wide digital standard for the use of EPLs on international flights.
After setting out to create a digital standard for the use of EPLs on international flights, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) determined that the ability to verify EPLs without network connectivity would be a necessary feature to ensure functionality across civil aviation authorities globally. SITA began to work on a solution to the issue of offline license verification in 2019. Following a successful Proof of Concept in 2020 where SITA integrated its solution for offline verification into the Civil Aviation Authority of China’s EPL system, SITA has become the first industry partner to prove offline verification for pilot licenses, made possible specifically by using blockchain-based decentralized identity technology.
Having a proven example of integrating offline verification capabilities has enabled the ICAO Air Navigation Commission to issue a recommendation to move forward with developing an international standard for EPLs. In March 2022, the ICAO Council will consider adopting a new international Standard that will pave the way for EPLs to become valid licenses, with offline verification systems in place by the end of 2022, citing SITA’s solution as an example.
SITA’s contribution represents one more step towards streamlining the multi-stakeholder processes behind personnel license issuing and verification, while preventing possible fraud and preserving sensitive identity information from privacy concerns. The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated a stronger need than ever for digitalization, as office closures meant civil aviation authorities were unable to issue or renew paper-based pilot licenses. Whereas issuing a digital license takes a few days, paper-based licenses may take several weeks, incurring significant costs for operators and public administrations. And the only option for additional verifications of a paper-based license is contacting the issuing Authority, which can lead to operational disruptions and possible flight delays.
However, centralized databases with sensitive information are proven to be vulnerable to breaches and liabilities, and a central data management system is not well-suited to the needs of the complex ecosystem of civil aviation authorities, involving different states and organizations. A blockchain-based solution which eliminates the need for a centralized database and enables offline verification is ideal.
SITA’s solution to bring offline verification capabilities to an EPL system is built based on the Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI) model, using decentralized identity technology which provides users control over their personal data, allowing them to share a trusted credential for verification without revealing personal information. SITA has previously successfully applied decentralized identity to solutions such as the Aruba Health App.
First, the issuing civil aviation authority creates a signed credential gathering information about a pilot license, and issues it to a pilot. The pilot then accepts, stores, and presents a verifiable credential representing the license. The credentials are managed in a digital wallet, in the form of a mobile application which integrates seamlessly with the existing civil aviation authority app. With another mobile application, any inspector can then request, receive, and verify pilot’s licenses by exchanging the credential, with the option to transfer the credential offline using media such as a QR code.
This system provides easy and trustworthy license verification without the time-consuming process of verifying civil aviation authorities’ files by contacting their offices for extra checks. Pilots meanwhile no longer have to worry about losing, misplacing, or damaging physical credentials and benefit from the confidence that their personal data is kept private. The system will also lead to cost efficiencies over time: while it has been designed for use by pilots on international flights, civil aviation authorities will equally be able to leverage their EPL systems for all licensed personnel, maximizing their investment.
Miguel Marin, Chief Operational Safety, ICAO, said: “The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated digitalization across the air transport industry, but the benefits of adopting a digital standard for electronic personnel licenses will last well into the long term: providing easier, quicker collaboration across civil aviation authorities globally, as well as a solution to fraud and reduced costs over time. We’re grateful for SITA’s willingness, working closely with the Civil Aviation Authority of China (CAAC), to develop a proof of concept to leverage cutting-edge innovation to the benefit of our entire sector.”
Sébastien Fabre, CEO, SITA FOR AIRCRAFT, said: “Our collaboration with ICAO on providing offline verification capabilities to EPLs is the latest example of SITA taking advantage of cutting-edge technology to bring greater efficiency to the air transport industry. With its ability to streamline complex multi-stakeholder processes in a secure way, blockchain technology is perfectly adapted to the industry’s needs. We have explored its benefits in the past with industry-first initiatives such as the MRO Blockchain Alliance, and our current partnership with ICAO allows us to apply our expertise on decentralized identity technology to support industry-wide change.”
The collaboration on EPLs is part of a newly signed 5-year partnership between ICAO and SITA aimed at supporting the global aviation community through innovations in aviation safety, air navigation capacity and efficiency, and aviation training.
by Joy Finnegan | Nov 30, 2021 | Avionics, Connectivity, Flight Ops IT
In August 2021, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced the award of the Oceanic Data Link (ODL) contract to SITA, the leading IT provider to the air transport industry, to provide its Future Air Navigation System (FANS-1/A)-based datalink solutions for the management of air traffic across the United States’ vast oceanic airspace. SITA’s proven solution will be vital in supporting accurate, real-time communication between pilots and air traffic controllers across the world’s busiest oceanic airspace, supporting safer and efficient flights.
Air traffic controllers operating from the FAA’s bases in Anchorage, New York and Oakland will be able to send up to 1,200 messages per hour – including multiple messages concurrently – vastly speeding communication with aircraft when compared to older datalink solutions. This will help controllers better detect conflicts between aircraft and offer more optimal routings for aircraft.
Using SITA’s Automatic-Dependent Surveillance-Contract (ADS-C) and Controller-Pilot Data Link Communication (CPDLC) managed services, pilots and air traffic controllers can communicate directly using standardized digital text messages that appear on an aircraft’s control display unit. These text messages, sent via SITA’s ATC Datalink Service, provide aircraft position, route, requests and guidance for routing, speed and altitude changes, as well as weather and traffic advisories. They are visible to all flight crew as they are sent.
The oceanic airspace links the United States to Europe and Asia, covering 62,4-million square kilometers of airspace. The North Atlantic is by far the world’s busiest oceanic air traffic route, with about 2,000 aircraft crossing the ocean between the east coast of the United States and Europe every day. Despite a COVID-induced downturn, traffic on this route is predicted to increase by 50% over the next decade.
Using SATCOM and VHF Digital Link (VDL) technology, pilots will receive ATC instructions in almost real-time while air traffic controllers have a more accurate and confirmed picture of where aircraft are at any point. As a result, air traffic control can reduce the separation between planes and deliver greater airspace capacity in future. This separation also allows more aircraft equipped with datalink technology benefit from favorable
metrological conditions such as jet streams, using the FAA’s Organized Tracking Solution. This can provide significant fuel savings to airlines, and will also help them gain operational and environmental efficiencies in the future.
Sébastien Fabre, CEO of SITA FOR AIRCRAFT, said: “Our air traffic control communication solutions are used by more than 80 air navigational service providers globally and now also by the FAA in one of the world’s busiest airspaces. As traffic slowly resumes post-COVID, a step change is needed to increase airspace capacity and make aviation more sustainable and efficient. We are privileged that the FAA, as a leading and forward thinking ANSP, has selected SITA and we look forward to tackling these challenges together.”
SITA technology now supports the management of the United States’ entire domestic and oceanic airspace. These solutions are also used by air navigation service providers globally, including Nav Canada, UK NATS, Nav Portugal, Isavia Iceland, DECEA Brazil, ENAIRE Spain, Airservices Australia, DGAC Chile and AVICOM Japan.
by Joy Finnegan | Nov 16, 2021 | Flight Ops IT, Innovation
Honeywell has launched the next generation of its Honeywell NAVITAS software suite platform, a System of Systems (SoS) offering that the company says will help airport operators and air navigation service providers make more informed and accurate decisions across airside operations – from approach to gate. The latest updates enable automation and digitization of air traffic services to help achieve efficient ground movement, improve situational awareness, control and monitoring of airside and Air Traffic Management (ATM) equipment, information management and integration.
Honeywell NAVITAS is a collection of task-oriented systems that enables airports to more seamlessly digitize, visualize and automate everyday operations such as orchestrating an aircraft’s final approach, landing, taxi-in for arrivals, turnaround, pushback, taxi-out, line-up and take-off for departures.
Honeywell NAVITAS is designed to meet the challenging requirements of modern aviation with the latest technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, cybersecurity and leveraging human centered design principles. The SoS offering is comprised of nine “managers,” or dedicated systems, available within the full suite, including:
- Engineering Manager: Provides the airport or air traffic engineering team with a more comprehensive insight to communication aids, navigational aids, visual aids and weather aids.
- Surface Manager: Provides airport safety support, routing and guidance services for Air Traffic Control (ATC) to help safely manage clearance services to aircraft and vehicles, and expedite and maintain an orderly flow of traffic even during low visibility conditions.
- Surveillance Manager: Provides identification and accurate position information of aircraft, vehicles and unauthorized targets on airport surfaces and in approach.
- Lights Manager: Provides a more comfortable working environment for tower controllers and airfield technicians through a computerized control and monitoring system for airport lighting equipment, which is a distributed and scalable system that stands out due to its high-speed operation, redundancy, and easier integration with further subsystems.
- Tower Manager: An Integrated Tower Working Position (ITWP) that incorporates unique elements, like strip-less ATC workflow automation tool, electronic flight strip, ground situation display, air situation display, airfield ground lighting and voice communication system, and all others in a single display.
- Performance Manager: Creates a repository of all operational information of airport surfaces covering data originating from multiple sources, to show metering and performance metrics of different areas like runways, taxiways, aprons and gates. Provides real-time dashboard supporting Airport Collaborative Decision-Making (A-CDM).
- Turnaround Manager: Delivers higher gate efficiency and optimized throughput to support smoother operation of arrivals and departures at gates through an automated gate management system.
- Arrival/Departure Manager: Facilitates more efficient sequencing and times to promote smooth traffic flow, both arrivals and departures.
- Integration Manager: Receives and transmits data over multiple interfaces through an air traffic management (ATM)-grade integration engine while prioritizing, merging and recording data in a reliable data storage sub-system to help enable system wide information management.
“The Honeywell NAVITAS suite helps create more resilient, agile and efficient airports,” said Philipose Jacob, general manager, Global Airports, Honeywell Building Technologies. “Creating the airport of the future requires a strong operational backbone that prioritizes safety, experience and efficiency to adapt to the daily needs of travelers and employees. The upgrades to the Honeywell NAVITAS software suite support airport operations and help drive decreased operational expenses, all while promoting a higher level of safety, security and uptime and an improved experience for travelers and employees.”
South Korea’s Incheon International Airport, one of the highest-trafficked hub airports in Asia, commenced an end-to-end Honeywell NAVITAS Platform as an Integrated System which has helped the airport significantly enhance air traffic management efficiency. Incheon International Airport also implemented 24-hour ‘follow the greens’ which helped the airport to improve situational awareness with precision and consistency across airfield, increased the level of conflict detection and resolution, as well as generated meaningful reductions in energy consumption, CO2 and lamp replacement cost for the Aerodrome.
“By unifying air and ground traffic control, airport operations and maintenance with predictive performance analysis, Honeywell has provided Incheon International Airport a true, end-to-end airport management platform,” said Chang-Jun Lee, director, Aeronautical Ground Light Team, Incheon International Airport. “Over the past 20 years, we’ve worked with Honeywell to improve our operations and experiences to be one of the world’s most critical travel hubs. We plan the schedule to expand Honeywell NAVITAS by validating it, which allows us to continue to provide our travelers with an unmatched experience while supporting our employees with improved technologies.”
by Joy Finnegan | Nov 16, 2021 | Flight Ops IT, Innovation
Brussels South Charleroi Airport (BSCA), Belgium’s second-largest airport in terms of passenger traffic, and EMMA Systems, a provider of operations management solutions for airports, have agreed to collaborate to jointly configure, test and commission an airport operations management platform (with A-CDM functionality) at BSCA. EMMA System’s platform will help BSCA increase the predictability of operations, reduce delays, conserve fuel and decrease operational costs.
“We look forward to working closely with EMMA Systems to develop a best-in-class A-CDM approach and leverage the power of EMMA’s cutting-edge technology towards reaching new levels of efficiency and sustainability within our operations,” stated Philippe Verdonck, Chief Executive Officer at Brussels South Charleroi Airport.
EMMA Systems’ airport operations management platform utilizes a microservices architecture which facilitates the seamless implementation of new solutions and features. In the rapidly evolving sphere of aviation technology, this allows for the quick development of additional services and the integration of multiple data sources into the platform, reducing development and integration time from months or years to just a few weeks. Using artificial intelligence, EMMA’s platform analyzes current and past traffic flows to accurately predict key timestamps and upcoming operational hindrances, improving operational predictability.
Brussels South Charleroi Airport will introduce A-CDM at the airport and implement all functionalities of EMMA Systems’ airport operations management platform. With traffic gradually increasing, the airport hopes to see traffic ramping up further to pre-COVID levels after the pandemic. This proactive measure will allow BSCA to improve passenger experience and put the airport in a better position to manage an increase in passenger numbers. “We are extremely happy that BSCA has selected EMMA Systems as their partner to jointly develop their A-CDM approach. The airport has a unique setup and has developed commendable ambitions through its long-term plan. EMMA is ideally placed to support the airport’s success now and in the future,” says Wisam Costandi, CEO and co-founder of EMMA Systems. This collaboration will help EMMA Systems gain additional insight into airport operations and fine-tune their offering so that the company’s solutions can be further tailored to match airports’ evolving needs.
by Joy Finnegan | Nov 11, 2021 | Flight Ops IT, Innovation
NAVBLUE and the University of Waterloo’s Institute for Sustainable Aeronautics (WISA) in Canada have partnered to address some of the industry’s most complex sustainability challenges through applied research and innovation.
Over the next five years, NAVBLUE and WISA will explore how emerging technologies can identify and drive sustainability in NAVBLUE’s core business of software for operations and crew management, flight planning, aircraft performance, flight data analysis and navigational data.
A first in Canada, WISA was launched in the summer of 2021 to foster cross-disciplinary research technology, and education aimed at making the aviation and aerospace sectors more environmentally, economically, and socially sustainable.
“The aviation industry relies on trusted partners like NAVBLUE to provide state of the art integrated systems that work in the background yet are the backbone of every traveller’s experience,” said Suzanne Kearns, director of WISA. “There are enormous opportunities to reduce the negative environmental impacts of the sector, by supporting more direct and efficient operations, thus reducing fuel burn and resulting emissions.”
“We are thrilled to be partnering with the Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Aeronautics, to research new technologies for flight operations” said Thomas Lagaillarde, head of Product Portfolio & Programs and managing director Canada at NAVBLUE. He adds: “Sustainability is a complex issue we can only solve by working together. Working with WISA allows us to combine NAVBLUE’s flight operations expertise and Airbus’ manufacturing knowledge, with the University of Waterloo’s renowned research capabilities to build sustainable solutions for our partners.”
Sustainable aeronautics is a rapidly growing interdisciplinary field that encompasses all types of air transport, including aviation, aerospace, and space. Researchers develop innovative solutions, tools, and practices to create a viable future for air transport that delivers long-term social, environmental, and economic value.
“Aeronautics can be a force for good – connecting people around the world, driving cultural and economic exchange, creating millions of jobs, and providing limitless opportunities for innovation,” said Jean Andrey, dean of Waterloo’s Faculty of Environment, where WISA is housed.
The long-term viability of the aviation and aerospace industries depend on socially, environmentally, and economic sustainable solutions and practices. Through this partnership, faculty and graduate students from across the University of Waterloo will work collaboratively with the team at NAVBLUE on applied research to address some of the industry’s most complex issues.
by Joy Finnegan | Oct 22, 2021 | Flight Ops IT
Over the past few years, Memphis International Airport has transformed from a regional hub to an ‘origin and destination’ airport. Rather than serving as a transfer hub for one primary airline, Memphis has diversified its number of carriers and is working to recruit additional airlines, including ultra-low-cost carriers that fly point-to-point routes. In addition to a major concourse redevelopment, the airport is acquiring a new generation of IT systems to support this change.
With a more diverse range of airlines operating from Memphis, the airport sought to enhance its operational capabilities with technological upgrades that include several Amadeus Airport Management Solutions. The introduction of a new Airport Operational Database (AODB) provides information that includes airline flight schedules a year in advance, so all systems and partners at the airport have a consistent, long-range operational view.
Memphis International Airport will transition to the Amadeus Resource Management System (RMS) for management of shared gates, ticket counters, and baggage drop-off points, based on a real-time view of demand from different airlines.
In addition, the airport will utilize the Amadeus PROworks contracting and billing management system.
“Our modernization project will reinvent the travel experience for the Memphis passenger, and welcome millions of travelers to our great city,” Scott A. Brockman, President and CEO, Memphis International Airport commented. “This technology will be a key part of our modernization and our operations moving forward.”
Elena Avila, EVP Airport IT and Airline Operations, Amadeus added: “Airports across the United States are adapting to the operational shifts ongoing in aviation. Our technology is specifically designed to help manage the complexity of terminals and resources that are shared by multiple carriers, which will prove critically valuable in this ongoing transformation. In particular, we’re excited to support this important transformation at Memphis.”
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