Colin Smith, Founder and CEO of CHS Engineering
Airport operators around the world, especially the smaller regionals, are facing extremely challenging times. They are at the epicentre of a perfect storm formed of pressures such as threatened profits, increasing regulatory demands and the need for additional investment in operational infrastructure. The evolution of technology and the promise of Cyber Physical Systems, sometimes known as the fourth industrial revolution, may just be able to alleviate the pressure. Colin Smith, Founder and CEO of CHS Engineering, explains more.
Times change and airport operators are having to evolve to meet the demands of their new reality. For example, budget airlines have demystified and simplified the process of travel, making it cheaper and available to all. The airlines have now turned to the airport operators to help achieve additional efficiencies. They pushed back on the levels of airport charges and demanded more aircraft slots at peak times to suit their business model and their customers. Airport operators are being squeezed. Reduced profit margins and a demand for better infrastructure, such as baggage handling systems and passenger search systems that can cope with huge spikes of activity during shorter time periods.
The pressure is compounded by the ever more stringent security regulations being issued for baggage handling systems around the world, that require new types of x-ray machines and with ever evolving security threats, these challenges are not likely to disappear anytime soon.
The most logical solution is collaborative working between Ground Handlers, Airlines and Airport Operators. Dashboards of real time factual data turned into accurate information to monitor the end to end operational components are an essential part of driving and achieving standards.
Cyber an Answer
So, what is the answer for airlines and airport operators? Just how do they respond with increased investment and efficiencies to allow their businesses to continue to thrive. One answer is the
application of Cyber Physical Systems.
The advent of technologies such as the Internet of Things and Machine Intelligence are providing opportunities to make drastic sustainable savings with the introduction of automated monitoring and alerts systems for all electromechanical equipment across the airport engineering infrastructure and facilities. The same technology can also be used to monitor passenger flows and allow early warnings of potential bottle necks in the associated processes.
The periodic inspections of airport infrastructure, such as baggage handling systems, can be replaced with non-intrusive, efficient 24/7 monitoring. Small sensors constantly monitoring over the internet to autonomous systems can send automated alerts by email or text.
The data is trended in real time, providing specific probability density and informing risk management of impending failure. This forewarning provides the airport operator with several advantages. It identifies the development of failures at the earliest point in the failure curve, maximising the window of opportunity for corrective action. Spares stock can be rationalised, shut downs planned and work scheduled in a controlled environment. Put simply it avoids unplanned outages, optimises the work schedule and reduces costs.
The information can be easily displayed to the end users on a digital dashboard to show asset health status at a glance with the views customised to organise assets by location or type.
New cyber systems do require additional investment, they are the leading edge of the next wave in business efficiency with a clear and undeniable return on investment. For airports looking to get back on the front foot and who want to prepare their business for the next era of commercial aviation, the fourth industrial revolution has arrived right on schedule.
For more information:
CHS Engineering Services Limited
+44 (0)1245 496281
info@chsservices.com
www.chsservices.com
