Category: Airports

BOGOTÁ, COLOMBIA January 13, 2025 – Synaptic Aviation and El Dorado International Airport (El Dorado), one of Latin America’s busiest and most prominent aviation hubs, are pleased to announce an agreement for the provision of Synaptic’s software at the airport. This milestone agreement will bring Synaptic Aviation’s cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) and computer vision technologies to the forefront of airport operations in Latin America, providing software to help improve efficiency and performance across the airport.

El Dorado International Airport serves as a critical hub in Latin America, handling approximately 47 million passengers and nearly 336,000 flights annually—equating to nearly 920 flights daily—solidifying its position as a leading aviation center in the region.  

Following a successful trial where El Dorado used Synaptic Aviation’s technology to improve operational efficiency, the airport has decided to expand its use across the entire airport. The agreement will enable the airport to continue optimizing ground operations, enhancing safety protocols, and reducing fuel emissions, all while aligning with their vision for sustainable and efficient airport management. 

“This contract underscores Synaptic Aviation’s mission to bring next-generation operational solutions to the aviation industry,” said Sal Salman, CTO & President at Synaptic Aviation. “We are thrilled to work with El Dorado Airport to deliver measurable results that benefit airlines, passengers, and the environment.” 

“Technology is a cross-cutting element in our entire operation, a strategic ally that allows us to ensure the proper functioning of the airport terminal and enhance the experiences we offer to travelers and the entire airport community. By implementing this software, we continue to strengthen El Dorado’s technological ecosystem, supported by the appropriate use of artificial intelligence,” said Natalí Leal, CEO of El Dorado Airport.

This partnership builds on Synaptic Aviation’s growing portfolio of successful collaborations with airports and airlines globally. Focusing on advanced artificial intelligence and computer vision technology, Synaptic is driving the aviation industry toward greater innovation and sustainability. By utilizing data-driven solutions, El Dorado and the airlines operating there will work together to streamline operations, enhance efficiency, and make more informed decisions.

For more information about Synaptic Aviation’s work with El Dorado and its AI-powered solutions to support airport and airline operations, please contact:

Cortney Ferretti 
Marketing Director, Synaptic Aviation 
e: cortney.ferretti@synapticaviation.com  | p: +1844 505-4496 

Natalia Pinto Celis
Head of Communications, El Dorado International Airport
e: npinto@eldorado.aero | p: +57 319 420 7949

About Synaptic Aviation 
Synaptic Aviation is a leader in AI-driven aviation technology, providing advanced solutions that enhance safety, operational efficiency, and sustainability. Through its airport and airline customers worldwide, Synaptic empowers the aviation industry to achieve measurable improvements in ground operations, safety protocols, and fuel efficiency. 

About El Dorado International Airport
El Dorado International Airport is one of Latin America’s most prominent aviation hubs, located in Bogotá, Colombia. Serving as a key gateway for both international and domestic travel, El Dorado is renowned for its commitment to innovation, operational excellence, and sustainability. The airport continually enhances the passenger experience while upholding high standards of safety, efficiency, and service.

Delays in taxiing not only frustrate passengers but also lead to increased fuel consumption, longer block times, and higher emissions. At the 77^th IATA General Meeting, member airlines committed to achieving net-zero emissions from their operations by 2050. 3% of the gains will come from infrastructure and operational efficiencies; optimizing taxi times is an achievable objective given the available opportunities today and the many inefficiencies that can be mitigated.

As airports and airlines seek to optimize their operations, the potential introduction of a gate scoring system emerges as a provocative topic that merits discussion.

Taxi Times – Controllable and Uncontrollable Factors

Taxi times are influenced by both controllable and uncontrollable factors.

Uncontrollable Factors:

• Wind direction and assigned runway
• Total distance between the gate and the departing/arriving runway
• Arriving/departing complex traffic flow
• Weather conditions affecting take-offs and surface circulation
• Taxiway construction or other obstacles
• Terminal and GSE traffic

Controllable Factors:

• Gate readiness
• Prompt pilot break set
• Taxiing speed
• Assigned gate (if controlled by the carrier)

Solutions to Reduce Taxi Times

1. Utilizing Technology to Enhance Gate Readiness Technology plays a crucial role in addressing controllable factors like gate readiness. A study conducted at two gates at a major U.S. airport revealed that 86% of all taxi-in operations fell between 3 to 9 minutes however 14% of operations had taxi-in times exceeding 10 minutes and some with high variability meaning that several flights took more than 20 minutes to taxi-in. The root cause was attributed to gate readiness factors (crew not in position, obstacles on the way, etc.). By implementing Synaptic Aviation’s Computer Vision and AI technology, an international airline launched an initiative that resulted in a 21% reduction in taxi-in times, leading to annual fuel savings of $43.6k per gate. Expanding this technology to 35 gates could yield savings in excess of $1.5M annually. This example highlights how leveraging technology can streamline aircraft arrival procedures and significantly reduce taxi-in times, ultimately enhancing operational efficiency.

2. Implementing a Gate Scoring System Another potential solution is to introduce a gate scoring system that evaluates gates based on various metrics, including operational efficiency, customer experience, and environmental impact. An analysis of aircraft turnaround times for out-and-back flights at four gates at a major U.S. airport revealed that the same flight pair could require an additional 6-10 minutes to turn depending on the gate assigned and its location. The primary cause of the additional turnaround time was congestion of a taxiway located behind the gates in mention which cause the flight to sit idle until a slot to push was available. A tight gate layout can further add complications to otherwise smooth ground servicing activities. Such delays not only disrupt schedules but also lead to increased costs and operational inefficiencies. Without AI and Computer Vision technology providing real-time rich and accurate data, the impact of these factors on the turnaround is often lost or misleading, and as a result airlines and airports end up working on the wrong problem or making the wrong decision when optimizing taxi times.

By prioritizing gates that are quick to taxi-in and out of, and gates with easy layouts, the scoring system would allow airlines and airports to optimize their gate assignments based on real-time performance metrics. For instance, over the course of a year, an airline operating flights at a high scoring gate versus a low scoring one, could reduce fuel costs ranging from $12.5k to $20.6k. Moreover, it would result in a reduction of 21 to 35 tons of CO2 emissions. This stark difference illustrates that utilizing the nearest gate, or a gate with a layout and location that facilitates surface movement could be significantly more beneficial, thereby earning a better score in the proposed system. An airline could use high scoring gates for tight turnarounds and “make up” time to return a delayed flight into an on-time departure. Everybody wins when considering that not all gates are created equal.

The implementation of a gate scoring system could benefit airlines and airports by reducing operational costs, improving on-time performance, reducing block times, while also aligning with sustainability efforts to minimize fuel consumption and emissions, contributing to a greener aviation future.

Conclusion

As the aviation industry navigates the complexities of operational efficiency and sustainability, exploring innovative solutions like a gate scoring system could lead to significant improvements in taxi times, fuel savings, and overall performance. By focusing on enhancing gate readiness through technology and evaluating gate performance systematically, airports and airlines can better align their operations with the goal of reducing costs and emissions.

It is extremely rare these days to hear news about fatal commercial aviation accidents. Despite zero fatal accidents in 2023 compared to twelve in 1980, the yearly number of flights has more than quadrupled.

_{Source: airbus.com}

Many aviation enthusiasts are familiar with documentaries that analyze aviation accidents, revealing various factors that align to produce an unfortunate outcome. The narrative emphasizes the investigation process, the collection of evidence, and ultimately presenting the conclusion along with the lessons learned. Aviation distinguishes itself as an industry that incorporates the learned lessons into the aircraft design, crew training, maintenance procedures, tools, technology, and more, showing an impressive record of constant improvement. The so-called “black boxes” are a key contributor to the success because of their ability to provide insightful data.

The objective is clear: to learn so that we don’t repeat the same mistakes. The method remains effective, at least while in the air.

Despite safety being pivotal in airport ramp operations, the intricate nature of ground operations frequently leads to avoidable accidents. 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. Ramp accidents translate into about $10 billion in costs every year for airlines.

What’s Happening on the Ground?

The latest IATA ground safety report indicates that 82% of the accidents on the ground occur while the aircraft is approaching the stand or while parked. The parts of the aircraft that suffer the highest percentage of damage are the cargo doors, cargo access compartments, engine nacelles, passenger doors, and wing tips.

Critical factors affecting airport ground safety include:

• Significant decline in experienced ground personnel.
• High turnover and shortage of talent (inexperience, lack of coverage, and fatigue)
• Congested ramps due to record-level operations
• Limited adoption of technology and equipment automation to address the above issues.
• Distraction due to overstimulation from smartphones and other devices impacting focus.
• A shortage of pilots is expediting career advancements from small aircraft to larger jets, resulting in newly trained pilots entering congested and frequently chaotic apron areas.

In aviation, the Swiss cheese model serves as a conceptual framework to understand how accidents unfold when multiple factors align. It visualizes the layers of defense within a system as slices of Swiss cheese, with each layer having potential weaknesses represented by “holes.” When these holes align across different layers due to various factors such as human errors, technical failures, organizational shortcomings, or environmental conditions, it creates a pathway for accidents to occur. This model underscores the need for comprehensive risk management strategies that address and mitigate all potential vulnerabilities across different layers of the system. By recognizing and proactively addressing these vulnerabilities, aviation professionals can strengthen safety measures and reduce the likelihood of accidents.

Recent aviation accidents, such as the Norwegian aircraft crash in Oslo, JetBlue’s wing clipping at BOS, and collisions at ORD and LAX, along with an airline worker being ingested by an aircraft engine in Alabama, underscore the Swiss cheese model’s relevance in understanding how accidents occur when multiple factors align on airport ramps. The concerning trend in ground accidents prompted the FAA to issue a SAFO in 2023, urging operators to reassess their towing and marshalling procedures to enforce safety measures.

Despite advancements in safety protocols, a significant number of ground incidents persist due to failures in following established procedures, rushing, lack of attention, fatigue, and complacency. In essence, human error remains the primary cause of accidents and incidents on the ground causing often fatal injuries and property damage.

Today, insights into the timing and locations of these occurrences are available, along with an understanding of their primary causes, the associated losses and damages, and how frequently they take place. With all of this information at our disposal, why haven’t we seen an improvement in ground safety statistics?

Unlike in the air, ground operations have yet to adopt the principles that make the system work consistently and thus the virtuous circle is frequently broken. Recent accidents show evidence of repeated errors, inadequately documented reports, lack of technological tools to aid ground incident investigations, etc. Ground crews undergo continual training due to high turnover, while most ground equipment lacks technological sophistication or deterrents to mitigate common errors.

Where Do We Go From Here?

Most safety investigations are labor intensive requiring manual research, personnel interviews and recount of events; the elaboration of statements, collection of pictures or CCTV stills (often of poor quality), and filling of forms is all manual and time consuming. One can easily conclude that there is plenty of room for error and misinterpretation within this practice.

Today we have what it takes to reverse the trend. AI technology can alert in real time when critical safety procedures are not followed or there are deviations from safety protocols. The number of notifications triggered can help to identify trends and patterns that are critical to prevent future occurrences. Just like the “black boxes” on the aircraft, the AI is a ground data recorder or “black box” which constantly captures visual evidence and logs timestamps. This serves as a priceless learning tool for positive training, behavior reinforcement, crew recognition, and root cause analysis. Today we have what it takes to avoid repeating the same mistakes.

Sample Jet Bridge Out of Range Alert

Sample safety envelope Obstacle Alert

Sample Pre-Arrival FOD Walk Completion

Synaptic Aviation’s Computer Vision technology is here to help.

Interested in learning how Synaptic Aviation can help you and your team stay safe on the apron? Request a demo.

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.

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.

How is AI supporting airport-airline optimization efforts? This article explores an answer.

Industry commentators have shared a common concern during the COVID-19 pandemic: we need to be more tech-savvy and adaptable to survive a new world order.

We propose a quick exercise: when you decide to fly again, and you are in the boarding area of the departing gate, peek outside the window and see the work happening around the aircraft…notice if anything has changed since the first flight you ever took. Except for some technological advancements that help ground crews to be in control of baggage load-offload (so your bags are not left behind), you’ll be surprised to learn that ground operations use nearly the same methods, resources, and equipment that were introduced at the beginning of the jet age. That is ripe for disruption.

With recent advancements in AI, airport ground operations will suffer a transformation, and mostly because these emerging technologies track ground activities and deliver usable real-time information that results in tangible cost reductions and improve the passenger experience; AI has been proven to help mitigate delays and increase safety.

Airports and airlines need to prioritize including AI in their near-term optimization plans if they want to secure a path back to sustained profitability.

AI Increases Feedback to Help with Airport Optimization

Airlines can automate the collection of airport data and then intelligently analyze it to realize massive gains in efficiency.

As airports increase in size and travelers change the way they travel, small fixes in airport optimization will help make for a smoother boarding and loading process.

With continual feedback from AI systems, such as video playback capabilities and real-time alerts that allow operators to correct course, airports and airlines can see exactly where they can improve performance and create a plan to enhance their operations.

Get Better Insights into Planning

Emerging AI systems are showing their ability to provide recommendations, informed by data that would be impractical and virtually impossible to collect manually. With relevant insights provided by the data collected it is now possible to understand the true root cause of service disruptions and predict when they will reoccur.

Operators cannot only see where performance is best and where it is lacking but also how all the moving parts of ground servicing fit together. From aircraft loading-offloading and fueling to features that detect risky behavior that could lead to accidents and damaged equipment, AI helps create a full picture for users.

Flight Operations Are Getting Safer, but There’s Still Room for Improvement

Airport and airline safety has improved progressively in recent years. Unfortunately, airports are continuing to be built and operated with insufficient safety measures for passengers, pilots, and support crew members and it is not a surprise that most aircraft incidents and damages occur now on the ground. Collecting and exchanging critical safety data could allow airports to identify dangerous hazards before takeoff, increasing flight safety.

AI and Airport Optimization Example: Ground Operations

With easy-to-use AI tools for data collection, organizations can now ensure the safety of their ramp operations teams. With AI from Synaptic Aviation, users can receive a proactive alert of any safety or efficiency issues they are facing so they can relay information where it is needed. Our technology makes it easier for everyone to stay on the same page, improving ramp security measures considerably. For example, our AI can detect:

• Dangerous maneuvers around aircraft during loading and unloading
• Whether safety cones have been placed properly and in a way that maximizes efficiency
• Worker compliance with safety protocols

Airports will rely on AI tools in 2022 in order to optimize operations based on a variety of factors. Our tools use video sensors and vast amounts of data from the ground to identify where operators have gone wrong and how to fix mistakes in the moment to be able to recover.

Request a demo at synapticaviation.com or contact us at 844-505-4496 to learn how our AI technology can help you improve your airport operations.