2023 was the highest year in a decade for serious runway incursion events per one million airport operations. With runway incursions on the rise, Honeywell has accelerated development of its Surface Alert software. The alert system leverages GPS data, automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) equipment, and advanced analytics to detect the accurate location of potential hazards.
Thea Feyereisen, Senior Technical Fellow, Honeywell Aerospace Technologies, described pilots as “the last line of defence” against runway incursions and Surface Alert, or SURF-A can act as their “third set of eyes” in the cockpit of aircraft.
Helping to improve situational awareness and reduce risks of runway incursions, SURF-A gives pilots real-time aural and visual alerts if they’re on a trajectory to collide within 30 seconds, accessing data directly from the ADS-B Out equipment on aircraft and ground vehicles.
“In general, airlines are hesitant to buy a safety system unless it’s mandated. So we’re looking into ways to incentivise airlines to equip smart runway technology.”
With plans to have SURF-A certified within 18-24 months and airlines showing interest in the technology, Honeywell have extended this beyond a research project, looking to offer it for retrofit and as well forward fit aircraft.
In 2026, air traffic at Charleroi and Liège airports will be remotely managed by a single digital control tower centre in based in Namur. The centre will oversee all ground movements during landing and take-off at the two airports.
Recently, SOWAER (Société Wallonne des Aéroports) and the Belgian air navigation service, skeyes, debuted the ‘Digital Tower Test Centre’ prototype at their site in Steenokkerzeel. The test centre is “almost identical” to the one currently being built in Namur and will be used to familiarise staff with the new technologies, train air traffic controllers, and deliver a seamless transition once the Namur centre is open. While the test centre is fed with real-time images from the masts in Liège and Charleroi, it does not have module for communicating with aircraft.
These digital towers are “the future for air traffic control,” using advanced cameras, infrared systems, and sensors at airports to receive real-time images on large screens at control centres showing a 360° view of the airport’s horizon. A ground radar system supplements this by pinpointing aircraft locations, even in poor weather. Augmented reality further enhances control by projecting extra information onto aircraft, aiding traffic management.
Eventually, the digital control centre in Namur will replace the physical towers at Charleroi and Liège airports. The innovative approach to air traffic control complements the wider digital transformations at the airports, illustrating their efforts to modernise infrastructure, streamline operations, and improve safety standards.
Yesterday it was announced that Aeromexico has adopted IBM’s AI powered tool to perform informed climate risk analysis for its fleet. Responding to the growing challenge that adverse weather conditions poses, the technology will allow Mexico’s flag carrier to monitor, anticipate, plan, and respond to the potential impact of extreme weather on air operations.
Through climate risk analysis and the leveraging of geospatial data from a variety of routes, the airline can adjust operations to optimise efficiency and safety through informed flight planning.
Diego Convalia, Aeromexico’s Vice President of Technical Flight Operations, said:
“This technology complements the most modern aircrafts like the ones we have, the expertise of our crews and the air traffic control technology and services of the countries where we operate. […] it helps us in decisions for takeoffs, landings, flight routes and ground operations, which contributes to elevate flying to be an extraordinary experience.”
Manuel Gonzalez del Yerro, Sustainability Software Leader for IBM Latin America explained:
“The future of business and the environment are deeply connected, and technology is allowing a greater understanding of climate and how it can impact businesses. For us, Aeromexico’s trust in IBM technologies to help them manage climate risk is a source of pride, putting safety measures and efficiency above all else and anticipating adverse atmospheric events.”
As the airline industry continues to evolve, it must respond to the changing landscape of threats. By harnessing sophisticated technology, operational efficiency can be maintained without compromising safety.
Diederik-Jan Bos (DJ), Head of IOCC, SunExpress will be speaking at Aerospace Tech Week Europe on the transformation from Operations Control Centre (OCC) to Integrated Operations Control Centre (IOCC).
The OCC is the “mission control centre” of an airline, controlling and overseeing crucial activities. By moving to an IOCC, a more seamless flow of information can be achieved, enabling challenges to be addressed more efficiently and effectively.
In preparation for the event, DJ joined for a brief conversation around the transition, revealing key challenges, benefits, and future plans.
Highlighting the importance of this change as SunExpress evolves, DJ explained:
“It’s really laying the foundations for what we need to do for the future. But also, we needed to do it to manage the operation as it is at the moment, with it’s increasing complexities. As we grow the challenges seem to grow with us.”
One of the major benefits listed by DJ was enhanced communication and collaboration, with people working together to solve the problems resulting in a more efficient operational framework. These are already feeding back into improved KPIs, reducing resolution times, and shifting mindsets around problem solutions.
To hear DJ’s candid discussion of the transition to IOCC with all its challenges, watch the full interview below.
The highly anticipated Aerospace Tech Week agenda has finally arrived, promising an in-depth exploration of cutting-edge technology and innovation. With keynote interviews and panels featuring IATA’s Director General, Willie Walsh, Airbus’ Head of Disruptive R&T, Senior Vice President, Grzegorz Ombach, and many more, this is an opportunity to hear directly from industry leaders and gain insights into the future direction of aerospace technology.
This event spans five key areas: Avionics, Aerospace testing, Connectivity, MRO IT, Flight Ops IT.
AVIONICS
Looking at the advancements and trends in avionics technology, this track discusses updates to mandates and regulatory framework, unpacks the next generation of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), maps the role of AI, and features the development of cutting edge systems. Key speakers include Anna von Groote, Director General, EUROCAE and Ahmad Bakker, Strategy & Innovation Lead, Rotterdam the Hague Airport, Royal Schiphol Group.
AEROSPACE TESTING
Covering advancements in testing technologies, this section looks at digital twinning and virtual testing as well as innovation in the testing environment. It also covers high-level integration and testing, complex and embedded systems. Spanning various testing methodologies this track includes conversations with Adam Harris, Global Chief of Testing Facilities, Rolls Royce and Asteris Apostolidis, Technical Innovation Lead for BlueLabs, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines.
CONNECTIVITY
Exploring the increasing value of the hyperconnected airspace, this track unpacks aircraft data management and cybersecurity, and data exchange technologies for the connected and integrated ATM. The Connectivity sessions cover the ever evolving cybersecurity threat and how to navigate it, the practical implications of 5G, and the harmonisation of the data communication landscape. Key speakers include Anna Guégan, Senior Technical Programme Manager, EUROCAE, and Bruno Tomas, CTO, Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA).
MRO IT
Focused on the digitalisation and optimisation of maintenance, repair, and overhaul process, this track delves into AI, machine learning, and autonomy in data and analytics as well as innovation and integrating new technologies. Here, conversation spans The Cloud, use of drones in maintenance, predictive analysis, and the transition to paperless. Featured speakers include Marcos Melchiori, Senior, MRO Manager, LATAM sharing the cost and time benefits gained from integrating drones into maintenance.
FLIGHT OPS IT
Addressing the optimisation and efficiency of flight operations through technology, this section looks at sustainable and innovative flight ops, predictive ops and real-time data, as well as the growing role of AI/ML in enhancing efficiency. The sessions also touches on optimisation for sustainability and a range of future developments in flight ops IT. Key speakers include Diederik-Jan Bos, Head of IOCC, SunExpress and Viktorija Diestelkamp, Head of Data and Analytics, British Airways.
Aerospace Tech Week evolved significantly since its Avionics origins in 2001, attracting leading airlines and key ecosystem players. On the 17-18th April, the event is bringing 2,000 airline executives, aircraft makers and their partners together in Munich for two days of networking, conference content, and receptions. View the full agenda here or get your ticket.
Austrian Airlines will become the first Lufthansa Group airline to introduce the innovative and user-friendly AVIATAR Technical Logbook in its operations. The modern design of the digital solution installed on a tablet device will allow Austrian Airlines’ Technical Operations to improve cooperation with pilots and maintenance teams likewise. Taking advantage of the latest big data technologies, AVIATAR’s Technical Logbook is building on the heritage of other digital solutions on Lufthansa Technik’s digital platform.
“The AVIATAR Technical Logbook is the perfect solution for Austrian Airlines’ needs,“ said Wolfgang Ramminger, project manager for the introduction of the Technical Logbook at a recent IATA conference in Vietnam. “At Austrian Airlines, we call it the ‘eTAL’ for electronic Technical Aircraft Logbook. Our pilots tested the innovative solution and agreed: the intuitive design makes it as easy to use as modern applications on smartphones. Especially the innovative OnePageView, which was developed for us by the AVIATAR team, is beneficial for our flight crews. It clearly displays all relevant information for the captain on one screen. In addition to a user-friendly design, the Technical Logbook of AVIATAR also offers open interfaces for many different types of data sources, which allows flight crews and technicians to access related data within the application. Our streamlined and optimized processes allow us to save 2.5 metric tons of paper each year, which is also a key benefit for me personally and it illustrates how we benefit from the digitalization.”
AVIATAR’s Technical Logbook offers prefilled text blocks and automated input masks that capture technical issues of the aircraft during flight and on ground. It therefore replaces time-consuming manual entries into paper books and improves data quality as well as transparency. The solution works with any hardware device (e.g., tablet, smartphone or desktop computer) and provides pilots with access to aircraft status anywhere and anytime. It also offers backup processes in case of connectivity issues. Real-time data availability, directly connected with the M&E (maintenance and engineering) system, ensures maintenance on arrival and enables a seamless pilot-to-maintenance collaboration — leading to decreased turnaround times and costs. In addition, the standardized data structure helps airlines to gain insights into trend analytics.
“I am proud to be part of the joined Austrian Airlines and AVIATAR Technical Logbook team for the introduction of the next-generation eTLB (electronic technical logbook). It’s the most modern solution and ready for implementation, which makes it an easy choice for airlines around the globe looking for an eTLB today. It was great to work with the agile Austrian Airlines team and to be able to further develop the application with innovative ideas from our new customer. Like all other solutions on our AVIATAR platform, our Technical Logbook is open to be used with any maintenance and engineering system and can be used independently of aircraft types, MRO providers and other systems,” said Dajana Kunz, senior manager digital products at AVIATAR, the digital platform of Lufthansa Technik. “In order to maintain our competitive advantage, we will continue working with all our customers in our AVIATAR community to ensure our digital solutions will be first choice for airlines also in the future.
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